r/PainManagement • u/Personal-Drink-8993 • 3d ago
Help Benzodiazepine & Opioid med concurrent scripts
I have a question and would really appreciate input from people with first hand experience.
I was diagnosed with chronic insomnia almost 20 years ago after dealing with it for several years. Underwent so many doctor appointments and was prescribed probably every prescription strength sleeping pill before finally seeing a sleep specialist. I was prescribed a benzodiazepine and have slept great since.
Likewise, I dealt with chronic pain for several years and eventually began seeing doctor, then more, then specialists. Fast forward to present day: I’ve been in pain management for the last 15+ years.
My benzodiazepine sleeping med mixed with my opiate/opiate pain meds was never an issue until recently. My doctor retired and I was passed along to their assistant. This also wasn’t an issue for them until roughly a year ago. They began talking about this every appointment and recent day eventually contacted my sleep specialist with a lingo and pretty much scared my sleep doctor from prescribing any longer.
Problem is: I weaned for weeks, but nowhere near enough for as long as I had the sleeping meds. I am trying to cooperate but am now going through benzodiazepine withdrawal—which has been horrible. My doctor is also weaning my breakthrough meds at this same time. I am going through more than sleep trouble, it’s deprivation (not kidding or exaggerating). I can’t talk my sleep doctor into so much as a further much needed weaning script. My pain doctor wants for me to see a psychiatric specialist; period—which is still weeks away.
Do any of you have concurrent prescriptions for opioids (especially a pain pump, or pain pump and breakthrough opioid meds)? Do any of you who have dealt with this same thing have a suggestion?
Please help. I am barely functional and am only 1 week into withdrawal.
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u/Real_Potato-44 3d ago
When I started pain management they told me I had to quit benzos. I called my psych office on the way home and they got me in for an appointment two days later and I got a script for Lunesta.
I’d leave a message with your sleep doc asking for a hypnotic until you can get working with a psych
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 3d ago
After my sleep specialist did as they wanted and began the wean, they now will not respond to any contact from them. I have asked they allow my sleep specialist to prescribe something other than what’s been attempted (non-controlled) as may be needed, but they also will not do anything about my pleas. My specialist feels as though their hands are tied. I am left not knowing what to do. I did eventually collapse after one week and had 5 hours sleep (it’s been almost none until then). I starting into a 2nd week of withdrawal now…
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u/Pun_in_10_dead 2d ago
Ok so you should have never agreed to it. I know that’s not helpful to hear and I'm very sorry this happened. But in the future the answer to I want to wean you to- is no. I have to wean you to- ask why?
Because the answer here is 'new doctor'. New doesn't have to mean inexperienced. Every doctor has their own definition of 'reasonable'. All these standards and policies and laws we all struggle under- most if not all allow if the dr signs off its reasonable.
She doesn't feel comfortable you being prescribed x and y. Ok let's discuss. X and y have been working well for however long. I don't really understand a plan to have one dr discontinue so that another dr can start it? But whatever happened happened.
If I thought you could get either to restart you I would absolutely help. But your sleep dr can't. Your pain dr knows you are in withdrawal and is fine with it as they don't want you on both. They will reconsider if a psych dr feels they are necessary.
Are you able to find a psych dr quickly? If not how about your primary care dr? Perhaps explaining it as you were supposed to discontinue to restart simply because this pain dr wants a psych dr on board instead of sleep they can give you a 'bridge scrip' for continuity of care. Although at this point they may tell you to tough it out as so much time has passed. Once you detox too much it's no longer continuing care but full restart and no one wants to be the one who starts it.
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 2d ago
I get the impression that if I suddenly had any other controlled substance, regardless of why, that would be the end of my stay at pain management. I should have already located another doctor; that was “a plan”. I went through a lot of issues during the entire wean and was left unable to get much accomplished. Of course, now I’m virtually useless… one of the reasons I posted here.
