Not a narcotic but...Benzodiazepine addiction thread

Anxiety Monkey · September 23rd, 2008, 01:47 PM

Has anyone here suffered from a Benzodiazepine addiction?

I developed a Benzodiazepine (Lorazepam) addiction due to poor direction by my GP - I have learnt since to always grab a second opinion when taking medications like this.

For sufferers or ex-sufferers, how did you cope with the addiction? Did you have any methods which helped you ease off the medication? How far into your course did you realise that your problem was forming?

JulietteKlonk · January 6th, 2010, 03:10 PM

Very informative post.
Thanks

Domas · September 2nd, 2010, 01:51 PM

Hello! I am a 30 y/o woman, who has suffered from panic attacks and anxiety disorder for >20 years. I also suffer from TMJ. I have been seeing an orthodontist for several months and have been wearing a splint, and I will be getting braces on my uppers at the end of the month. HOWEVER, I avoided even seeking treatment of the TMJ for several years because I was afraid that any doctor would want to remove my wisdom teeth. All have grown in, none are impacted, but it exacerbated the TMJ and there's some crowding in front. Because of my anxiety disorder, I have taken Xanax for several years, and do have a tolerance to it. My fear of dental procedures is a bit more pronounced than normal dental concerns, but I probably wouldn't call it a "phobia". I will need to take Xanax before the procedure to remove the teeth. The concern that is most worrisome is....how will the anesthesia that an oral surgeon uses interact with benzodiazepines? I had general surgery to remove a gall bladder last year, and took 5mg of Xanax a few hours prior to surgery, but I felt that I was "safer" in a hospital than I would be in an office setting. Add to this fear: I work in an emergency room, and I have seen a few patients who had taken a Versed and then could not be aroused at the oral surgeons'. Any information, knowledge or advice is greatly appreciated. The wisdom teeth will need to be removed but not immediately. Either way, I like to know what my options are. Thank you.

ghijk · December 22nd, 2010, 05:06 AM

Hey, really I am so astonished to learn this fact about this drug. Actually I had some dental issues for a long time and had a couple of surgeries in the past two months. In those surgeries I was given the anesthesia. I fear that whether my dentist had used the correct drug for that. What should I do to know that?

September 23rd, 2008, 01:47 PM	#1
Anxiety Monkey Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 8	Not a narcotic but...Benzodiazepine addiction thread Has anyone here suffered from a Benzodiazepine addiction? I developed a Benzodiazepine (Lorazepam) addiction due to poor direction by my GP - I have learnt since to always grab a second opinion when taking medications like this. For sufferers or ex-sufferers, how did you cope with the addiction? Did you have any methods which helped you ease off the medication? How far into your course did you realise that your problem was forming?

January 6th, 2010, 03:10 PM	#2
JulietteKlonk Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2	Very informative post. Thanks __________________ JCB

September 2nd, 2010, 01:51 PM	#3
Domas Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia Posts: 16	anethesia & benzodiazepines Hello! I am a 30 y/o woman, who has suffered from panic attacks and anxiety disorder for >20 years. I also suffer from TMJ. I have been seeing an orthodontist for several months and have been wearing a splint, and I will be getting braces on my uppers at the end of the month. HOWEVER, I avoided even seeking treatment of the TMJ for several years because I was afraid that any doctor would want to remove my wisdom teeth. All have grown in, none are impacted, but it exacerbated the TMJ and there's some crowding in front. Because of my anxiety disorder, I have taken Xanax for several years, and do have a tolerance to it. My fear of dental procedures is a bit more pronounced than normal dental concerns, but I probably wouldn't call it a "phobia". I will need to take Xanax before the procedure to remove the teeth. The concern that is most worrisome is....how will the anesthesia that an oral surgeon uses interact with benzodiazepines? I had general surgery to remove a gall bladder last year, and took 5mg of Xanax a few hours prior to surgery, but I felt that I was "safer" in a hospital than I would be in an office setting. Add to this fear: I work in an emergency room, and I have seen a few patients who had taken a Versed and then could not be aroused at the oral surgeons'. Any information, knowledge or advice is greatly appreciated. The wisdom teeth will need to be removed but not immediately. Either way, I like to know what my options are. Thank you.

December 22nd, 2010, 05:06 AM	#4
ghijk Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 5	Hey, really I am so astonished to learn this fact about this drug. Actually I had some dental issues for a long time and had a couple of surgeries in the past two months. In those surgeries I was given the anesthesia. I fear that whether my dentist had used the correct drug for that. What should I do to know that? __________________ Philanthropist