Benzo Contract
Question:
I was told the contract is to ensure that a new doctor would continue to prescribe them
Sounds like a good idea. I will approach my pdoc about this idea at our next visit. Dot — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Is that contract to prevent you from abusing benzos, or to ensure that a new doctor will continue to prescribe them? My doctor is talking about retiring, and she has had me on Ativan every day for 27 years (though I now take a very tiny dose). I’m worried that when a new doctor discovers this he/she will freak out and take me off them. Dot
I was told the contract is to ensure that a new doctor would continue to prescribe them; I also suspect there is probably a professional "CYA" aspect to the contract. I have no history of abuse. In fact, I am pretty miserly with these things because I don’t want to a) run out too early in the month, b)build a tolerance, and/or c) get into the habit of using them in lieu of deep breathing and other techniques that can sometimes knock the starch out of an incipient panic attack. Someone else asked about Klonopin as a sleep aid. I do take it most nights and it seems to be working just fine; my difficulty in falling asleep is so related to anxious thoughts that I find it hard to unravel the hypnotic aspect from the antianxiety effect in determining how is is working. I also take Benedryl but if I take a full 25 mg pill of that, then I am drowsy the next day so I take half of those. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Is that contract to prevent you from abusing benzos, or to ensure that a new doctor will continue to prescribe them? My doctor is talking about retiring, and she has had me on Ativan every day for 27 years (though I now take a very tiny dose). I’m worried that when a new doctor discovers this he/she will freak out and take me off them.
Can you get your doctor to refer you to a new physician or is a new physician taking over the practice upon his retirement? — Ron P Home Page: http://fp.kwic.com/~rwebb Just remember….if the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Is that contract to prevent you from abusing benzos, or to ensure that a new doctor will continue to prescribe them? My doctor is talking about retiring, and she has had me on Ativan every day for 27 years (though I now take a very tiny dose). I’m worried that when a new doctor discovers this he/she will freak out and take me off them. Dot — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
The contract seems a little gimmicky, but at least your doctor is weighing risks & benefits with you — mine just give me misinformation and leave it at that . . . As a side note, I’m interested to hear how that klonopin works for you as a sleep aid. For me, the hypnotic effect of every benzo I’ve tried went away pretty quickly, leaving just the desired anti-anxiety effect behind. Glad you’re getting good results. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have a great doctor who has helped stabilize my GAD and panic attacks which also have come packaged with a convenient (not!) vicious sleep disorder. Basically, I am taking Paxil for the GAD and we have casted about for medicines for the sleep situation (trying Ambien and Sonata most notably with either little effect or intolerable side effects) and panic attacks, finally settling on Clonazepam to help sleep and Ativan for the panic attacks. This all seems to be working pretty good. During our last appointment, she mentioned that idea of a "contract" that I might sign and have placed in my file due to what will be an apparently long term therapy with benzos. Does anyone else here have familiarity with such a contract or ramifications of it? My doctor seemed to think it was a good idea in case she left the practice or I moved; the contract would be in my file, thus making it easier for me to continue this therapy with another physician. Thanks for any advice or perspective. Gary K.
My regular doc put me on Ativan on an as needed basis. I took it once in awhile, but when the you-know-what hit the fan, and I really needed some help, I went to a pdoc who put me on a regular dose of Ativan and an SSRI as well. He never had me sign a contract regarding any drugs I’ve been on, but because so many docs are benzo phobic, the right kind of contract might be a good idea. We merely talked about the pros and cons of the meds, and he assured me he could get me off either med with few problems. What annoys me is that many docs will not prescribe benzos, which work so well for so many people, yet hand out SSRI’s like candy, claiming they are not "addictive." Then you read about all the people trying to get off SSRI’s and there doesn’t seem to be much difference, except that benzos do offer the opportunity for abuse. That said, few people who suffer from GAD abuse benzos. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
shooting form the hip, i’d kinda agree with Jackie. "we" tend not to abuse these drugs. docs are having tighter and more strict regulations for Rx’ing these drugs. glad you are getting what you need as far as meds and more importantly results! Lobo — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
<Gently snipped ::During our last appointment, she mentioned that idea of a "contract" ::that I might sign and have placed in my file due to what will be an ::apparently long term therapy with benzos. Does anyone else here have ::familiarity with such a contract or ramifications of it? :: ::My doctor seemed to think it was a good idea in case she left the ::practice or I moved; the contract would be in my file, thus making it ::easier for me to continue this therapy with another physician. :: ::Thanks for any advice or perspective. Dear Gary, Very interesting and thanks for sharing this with us!! I decided to go to Google to see what I could find. I found this and quoted a small snippet. I encourage you read the entire article at the link provided. While the snippet mentions narcotics, the article does refer to psycotropic meds as well. ~*~How can we as physicians protect our patients and ourselves against this problem? One way is to make each patient receiving long term narcotics for any reason sign a contract that delineates their privileges and warns them that the detection of abuse, or abuse patterns of behavior will cause the cessation of prescriptions for their narcotic drugs. In addition, the use of the following questionnaire will help identify patients at risk of drug abuse~*~ http://www.jsonline.com/alive/column/oct99/howards100799.asp Maybe I am being paranoid but I suggest you show the contract to another doctor or even lawyer for advice before signing it. I`m not so sure this all about protecting you and ensuring continued benzo treatment should this doctor decide to move or leave. I could be completely wrong though 
Keep us updated!! Jackie ~*~Life was so much easier when your clothes didn’t match and boys had cooties~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
I have a great doctor who has helped stabilize my GAD and panic attacks which also have come packaged with a convenient (not!) vicious sleep disorder. Basically, I am taking Paxil for the GAD and we have casted about for medicines for the sleep situation (trying Ambien and Sonata most notably with either little effect or intolerable side effects) and panic attacks, finally settling on Clonazepam to help sleep and Ativan for the panic attacks. This all seems to be working pretty good. During our last appointment, she mentioned that idea of a "contract" that I might sign and have placed in my file due to what will be an apparently long term therapy with benzos. Does anyone else here have familiarity with such a contract or ramifications of it? My doctor seemed to think it was a good idea in case she left the practice or I moved; the contract would be in my file, thus making it easier for me to continue this therapy with another physician. Thanks for any advice or perspective. Gary K. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
