To think the doctor shouldn't refuse me my medication?

[lisaboob]

Hi,I've been a long time sufferer of anxiety for over 10 years.
A lot better now but still really anxious before a big event or a event that's out of my comfort zone.
My doctor prescribed me diazepam 2 years ago (28 tablets ) and they've just ran out.
Went to GP today and said no ..and offered me anti depressants.
I refused and left with nothing.
I use half a tablet before a big event etc hence why they lasted 2 years
Now I have things coming up this year and I'm going to have to cancel now.
Aibu to think this isn't ok?

Are you serious??Do you normally give out medical information like you are a doctor?I hope all of your family goes to you when they are sick,it will save you money!

@swingofthingsThere are much worse addiction that people fall under to release stress and anxiety than taking a valium there and then.

I wonder how many posters telling OP that she is unreasonable couldn't function with a number of coffee cups and their glass of wine each day. Most of my colleagues do, but that's OK isn't it because so many people do it...

The issue here though is that as the prescriber the GP holds the responsibility and using diazepam is this way goes against the guidelines. You re right many people use alcohol as an emotional crutch but alcohol is something we can freely buy within the law.

@swingofthings If the GP had suggested she take up smoking or become an alcoholic instead, they would have been unreasonable. As they didn’t say that, but instead offered a choice of two other different medications that are not habit-forming, maybe we can step away from that particular straw man.

Doctor's are really tightening up lots of people are turning to the internet for medication, very dangerous.
My DM has been on valium diazepam on and off plus a sleeping tablet every night for 30 years, the doctor is weaning her off them.
Many users are older now, they have more falls from the medication, My DM is addicted and has two falls, I think her early dementia is from long-term use of benzodiazepines.

@Haffiana oh get down off your high horse.
I'm not a addict ...idiotic

The issue here though is that as the prescriber the GP holds the responsibility and using diazepam is this way goes against the guidelines
The only NICE 'guidance' that are required to be followed by law are Technical Appraisals. NICE guidelines or recommendations are just that, recommendations. GP can follow them or use their own assessment based on the particularity of their patient to decide was is safe for them.

I do not believe that the guidelines in relation to anxiety and benzos is a TAG.

And I should have added, the reason why many GPs still prescribe it to many of their patients.

I'd trust a medically qualified professional first.

I wouldn't be so automatically trusting. GPs aren't omniscient. All have different approaches and they can make mistakes. In terms of Diazepam, some GPs would prescribe their patient more, some wouldn't. Depends on the GP and the needs of the patient.

So do you not think 2-3 diazepam for a day then months with none isn't safe ?

GPs shouldn’t be prescribi g diazepam for flying anymore either
Their indemnity wouldn’t cover them if you had an issue mid flight due to them

Doctors reading- don’t prescribe for this

GPs also should prescribe diazepam for procedures like MRI- the radiology team should if felt needed.
The guidance is very clear on this

Historically they have been over used and they are also street drugs of abuse

OP 1mg twice daily used once a month is a psychological crutch.

You will be fine without it if you convince yourself you can be and/or seek therapy

Doctors reading- don’t prescribe for this
That has to be the advice of the day! I hope my GP has a bit more common sense than taking advice on what they should prescribe or not from a total stranger on a non medical forum!

Days it all about some posters here!

One reason they won’t give you 28 is that you can then sell it on! It’s v v popular amongst teens. Tbh, if you are halving them, you have on average taken more than one a fortnight which is quite a lot. Mind you, I would also prefer that to anti-ds- diazepam is lovely and anti ds not so much! But that is of course the problem. I think you will have to try other remedies- have you tried hypnosis?

Could you get a second opinion OP? Make another appointment with a different doctor and explain the situation to them?

I haven't read the whole thread but there's relatively recent evidence that even very small amounts have long term adverse efffects. There's an association with early onset memory problems and even death. My local medicines management team are pushing very hard for us to reduce to zero prescribing - to the point they organised an additional teaching seasion for ALL local GPs with services covered by the out of hours provider. They very rarely do that as it's so costly.
Your GP should discuss alternative options with you though, not just say no...

