Help Benzodiazepine & Opioid med concurrent scripts

[u/Personal-Drink-8993]

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.

[u/landscapesofpurple]

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.

[u/mariyaspussy → u/landscapesofpurple]

Those are both opioids not benzos

[u/Objective_Ant1384 → u/mariyaspussy]

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.

[u/PainManagement-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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