As I have stated in the past....I'm in charge of mom's meds and try to stay on top of this the best I can. I call in refills as necessary since auto refill caused too many problems. Mom has been on Xanax for the past five months......taking one every evening. When she was down to five pills I called in for refill. I found out today that her PC would not refill the prescription and I am concerned about possible withdrawal. Doc is not in office tomorrow, so I'm at a loss until Monday. Just curious if anyone else has experienced stopping this med abruptly? Am I overreacting by being concerned about potential withdrawal?
Personally, until you have walked in my shoes and felt MY anxiety and insomnia and pain, you don't KNOW what I'm feeling. Sometimes you have to dr shop to find one who is willing to help you and do so in a compassionate manner.
My KIDS were super, super judgmental about my need for a mild benzo, until THEY started having anxiety problems. Shoe on the other foot changed it all for them.
We do not know another's person's pain and problems. Don't judge.
No suggestion on what doctor or specialist in town I should go to for them. She acknowledged I should not just stop after 10 years at same dose.
I'm a retired MHP, and I know the danger. This is hurting patients.
That SAID-this class of drugs (which includes Ativan, Klonopin, Valium and Xanax) is like Booze. Going off too fast is very dangerous. You need to wean them.
You need Psych doc to be dealing with psychotropics and a PCP to be working with them on any other needs.
Drs who pull the 'I know more than you do, sucks to be you' and simply stop you cold turkey from some of these meds are causing people to get very, very sick.
We have to be our own doctors in many cases. While my oncologist is handling my cancer, he is not involved in my depression meds or my anxiety meds. I am to simply take those as directed--in fact I am told to bring them to chemo days and use my own meds. I just tell my infusionist that I am taking a Klonipin of my own and he charts it.
I hope by age 65 to be off everything but a vitamin. I can hope, right?
A dr who doesn't listen to me is an ex-employee of mine. I have had to learn to be tough and also listen to the dr and do what's best. Right now, it's very, very hard.
Can you speak to the DR. About putting your Mom on something non-addictive & with little side effects before just quitting cold turkey?
I would Google "xanax withdrawal" and check Mayo Clinic and Web MD for accurate information.
Does mom's insurance company have a nurse line you can call?
Put a call into the doctors office tomorrow and talk to her or him about what needs to happen to get a new script.
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