Re: Re: Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs

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Sorry. Didn't see it. Thanks.TerrySent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: "jeremy9282" <jeremybryce1953@...>Sender: SSRI medications Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:34:07 -0000<SSRI medications >Reply SSRI medications Subject: Re: Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs Terrythe link was at the bottom because the Daily Mail autoencode it therebut here it is again JSource: DailyMailhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html >> Link? Want to post to other groups/etc. > > T. > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > By Jo Waters > Last updated at 2:32 AM on 22nd March 2011 > > Helen lay shaking and sobbing in the drug addiction detox unit. The > 61-year-old businesswoman was racked with such excruciating pain she > wasn't sure she could survive it. > > What's so shocking is that unlike the other patients at the unit, > who were struggling with heroin or cocaine addictions, the only drugs > Helen had ever taken were the tranquillisers prescribed by her GP for > depression and anxiety. > > `Seven years ago, my doctor gave me Valium, which I thought would > just get me through a rough patch,' recalls Helen, who is married > with a daughter. `I had no idea they were addictive.' > > [benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment for severe > anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions were issued > in England alone] Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions > were issued in England alone > Two years ago, she began to suffer from chronic dizziness — her GP > sent her for brain scans and heart tests but these proved inconclusive, > so Helen did her own research, and discovered that her symptoms matched > the symptoms of the long-term side-effects of common tranquillisers. > > `When I went back to my GP, he said my symptoms had nothing to do > with drugs and asked me why I wanted to come off them,' says Helen. > > Even when she did finally get herself into a detox unit, the drugs were > withdrawn at a much faster rate than officially recommended, causing her > such terrible side-effects she's had to go back on to the drugs. > > Helen is one of an estimated 1.3 million Britons addicted to > prescription tranquillisers, also known as benzodiazepines. > > These drugs include diazepam (known previously as Valium), Xanax, > Ativan, Serax and Librium. They are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia — last year ten million > prescriptions for benzodiazepines were issued in England alone. > > > They work by boosting the action of a naturally occurring brain chemical > called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA tells brain cells to slow > down and stop firing, and has a calming effect on the brain, muscles and > heart rate, helping to ease the insomnia that often accompanies anxiety. > > But the drugs use the same addictive pathways in the brain as illegal > drugs such as heroin. Patients often need progressively higher doses as > the body becomes accustomed to the drug — these higher doses can > cause side-effects including paranoia, fatigue, dizziness, memory > problems and dulled emotions. > > Because of the high risk of addiction, the UK's Committee for Safety > of Medicines issued guidelines back in 1988 advising GPs that the drugs > should be prescribed for no more than two to four weeks. > > Despite this, there are huge numbers of patients who've been left on > the pills long term, even for decades, say campaigners. > > The concern now, however, is that over the past year GPs have performed > a drastic U-turn and, without warning, are rapidly reducing > patients' drug doses in a short space of time to get them off the > drugs. > > Campaigners believe this has been prompted by a Department of Health > review looking into the number of prescriptions GPs are issuing for > benzodiazepines. > > But going `cold turkey' in this way can cause severe withdrawal > effects, including excruciating pain in the muscles and joints, > insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. > > Barry Haslam, the chairman of Oldham TRANX, a support group for patients > addicted to benzodiazepines, says the charity is taking calls from > people all over the country about being suddenly and abruptly withdrawn > from their tranquillisers. > > Apart from the crippling side-effects, he points out that, `most > patients are just left to go on with it on their own. > > `And even if they are offered help it's usually a referral to a > detox unit for illegal drug users, and that is just not appropriate > because they bring patients off the drugs in too short a space of > time.' > > Official advice for health professionals (NHS Clinical Knowledge > Summaries) suggests reducing a patient's dose of benzodiazepines by > five to ten per cent every one to two weeks. Once a lower dose is > reached, the reduction should be slowed. > > > It acknowledges that it may take a year or longer for patients to come > off the drugs and stresses a patient must be stable, and willing to come > off their tablets — and that the withdrawal plan should be tailored > to their individual needs. > > Campaigners say it's the latter point that is crucial; patients > should be allowed to proceed at their own pace and have their personal > situations taken into account. > > Dr Trevor , a consultant psychiatrist at the East London > Foundation Trust, says: `GPs are caught in the middle between trying > to be humane prescribers — after all, some of these patients really > do need this medication to function — and following clinical > guidelines. > > If patients do want to come off their medication they should be offered > alternative therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation > classes and maybe alternative medication such as anti-depressants.' > > One of those affected by the new change of heart about benzodiazepines > is . The 26-year-old writer was shocked when he received a > terse phone call from his GP practice six months ago telling him he must > quit his prescription tranquillisers. > > `My old doctor retired and a new doctor rang out of the blue last > summer and said my pills were addictive and were only a short-term > treatment,' recalls , who lives in Cardiff. > > `I was horrified as this had never been mentioned to me before. > > was 14 when he was first prescribed diazepam for panic attacks. > > `I was on a repeat prescription, and if I felt stressed or anxious > my GP would put it up a bit more each time. No one ever mentioned I > shouldn't be on them long term.' > > But 's new doctor was adamant he must come off the drugs, and > reduced his prescription by 2mg a fortnight from his daily 45mg a day. > He is now taking 20mg, but although this reduction rate was in line with > official advice, has found it hard to function and he suffers > from headaches, lack of concentration and panic attacks. > > > `The effects are horrendous,' he says. > > In some ways, however, he's been more fortunate than patients such > as Helen, whose prescription was reduced at a much more brutal rate. > > > Initially undeterred by her GP's reluctance to take her off the > drugs, Helen had started to follow The Ashton Manual, an online guide to > coming off benzos written by Professor Ashton, an expert in > benzodiazepines. > > `I gradually reduced my dosage down from 15mg a day to 1.5mg over > ten months, but I was in excruciating pain,' she says. > > > `In desperation, I called my GP who said I would have to have my > dosage increased to 20mg a day to stabilise my condition — which was > higher than when I started out.' > > So Helen rang her local drug and alcohol misuse service, who suggested > she go to a residential NHS Detox Unit, and made a referral. > > `The problem is that the staff reduced my dosage far too rapidly > — from 16.5mg to 8mg in two weeks, which is the speed used for > illegal drugs. I was in a terrible state, crying and shaking. After a > four week break, I was re-admitted and my dosage was reduced to > zero.' > > Eight weeks later, the pain was so bad that Helen had to go back on > diazepam and is back up to 15mg. > > `I don't want to stay on the pills — they suppress all your > emotions and make you feel like you're in a parallel universe,' > she says. `I will come off them eventually, but it has to be at my > own pace and I need support to be able to do this.' > > The solution, ultimately, is for psychiatrists, GPs and patient groups > to sit down `and thrash out a good set of guidelines on monitoring > and assessing patients', says Dr , a GP and trustee of > the Patients' Association. > > A Department of Health spokesman says: `GPs should be prescribing > benzodiazepines and managing withdrawal from these drugs based on their > clinical judgment of their patients' needs and in line with the > guidance available to them.' > > However, patients such as and Helen say they can't come off > these drugs alone. > > `All I'm asking for is a GP or psychiatrist to be willing to > help me,' says . `And that means more than just stopping > the prescription. > > Source: DailyMail > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-a\ > ddicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html > <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-\ > addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html>>

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Sorry. Didn't see it. Thanks.TerrySent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: "jeremy9282" <jeremybryce1953@...>Sender: SSRI medications Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:34:07 -0000<SSRI medications >Reply SSRI medications Subject: Re: Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs Terrythe link was at the bottom because the Daily Mail autoencode it therebut here it is again JSource: DailyMailhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html >> Link? Want to post to other groups/etc. > > T. > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > By Jo Waters > Last updated at 2:32 AM on 22nd March 2011 > > Helen lay shaking and sobbing in the drug addiction detox unit. The > 61-year-old businesswoman was racked with such excruciating pain she > wasn't sure she could survive it. > > What's so shocking is that unlike the other patients at the unit, > who were struggling with heroin or cocaine addictions, the only drugs > Helen had ever taken were the tranquillisers prescribed by her GP for > depression and anxiety. > > `Seven years ago, my doctor gave me Valium, which I thought would > just get me through a rough patch,' recalls Helen, who is married > with a daughter. `I had no idea they were addictive.' > > [benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment for severe > anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions were issued > in England alone] Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions > were issued in England alone > Two years ago, she began to suffer from chronic dizziness — her GP > sent her for brain scans and heart tests but these proved inconclusive, > so Helen did her own research, and discovered that her symptoms matched > the symptoms of the long-term side-effects of common tranquillisers. > > `When I went back to my GP, he said my symptoms had nothing to do > with drugs and asked me why I wanted to come off them,' says Helen. > > Even when she did finally get herself into a detox unit, the drugs were > withdrawn at a much faster rate than officially recommended, causing her > such terrible side-effects she's had to go back on to the drugs. > > Helen is one of an estimated 1.3 million Britons addicted to > prescription tranquillisers, also known as benzodiazepines. > > These drugs include diazepam (known previously as Valium), Xanax, > Ativan, Serax and Librium. They are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia — last year ten million > prescriptions for benzodiazepines were issued in England alone. > > > They work by boosting the action of a naturally occurring brain chemical > called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA tells brain cells to slow > down and stop firing, and has a calming effect on the brain, muscles and > heart rate, helping to ease the insomnia that often accompanies anxiety. > > But the drugs use the same addictive pathways in the brain as illegal > drugs such as heroin. Patients often need progressively higher doses as > the body becomes accustomed to the drug — these higher doses can > cause side-effects including paranoia, fatigue, dizziness, memory > problems and dulled emotions. > > Because of the high risk of addiction, the UK's Committee for Safety > of Medicines issued guidelines back in 1988 advising GPs that the drugs > should be prescribed for no more than two to four weeks. > > Despite this, there are huge numbers of patients who've been left on > the pills long term, even for decades, say campaigners. > > The concern now, however, is that over the past year GPs have performed > a drastic U-turn and, without warning, are rapidly reducing > patients' drug doses in a short space of time to get them off the > drugs. > > Campaigners believe this has been prompted by a Department of Health > review looking into the number of prescriptions GPs are issuing for > benzodiazepines. > > But going `cold turkey' in this way can cause severe withdrawal > effects, including excruciating pain in the muscles and joints, > insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. > > Barry Haslam, the chairman of Oldham TRANX, a support group for patients > addicted to benzodiazepines, says the charity is taking calls from > people all over the country about being suddenly and abruptly withdrawn > from their tranquillisers. > > Apart from the crippling side-effects, he points out that, `most > patients are just left to go on with it on their own. > > `And even if they are offered help it's usually a referral to a > detox unit for illegal drug users, and that is just not appropriate > because they bring patients off the drugs in too short a space of > time.' > > Official advice for health professionals (NHS Clinical Knowledge > Summaries) suggests reducing a patient's dose of benzodiazepines by > five to ten per cent every one to two weeks. Once a lower dose is > reached, the reduction should be slowed. > > > It acknowledges that it may take a year or longer for patients to come > off the drugs and stresses a patient must be stable, and willing to come > off their tablets — and that the withdrawal plan should be tailored > to their individual needs. > > Campaigners say it's the latter point that is crucial; patients > should be allowed to proceed at their own pace and have their personal > situations taken into account. > > Dr Trevor , a consultant psychiatrist at the East London > Foundation Trust, says: `GPs are caught in the middle between trying > to be humane prescribers — after all, some of these patients really > do need this medication to function — and following clinical > guidelines. > > If patients do want to come off their medication they should be offered > alternative therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation > classes and maybe alternative medication such as anti-depressants.' > > One of those affected by the new change of heart about benzodiazepines > is . The 26-year-old writer was shocked when he received a > terse phone call from his GP practice six months ago telling him he must > quit his prescription tranquillisers. > > `My old doctor retired and a new doctor rang out of the blue last > summer and said my pills were addictive and were only a short-term > treatment,' recalls , who lives in Cardiff. > > `I was horrified as this had never been mentioned to me before. > > was 14 when he was first prescribed diazepam for panic attacks. > > `I was on a repeat prescription, and if I felt stressed or anxious > my GP would put it up a bit more each time. No one ever mentioned I > shouldn't be on them long term.' > > But 's new doctor was adamant he must come off the drugs, and > reduced his prescription by 2mg a fortnight from his daily 45mg a day. > He is now taking 20mg, but although this reduction rate was in line with > official advice, has found it hard to function and he suffers > from headaches, lack of concentration and panic attacks. > > > `The effects are horrendous,' he says. > > In some ways, however, he's been more fortunate than patients such > as Helen, whose prescription was reduced at a much more brutal rate. > > > Initially undeterred by her GP's reluctance to take her off the > drugs, Helen had started to follow The Ashton Manual, an online guide to > coming off benzos written by Professor Ashton, an expert in > benzodiazepines. > > `I gradually reduced my dosage down from 15mg a day to 1.5mg over > ten months, but I was in excruciating pain,' she says. > > > `In desperation, I called my GP who said I would have to have my > dosage increased to 20mg a day to stabilise my condition — which was > higher than when I started out.' > > So Helen rang her local drug and alcohol misuse service, who suggested > she go to a residential NHS Detox Unit, and made a referral. > > `The problem is that the staff reduced my dosage far too rapidly > — from 16.5mg to 8mg in two weeks, which is the speed used for > illegal drugs. I was in a terrible state, crying and shaking. After a > four week break, I was re-admitted and my dosage was reduced to > zero.' > > Eight weeks later, the pain was so bad that Helen had to go back on > diazepam and is back up to 15mg. > > `I don't want to stay on the pills — they suppress all your > emotions and make you feel like you're in a parallel universe,' > she says. `I will come off them eventually, but it has to be at my > own pace and I need support to be able to do this.' > > The solution, ultimately, is for psychiatrists, GPs and patient groups > to sit down `and thrash out a good set of guidelines on monitoring > and assessing patients', says Dr , a GP and trustee of > the Patients' Association. > > A Department of Health spokesman says: `GPs should be prescribing > benzodiazepines and managing withdrawal from these drugs based on their > clinical judgment of their patients' needs and in line with the > guidance available to them.' > > However, patients such as and Helen say they can't come off > these drugs alone. > > `All I'm asking for is a GP or psychiatrist to be willing to > help me,' says . `And that means more than just stopping > the prescription. > > Source: DailyMail > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-a\ > ddicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html > <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-\ > addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html>>

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Sorry. Didn't see it. Thanks.TerrySent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: "jeremy9282" <jeremybryce1953@...>Sender: SSRI medications Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:34:07 -0000<SSRI medications >Reply SSRI medications Subject: Re: Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs Terrythe link was at the bottom because the Daily Mail autoencode it therebut here it is again JSource: DailyMailhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html >> Link? Want to post to other groups/etc. > > T. > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > By Jo Waters > Last updated at 2:32 AM on 22nd March 2011 > > Helen lay shaking and sobbing in the drug addiction detox unit. The > 61-year-old businesswoman was racked with such excruciating pain she > wasn't sure she could survive it. > > What's so shocking is that unlike the other patients at the unit, > who were struggling with heroin or cocaine addictions, the only drugs > Helen had ever taken were the tranquillisers prescribed by her GP for > depression and anxiety. > > `Seven years ago, my doctor gave me Valium, which I thought would > just get me through a rough patch,' recalls Helen, who is married > with a daughter. `I had no idea they were addictive.' > > [benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment for severe > anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions were issued > in England alone] Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions > were issued in England alone > Two years ago, she began to suffer from chronic dizziness — her GP > sent her for brain scans and heart tests but these proved inconclusive, > so Helen did her own research, and discovered that her symptoms matched > the symptoms of the long-term side-effects of common tranquillisers. > > `When I went back to my GP, he said my symptoms had nothing to do > with drugs and asked me why I wanted to come off them,' says Helen. > > Even when she did finally get herself into a detox unit, the drugs were > withdrawn at a much faster rate than officially recommended, causing her > such terrible side-effects she's had to go back on to the drugs. > > Helen is one of an estimated 1.3 million Britons addicted to > prescription tranquillisers, also known as benzodiazepines. > > These drugs include diazepam (known previously as Valium), Xanax, > Ativan, Serax and Librium. They are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia — last year ten million > prescriptions for benzodiazepines were issued in England alone. > > > They work by boosting the action of a naturally occurring brain chemical > called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA tells brain cells to slow > down and stop firing, and has a calming effect on the brain, muscles and > heart rate, helping to ease the insomnia that often accompanies anxiety. > > But the drugs use the same addictive pathways in the brain as illegal > drugs such as heroin. Patients often need progressively higher doses as > the body becomes accustomed to the drug — these higher doses can > cause side-effects including paranoia, fatigue, dizziness, memory > problems and dulled emotions. > > Because of the high risk of addiction, the UK's Committee for Safety > of Medicines issued guidelines back in 1988 advising GPs that the drugs > should be prescribed for no more than two to four weeks. > > Despite this, there are huge numbers of patients who've been left on > the pills long term, even for decades, say campaigners. > > The concern now, however, is that over the past year GPs have performed > a drastic U-turn and, without warning, are rapidly reducing > patients' drug doses in a short space of time to get them off the > drugs. > > Campaigners believe this has been prompted by a Department of Health > review looking into the number of prescriptions GPs are issuing for > benzodiazepines. > > But going `cold turkey' in this way can cause severe withdrawal > effects, including excruciating pain in the muscles and joints, > insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. > > Barry Haslam, the chairman of Oldham TRANX, a support group for patients > addicted to benzodiazepines, says the charity is taking calls from > people all over the country about being suddenly and abruptly withdrawn > from their tranquillisers. > > Apart from the crippling side-effects, he points out that, `most > patients are just left to go on with it on their own. > > `And even if they are offered help it's usually a referral to a > detox unit for illegal drug users, and that is just not appropriate > because they bring patients off the drugs in too short a space of > time.' > > Official advice for health professionals (NHS Clinical Knowledge > Summaries) suggests reducing a patient's dose of benzodiazepines by > five to ten per cent every one to two weeks. Once a lower dose is > reached, the reduction should be slowed. > > > It acknowledges that it may take a year or longer for patients to come > off the drugs and stresses a patient must be stable, and willing to come > off their tablets — and that the withdrawal plan should be tailored > to their individual needs. > > Campaigners say it's the latter point that is crucial; patients > should be allowed to proceed at their own pace and have their personal > situations taken into account. > > Dr Trevor , a consultant psychiatrist at the East London > Foundation Trust, says: `GPs are caught in the middle between trying > to be humane prescribers — after all, some of these patients really > do need this medication to function — and following clinical > guidelines. > > If patients do want to come off their medication they should be offered > alternative therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation > classes and maybe alternative medication such as anti-depressants.' > > One of those affected by the new change of heart about benzodiazepines > is . The 26-year-old writer was shocked when he received a > terse phone call from his GP practice six months ago telling him he must > quit his prescription tranquillisers. > > `My old doctor retired and a new doctor rang out of the blue last > summer and said my pills were addictive and were only a short-term > treatment,' recalls , who lives in Cardiff. > > `I was horrified as this had never been mentioned to me before. > > was 14 when he was first prescribed diazepam for panic attacks. > > `I was on a repeat prescription, and if I felt stressed or anxious > my GP would put it up a bit more each time. No one ever mentioned I > shouldn't be on them long term.' > > But 's new doctor was adamant he must come off the drugs, and > reduced his prescription by 2mg a fortnight from his daily 45mg a day. > He is now taking 20mg, but although this reduction rate was in line with > official advice, has found it hard to function and he suffers > from headaches, lack of concentration and panic attacks. > > > `The effects are horrendous,' he says. > > In some ways, however, he's been more fortunate than patients such > as Helen, whose prescription was reduced at a much more brutal rate. > > > Initially undeterred by her GP's reluctance to take her off the > drugs, Helen had started to follow The Ashton Manual, an online guide to > coming off benzos written by Professor Ashton, an expert in > benzodiazepines. > > `I gradually reduced my dosage down from 15mg a day to 1.5mg over > ten months, but I was in excruciating pain,' she says. > > > `In desperation, I called my GP who said I would have to have my > dosage increased to 20mg a day to stabilise my condition — which was > higher than when I started out.' > > So Helen rang her local drug and alcohol misuse service, who suggested > she go to a residential NHS Detox Unit, and made a referral. > > `The problem is that the staff reduced my dosage far too rapidly > — from 16.5mg to 8mg in two weeks, which is the speed used for > illegal drugs. I was in a terrible state, crying and shaking. After a > four week break, I was re-admitted and my dosage was reduced to > zero.' > > Eight weeks later, the pain was so bad that Helen had to go back on > diazepam and is back up to 15mg. > > `I don't want to stay on the pills — they suppress all your > emotions and make you feel like you're in a parallel universe,' > she says. `I will come off them eventually, but it has to be at my > own pace and I need support to be able to do this.' > > The solution, ultimately, is for psychiatrists, GPs and patient groups > to sit down `and thrash out a good set of guidelines on monitoring > and assessing patients', says Dr , a GP and trustee of > the Patients' Association. > > A Department of Health spokesman says: `GPs should be prescribing > benzodiazepines and managing withdrawal from these drugs based on their > clinical judgment of their patients' needs and in line with the > guidance available to them.' > > However, patients such as and Helen say they can't come off > these drugs alone. > > `All I'm asking for is a GP or psychiatrist to be willing to > help me,' says . `And that means more than just stopping > the prescription. > > Source: DailyMail > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-a\ > ddicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html > <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-\ > addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html>>

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Sorry. Didn't see it. Thanks.TerrySent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: "jeremy9282" <jeremybryce1953@...>Sender: SSRI medications Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:34:07 -0000<SSRI medications >Reply SSRI medications Subject: Re: Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs Terrythe link was at the bottom because the Daily Mail autoencode it therebut here it is again JSource: DailyMailhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html >> Link? Want to post to other groups/etc. > > T. > Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > Misery of the tranquilliser addicts forced to go cold turkey by GPs > > By Jo Waters > Last updated at 2:32 AM on 22nd March 2011 > > Helen lay shaking and sobbing in the drug addiction detox unit. The > 61-year-old businesswoman was racked with such excruciating pain she > wasn't sure she could survive it. > > What's so shocking is that unlike the other patients at the unit, > who were struggling with heroin or cocaine addictions, the only drugs > Helen had ever taken were the tranquillisers prescribed by her GP for > depression and anxiety. > > `Seven years ago, my doctor gave me Valium, which I thought would > just get me through a rough patch,' recalls Helen, who is married > with a daughter. `I had no idea they were addictive.' > > [benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment for severe > anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions were issued > in England alone] Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia - last year ten million prescriptions > were issued in England alone > