How do I ask my psychiatrist for Benzos?
Describe your symptoms thoroughly: Take your time and clearly describe your symptoms to your healthcare provider. They need to fully understand the problem before considering whether to prescribe medication. Ask for a prescription: You can ask for Xanax if you think it might be right for you.
Ask about Xanax as a sleep aid.
Some people take a very small dose before bedtime to help them sleep. Once again, never lead with a request for the prescription. First, describe how you have trouble sleeping due to racing thoughts or anxiety, then move on to asking if Xanax could be a possible solution.
For oral dosage forms (solution, tablets, or orally disintegrating tablets): Adults—At first, 0.25 to 0.5 milligram (mg) 3 times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 4 mg per day.
Benzodiazepines should only be prescribed in the lowest effective dose for the short-term relief (maximum of 2–4 weeks) of severe anxiety or panic disorder, usually in an acute crisis situation.
Drugs with a shorter half-life are linked with higher potential for addiction and dependence because the effects wear off faster. That is one reason why doctors are typically hesitant to prescribe Xanax for long periods of time.
As effective as benzodiazepines can be in managing anxiety symptoms , they can also be very habit forming. Because of this risk, most doctors will only prescribe benzodiazepines for short-term use, such as in the recent aftermath of a traumatic event, or severe anxiety associated with anticipating an upcoming event.
Most psychiatrists are extremely experienced and comfortable dealing with benzodiazepines and know how to prescribe them safely.
As mentioned before, benzodiazepines are not meant to be used for long periods of time. By using benzodiazepines for an extended time, there is an increased risk of the development of certain health conditions. The amount of time considered “long-term” in regard to benzodiazepine abuse is around three to six months.
Benzodiazepines approved by the FDA for the treatment of panic disorder include alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin). Benzodiazepines are generally used only on a short-term basis because they can be habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence.
Today, Xanax is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder, which is characterized by sudden episodes of intense fear or worry along with physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness.
What do doctors replace Xanax with?
- SSRIs (antidepressants)
- SNRIs (antidepressants)
- Beta-Blockers (blood pressure medications)
- Buspirone (anti-anxiety)
- Hydroxyzine (brand name Vistaril, a prescription antihistamine).
Xanax is an FDA-controlled substance that cannot legally be prescribed online. In order to obtain Xanax, you have to see a doctor in person. However, online psychiatrists can prescribe other options such as SSRIs or anti-anxiety medications.
Dosing. 10/25 mg strength tablets are recommended in an initial dosage of 3 or 4 tablets daily in divided doses; this may be increased to 6 tablets daily as required. Some patients respond to smaller doses and can be maintained on 2 tablets daily.
The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium®, Xanax®, Halcion®, Ativan®, and Klonopin®. Tolerance can develop, although at variable rates and to different degrees.
The maintenance dose for most patients of 1 mg per day. 0.5 mg is given thrice daily for seizure disorders, and the maximum recommended daily dose is 20 mg. Flurazepam: Flurazepam is indicated for the treatment of insomnia. The recommended dose of flurazepam is 15 mg for women and 30 mg for men.
Klonopin is an anxiolytic, also called anti-anxiety medications, in the benzodiazepine drug class. It is also a longer-acting sedative. However, it has many risks, such as the potential for misuse and addiction, which can make it hard to get a prescription.
These medications also cause disinhibition, which can result in behavioral problems and risk-taking activities. Evidence is accumulating that chronic use of benzodiazepines is associated with depression, cognitive impairment and an increased incidence of developing dementia.
Even though benzos are helpful for lowering anxiety, they're rarely the best choice alone. Most anxiety disorders are best treated with other medications and psychotherapy. Benzos are not usually a first-choice treatment for other mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders.
- Find an authorized provider: Ask your pharmacist or PCP about who can prescribe you Ativan. ...
- Talk to your doctor about your anxiety: Describe how long you have had anxiety, when it is worst, and how it affects your daily life.
Background: The various benzodiazepines have essentially the same mechanism of action and differ from one another primarily through differences in pharmaco*kinetics. There is no pharmacological basis for using more than one benzodiazepine for the same patient.
Can telehealth doctors prescribe Benzos?
Providers would be able to prescribe a 30-day supply for buprenorphine and non-narcotic Schedule III-V drugs such as Xanax and Ambien without an in-person visit if the telemedicine encounter is for a legitimate medical purpose. Anything beyond a 30-day supply will require an in-person visit.
A group of very well-known and senior psychopharmacology experts has formed an informal “International Task Force on Benzodiazepines” (Balon et al., 2018). In an editorial, they noted that the group feels that the risks and side effects of benzodiazepines have been overemphasized.
You should only be prescribed benzodiazepines for the shortest amount of time possible. Taking benzodiazepines regularly for a few weeks or more can lead to addiction. Doctors recommend that you only take them for 2-4 weeks. Intermittent use may help to avoid addiction.
