Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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waiting4thesun 02/21/2016

I have been taking lorazapam for years prescribed by my psych doc. I take .5mg usually in the morning. I have terrible driving/social anxiety. This allows me to get to work and function successfully. I don't take it every morning as some mornings I am ok. I drive in with a coworker - I do the driving but having someone in the car helps. My psych doctor retired last winter and my pcp was refilling my scripts. Now my pcp is not comfortable prescribing this medication as it is addictive. I've been taking it for years, am I addicted - I don't think so. I don't abuse drugs - any drugs. Scared to think of not having this to get me out of tough situations. Hate going to doctors but I might have to. Scared a new doctor also wont.prescribe tbis. Anyone else gone through this?
Thanks

donnalsusan 02/22/2016

My adult daughter is on the same med for yrs., and just told me this week the Dr. is changing the (every 6-8 hrs.) order to strictly (8 hrs.) in between doses.I think the Pharmaceutical guidelines are putting more pressure on the doctors. The Pharm. co.just about own us! That is not a med you can just stop taking.maybe some alternative relaxation methods, along with slowly cutting back on your dosage, could work for you.I feel my daughter is definitely dependent, aka, addicted to them.I'm not judging, as I feel she needs it, I would like to see her try new methods of dealing with stress, to empower herself, to not be as dependent on them.

fruitloop51 02/22/2016

I am not sure where you live. But, in Tennessee they instilled a new law with that medication a year ago. Regular Primary Care Doctors in Tennessee can only prescribe it for 2 months at a time. Then you have to do without it a month and then they can prescribe it again for two more months.

But I think a primary care Doctor can only prescribe it for six months per year. Then you have to go to a pain clinic. Your primary care Doctor has to refer you to a pain clinic. Based on your primary care Doctor's notes, it is up to the clinic weather they accept you or not.

But, they usually do. I have been going to one for 3 years. I take Percocet for chronic pain from my diseases.

The reason they will not regularly prescribe your drug, is because it falls into the family of controlled substances. TN is not the only state with this new law. I know they also have it in Kentucky.

If you decide to get referred to a pain clinic, you might ask your primary care Doctor when referring you, could he please explain to them what drug he is referring you to them for and to explain to them why you need it and how long you have been taking it.

Chances are your primary care Doctor just feels uneasy about prescribing this to you every month because he is afraid he will get in trouble. But I am not sure if that is it, why he will not just mention it to you. Maybe you should ask them about it.

Good luck. I really hope this helps.

Hugs!

Tam

gimmestrength2008 02/22/2016

I have been threw this before. It's horrible. Detox is very hard and i wouldn't think it would be legal for you to go cold turkey, could be very dangouras if your body is used to the med. I know if i didn't have my xanex or seriquil, i would be a mess and prob have to be hospitalized, but i have been on these for a very long time and my doc is also my shrink, so that's good. She will never up my xanex, you get used to them at least i do. i don't know you but i have been where you are and i am so very sorry . Just my 2 cent's worth, that's about what it's worth. Good luck with the other doctor.

ginjaninja 02/24/2016

I have been on xanax (Alprazolam) for quite some time, prescribed by my psychiatrist. My PCP did not want to prescribe any psychological medication.

I have read you will get withdrawals and very bad side effects if you are taking Lorazepam or Alprazolam regularly then go off of it suddenly. Speak with your doctor, but they may either give you a refill or wean you off of it.

Getting a psychiatrist to manage my meds was one of the best things I have ever done.

Best of luck to you!

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