Lately, there has been a growing stigma about benzodiazepines. Essentially, benzodiazepines are treated two different ways: 1. as an as-needed basis, in which a person takes very few pills a month and no problems erupt ever and 2. as a regimen, in which abrupt withdrawal can be be deadly and you make take years to heal.
A significant minority of benzodiazepine users who take benzodiazepines as a regimen and then try to get off of the medication via tapering suffer from prolonged and profound side effects that there is no scientific explanation for. Lab work can be fully optimized, with blood checked, platelets, MRI's, Enzymes, etc, and there is not a single explanation as to why such a large minority suffer so horribly. Comfort rates vary greatly with longevity of the taper and significance of a cut, which doctor's fail to take into account.
But they do(suffer horribly.) Unlike most, who get off of benzodiazepines with problems but not too threatening, this large minority of people who experience side effects are often disabled, and cannot work. Symptoms are very very diverse and differ but can be anything from constant shaking, not seeing correctly, extreme anxiety and depression, constant sweating, feeling something crawling on your skin, seizures, eyes flattering, heart palpitations, hallucinations, lack of sleep, and the list continues. Many patients will taper off in a very slow manner yet feel sick even after their finished taper for years. The only way to prevent this from many is to allow them to taper at as slow of a rate as possible, as even with the slow tapers now, it may not be slow enough.
Rightfully so, many doctor's worry about putting their patients on a regimen of benzodiazepine's. This should not be disputed given that there are tremendous dangers unknown as to how they occur that affect people gravely.
However, this is generally patients who have been on benzodiazepines for years, and were suddenly cut off. When taken only as an as-needed medication as rare as possible, it poses no danger and is very effective and helpful.
Therefore, with regards to prescribing some for panic attacks, so long as it is known not to take as a regimen or anywhere near daily, doctor's should have zero concern about prescribing benzo's for panic attack relief. To prevent abuse, doctor's should write smaller doses and smaller quantities. In example, it is not necessary to write 30 tablets a month if the patient should take it no more than a few times.
With regards to prescribing benzodiazepines as a regimen, while the withdrawal effects are very dangerous to many, several items must be considered..
1. Withdrawal effects from antidepressants, including Cymbalta and Pristiq have been reportedly terrible, and many stories erupt with similar stories like that of benzodiazepines.
2. This happens in a minority of people, not the majority.
3. Benzodiazepines should be limited minimally for treatment as a regimen and only when other medications have failed.
Doctor's are however creating a huge stigma for benzodiazepines while ignoring antidepressants.
a. Doctor's must understand that antidepressants can be just as hard to get off of, with little scientific explanations to explain the dangers that certain populations face as well.
b. Doctor's must understand that in light of the dangers benzodiazepines have on people who wish to get off, it may be medically necessary and the pros may outweigh the cons dramatically in continuing a patient on the benzodiazepines. Doctor's must stop changing a treatment plan overnight that risks a patients well being. Furthermore, jails and prisons must ensure that those who are locked up are still receiving their much needed medication.
So where do I differ?
---> I don't think victims of doctor's who had no idea what they were doing should not be forced to discontinue the medication under any circumstance and should have no barriers to obtaining it. If someone does taper and it is dehabilitating, they should be eligible for disability.
---> I think antidepressants are just as bad, especially the newer ones. The medical community has largely undermined antidepressants.
---> Prescribe benzodiazepines for an as-needed basis, not a regimen. Regimen= Last resort.
That's it. Just quit blaming benzos when antidepressants are worse and quit denying people refills or cutting them off when they are in a dangerous scenario.
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