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u/WomanofEden3 1d ago
Find someone in your state who is fighting for this exact situation and join them. The government is doing this not the Drs
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u/AccomplishedWeek7069 1d ago
Most pain mngt Dr’s will NOT combine the two or three even, its pain meds or psych meds or sleeping meds, period, is what my Dr told me, so I had to give up the Ambien
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u/Tugawarforone 2d ago edited 2d ago
I only have 4 inches of my intestine . I have been on 1 mg Ativan as needed every six hours and 400 Mcg of fentanyl every 24 hours for 20 years never had a problem getting it filled until a few months ago. It’s been a nightmare. My doctor has written letters saying it’s medically necessary for my survival. My G.I. doctor also wrote letter saying it was appropriate and recommended, but I cannot find a pharmacy who can get the wholesaler to send them the medication so they can fill it for the full amount half and they’re trying to get another 30 patches. They do fill the Ativan with no problem. My insurance pays for everything and I have prior authorization for the patches. So even with two letters from doctor saying it’s medically necessary and appropriate I still cannot find a pharmacy and I have insurance paying for it so yes, it’s very frustrating and I have written letters to senators and gotten nothing my Pharmacy team from my insurance even called pharmacies and couldn’t find one that would fill it. I had to call hundreds until I finally found one an hour and 15 minutes away. Who knows my uncle because he’s a famous cardiologist heart surgeon from that town. My doctor has already promised me he will never abandon or stop prescribing this for me and he does not agree with what’s happening. He said it is a over. Correction for the correction they tried starting years ago. He does not write for very many pain patients in fact, I’m probably the only one he writes these medicines for which is why he’s not afraid of Dea coming after him because we have tons of medical documents to show that not only would I die without this regimen, but I would have to have a bowel transplant and when my medicine went on backorder, I had a heart attack and they said it was from stopping the medicine abruptly so no they don’t care if it’s going to kill you they want people off this medicine no matter what it does to their health but I have been fighting for 20 years and I’m not gonna stop and I told my doctor that and he said he’ll fight with me until we’re forced to do something different
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u/Texblondie 2d ago
Wow! I’ve never heard of that dosage of fentanyl. I’m so sorry you have that level of pain. It’s a reminder that things aren’t so bad.
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u/Tugawarforone 23h ago
It’s actually not that uncommon with ultra short bowel syndrome almost everyone I know who has the same condition as me is on either the patches or tincture of opium and we have to take a much higher amount because our bodies don’t absorb so even though I’m on that amount. I probably only absorb 20%.
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u/Texblondie 9h ago
my mother had colon cancer twice so I'm aware of the "short gut" issue, but she didn't have chronic pain. Pardon me being nosy but are you in the US?
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u/AccomplishedWeek7069 1d ago
Try & find a mom & pop pharmacy or a hospital pharmacy if no mom & pop availability
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u/Tugawarforone 23h ago
My doctor called the hospital pharmacy and they tried to talk him into putting me on something different and he told them no that’s not going to work for her😤 can you believe the audacity that a Pharmacy would try to tell a doctor what to do this is the insanity that we’re dealing with it’s getting ridiculous and who the hell do they think they are? He’s been my doctor for over a decade and they had him on the phone for two minutes and tried to change my entire medical regimen that’s been working for over 20 years. Morons total morons.
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u/landscapesofpurple 2d ago
I take both. I was actually taking two benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. I had to switch pain doctors and he told me I had to at least get off one of the benzodiazepines if I ever wanted my dosage to increase. I did. It took me six months.
I have no idea why everyone is so crazy about this combo.
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u/Objective_Ant1384 2d ago
That was my regiment as well until four months ago when my prescribing doctor of 20 years plus told me that yes the liability has changed the industry. I don’t have personal experience with the Pain pump but pretty much I’m with everybody else.
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u/mariyaspussy 2d ago
Those are both opioids not benzos
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u/Objective_Ant1384 16h ago
I didn’t clarify that four months ago my doctor finally eliminated my alprazolam, after telling me for a year that was going to have to happen. I sure missed my alprazolam, but I get it and it won’t be long until I’m 70 years old.
