Tranquilliser addiction

[justontime]

A friend of mine became addicted to prescribed tranquillisers, she had been taking them for many years and some of the side effects she suffered were horrible. It ruined her life and she became agoraphobic. She decides to gradually take herself off the medication and she had the support of a wonderful organisation that helps people with tranquilliser addiction. It was a very slow process. It must have taken about seven years and she went through hell, with panic attacks and all sorts of horrible symptoms. Now she has been off all medication for over a year and she is a different woman. I hope this will give encouragement to anyone in a similar situation.

[Green-Moo]

I think addiction to prescribed drugs of one sort or another is probably a massive undeclared problem. One tends to think that something the doctor recommends cannot be dangerous, but this cannot be relied upon on a long term basis.

[SageMother]

I think addiction to prescribed drugs of one sort or another is probably a massive undeclared problem. One tends to think that something the doctor recommends cannot be dangerous, but this cannot be relied upon on a long term basis.

It is important to differentiate between addiction and physical dependence. If a condition is ameliorated by the medication, and returns when the medication is withdrawn, that is most likely physical dependence, just as a diabetic is physically dependent on insulin. The patient has to decide which is worse, the medication or the condition it treats.

The tendency to lump dependencies in with destructive addictions has to be monitored closely because, usually, people who are not in the throes of suffering are making statements that effect treatments for those who are.

[KyleMyers]

It's amazing the change dealing with an addiction or a dependancy can have on people. Suddenly the person you havn't seen for years is back again and it's as if they never went away. I wish your friend all the luck of the world in the future.

[justontime]

I think addiction to prescribed drugs of one sort or another is probably a massive undeclared problem. One tends to think that something the doctor recommends cannot be dangerous, but this cannot be relied upon on a long term basis.

It is important to differentiate between addiction and physical dependence. If a condition is ameliorated by the medication, and returns when the medication is withdrawn, that is most likely physical dependence, just as a diabetic is physically dependent on insulin. The patient has to decide which is worse, the medication or the condition it treats.

The tendency to lump dependencies in with destructive addictions has to be monitored closely because, usually, people who are not in the throes of suffering are making statements that effect treatments for those who are.

The symptoms and side effects will be different from one addictive substance to another and from one person to another, therefore it would be very hard for one person to speak with any understanding about the needs and circumstances of someone whose experience of addiction is different to their own. Sadly tranquilliser (benzodiazepine) addiction is all too real. There is plenty of research available to show this, but the drug companies and some governments are keen to distance themselves from this because they want to avoid the costs (and the blame). If you do a search for involuntary tranquilliser addiction you will find plenty of information.

[justjoy]

What I find appalling with situations like these is that doctors know the risk of involuntary addiction. So why don't they monitor the prescription of them more closely? I get furious when I hear of people becoming addicted to something the doctor prescribed and then having to suffer the withdrawal in order to get their lives back. Where is the doctor then and why isn't there some accountability on their part?

I wish your friend all the best and send her strength and healing as she gets rid of the tranquilizers.

[steppysteph]

Nice to hear that your friend recovered. It's scary to think how you can get addicted with things that should in the first place help you. Too much of something is really bad for us.

[Kitten]

I actually hadn't considered becoming addicted ('or' physically dependent) on traquilisers, but it makes sense. I'm glad your friend is recovering from it.

[SageMother]

What I find appalling with situations like these is that doctors know the risk of involuntary addiction. So why don't they monitor the prescription of them more closely? I get furious when I hear of people becoming addicted to something the doctor prescribed and then having to suffer the withdrawal in order to get their lives back. Where is the doctor then and why isn't there some accountability on their part?

I wish your friend all the best and send her strength and healing as she gets rid of the tranquilizers.

I certainly hope that patients with a choice between suffering and intractable pain, uncontrollable mental and emotional disorders, and other conditions that cannot be treated without dealing with addiction to the medication, are being informed of their choices. In most cases, doctors discuss these possibilities but in the end, if the medication preserves function, it is preferable to the disability experienced without the treatment.

[justontime]

[/quote]I certainly hope that patients with a choice between suffering and intractable pain, uncontrollable mental and emotional disorders, and other conditions that cannot be treated without dealing with addiction to the medication, are being informed of their choices. In most cases, doctors discuss these possibilities but in the end, if the medication preserves function, it is preferable to the disability experienced without the treatment.[/quote]

I think you are right that doctors do treat prescribing much more seriously these days, there are so many rules and guidelines that they have to observe now. In most cases they do discuss the various options and the potential side effects, and with mental health issues it is to some extent a trade off between ability to function and a certain level of side effects. However when the patient finds the effects of treatment unacceptable they should be listened to and supported to find other options. I have strayed from the effects of tranquilliser addiction to the side effects of medication generally, but it is not completely off topic as many people with addiction problems also need prescribed medication.