Klonopin. Klonopin is one of the longest acting of all Benzos. This means that it takes longer to fully effect the patient, but it also means that it can be more powerful when abused. Klonopin has an extremely high potential for abuse and addiction, and the addiction can be very severe.
Klonopin should not be relied on for prolonged periods of time, and it is safest when used for short durations of time – less than two weeks. If people have been using or abusing the drug for longer and exhibit some of the symptoms of addiction, they are probably dependent on it.
The most prominent of anti-anxiety drugs for the purpose of immediate relief are those known as benzodiazepines; among them are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour. That makes them very effective when taken during a panic attack or another overwhelming anxiety episode.
Oxazepam, temazepam, and chlordiazepoxide which are low potency benzodiazepines are well tolerated with low toxicity levels.
Both clonazepam and Xanax work well in treating anxiety. Clonazepam is better to treat panic disorder than Xanax.
Physical Dependence Over time, your body adapts to the use of Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines. This adaptation can actually cause the medicine to stop working.
What not to do while taking Xanax?
Xanax may be taken with or without food. Avoid operating machinery, driving, or performing tasks that require mental alertness while taking Xanax. Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. The lowest effective dose of Xanax should be used for the shortest time possible.
Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb that is popular in Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen and helps the body manage stress and anxiety. In fact, it has been shown to reduce anxiety and insomnia in rats by 69%. Similarly, magnesium, a natural Xanax alternative, helps calm the mind and improve mood.
A new benzodiazepine was approved by the FDA in August, 2021. Loreev XR (extended-release lorazepam) is a once daily benzodiazepine formulation indicated for the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults. Loreev comes in 1 mg 2mg and 3 mg tablets.
Beta blockers are prescribed to be used on an as-needed basis; they're not taken long-term. Hydroxyzine (Atarax and Vistaril) is another medication prescribed for anxiety. It's an antihistamine that's used to treat allergic reactions, but it also works to decrease activity in the brain.
Most physicians or therapists will prescribe Xanax for “as-needed” treatment. When someone suffering from anxiety feels a surge of panic, or their anxiety prevents them from performing a task like driving or sleeping, taking a dose of Xanax can be extremely helpful.
Xanax is FDA-approved for short relief of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder only. Signs of an anxiety disorder may include: Nervousness, restlessness, or tension. A sense of impending doom or danger.
Official answer. In general, schedule II controlled substance prescriptions cannot be refilled and expire after 6 months. Schedule III or IV prescriptions may not be filled or refilled more than 6 months after the written date OR refilled more than 5 times, whichever comes first.
Effects of long-term benzodiazepine use may include disinhibition, impaired concentration and memory, depression, as well as sexual dysfunction. The long-term effects of benzodiazepines may differ from the adverse effects seen after acute administration of benzodiazepines.
Alprazolam (Xanax®): The initial dose is 0.25 mg two to three times a day; the dose can be increased by 0.5-1 mg daily every 3-4 days; the usual therapeutic dose is 2-3 mg total/day, with twice daily or three times a day dosing.
Benzodiazepines can be helpful drugs when used intermittently or for a short period of time only (two to four weeks). If taken for a long period of time (months or years), benzodiazepines can become less effective and there is also a high risk of becoming physically dependent on these drugs.
Which benzodiazepine has the highest abuse potential?
The most frequently abused of the benzodiazepines in both the United States and Canada are alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam and diazepam.
Alprazolam (e.g., Xanax), lorazepam (e.g., Ativan), clonazepam (e.g., Klonopin), diazepam (e.g., Valium), and temazepam (e.g., Restoril) are the five most commonly prescribed, as well as the most frequently encountered benzodiazepines on the illicit market.
Adults 50–64 had the highest prescribed use (12.9%). Those 18–25 had the highest misuse (5.2%), while adults ≥65 had the lowest (0.6%). Misuse and abuse or dependence of prescription stimulants or opioids were strongly associated with benzodiazepine misuse.
Some benzodiazepines act on your brain and body for longer than others. The half-life of each drug is a helpful way to understand how long a drug's effects may last. Short-acting benzodiazepines have a shorter half-life.
During 2014–2016, an estimated annual average of 65.9 million office- based physician visits at which benzodiazepines were prescribed were made by adults in the United States. This corresponded to a rate of 27 annual visits per 100 adults.
Most psychiatrists are extremely experienced and comfortable dealing with benzodiazepines and know how to prescribe them safely.
Psychologists can diagnose conditions and provide treatment through talk therapy but they cannot prescribe medications.
Benzos are mainly used to treat anxiety disorders, such as phobias, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. They are mostly used for a short period at the beginning of the treatment. That is because it may take a few weeks for the main pharmacological treatment for anxiety, antidepressants, to kick in.
Providers would be able to prescribe a 30-day supply for buprenorphine and non-narcotic Schedule III-V drugs such as Xanax and Ambien without an in-person visit if the telemedicine encounter is for a legitimate medical purpose. Anything beyond a 30-day supply will require an in-person visit.