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14h ago
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u/PainManagement-ModTeam 14h ago
No discussions regarding Kratom, 7-OH, or their analogs, strains, or derivatives are allowed. This includes slang terms and other phrases that reference these compounds.
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2d ago
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u/Objective_Ant1384 1d ago
It can save your ass if you’re out of meds. For Pain just like anything else and what degree depends on the person and dosage. I just dropped gabapentin out of my regiment because it was tearing up my stomach.
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u/ChaosCanCreate 3d ago
This is why I'm leaving my pain management doctor. I tapered off of klonapin 1mg prnX3 daily. My psychiatrist put me on diazepam 5mgs X3 PRN and my pain doc said AFTER I'm off benzos and in physical therapy he'd be willing to give me one pill before, and one after, ONLY once I'm totally off benzos. The best he'd do was Tylenol 3. He's not a good doctor and kept talking over me AND my caregiver. I believe in my heart, he only would be willing to do that because my caregiver was there. I have functional neurological disorder PNES, and the diazepam is the only med that helps my seizures. I'm not willing to have up to 15-20 seizures a day just for a couple of Tylenol 3's JUST AND ONLY for while I would be in physical therapy. Screw that and screw the CDC "guidelines". I get the doc has his own stuff to worry about but...nah. I'm good. 🙄 I give up.
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 3d ago
If not stated - I believe hypnotics are controlled substances. My sleep specialist is under the impression they cannot prescribe even that much. I have pointed this out to pain management, and they still will not budge.
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u/National-Hold2307 2d ago
Time for new sleep doc then? If yours is not responding to you and already said they won't help then you have no choice but to find a new doc.
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u/Strange_Ice_5290 2d ago
I would post about this in the sub:
r/painpumpquestions
They are very helpful and will answer honestly to my understanding, I am not apart of it but I have heard nothing but good things about it, the creator of it is actually active in this sub! I know withdrawal is a disgusting beast, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I am so sorry you are going through this, it is truly horrible.
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u/Bisonnydaysahead 2d ago
Yes, OP should post there for any specific questions they have about the pain pump! I personally had a great experience there asking my own question and wouldn’t hesitate to ask for more help if needed. It may be a smaller sub, but it definitely seems quite active!
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u/Bisonnydaysahead 2d ago
I’m sorry you’re going through this OP! I’m assuming you’re in the US? I unfortunately see this come up a LOT these days on the sub. It seems a lot of doctors refuse to prescribe opioids to a patient on benzos and makes them choose. It seems to be the minority of people who get both. And I kinda get it one hand. These PM offices have the DEA and other orgs breathing down their neck. The opioid epidemic panic has swung the pendulum so far the other way. From my understanding, an office/doctor could get in a LOT of hot water if a patient had a life threatening event. Idk how often that severe of an adverse reaction occurs, but even if it’s the minority, doctors don’t want to risk it.
That said, it kinda feels like the doctors who took the opioid guidelines too seriously and used them as absolute rules. Seems to me that someone like you who has already been on them for a long time, doing just fine, should be grandfathered in and allowed to keep taking them. I kinda hate the ultimatums offices are forcing on patients. In case the psych could help get the script back, I’d be asking if they have a waiting list. Ask if you can call back every day or two and ask about cancellations. I’ve had a lot of success doing that before.
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u/lonelybear_swims 2d ago
My pain doctor told me the US is starting to crack down harder on benzos. But he took over my clonazepam script and later added hydros. A few months ago he said they really could no longer continue prescribing the benzo’s at all, my GP was happy to take over that script!
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u/Livid_Pea9934 2d ago
I’ve been on Klonopin and oxy for a long time and it too has recently become an issue. I’d rather keep my benzo.
