It may seem like the promise of a miracle, a quick way to help you through a particularly difficult time in your life, such as when you suffer a traumatic event like a fire in your home, or the loss of a loved one. You go to your doctor, you let them know you are having trouble sleeping, stressed about your future and feeling on edge at work. She offers you a way to relax muscles, reduce anxious thoughts, and help you sleep, all with a "safe" aide that you can take for "several weeks" until symptoms subside. Several weeks turns into several months. You do sleep better at first, and your thoughts stop racing so that you can relax again, at first.
Informed Consent
You gave informed consent, you assume, because you asked for help, you got it, and you trust your doctor. You agreed to take these meds and you take them just as prescribed. You may feel relieved and fortunate to have a doctor that responds so quickly to your needs. But informed consent is the process in which the treating healthcare provider discloses appropriate information to a competent patient, you, so that the patient can make a choice to accept or refuse the treatment. Discloses. Appropriate. Information.
To disclose appropriate information would be to tell you the following, including, but not limited to:
1) reasonable alternatives to the medications (meaning, other, non-medication options)
2) relevant risks, benefits, and uncertainties related to each alternative
3) assessment of your understanding
4) the nature of the procedure/decision
A thorough disclosing of appropriate information in regards to risks and uncertainties, #2 above, would mean your doctor would tell you Benzos have a "boxed" warning, the FDA's strongest warning. Your doctor would tell you of the risks of abuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal. It would mean your doctor would tell you of common side effects including, but not limited to, depression, breathing problems, balance issues, drowsiness, car accidents, suicidal/violent thoughts, and overdose (especially when combined with opioids or alcohol).
Your doctor would also tell you of long-term risks, considered to occur when use is longer than 2-4 weeks, and include physical dependence, memory loss, an increased chance of dementia, osteoporosis, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, addiction, worsening of original symptoms being treated, and more. Physical dependence can develop in a matter of days, even when taken as prescribed by your doctor. Benzos use can cause changes in the nervous system, resulting in Benzos injury syndrome - also called protracted withdrawal (occurring in 15% or more of patients). Symptoms may last years, and neurological damage may be permanent.
The Reality
Has this been your experience when offered treatment with a Bezodiazepine? Or has it simply been prescribed, with little information of the dangers of taking it?
Is consent truly given from an informed place, or is it just given, with little to no real information except the doctor's word that all will be well with one pill, or two, per day? Benzos are often spoken about as "safe" because they're in "low doses" of 1/2 or 1 mg. per dose. However, little is said about the fact that the new Benzos, Xanax and Klonopin are 20 times the strength of Valium, the Benzodiazepine that is publicly known to be harmful, addictive, and dangerous. Therefore, 1 mg. is not what it appears.
What is the Alternative?
These drugs can be very helpful in an emergency situation. However, even if prescribed and taken as directed, for 2-4 weeks only, they can cause tremendous harm in certain individuals, as some can suffer incredible painful and long-term symptoms while on them, called inter-dose withdrawal, or when attempting to stop taking them. The most important advice, and rule of thumb, is to do your own research. You can start with suggested reading at the bottom of this article.
Consider managing anxiety or other challenging symptoms with a variety of natural remedies, such as movement and exercise, building muscle, a change in your bedtime and sleep routine, going to bed when tired instead of pushing through, a decrease and mindful use of technology, social media, and news consumption, and an increase in nutritionally dense foods that are whole rather than processed and a diet focused on plant-based choices.
The foundational recipe: choosing from a rainbow of vegetables with every meal, wild fish and shellfish when possible, grass fed animal meats and pasture-raised eggs (if you eat meat), fruits, nuts and seeds, and legumes. Additionally, include breath work and journaling into your day, as well as activities outdoors in nature, and those that give you a good laugh and that bring you real joy. Connect, internally and socially, take in the sun, and join a support group or a fun group - walking, hiking, dancing, book club, etc. Adopting these changes for 2-4 weeks will likely get you through a rough time. If you need motivation, guidance, and help, visit a really close friend or relative. If that isn't enough or not available, find the right therapist or coach. If you can afford a trip, take a trip to an inspirational location or book a retreat.
Plan Your Tapering Before You Start
Consider and remember that any advertised drug on the market for psychological issues is a derivative of previous drugs that have proven to be harmful. They are easy to begin yet very hard to stop taking, potentially wreaking havoc in your life, work, finances, and relationships for months or longer. Developing dependence and tolerance, and suffering serious withdrawal symptoms is real and a great risk. Tread lightly with what alterations you inadvertently make to your brain, as it's an incredibly complex and delicate organ. If you decide to begin taking a Benzodiazepine, do so with complete information, a knowledgeable doctor, a plan for a prescription schedule and a stopping, meaning a tapering schedule.
Don't Stop. Instead, Taper With Care
Coming off these strong drugs can be life threatening, and/or carry the possibility of extreme withdrawal symptoms. A proper slow tapering needs to be put in place, and few health care professionals are aware of how this needs to be planned and implemented in order to reduce risks.
Unlike opioids, Benzodiazepines need to be tapered much, much more slowly and carefully to decrease risk of severe neurological injury. If you, or someone you know, is possibly suffering with Benzodiazepine dependence, withdrawal, or protracted withdrawal, please contact either of the resources below for help. Don't hesitate to do as much research as necessary. Help them, or yourself, today.
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