Help - what is the likelihood she is abusing Xanax?

[rnla]

I am dating someone who I suspect is abusing Xanax, Soma or something similar.  What are the symptoms of abuse (Xanax in particular)?  How addictive is it?  She is a nurse in a major L.A. hospital (cardiac unit).  I know that her prior boyfriend, a doctor, would occassionally give it to her instead of alcohol to spice up their sex/social life. Do people typically use Xanax in a sexual context?  How easy would it be for her to get it from the hospital?  In particular, there is a Doc who is the co-head of her unit (cardiac) who is pursuing her.  How easy would it be for him to get the drugs and give it to her?  How much of a risk would he be taking that someone would find out he was giving it to her?  Or is there no risk?  Symptoms - her mood is highly changeable.  Sometimes when she consumes alcohol, after 1 or 2 drinks, it is like she had 7 or 8.  However, normally, it is not clear that she's taking them.  She claims to have stomach and digestion problems, and has for years.  I understand that may be one of the side effects.  What are the symptoms that I should look for?

[colawyer]

My thoughts exactly.  This is a good time for all to re-read the guidelines and I think she came close to crossing the line.

http://www.medhelp.org/TermsOfUse.htm#usersubmiss

[SMSIRL]

It is interesting that the question focuses on the supply of the drug by other males, the relationship to sex, and the openness to punishment of Doctors who might supply it.

Indeed almost 1/2 of the question relates to this, and the follow up emphasizes this.

Also the excessive opennesses of the circumstance pertaining to the locational information - a major L.A. hospital (cardiac unit) - is noteworthy.

Is the stated question the issue or is the possible nature of insecurity in the relationship or even jealousy.

[AJH]

I'm new to this forum and don't know if you are still pursuing this particular question. Anyway, in my experience it sounds like she is abusing them and the reason I say this is because I have a history of abusing these types of medications and the signs are not differcult to see.
I frequently mixed the medication with alcohol and the effect is feeling drunk and happy on only 1 or 2 drinks and when one is drunk it is easier to have sex.

The pills by themselves won't make you want to spice it up in the bedroom but a few pills and alcohol is a lot of fun without the hangover at the expense of your liver and kidneys or even death.

It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, I mean she won't even acknowledge her behaviour plus she works in a hospital and has an addiction to a very addictive drug.
P.S What else is she taking? Keep an eye on her.
I hope this is of some sort of help.

[KickedThePanic]

I must also tell you that taking this type of drug (Xanax) with alcohol is DANGEROUS! If you suspect in the least that someone you care about is caught up in a situation like that, I may well advise you to contact the medical authoity in your community. You may want to talk to the person in question first or even the Dr. in question and involve others that are close to the person. I would look for empty prescription bottles and compare the dates to the more recent prescriptions. Pay attention to the dosage and that should give you a clear indication on whether the drug is being abused.

Good-Luck,

Jerry (***@****)

[rnla]

Jerry,

Thanks very much for your detailed, thoughtful response.  Very much appreciated.

[KickedThePanic]

thanks for your response, but if you (or anyone) could tell me:
- is it typically abused for sexual/social reasons?
- do you see abuse among medical professionals (in this case, a nurse working in a hospital)?
- is it easy to acquire in her situation?
- would a medical professional be taking any risk by proscribing it (how unlikely would it be for a doc in her dept to give it to her), or would it be easy without much risk of repurcussions?

Obviously, the last question is a tough one, and I assume most Doctors are wholly professional. I am solely trying to assess the ease and risk he would take.
Thanks to anyone answering...

1. Sexual = NO!

2. Social = Probably. It makes everything more pleasant.

3. Abuse of prescription drugs can happen to anyone, anytime, no matter your occupation. It is reasonable to assume that this person has peers that are Doctors? It is also plausable to assume that the person could get prescritions from a collegue. However, Xanax is a drug that NEEDS to be followed by a doctor on a regular basis. It is not comonly prescribed by ER physicians because of that fact. It should be followed by the family doctor or HMO. If the person you are speaking of IS a nurse, perhaps they are experiencing burnout. This job is EXTREMELY stressful on an individual because the person id constantly witnessing others in trauma and pain. Seek therapy.

Good-Luck,

Jerry

[jetgal]

I wa put on xanax 10 years ago by my psych for major panic disorder.  I lived in a dream state for those years with NO sex drive.  Most likely your girlfriend would be put on this drug to make her more carefree and thus more esaily sexually exploited.  It is incredibly addictive and the long term side effects are terrible.  Let her know how worried you are.  Please.

[pandora9048]

hi,
  Having taken xanax, in my personal experience it diminishes your sex drive. it does not enhance it at all (like i said this just my personal experience)
Also, working in a hospital as a nurse, i would assume she can easily access drugs, but i think that would be kind of risky since an inventory of these drugs is usually taken.
hope that helps a little.
P.S.  I would also imagine that any doctor could write scripts for drugs.

[rnla]

thanks for your response, but if you (or anyone) could tell me:
- is it typically abused for sexual/social reasons?
- do you see abuse among medical professionals (in this case, a nurse working in a hospital)?
- is it easy to acquire in her situation?
- would a medical professional be taking any risk by proscribing it (how unlikely would it be for a doc in her dept to give it to her), or would it be easy without much risk of repurcussions?

Obviously, the last question is a tough one, and I assume most Doctors are wholly professional.  I am solely trying to assess the ease and risk he would take.
Thanks to anyone answering...

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Xanax is a mood altering drug, but primarily helps diminish anxiety and panic. Its addictive in the sense that it is hard to get off of, and it is easy to pop a pill rather than deal with the source of the anxiety. Its a legal drug, easy to get by prescription. The signs of addiction would be the signs of over-use, which would be sleepy, dreamy, without much pep or ambition.