To think the GP could just cough up the good stuff?

[Pantone363]

Longstanding and boring OCD diagnosis, successfully treated with private CBT and a maintenance SSRI dose. At its worse upwards of 5 panic attacks a day. Currently about 4 a year (go me).

So I have the SSRI meds and when I have a panic attack I have a 2.5mg diazepam that I can take if I feel I can't handle the panic. I haven't taken one for over 9 mths. Mostly just knowing I have them is comforting and I work through the panic. For those of you know don't know 2.5mg is a minuscule amount.

Last week I lost my handbag which had my last 4 tablets. Repeat prescription refused and doctor asked to see me first (my old GP has retired).

Basically GP refused to prescribe and looked aghast that I expected her to. Asked if I had tried breathing exercises and basically said she wouldn't give me any as they are addictive and uneccesary.

I understand that but I was basically asking for 5 tablets at a tiny dose which would last over a year! Hardly a drug habit. DPS threw his neck out last year and the GP handed him a script for 5mg diaz about 12 tablets! My friend got some for a fear of flying!

So AIBU a to think the doc should just cough up the good stuff and not fob me off with breathing exercises (which I'm well versed with and do not work by the point I would take the Diaz)

[holidaysarenice]

farfrom

I understand why they cut it. It's a private prescription that they have not prescribed nor an nhs colleague. They have no control over it, but if you overdosed/side effects/ anything bad then they would have to stand over it.

You have the option to go back to your private practitioner and ask them to prescribe it and pay for it.

Alternatively you can attempt this dose, go back and discus honestly which ones help and what doesn't. Forage a good relationship with your gp and it will go miles to improving things. Many people rely on pain killers and actually it's the psychological effect of taking them rather than the effect of them. I would Try it and see, go back if needs be and if needed see the pain clinic.

Op - many people come in with your story/situation and keep the repeat going simply so their benefit form can include 'requires benzodiazepines for anxiety' cynical but very true.

[cotswolds5]

Think it was an NHS prescription and yunbu

[cotswolds5]

Ynbu

[cotswolds5]

Sorry realise you are not referring to op

[imisstaxdiscs]

I thought diazepam tablets were usually 2mg, 5mg, and 10mg - I've never seen a 2.5mg one. I've always been given the 5mg ones though, have never had any problems being prescribed 14 or so even by OOH. There is a lot of inconsistency. They don't kick in that quickly, though, for me - I take 1mg lorazepam sometimes for anxiety and it takes at least 10 minutes to start having a noticeable effect.

[kali110]

I had same problem! I was given 2.5 fpr muscle spasms. I suffered severe blood clot and spasm. I was in agony. I. Begged hospital for something or to inject me with something. Just told me to take the 2mg. It was doing fuck all.
My doc didnt want to give me 5mg till i told them that the hospital were making me take the 2mg along with 2 different painkillers every 4 hours!

[kali110]

Meant iv been taking 2mg for my normal muscle spasms. My screen seems to not be working!!

[Roomba]

a you can buy diazepam tablets of various strengths online, from reputable sites, in small quantities. If you are desperate and have to wait ages to see a new doctor...

I must point out though that I only know this due to a friend doing this to self medicate his panic attacks and depression. He ended up being very unwell when he (supported by his GP) had to wean himself off them due to him popping them like smarties...

But if you are a sensible person it may be worth considering.

[Bookworm13]

I agree with the comments that you should have been offered alternative treatment/help if the GP was adamant they weren't giving you another prescription.

I have heavy periods and was diagnosed as iron deficient anaemic in December. I was given 3 months supply of iron tablets which I took and went back in Feb to get my levels checked. All my levels were normal; I was told to stop taking the iron tablets (I had about four days supply left) and to return to get my levels checked again in two months.

The GP I had seen, was leaving the practice and despite, I understand, the general advice being to stay on iron tablets for a further three months to shore up your iron levels, she refused to give me any more.

When I returned in April to get my levels checked again, I still wasn't anaemic (great news) but my iron levels had dipped slightly again, so my new GP put me back on tablets to push my iron back up again.

She was surprised that the other GP hadn't kept me on them longer and was also taken aback when I told her the other GP had advised me to take a multi-vit with iron, as she said the iron levels in those are very small.

TBH, I think the GP who was leaving, was just desperate to clear her in-tray and hadn't been paying proper attention.

It does make you wonder...

[sparechange]

holidaysarenice Your post is wrong on literally every level...
It's a private prescription that they have not prescribed nor an nhs colleague. They have no control over it, but if you overdosed/side effects/ anything bad then they would have to stand over it.
If it was from an NHS consultant, they would have no control over it either. It isn't for GPs to overrule medication programmes being given out by specialists, and it is utter nonsense to suggest the would be liable if there were side effects or an overdose.

