I saw my GP today and was talking about physical symptoms but he said there's nothing physically wrong with me (bloods came back fine) so he was saying it's probably due to mental health. He looked at my list of prescriptions and he saw the diazepam on there and was surprised I'm still getting it prescribed (been having it at least 4 years now).
I told him I hardly take it, and when I do it's only 1mg, but I like to carry it with me because I tell myself it's there if I really need it and often that's enough to relieve my anxiety. He was concerned and said he didn't think diazepam should ever be prescribed because of the potential for addiction. He said he wants to see me ultimately stop carrying it with me.
I'm quite scared that next time I see him he might take it off my prescriptions altogether and I really would feel too scared to go out anywhere.
I've emailed my CPN and told her what happened and said I'd like to work on going out without carrying the diazepam, but I know it's going to probably take at least a year to become comfortable.
I'm just worried about this. Ultimately my psychiatrist is responsible for my psych meds and she knows how much diazepam I take and she's happy.
I'm responsible with it so I don't see why I should give it up. I take it max maybe 3 times a month and each time is 1mg, 2mg tops but it's usually rare I take it.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I dont know what to say, other than I have been on it for at least 7 years, and like you I take it occasionally. I am on 5 mg however, but on the rare occasion take 10 mg (again my psych knows this).
As long as your psych is happy with the fact you arent abusing it or the fact you arent addicted (neither of which sounds the case), then your GP cant go against the wishes of your psych. If your GP refuses to prescribe it then I would take it up with your psych.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Thanks. I know that I wasn't the only one using diazepam. Just my luck that my GP went to a seminar on diazepam this week!
I guess my psych could over-rule him, but if he makes waves she might get concerned. It's only my word at the end of the day that I hardly take it, though maybe I could prove it if they did a blood test and checked the levels of diazepam?
Hopefully it wont come to that, and in the meantime I'll work on going out without it.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
I guess my psych could over-rule him, but if he makes waves she might get concerned. It's only my word at the end of the day that I hardly take it, though maybe I could prove it if they did a blood test and checked the levels of diazepam?
If your psych knows you really well, then they should believe you. I have had my psych for 8 years now, and the CMHT send a fax when I need another prescription, since it's on your repeat prescription.
If it's really necessary then you could offer to do a blood test, though if you are like me and scared of needles then you will need some to get through the blood test which defeats the object!!
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
I've only ever been prescribed Diazepam occasionally. My Psychiatrist believed that managing my anxiety would be best controlled with anti-depressants due to the fact Diazapam is very addictive.
I guess my question for you is, do *you* want to get to a place where you no longer carry around your diazepam in the short future, do you want to start working on it?
I emphasize you because I mean for yourself and not your GP.
As you know I recently started going without my hand sanitizer which is a similar thing for me as even if I don't use it I know it is there. I thought I would struggle much more than I have. So even though it feels like it would be very difficult, what I know of you is you're great at gradual exposure and using skills to reduce your anxiety, so in the context of those two things when you feel ready thar you want to tackle it, I have great faith in you.
My GP told me that Lorazepam should never be prescribed when I told her that I have some and that I always carry it around with me, and that I barely use it (maybe 3 times in the last year). So I completely understand your situation!
Sadly, GPs don't always know a lot about mental health things and they probably just can't imagine being in a situation like you. You are fighting to tackle your anxiety, but you know that sometimes skills aren't enough so you are taking the diazepam with you just to be safe. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, and since you aren't taking it that much it shouldn't be a concern of your GP anyway.
As for going without it, I think that it is something that YOU have to want. Only then it is going to work anyway, because if you aren't taking it along with you for someone else it is like stopping to sh for someone else. Doesn't work well as far as I know. Wanting to go without it would be a positive step in your recovery, but as Snow White already said it is probably easier to do that in small steps. Like not taking it with you, if you know that it wont be a long time or if you know that the chances of a panic attack are very small.
You survived the abuse.
You're gonna survive the recovery.
Honestly, if I knew I'd continue to be prescribed diazepam with no issues, then I wouldn't work on not carrying it right now. I think it's too much to do with me working on just going out/using public transport as it is.
I'd like to at some point not need to carry it with me though.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Could you talk about this with your psychiatrist? Surely he/she wouldn't take it away from you if you are working on things step by step, they can't expect you to change over night.
You survived the abuse.
You're gonna survive the recovery.
Hi. Have you discussed your worries with the GP. I would explain that your current aim is to work on getting out abd going on public transport and arrange a time when you can then look at your diazepam safety net. If you agree say in 4-6 months time you will reassess the situation I am sure they will be happy and it takes some of the pressure off. I think trying to do both is a lot to ask. You sound like you are very sensible with it, so I hopefully they shouldn't have a problem with it.
I love diazepam, it's the only thing that works for me, I'm no longer allowed it because I wasn't sensible, so I can see where he is coming from as I became very reliant on it.
