I’ve been struggling with sleep issues for over a decade now. My Doctor has prescribed me all sorts of medication, all of which has had many adverse side effects. What I do know that works, is Xanax. My wife was prescribed it for some stress issues and occasionally will give me one so I can finally sleep. Obviously asking my Doctor, “can I have Xanax” Will not go well. I’ve eluded to it in ways and the response has always been along the lines of “that’s habit forming, I’d rather you try this”. Of the many medications prescribed, none have worked. Resorting to the dark web is something I’d really rather not do. Fentanyl laced drugs took my sister and it’s a road I hope to not have to explore. Any suggestions?
I don’t discount your experience but I want to point out that benzos can be a very useful tool for people, especially with panic disorder, and they’re not inherently a trash drug.
While some people may develop a problem, others are able to use them on an as-needed basis long term. I’m sorry you struggled but glad you were able to overcome it. It’s absolutely understandable why you would feel negatively towards benzos as a whole.
It’s possible to be both a useful and trash drug. Benzos are inherently dangerous in ways that lots of other drugs are not, it is very easy to fuck up your life with them.
I’d still call them bad drugs. I’ve seen more people get their lives fucked up than fixed on both, and they’re frequently inappropriately prescribed for long term use to treat the symptom without addressing the cause. Benzos are also one of the few drugs that can kill you with withdrawal, and the withdrawal lasts significantly longer than opiates. They’re essential for treating acute anxiety, but I really think the manner in which they’re prescribed needs to be improved. I think it would be a good thing to move away from the benzodiazepine class altogether to a more specific drug that doesn’t just hammer GABA receptors so broadly.
Despite their effectiveness at treating anxiety I’d still call them bad drugs. I’ve seen more people get their lives fucked up than get better, as they’re frequently inappropriately prescribed for long term use to treat the symptom without addressing the cause. Benzos are also one of the few drugs that can kill you with withdrawal, and the withdrawal lasts significantly longer than opiates. They’re essential for treating acute anxiety, but I really think the manner in which they’re prescribed needs to be improved. I think it would be a good thing to move away from the benzodiazepine class altogether to a more specific drug that doesn’t just hammer GABA receptors so broadly.