National movement to end benzo use?

[CrankyMe]

My pdoc mentioned today that we'd have to have a talk at some point about discontinuing my klonopin, as it was going to become official policy at the hospital to substitute benzos with other anti-anxiety meds because of the risk of addiction and the temptation for prescribed users to sell them on the street market.

 

Last year, they implemented a policy that allowed for pdocs to prescribe a single benzo per patient. At the time, my pdoc (different one) explained the policy to me apologetically, because I was on Klonopin x2 daily to manage every day anxiety and on Xanax prn for panic attacks.

 

Today, my pdoc said that right now, the policy is being loosely "suggested" but that she anticipated it become solidly implemented in the next 2 to 3 years. According to her, it wasn't so much an institutional policy as it was a federal one, designed to keep the drugs off the streets.

 

Has anyone else heard the same from their providers? I did a google search using the terms "federal" "benzodiazepines" "discontinuation" and other search terms, but didn't find anything.

 

Klonopin is what has enabled me to manage my anxiety enough to leave my house. Before being prescribed with it, I was homebound with agoraphobia for over 2 years.

 

I asked her what would happen if these other anti-anxiety drugs didn't work for me or others. She just shrugged and said, "Well, that's a potential problem. But don't worry too much about it. It will be a couple of years before it is really an issue."

[notfred]

Nope.

[bluechick]

I'd hazard a guess and say that your pdoc may be grossly misinformed.

[AirMarshall]

Nope.   I would hazard the statement that multiple benzo use is not that common anyhow.

 

It is good sense to push use of other meds like AD's, AAP's, mood stabilizers to reduce anxiety, because they are effective long term and benzos are not.

[melissaw72]

I have not heard anything like this, and would be screwed if something like this ever came true.  I am on Klonopin 2x/d and xanax prn, and I've tried it without xanax one time, but can't deal with the anxiety ... so I really need the 2.  But no, haven't heard anything.

[Cetkat]

No, I haven't heard anything of the sort.  I really don't see how a federal policy could be made to eliminate an entire class of medication without cause - meaning the FDA finds it physically dangerous and withdraws it from the market.

 

Also, assuming the policy would be limited to hospitals, they utilize benzos in the ER.  So how exactly would a ban work?

 

I'll tell you one thing though, that policy would have the exact opposite effect.  People already get their meds from Mexico and Canada due to cost.  It's stupid to think they wouldn't find alternative ways to obtain their medications.

 

My guess is you're dealing with that particular hospital's policy.

[notfred]

This is pointless.

[CrankyMe]

Yes, the search for information is always pointless. Point(lessness) taken, notfred. 

 

I'm glad no one else has heard this from their providers. Maybe she misunderstood the origin of the policy. I thought it sounded strange, which is why I wondered if any others had heard about it. Glad that's not the case. Thanks for the feedback. Well, the useful feedback. 'tis appreciated.

[notfred]

I have heard docs say shit like this when they don't want to prescribe for benzos. I had one say only pdocs can write for benzos. Slight kernel of truth here. The DEA is less likely to question a doc having a lot of patients on benzos if they are a pdoc. I have had docs say upfront they only like to write for benzos in small amounts or have patients on benzos lomg term and for patients who need them with regularity they refer them to a pdoc.

[Cetkat]

I have heard docs say shit like this when they don't want to prescribe for benzos. I had one say only pdocs can write for benzos. Slight kernel of truth here. The DEA is less likely to question a doc having a lot of patients on benzos if they are a pdoc. I have had docs say upfront they only like to write for benzos in small amounts or have patients on benzos lomg term and for patients who need them with regularity they refer them to a pdoc.

I was under the impression that the hospital worker in question was a pdoc.  I can say that the only reason why the school pdoc (MD) I have now wrote my xanax script was the fact that I'd been on it for years... so I think you may have a point.  I do suppose long term would generally equal multiple pdocs coming to the same conclusion and therefore be less questionable.

[notfred]

I have heard docs say shit like this when they don't want to prescribe for benzos. I had one say only pdocs can write for benzos. Slight kernel of truth here. The DEA is less likely to question a doc having a lot of patients on benzos if they are a pdoc. I have had docs say upfront they only like to write for benzos in small amounts or have patients on benzos lomg term and for patients who need them with regularity they refer them to a pdoc.

I was under the impression that the hospital worker in question was a pdoc.  I can say that the only reason why the school pdoc (MD) I have now wrote my xanax script was the fact that I'd been on it for years... so I think you may have a point.  I do suppose long term would generally equal multiple pdocs coming to the same conclusion and therefore be less questionable.

 

The doc I have worked with are really sketchy about schedule II, also. An internist who was supplying my psycomeds for a gap in seeing a pdoc said that the DEA frowns on generalists writing for schedule II. He would give me a months supply of amphetamine but did not want to do more than that.

 

My understanding is that this is a case of scrutiny from the DEA, sure a generalist can write for any med they want for as long as they want.

[scatty]

Call me paranoid, but this sounds like an excuse your pdoc is using. 

[notfred]

Call me paranoid, but this sounds like an excuse your pdoc is using. 

 

Agreed.

[CirclesOfConfusion]

My pdoc is pretty conservative about benzos and I've never heard him mention anything like that.

 

I see him later today to check in on my trial on stims.  If there's a good opening to ask about the bizarre benzo policy thing, I will.  I'm curious about what he would say regarding that.

[werehorse]

I'm often suprised by the number of people on here who are on regular and/or multiple benzos. The policy in the UK is to give them only in absolute emergencies and only in small amounts - maybe a week's worth.

[CirclesOfConfusion]

I asked my pdoc today.  He said he's never heard of any such national movement.  

[CrankyMe]

Thanks, CoC, good to have some recent feedback from another pdoc.

 

Scatty, I don't think my pdoc was making excuses for trying to get me off benzos...I think maybe she was misinformed or misunderstood what she was told or, hell, I'll even admit I could have misunderstood what she told me - I haven't had the best concentration lately.

 

She didn't seem in any particular rush to have me change anti-anxiety meds and she's never expressed concern about my use of benzos. If anything, she'd likely say I under-use them because I often forget to take my prescribed evening dose.

[San]

That's ridiculous!

I had a pdoc tell me she didn't "believe in benzos". I've been on them for 11 years. I fired her.

[notfred]

I'm often suprised by the number of people on here who are on regular and/or multiple benzos. The policy in the UK is to give them only in absolute emergencies and only in small amounts - maybe a week's worth.

 

Totally not the policy in the US. At least not actual prescribing practice.

[Wooster]

I could see where an individual hospital or department would take measures though, much like emergency departments have done with developing policies around pain medication.

[San]

Pry them from my cold, dead hands.

 

I call bullshit.