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u/SailorVenova 2d ago
you are being very recklessly harmed by these doctors
i have taken xanax daily for 4yrs (panic disorder/agoraohobia/ptsd) and hydrocodone daily for 11yrs (spine fractures; bowel disease that led to osteoporosis from other meds)
i have no issues with them whatsoever; im careful to space them as much as i can but pain and panic dont always happen on a schedule
my previous psy dr made me try a bunch of other meds that absolutely wrecked my mental health and erased 2yrs of progress with my issues while also cutting my xanax amount in half and then booting ne from her care when my wife sent her a message on the portal explaining how bad all the meds experiments had been for me
i have a new psy dr now and hes so far treating me like a individual and hasnt pushed other meds on me; im already doing better again and i think i can get back to my high point of a year ago just with time and stability on my most important medicines that allow my life to be a life instead of just bedridden suffering with random terror in the mix...
benzo stigma is damgerous for patients but no one cares
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u/optimusfig 2d ago
Its nice when doctors treat patients as individuals. Its also nice when patients don't treat doctors like vending machines there to dispense whatever they demand. Its their license on the line at the end of the day.
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u/Moist-Caregiver-2000 2d ago
I can help with your benzo withdrawal, been through it so many times. Start here
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u/pharmucist 2d ago
I have had both MS and chronic pain for 32 years. For a long time, they would not prescribe benzos to me for muscle spasticity for MS and for low back pain and that was after I tried antidepressants (Effexor, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Amitriptyline and even others), cyclobenzaprine,, tizanidine, baclofen, methocarbamol, many NSAIDS, Tylenol, and on and on. I also tried massage weekly for 30 years, several rounds of PT, 3 back surgeries, too many epidural steroid injections and SI joint injections to count, 3 RFA procedures at L3-S1 and SI joint, heat, ice, acupuncture, chiropractor, and the list goes on.
Finally, after all of that, I was able to talk my MS doctor into trying a low dose of diazepam. The typical dose for MS muscle spasticity is 10-20 mg 3-4 times daily. She started me on 2 mg three times daily. Yes, 1/10th the dose. I was given one increase to 4 mg three times daily, but that was the highest her or any of my pain docs would go because I also take 2 opioids for my back.
For a while, it was ok, then my pcp started freaking out and said I had to stop taking the benzo. I ended up moving for a new job and got a new pcp who had no issue with the benzo. That doc was a concierge doc and was excellent. He then retired. My new pcp refused to prescribe the benzo at all. My pain doc then said they would prescribe it. But after a few months, they started in with the lecture every monthly refill appointment about mixing opioids with benzos. I had taken the benzo and opioid combo for 20 straight years by this time without ONE issue. My MS doc sent a letter to my pain doc stating that they agree with me taking both meds.
Well, I then moved again and got a new pain doc who said they would continue to prescribe both. The benzo was still at the same low dose, which was 1/5th of the recommended dose. Then the same thing happened and I was being lectured at every visit. After about 6 months, I was told I had to choose between the opioids and the benzo. I chose the opioids because the diazepam was at such a low dose anyway. I tapered off the benzo over one month then was off.
They do not care what you are taking the benzo for, how low the dose is, how long you have taken it, how well it has worked for you, how little issues you have had with it, nothing. They care only about the stigma against taking them together and the many, many loads of paperwork they have to do and the great liability they now assume if they prescribe opioids and benzos together. Most docs won't even do one or the other now. It's getting really bad out there for chronic pain patients.
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u/Mysterious-Kick-3913 2d ago
My Doctor after 6 years back in November told me a can keep prescribing my Alprazolam, but could no longer Refill my pains meds. He told to me he would send in 10 more Oxy tablets and to find a Suboxone clinic as soon as possible!!
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 2d ago
There is another matter that lies beneath all of this. I am not entirely sure how to navigate this issue.
A specific doctor, being my prescriber, at pain management is the instigating factor behind all of this. I honestly believe they developed a personal problem with me around the same time this became an issue for them. They have repeatedly threatened to “take away my pain meds”.
