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Anyone been prescribed benzodiazapines longterm anymore?

10 replies

LiquoriceWheel · 10/12/2020 11:39

There's definitely more of a back story to this question but basically Ive struggled with depression since i was 9. Since I was 20 I have tried amitriptyline, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine and now fluoxetine. I've been in rehab for alcohol addiction four times and I have been given valium there as part of my treatment. I used to try my best to minimise use of antidepressants and focus on therapy, mindfulness, etc but for me strong medication is he only thing that helps my anxiety and depression. There is no way a doctor will ever prescribe benzos for me but I want to start that conversation anyway even if I get rejected. I'm pretty desperate. Do you or anyone you know have a long term prescription for these types of medications? Thanks in advance.

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Theodoreb · 10/12/2020 11:41

I am long term on diazepam 5mg a day and clonazepam 1mg a day, i take it to keep me calm with psychosis as I am schizoaffective and it was prescribed to me by a psychiatrist not a gp. I have a bipolar 2 friend who gets 5 x5mg diazepam a month also prescribed by a psychiatrist.

Anyone who I know is under treatment of gp only is unable to get it on repeat.

Bagelsandbrie · 10/12/2020 11:44

My dh who has severe depression and anxiety disorder had daily diazepam for 2 months but that’s the longest he’s ever had it prescribed for.

Toilenstripes · 10/12/2020 11:45

I came off a long term prescription of klonazipam by working with my GP who prescribed me Citalopram. The problem with benzos is that they become less effective and leave you in a constant state of anxiety that you will run out. They’re so very bad for your long-term mental health. I hope you can find another way.

LiquoriceWheel · 12/12/2020 12:36

Thanks so much for your replies, truly. It was through a psychiatrist that I first tried these different classes of antidepressants. Toilenstripes it's already started with me, I was given enough to help with the withdrawal symptoms but I'm running out and I'm scared of being without them. 5mg stopped being effective so I've been fucking up with the dosages and drinking alcohol as well. I'm in a bad place but everytime I see a GP I just smile and say I'm fine and everythings great and I smile and make jokes. I'm on the waiting list for a rehab facility in the meantime, thanks for even replying, I cant tell you how less of a life form I feel right now. Thanks so much again.

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PurpleFrames · 12/12/2020 12:57

Diazepam is given in alcohol detox to reduce risk of seizure. They shouldn't really be given long term and especially not if you have a history of addiction. I've done an detox from benzos due to an addiction started from the GP and it was horrific I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I think you'd be much better off getting support from the drug and alcohol team and considering longer term anti-Ds as meds like this are just a short term fix.

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 12/12/2020 13:17

I couldn't read and run as you seem to be in an awful place right now. I'm sorry you're suffering so much.
May I add a cautionary tale? Until 2016 it wasn't illegal to buy certain benzos online. My late DP had self medicated with alcohol, prescription drugs, pharmaceuticals and recreational drugs all at different times for about 30 years. When I met him he was sober in terms of alcohol but smoked marijuana some times and would do hallucinogenics occasionally too. Fast forward ten years, we have a son and his health fluctuated. Spring of 2016 was difficult. DP had been buying benzos online and was becoming increasingly anxious about the upcoming ban. You can imagine how easy it was for him to stockpile and then subsequently increase his daily use . The pills were not working well, they added to his anxiety. He continued to take prescription drugs for anxiety but only a nueropathic as he had an aversion to "all antidepressants due to their addictive nature." Yep.
When he drank alcohol as well it turned into a cluster fuck. Anxiety, paranoia, unstable mood swings. And anger too, which frightened me the most. Anyway, one night he doubled his benzo intake and decided to drink alcohol. We were on holiday, having arrived on Crete several hours earlier. To cut a long story short, something happened in his brain and he went from trying to rip passports up to taking a running jump over the balcony. He did not survive, his life support turned off the night before our original return date.

So, although I know as well as anyone that there was no one factor in his death, I am certain the benzos played no small part.

Their use, (at first unknown to me and then he lied about dose) absolutely destroyed him mentally. I liken them to alcohol in their destructive abilities. They served no good purpose after the first few days and only increased his bad mental health. He could not see it and I was increasingly concerned that I would have to tell him to leave. Well, he left alright but not in the way anyone wanted.

It concerns me greatly that you are currently using alcohol and contemplating trying to get a prescription. I very much doubt however that you would be given any more than 2x 5mg , if that.
Do you have a psychiatrist? Or a mental health professional involved? I am worried that your minimising to health care workers is actively harming you and I would wonder what would happen if you asked yourself why you were doing this and then tried to take a more open minded approach to other ways of communicating your distress. Please don't misunderstand me, I am fully aware of we self sabotage when unwell and how difficult it is to look at how we think of ourselves without a skilled professional with whom we have a rapport.
I think that being on the waiting list for rehab is good, stay on it. I don't know how good or poor provision is in your area but I'd recommend finding a good therapist who is experienced in the type of issues you struggle with.

Benzos are not the answer although I understand their appeal when you're feeling very shitty. Helping yourself recover is so so hard but please ask for the help you need.

Sorry for the essay!

Standrewsschool · 12/12/2020 13:20

@HoofWankingSpangleCunt

Thank you for telling us your story

dane8 · 12/12/2020 22:28

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

PurpleFrames · 12/12/2020 23:08

I'd delicately suggest it's a placebo effect as 1mg after 5yrs continual use would do absolutely nothing for you.

I'd also like to thank Hoof for sharing.

I really wish we had a healthcare system which gave patients more time with their clinicians and was less likely to end up with unnecessary and overprescribing.

LiquoriceWheel · 14/12/2020 04:21

Thanks again everyone. Hoof thank you for sharing your story and I'm terribly sorry about what happened to you and your family.

I had a sister who committed suicide a few years ago and every time the doctors say 'are you safe, are you having suicidal thoughts' I always say no (even though it's yes) . But I've seen how suicide destroys families and I wouldn't do that to my family but at the same time I feel like I'm limbo - I'm hoping stronger medication plus all the mindfulness, exercise 'natural' stuff will be the answer. I guess that's why I started this post because I'm pinning all my hopes on stronger meds. I really want to stop drinking because alcohol does nothing for me anymore. Thanks again everyone, I hope a place opens up for me soon.

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