ptsd Va Gives Tranquilizers To 30 Percent Of Ptsd Patients, Despite Warnings

[john999]

I had Pain Management doctors at the VA refuse to prescribe effective pain meds because my shrink has me on clonazepam. They believe that every patient that uses this type of drug will abuse it or kill themselves. What they don't emphasize enough is process of withdrawal is very tricky even worse than opiates. Yes, and SSRI's do have withdrawal symptoms as well. I take Cymbalta and it helps me some. It is not a wonder pain med. The only wonder pain med are opium derivatives.

[chinavet]

I was addicted to benzodiazepines for 10 years thanks to mil docs.

I'm off now. Took me months of brutal withdrawal.

For sleep now I use Minipress and melatonin. They work and don't impair me.

I was an award winning writer before benzodiazepines. They were like a creative lobotomy.

They work for short term management. Don't use them for more than 3 weeks.

[Skipdawg]

Many take medication without doing much questioning about the medication. My doctors say I drive them nuts with questions plus I do research online. I now have a forumula whether I will take the medication. If the reward is greater than the risk I will take it but it the risk is higher I will not. I have turned down many medications over the past decade. Remember it is still your body! You need to be the one to decide if you take a memdication. Don't be afraid to get a 2ed or even 3ed opinion.

[broncovet]

There is no doubt in my mind that some VA docs overprescribe many meds, including this one. Is it any wonder that abusing prescription drugs is rampant? To think other wise is to live in denial, or on a desert island. ONE source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/prescription-drug-abuse

[Pete53]

Lets face it meds are cheaper and faster for VA to handle patients. I would not be surprised to find out that VA has a policy to medicate till Vet is easy to handle.

[yoggie2]

I have had a prescription for four 1mg of xanax a day since 1991. For me it was absolutely necessary and I am aware of the warnings about becomming addicted but the truth is many who have panic attacks get a prescription like I do and do not abuse it. I am fairly sure that this holds true for anxiety for PTSD Veterans.

I take 2 to 3 a day here in TN=VA Nashville Pete and I have been on them for years. I go in to see my new Doc and she talking like she has to take me off of them, this was a few months back. She even pulls out the paper that looked to be some type new regulation updated from the "top" to follow and it clearly stated what you guys are sayin here. It said for sure to only use Xanax as a "TEMP" use only and is not to be priscribed for long term use....yoggie