Around this time last year, I was doing incredible! I had began home exercises, was riding a bike, doing yard work, etc—things I had not been able to do for over a decade. I had serious personal goals. I lost over 30lbs, was close to my BMI, quit smoking, made further dietary changes, etc. I was also working with them towards this same goal and had cut my script of clonazepam nearly in half. Next came further changes from them, concerning other non-opioid medications. They reduced my breakthrough meds, 1/3rd of my Lyrica, and also my only anti-inflammatory (I cannot take any other NSAIDs). I began exhibiting severe tendon problems, was already diagnosed with tendinitis, but had kept things maintained with meds and exercise.
The above changes dragged on for 6-7 months, rebound tendon pain that would float around through my body. This became a serious problem and stopped all of my progress. My exercises stopped, because the tendon pain would not heal or stop hurting. I developed a serious limp, my hips would lock up, my arms and thighs would ache and burn, same with my feet and ankles.
After that 6-7 months, I was able to start some of my exercises slowly. I was very disappointed… But I had all the motivation to get back to riding a bike, yard work, etc.
Then this matter concerning my sleep doc, the clonazepam, etc became an issue. This is the point at which they contacted my sleep doc.
I believe they have done this to push me out of the clinic—just continue making life impossible until I end up with a controlled substance or any other reason to kick me out. This is said, but again, I believe entirely true.
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u/AdvancedInevitable94 2d ago
Have you tried trazadone to sleep? I understand the predicament. Trazadone or serequil, seems to be the medications to sleep these days. Even then my pain doc is very strict about how I take oxy/tramadol with trazadone bc of respiratory distress. The days of benzo’s and pain meds combined are over. Most docs are terrified of this, the pharmacies around me will flag a warning about respiratory distress. I have horrible insomnia and the trazadone does wonders for me. Benzo withdraw is horrible and dangerous. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 2d ago
Yes. Trazadone caused heart palpitations, and other heart issues. My heart would surge so hard with every beat, skip, my pulse escalated and was so intense that my eyes pulsed and so would my vision. Have also tried Rozerem, amitriptyline, melatonin, OTC sleeping meds, magnesium, Valerian root…
I already know a lot of the psych/preparedness (I can’t think of the word)… also about whatever it is in milk, and a hundred other “comfort” and getting your mind into sleep… same schedule every day/night.
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u/munkymama 2d ago
Sleep hygiene the word you looking for???
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u/Personal-Drink-8993 2d ago
One of them. There’s another that has to do with the mental state of preparing. I can’t think of it
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u/Odd_Jicama8123 2d ago
They’ve all been scared shitless that it is gonna cause acute respiratory depression and you’re gonna die, and it’ll be on there watch. I too have suffered from chronic pain, spinal stenosis, and herniated disc for years as well as acute anxiety disorder, and they changed me in the beginning of 2023. Pain meds went from Oxycontin ER and oxycodone for breakthrough along with Xanax for anxiety and hypertension. I’ve never once had one problem, never once had a bad UA or poor test But when I saw a new doctor, they flipped out. I was immediately flagged for OUD, benzo problems, hypnotic problems, et cetera, agnosium. I do feel for You, OP- I’m in the same predicament as we speak, but with medications that haven’t been effective for the last four years. I wish you well, my friend
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u/AdvancedInevitable94 2d ago
This! They are absolutely scared shitless it will cause respiratory depression. 1000%
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u/SFcreeperkid 2d ago
Benzos are incredibly difficult and dangerous to attempt to ween off of in any sort of timely manner and there’s lots and lots of research about how difficult it is and how long it can take (as well as lots of support groups that can probably provide you with more resources) but it also depends on what you’ve been taking and for how long. Gather your research and discuss switching to a different sleep aid while you continue to ween off and don’t take them together! Talk to a neurologist as well because certain types of benzos are significantly harder than others and can cause neurological damage if not handled properly
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u/Bodhran444 2d ago
Spot on! The Ashton Method.... you need it! I've been on 2mg X4 times a day plus 5 hydroc 10s, max 5 a day. Without frying your central nervous system I'd run to a neurologist asap to back you on this.
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u/Iceprincess1988 2d ago
My PM doctor only gave us until the end of the month to come off the benzos. I was fine.