The person at fault is the GP who initially prescribed them. Diazepam are not licensed to be used in that way. It's not the second GP's fault for sticking to the rules!

I wouldn't be so automatically trusting. GPs aren't omniscient

But when it comes to medical/psychological conditions they know more than me. So no, I don't know better.

@pisspawpatrol you try stopping SSRIs cold turkey and tell me they're not addictive. Oh sorry, that's branded as "discontinuation syndrome" isn't it?

@LaBelleSauvage I hope you warn your patients that a good 50% of them won't be able to get off ADs again.

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/02/antidepressant-withdrawal-symptoms-severe-says-new-report

I have a friend on Prozac (is that flux?) anyway she's been on them 2 years.
She has tried to come off them and can't.
She never feels with it,she has zero emotions
I don't want that

I take lorazepam for anxiety and have done so for about 20 years. My psychopharmacologist gave me Valium only once, and that was when my mother was killed in a car accident. I have never asked her for it again. As soon as my order shows up, I'll be trying CBD oil as a sleep aid (with my doctor's approval and enthusiasm), as it has no interaction with my meds. Perhaps lorazepam would work for you, OP? Whatever you do, go to a doctor. There are too many different opinions here. Best of luck to you.

OP, I understand that you feel hard done by. But your GP is not there to simply give you what you want. They are there to give your their professional opinion and are within their rights to refuse to prescribe you something if they don't feel it is required or not safe.

I'd also say it is not short-term use. If you are using one a month (or half twice per month) to manage your anxiety then you are looking infrequent but still regular long-term, and ongoing, use. It is not over-use in terms of quantity, but nor is it really the way it is supposed to be used. And it is not unreasonable for your GP to conclude that if you are using these twice per month (or one whole tablet for month) that your anxiety is causing you regular difficulties. So it may be sensible to consider use of antidepressants which are used in anxiety.

Your current usage, and reaction to not getting your tablets, does suggest a degree of reliance (as opposed to addiction) on your part and you would probably be better served in the longer term by finding other ways to manage anxiety around specific events. Put it this way- it's far from unheard of for someone to start with very occasional use, that becomes infrequent but regular use and then life gets a bit more stressful.... then infrequent use becomes every few days, which morphs into every day or multiple times per day. It would be better to learn to use to manage your anxiety so you don't need medication.

On a final you should not be taking diazepam before surgery (unless you are talking about using it in the days preceding surgery, but certainly not just before)- or at least not without informing the medical team who are looking after you. If you told the GP that is why you wanted it, then I'm not at all surprised that they refused to prescribe.

YANBU OP. I really feel for you. It is utter nonsense to suggest that using up 28 2mg tablets over 2 years constitutes worrying use or addiction. It depends entirely on the individual GP regardless of NICE guidelines.

There was a similar thread recently OP and that OP was harangued in a similar way. She ended up going to a private GP and getting a script. Please consider doing that. I was given 28 5mg within the last couple of months to use for a series of long haul flights. I didn't specify how many I wanted. GP asked about the dose I had used previously and she wrote the script. No way should you start on ssris in lieu of occasional use diazepam.

Good luck!

Anti anxiety techniques have to be practised. It's much easier to just pop a pill rather than work at overcoming learnt and entrenched behaviours. I think knowing there's a stash of valium in the drawer would make it incredibly easy to not bother working at ways of calming yourself.

I also think a patient insisting that benzos were the only effective treatment for what is essentially 'dealing with life' would be a massive red flag to any responsible GP.

Lorazepam is the same class of drug. It's another benzodiazipine. A GP who refuses to prescribe diazepam is unlikely to give lorazepam instead.

YABU you where offered something else they don’t like handing out diazepam anymore my dad has epilepsy and use to take them when he got warnings to make him sleep and the GP stopped them so now he has nothing to help him when he’s having trouble with his epilepsy.