Posted by Jefff on October 20, 2002, at 4:08:54
In reply to Re: My Klonopin (Clonazepam) isnt working at all!! » Jefff, posted by viridis on October 20, 2002, at 0:06:43
Howdy,
Actually I ended up calling the Nassau County Medical Center on thursday (I live in Long Island, NY) and after a nice lengthy converstion with an intake nurse (from the out patient mental health clinic) I luckily learned that their shrinks dont ever prescribe benzos (according to her there are so many better, newer, non addictive meds such as buspar,and wellbutrin and blah, blah, blah that they dont need Xanax). Is this just a New York thing??
Well at least I found that out before I stopped going to the place Im currently going to, otherwise Id have been totally screwed.
Thanks for the tips too btw. My next step is to see the nurse practitioner on nov 8th and plead my case to her. Its really hard for me to remain calm and non emotional though if Im getting the deaf ear treatment, but Ill try. I really hope she'll be differnet but I remain entirely cynical until I see.
How could they deny me something (legal meds) that will help me when they know Ive never in the past seven years Ive been going to this place asked for any other meds? It kills me to know that they could so easily provide me with some relief after all the years Ive suffered, yet they refuse because I may become "addicted"?
Well, which one is worse? Living my life in sheer misery or being "addicted" to something that will help me "live"?
Thanks again for listening,,
Jeff
"> Jeff,
>
> Xanax is an excellent drug, and if that's what works for you then you just have to find a doctor who understands that. I know you're limited in your treatment options, but somehow you have to get someone who's intelligent enough to prescribe what you need. Many doctors are leery of Xanax (it's supposedly "addictive", blah blah blah) so, you need to go in and clearly, rationally explain that you've tried various options, and this is what establishes mental stablility for you.
>
> A couple of suggestions: don't give any hint that you like it, only that it stabilizes your mood and makes you feel normal (which is how it should work anyway). Also, use the generic name alprazolam (pronounced "al-pra- zo-lam", with the stress on "pra") rather than Xanax, and try to sound as clinical (= matter-of fact) as possible; i.e., this medication helps me function optimally, no more.
>
> I'm not suggesting any tricks; it's just that doctors are so wary of Xanax that you have to be especially careful to present your case in a very factual, non-emotional way. Xanax is an excellent med that's gotten a bad reputation because a tiny minority of people abuse it.
>
> I take Xanax, among other things, and once asked my psychiatrist if (should I move etc.) I would have trouble getting another pdoc to replicate his treatment regime (which has been excellent). He went down the list: Neurontin, no problem; Klonopin, should be fine, dose is low; Adderall, probably OK, dose is low and ADD diagnosis is established; and then Xanax... this is the tricky one. He thinks it's a great med for some people (like me), but told me straight out that if you ask most doctors for Xanax, they'll peg you as a drug-seeker. So, he advised caution in requesting this drug, although in my case, my history supports its use (and I only use it occasionally). That's why I recommend the strategy above.
>
> BTW -- I imagine you could get Xanax on-line, but try your best to get a legitimate prescription from a real doctor. You have to search to get a pdoc who really understands you and will do what's best. Don't give up! There are good ones out there, even if you have to fight for appropriate treatment."
poster:Jefff
thread:124171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021019/msgs/124336.html