You have the option to go back to your private practitioner and ask them to prescribe it and pay for it.
Where did Farfrom say she wasn't paying for it? And why go back to a private doctor and not an NHS pain specialist? They may well be one and the same person. If you have some sort of ideological issue with private doctors, then say so rather than dressing it up as medical advice.

Alternatively you can attempt this dose, go back and discus honestly which ones help and what doesn't. Forage a good relationship with your gp and it will go miles to improving things. Many people rely on pain killers and actually it's the psychological effect of taking them rather than the effect of them. I would Try it and see, go back if needs be and if needed see the pain clinic.
You've never had a chronic pain condition, have you? You don't take one type of tablet, sit back and see if it works before popping another one. Medication programmes are put together to treat the various aspects of the underlying condition and the pain, and often side effects of medication. What you are suggesting is totally nonsensical and potentially dangerous. Ridiculous 'advice'

[sparechange]

Bookworm13
Are you on Ferrous Sulfate tablets? You can buy them over the counter for a couple of quid. I used to get mine on prescription until the pharmacist pointed out I could buy the exact same ones for a fraction of the prescription cost

[spillyobeans]

I wouldnt reccomend buying any medication online!!! Even if a site is 'reputable'. Please just speak to a couple of different gps im sure you will get help that way.

[ChuffinAda]

I'm sure I get my diazepam in 7mg dosage for my muscle spasms.

Could be wrong.

I know a&e issued me with a few 5mg ones and sent me on my way as they were reassured I know what I'm doing with them (normally they only give them to inpatients apparently)

[Fromparistoberlin73]

Ahem what websites please ? I have never seen any !

[spillyobeans]

Surely it cant be legal to buy something like that online? If you cant buy it over the counter? Not judging just worried for the saftey of it!

[AliceScarlett]

You can buy benzos legally online, pretty much the same as diaz, but there's a small chance they could be rat-poisony.

[Fromparistoberlin73]

Unless someone comes up with a website I would go via the GP or nick your mums OP !

Not proud but a while ago I found a forum where people shared their websites - but there was some
Mysterious code of silence and you had to be aeber for ages before people shared details - was not that desperate and gave up . Anyway this is not helpful for the OP who I hope has some ideas and possibilities now .

And big love to all of those with chronic pain conditions and hope they get the support - my dear friend and father have always been given what they need eventually and it saddens me others have to battle for setting that was specifically designed to help them

[ilovesooty]

How can you buy them legally online if possession of benzos without a prescription made out to you is punishable by a fine and /or imprisonment? And her mother would be stupid to pass them on - penalties for supply are much stiffer.

[spillyobeans]

Yes please just go to a gp! Why would you risk it???

[eyebags63]

YANBU I think there was a period a couple of decades ago when valium was handed out like smarties and a lot of people got addicted. However the balance has gone too far the other way now and doctors essentially have 'benzo phobia', and many wont use them even when appropriate.

Oh and it IS possible to have a long term prescription / use of Valium or similar drugs and not become hopelessly addicted and dependent.

[DoctorShoe]

As a doc, YANBU.

[crispiecrunchie]

I agree I had the same issue with zopliclone sleeping tablets a few years ago. Having a few in the house was reassuring and I rarely used then. I think they should differentiate as these drugs can be used appropriately.

[expatinscotland]

'I'm a bit confused, panics attacks are acute, how does the Diaz kick in in time to have any impact?'

And they can be cyclical. You get a bad jag and you get attack after attack.

I would go back and see another GP.

[mamadoc]

Drs really vary in their attitude to benzo scripts.
I also agree that saying you lost the previous ones triggered a 'red flag' in the GPs mind as it is absolutely what addicts always say.
I expect if you ask a different GP it will be fine.

I'm afraid that as a psychiatrist I am fairly anti-benzo. They do work a treat in the short term for anxiety but they provide no long term solution. They are physiologically and psychologically addictive and they often prevent people from addressing the underlying issues. I would personally never give a long term benzo script. Only ever 2/52 whilst getting definitive treatment in. Same goes for sleeping tablets.

In OPs case you can argue it is fairly harmless but the keeping of some tablets in the bag isn't the best coping strategy. If your strategy is always to take tablets you will never have any different strategy and it will become a self fulfilling prophecy that you can't cope without them. It is a form of avoidance which a CBT approach would say maintains anxiety cycles. For a lot of people this escalates into taking tablets before going out 'just in case' and then further generalises to lots of other situations and this is how addiction happens. Not for everyone but I do see it a lot and would prefer not to take the risk. I have seen people very angry with Drs that started them off on 60-80mg a day diazepam habits they can never kick.