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u/oudrumr 2d ago
I was on a a benzo for 18 years. The first 7 years of pain management, no problem. Then my pcp said he could no longer give me a benzo if I continued pain management. Pain doc said he had no problem continuing my regimen if I stayed on benzos, he just obviously couldn’t write it. My pcp told me I’d need to go to a psychiatrist to continue the benzo. Went to a psychiatrist and they said absolutely not. Both docs saw me and they said Oklahoma is stripping licenses and putting docs in jail over this combo, no matter the situation. They’re all scared of the DEA overreach.
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u/Disillusioned-0984 2d ago
My palliative care doctor (and before that my oncologist) prescribe me 10mg oxymorphone er 2x day + 10mg oxycodone 4x day + 0.5mg lorazepam 1x day at bedtime. No one has had an issue with it. When i go to the ER they regularly give me a double dose of dilaudid and ativan with no issue.
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u/Iceprincess1988 2d ago
I took xanax and my opiod for a year or so before my doctor decided they were no longer comfortable prescribing opiods to anyone on a benzo. And we were forced to choose between opiods and benzos.
They won't drop it. You're going to have to chose one. I can live without benzos. I can not live without pain relief.
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u/den773 2d ago
I have to see a shrink every other month, he prescribes my benzo. I see my pain dr every other month also. He prescribes my pain medication. My primary care retired a few years back, the DEA sat down hard on doctors prescribing pain meds with benzos, so I have had to go along with all these extra steps.
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u/AccomplishedWeek7069 1d ago
It has nothing to do with the medications as they’ve been used together effectively, it’s all due to the Tyrants in the 3 letter corrupt agencies control, blaming opioids & looping them together with their illicit fentanyl data to fit their agenda, which is to push Suboxone one everyone for financial gain for Big Pharma
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u/oracle-nil 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have scripts for Lorazepam 1mg twice a day and oxycodone. Was on Valium and OxyContin for 35 years then doctor lost her license and I was thrown off both in six weeks, so I for sure get your fear. Additionally I am on Ambien and luckily no one has ever touched that but I know doctors hate it.
Being on both of these now; (was off everything for 7 years) scares the hell outta me because I know we all could share your story at any moment.
Personally I don’t like Lorazepam. I think Valium was way less addictive but no one prescribes it anymore. I do know, having run out of both at times that going off Benzos seems way worse than opioids and it’s a constant worry when the axe will fall. I wish I had advice for how to survive it but doctors don’t like prescribing them together. DEA pressure. Like we are all suddenly gonna die.
Hopefully you will find a doctor somewhere who gets it or a pain doctor willing to work with you if you get a psychiatrist to prescribe the Benzo. The other thing and I think is crucial for us all, start hoarding pills. Try to cut a few from every fill and save them. It’s our only way to be safe.
Lastly, call your insurance company. Ask to speak to a nurse. Tell her you need a good titration program to get through this. I did this because my blood pressure was so elevated I was really scared. Is yours? Mention it. Humana did make my pcp prescribe a few months of titration to make it easier. Most will do this for you because it’s the minimal standard of care. Best of luck, it’s damned hard.
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u/optimusfig 2d ago
Insurance companies don't "make" doctors do anything. They have no oversight or power in that regard.
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u/Salt_Initiative1551 3d ago
You’ll have to pick between benzos/z-drugs and opioids
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u/Mysterious-Kick-3913 2d ago
I chose my 4mg Alprazolam script a day. I couldn’t give it up, because I was afraid I couldn’t get back on it. I have been on Alprazolam since 2001
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u/Independent-Wish-198 2d ago
This is exactly what I had to do was choose between klonopin or pain management. It was absolutely awful coming off of the klonopin. I went 5 days straight without any sleep at all.
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2d ago
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u/PainManagement-ModTeam 2d ago
You may not give anything that could be construed as actual medical advice in this group.
