Needing some help in the Seattle area!!!!

[dragonflii]

Hi there I am a newbie here but am in need of some advice!!  2 years ago I was put on  Lorazepam 3mg daily for very bad panic attacks I was having.  After a year I begin going through some very rough times in my life and my anxiety and panic attacks worsened so the doctor put me on 6mg daily.  So for the last year I have been taking 6mg of lorazepam daily some days more some days a little less but always daily.  I am also a alcoholic have had some good sober time 6 years and just had a little over 9 months.  Well during the summer I had two short term relapses….my doctor was aware of this….2 appts ago we discussed starting to taper me off of the lorazepam slowly--after my last refill of 90 2mg pills per month he requested I come see him to do a follow-up.  I made my appt. right before I was about to run out of my meds….when I went and saw him he walked in and I explained that I had another short term relapse (2nd one) on alcohol and he refused to refill my rx.  I said to him this could be life threatening!!  He did not care…he said go into treatment or the ER (I think we all know that treatment centers do not treat benzo withdrawals like they do with over drugs…benzo’s can take a very long time to taper off of) so I went home very upset.  Over the next few days I took what I had left but it only equaled about 3mg per day.  My body was not happy I felt like I was going to have a seizure (which in 1992 I had one due to alcohol withdrawal so I knew what it felt like)  I went to the ER and they stabilized me and gave me .05mg of clonazepam to last for a few days until I could find a doctor that could help me wean off this stuff in a safe way.  My problem is after several phone calls no doctor wants to help…anyone out there in the Seattle area know of anyone that could help????
Thanks in advance
BTY----I am fully aware of the withdrawal effects of alcohol but never in my life knew about benzo’s if I would of known 2 years ago I would of tried a different approach.

[dragonflii]

sadstone it is 0.5...ya you would think there would be someone around here but call after call no one wants to deal with it...I think in part some of it has to do with me also being a alcoholic but like I said in my first post I know what I need to do to stay sober I have had some really good time!!  Just a few mess ups during the summer.  I am fully aware of the effects on the brain with alcohol and benzo's but honestly with some of the things I have gone through over the last few years I don't think I could of stayed sober without medication.

[sandstone27]

did they prescribe .05 or .50?  Just curious.
Good luck with finding a doctor Monday - I have to think a GP somewhere in Seattle will understand your situation and do the right thing.

Keep us posted!

S.

[dragonflii]

Thanks everyone...no luck with a doctor but on Wed. the ER did write me a RX of 30 .05mg of clonazepam to take every 8 hours.  I am able doing ok with taking one in the morning and then one in the late afternoon,..seems ok but I am very  irritable and I don't think people around me are enjoying me to much but I am trying...Will try again on Monday regarding a doctor.

[sandstone27]

How are you feeling this morning?  
Any luck with finding a doctor? - I know it's next to impossible on the weekends.
Drop us a note so we know how you're doing.

Well wishes...

S.

[badkitty40]

I am so appauled by this,I am also on lorazepam 0.5 mg twice a day,I know the effects I would face if i toook to much so i make sure i take em as precribed,being on such a high dose as yours ,I cannot believe your doctor would just shut you off,that is one cold hearted man...I also experiance panic attacks real bad,*****,so feel for you...I woul go to the E,R be honest and tell them everything,you cant just stop a benzo....I wish you the best of luck ................Also the more benzo you take the more panic attacks you will have,your body will accept this drug and rely on it,when you do and if you can get more,I would consider tapering down to a way lower dose :)

[sandstone27]

I read your post again, and if you have to seek urgent care (ER) I would insist that they give you some type of longer term script - possibly 2 to 4 weeks - explain your difficulties in finding a doctor that will treat you - another poster did just that when he was in the ER after he ran out of benzos, and at first the ER doc said he was on his own, but he explained to the doctor that he would seize, and the next morning he got a script for a "handful of benzos" till he could get to a doctor.  

Good luck!

S.

[sandstone27]

Hello and Welcome!
I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties - it was very irresponsible of your doctor to cut you off of benzos - he should know the risk of seizure if you quit them cold turkey!  I had anxiety and panic some years ago, and my doctor started me off on xanax but quickly changed me over to clonazepam - which as you probably know is a much longer acting benzo.  We did biofeedback for about 9 months and then I was weaned off of the clonazepam SLOWLY - 6 or 8 weeks I dont remember exactly - it was about 5 years ago.  

It's good that you understand the immediacy of your situation.  Have you tried calling a GP who can give you a script until you can at least get to a specialist?  I wish I had someone I could recommend for you, Do you have any lorazepam left? If not, you may need to consider urgent care over the weekend if you start feeling the withdrawals.  

Please post back and let us know how you're doing.

Well wishes,

Sandy :)