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No anxiety meds???

Old 03-28-2013, 09:26 AM
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No anxiety meds???

I picked up a bottle to relieve my stress & here I am. Anyways I being told I cannot have any meds for anxiety until 6-8 weeks of sobriety. Is this typical? I've never been on them before but I think if I would have tried that first I might not be here in the 1st place.
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:37 AM
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Who told you this?

Love and hugs,
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:56 AM
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When I went into rehab they took all my meds & booze away .. they said I wouldn't need it anymore. And I haven't.

How are you doing?

All the best.

Bob R
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:15 AM
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When I was in rehab they gave me all my prescribed meds. Just because I was detoxing from alcohol was no reason to take my meds away.
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by least View Post
When I was in rehab they gave me all my prescribed meds. Just because I was detoxing from alcohol was no reason to take my meds away.


All the best.

Bob R
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Old 03-28-2013, 10:57 AM
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Did you ask your doctor about it? I found that most of my anxiety was caused by drinking and it got a lot better after I got sober.

A lot of anti-anxiety meds are used for acute withdrawal, but they're also addictive (and target the same receptors that alcohol does, which can keep the cycle going).
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:02 AM
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I would not let people in the rooms who are not medical professionals tell me what to do about my medications but I would definitely talk to my doctor honestly about my alcoholism, being in recovery and would ask him/her if the pills were addictive and if there were alternatives. Hopefully, I would take my medication as prescribed.
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:05 AM
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This is coming from the psychiatrist who is part of my outpatient treatment. I have never been on anxiety meds - so they aren't taking them away. I just feel like I need them. The anxiety level I am having is intense.

Day 3- sweats & this are the only symptoms so far.

Doing this while working full time & managing 3 kids ( one of which has the flu )= Whoa!
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:09 AM
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I guess I assumed I would get some as part of treatment, but I do see a case for waiting to see if goes away with the drinking.
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:22 AM
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I started being prescribed benzos when I was 18 and stayed on them until 7 months ago. I'm 36. I believed that I "needed" them. I didn't and I don't. They were brutal to come off of, but I suffer from addiction. To ALL substances. My disease manifests itself into other areas of my life. Drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships, shopping..whatever.
I was fortunate to have a counselor in recovery who told me, "Jennifer..anxiety is only fear of judgment." Anytime I felt or feel anxious, I repeat that phrase in my head and look at what I'm afraid of. It helps me so much.
Good luck to you!!
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:28 AM
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Anxiety three days in to detoxing is not unusual and it may indeed get better with time. Stay close to your support system and take medical advice from medical professionals.

And hang in there - it gets better. Really.

-allan
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Old 03-28-2013, 11:40 AM
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The big key for this was willing to be honest !!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I decided to get honest and truly quit, I told my doctor that I am a ALCOHOLIC and I am quitting but have all this anxiety.. Which like most will go away in some time, cause the majority of it is worsened by the booze.

So since I did that , she put me on Zoloft (a non-narcotic)because I was honest she wouldn't use all the other ones that are usually handed out like candy.. All the benzo's..

I stayed on them for a year, and was weened off them, and never looked back..
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Old 03-28-2013, 12:19 PM
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My anxiety meds were very helpful in me maintaining my current sobriety. I drank & drugged to relieve the anxiety/depression I felt. Nothing helped my panic attacks except for the addictive kind of anxiety meds. They say that one can always get a "second opinion" when it comes to serious medical problems.
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Old 03-28-2013, 08:28 PM
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Talk to a dr who specialises in drug and alcohol issues. I have a psychiatric condition and take anti-psychotics and anti-anxiety drugs. I didn't take them before I stopped drinking mainly because I self-medicated with alcohol, painkillers and sleeping tablets. Once I stopped taking all of those things, my psychiatric issues had to be dealt with.

I think very high levels of anxiety are common to many people who quit drinking and does subside. Some people need more help. Can't hurt to get a 2nd opinion.
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Old 03-28-2013, 08:51 PM
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This is my experience only.

Like the endless "chicken/egg" debate, I could not tell you whether the depression caused the drinking or the drinking caused the depression. In the end it didn't matter. For me, the solution ended up being two meds for depression, and one benzo for anxiety/panic attacks.

I found out later that the benzo I was on would be very difficult to get off of, but I did it. It took two years. I am happy it's gone from my life.

To me (remember, this is my experience only!), "sobriety" means that I do not drink any alcohol, and my dr. does know I do not drink and why- but medications she prescribes are done for a reason. I have never taken the benzo except exactly as prescribed and have never abused it recreationally.

If I was taking them to get high, I would not consider myself sober; taken exactly as directed they are sometimes necessary and helpful.

Your mileage may vary.
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Old 03-30-2013, 04:02 PM
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I am an alcoholic and have serious anxiety issues that are seperate from alcohol. Doctors do not want to prescribe benzos to alcoholics because they are cross tolerant with alcohol and work on the same (GABA receptors). However, I am honest with my doctor and they prescribe me a non-narcotic medication along with a very limited supply of benzos which I use on an emergency only basis. If you are not already on benzos, I would be very hesitant to take them as I do not believe they are good for anyone on a regular basis. There are alternatives that are non-narcotic that work for a lot of people, talk to your doctor. Typcially detox places prescribe small amounts of benzos for when you first quit for withdrawals and seizure prevention if your are high-risk and discourage any benzo use after.
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Old 03-30-2013, 04:59 PM
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Ah, this ongoing topic...I was convinced I "needed" meds to get through, but in my experience, and could be isolated to my experience only, I did not need them once I stopped the negative behaviors, which were fueling my depression/anxiety, and started working an honest, diligent recovery program.
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Old 04-01-2013, 03:34 AM
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I had been abusing benzos and alcohol when I got clean. The dr prescribed beta blockers, a blood pressure med that can help with anxiety because as an addict it was insanity to allow me to continue to use habit forming meds, or to prescribe me a new one.

I had preexisting anxiety panic issues, which I had thought I was self medicating for with booze etc.

The beta blockers helped, they were not habit forming, I took them for a few months then stopped because I no longer needed them.

Anxiety is very common during early recovery. Work closely with your dr's, be deeply honest, and best to you. You can get sober, as horrible as it feels the anxiety won't kill you and it most likely will pass. I do NOT speak lightly of this. Anxiety is the worst thing I've had to deal with, panic attacks are very difficult to get through, but a solution that is likely to prevent both long term is the best one. If it's possible to avoid any new habit forming drugs I would suggest you do so.
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Old 04-01-2013, 07:44 AM
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single parent?, outpatient detoxing, working full-time and 3 kids? whew!

Take the advice of your physician (you said psychiatrist who is MD and can prescribed meds as needed~if you are seeing a psychologist or couselor, they cannot writ scrips but will work with your family doctor who can). whatever program you are involved in (if any), these are support factors, but don't confuse them with medical advice. especially if they tell you that you don't need your prescribed medications.

you are going to feel moody and have feelings out of no where for a few weeks, but you should have a better thought process, sleep better and feel better both physically and mentally as time goes on. Congrats on your decision and Day 4.
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Old 04-02-2013, 07:16 PM
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Thank you everyone. Still sober. Fandy- I'm married but that 3 kids & full time job & detox is still nuts. For me preventing that relapse is all about that moment when I just can't handle it all. Exhaustion is a huge trigger for me. Still no anxiety meds. This Dr wants me @ least 30 days sober before prescribing anything. So be it. Blood pressure got a little high ( for me, I usually run low) 125/ 80 48 hours in to detox. Anxiety lifting a bit, but I still think its an underlying issue.
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