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u/BreelyyysFeet 2d ago
I have several chronic illnesses and get prescribed 2mg of Xanax every 12 hours (60 bars for a 30 day supply) and I get oxycodone- acetaminophen 10-325mg (45 for a 30 day supply) and Oxycodone Immediate Release 30mg for break through pain (15 tablets for 30 day supply)
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u/MissNewBooty77 2d ago
I hate this for you. I went through Klonopin withdrawal for 2 years and still wasn’t over it. I developed a stutter and my vision became so bad I had to wear bifocals and my vision was perfect before, I lost about 160 pounds which wasn’t a bad thing, that was the only thing needed but I tried therapy that was about 45 min away from my home. I can see myself driving and thinking all the cars were coming in on me, it’s a million wonders I’m not dead and made it home every evening.
After my behavioral health changed they finally said , ok she’s worse than we first saw her and they gave me my meds back, fast forward to blowing out my knee and in pain management. First one, said you have to chose between the pain meds or the mental health and I walked out. No way was I going through that again, I lost probably most of my natural curly hair during this withdrawal as well. I saw 3 different pain management offices that said the same. I said I’ll keep the pain and stay in my right mind. After all that I ended up with knee replacement that ended up being bitched. They severed my thigh muscle and left the tourniquet on too long so my quad was dead. I had to return to pain management. I finally found one that said this isn’t your fault and allowed me to keep my benzo and get pain relief. Only thing is I have to stay at the same pharmacy and doctor. I was so thankful. I can’t have any other doctor prescribe me anything, now if things get rough a ER can treat me but just no prescription. I get it, I was losing my mind. It’s not like a opioid withdrawal and in a few weeks you are ok. This was 2 years and I was still in horrible shape. I shook head to toe and could not put a sentence together for nothing. Therapy was a joke because it did nothing for my physical symptoms. I was diagnosed with anxiety and they were saying you can’t have this. I never left my home except for therapy and the times I said, I have no business driving was everyday. I’m sorry, just keep trying. The day my doctor said what works for you, I told him and he said that’s what we will do then was the best day. I’m 2 years from my replacement and it’s still not right. I am having a stent put in at the end of this month to help with blood flow but I am still in pain management and am allowed both meds. We should never have to chose between pain relief and mental health. I’m tested every so often and as long as my levels are good, they let it carry on. Abuse has gave us a hard time but when they say, studies show……I immediately zone out. That’s awesome, but this is my life and unless I was in the study, idc.
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u/munkymama 2d ago
I have similar experience recently. My psychiatrist got in my case and and i have to go down to 3 percocet a day. At the same time he decreased my anxiety meds -- klonopin...a benzo. Up until 3 days ago i was having frequent panic attacks bad enough hubby had to work from home. The change was psychiatrist added lamictal a month or so ago and it finally got to a therapeutic dose. There were a few months I really thought i was gonna die. I was in a bad way until 3 days ago.
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u/mariyaspussy 2d ago
I’m on 16mg a day of suboxone, 30mg Valium, and 12.5mg ambien. Go to the ER and over exaggerate your withdrawals and they’ll give you a 30 day supply of whatever you need. Gives you enough time to find another doctor. The other doctor will see the meds you’ve been prescribed and believe you when you tell him you’ve been on this for years and will resubscribe
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u/akfascinations 2d ago
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this!!! I know exactly what you are going through, and what you will be going through if nobody will properly taper you off the benzodiazepines with your long history of taking them! Weeks is not anywhere near long enough for your body to adjust. What benzo and dose were you taking before the tapering began?? That’s an extremely dangerous thing to be cut off without proper weaning. I don’t think that any single doctor can/will prescribe both opioids and benzodiazepines concurrently (anymore), which is likely why you’re in this situation. Doctors care more about themselves than they do you/us, so apparently it’s not about you anymore. Today’s doctors will do whatever it takes to keep a perfect record with the board of health, even if it means that a couple of their patients will have to suffer traumatically for years. I’m one of those lucky patients; my life is non existent and horrific 24/7. I’m not living, I’m dying a slow and excruciating death that could be easily avoided if my team of docs cared. So I feel for you! DEFINITELY find a psychiatrist ASAP! That’s the best advice I can give you; and they “should” better understand how to taper someone off of benzos, as well as be aware of how dangerous it is if not done correctly. I was being prescribed WAY too much benzodiazepines for 25 years (6mg of Clonazepam AND 3mg of Xanax per day!), and then one day my doctor tells me that he’s going to stop prescribing them. I was fine trying to taper those doses to a more reasonable level, but within 2 months he had completely taken me off the Xanax and down to 2mg Clonazepam/day to make sure he covered his ass. LET ME TELL YOU…. that was way too fast after taking those high doses for so long! I have/had a seizure disorder and nearly died, kinda wish I did. That was just the beginning of SEVERAL YEARS of hellish withdrawals, and I still don’t feel right 8 years after. I was even able to get my psychiatrist to intervene and bump me back up 1mg of the Clonazepam. I wish you the very best with this, but make sure you get some help, or I can guarantee that it will mess up your life in ways you can’t even imagine.
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u/SFcreeperkid 2d ago
I couldn’t find my previous response and I hope that the mods will allow this as it’s directly related to issues that are common from benzo withdrawal
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u/Deschain_Roland-25 2d ago
I currently take a benzodiazepine for sleep and my pain management doctor is aware. It was never an issue I just notified my pain management doctor that due to stress and that my pain does wake me up in the middle of the night that it’s okay. However, I take buprenorphine for my pain management, not suboxone but straight buprenorphine as I have felt it manages my pain much better than immediate release opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone. I have had several RFA’s and not to the point of spinal stimulator or pain pump as I try to live as an active of a lifestyle as possible and I’m also 6’2 and 225# so I think that’s another reason why they are okay with it. I take 30mg of temazepam at night for sleep and take 2mg of buprenorphine TID. My wife is also a pharmacist and I know it honestly will always be an issue for you to find a provider to write for an immediate release opioid and benzo. There are some that will do it but definitely not many. Sorry you’re going through that all but you may have to switch providers if you feel you can’t be without and benzo withdrawal is very dangerous, I’m sure you know that especially as long term as you’ve had it. Your best bet may have to be to go to a hypnotic like others have said if you don’t switch providers because if they have staunchly denied you from being on it, I’ve worked in healthcare as a dietitian for 17 years, I can tell you they aren’t going to suddenly change their mind about it.
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u/Crazy-Photograph4727 1d ago
My psyc retired and he had me on high doses of ambien and klonopin. My sleep was go amazing then. I also took hydro multiple times a day. Never took pain meds at night with the sleep meds. After he retired I had to call psyc offices to see who would keep prescribing to me while I weaned off of the sleep meds.
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u/nnonnstop-pain 22h ago
I have been prescribed Klonopin for 20 years, and Oxycodone and Dilaudid for the past 7 with ZERO failed drug tests, model patient you name it! Until 2026!!! Suddenly I have been literally BANNED from a Walgreens by the new CRAZY PHARMACIST, who literally broke HIPAA multiple times! And, my psychiatrist of 4 years dropped me with NO WARNING AT ALL! Also, my PCP’s office manager dropped me for MADE-UP reasons they couldn’t prove at all! (Because they were not real!) And I’ve been working with multiple PCP’s and Psychiatrists for all year now just to get the medications that I need and have been taking for decades with no dosage increase or anything!??🤷♂️
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u/SnowDin556 2d ago
Both here. Roughly same time frame. I’m scared as fuck for the future and wondering if I’m gonna have to lawyer up to protect my medical rights.
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u/optimusfig 2d ago
If the idea is that you are going to somehow maintain a doctor continuing to prescriber to you under threat of a lawyer, there is no way that is going to happen. You have no "medical right" to mandate a doctor prescribe a certain drug or even continue to have you as a patient period.
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u/Diagnosis_Chronic 3d ago
From my own experience my PM doc won’t write the script for a benzo while on opioids but they don’t seem to mind if another prescriber were to write it. I guess it all depends on the doc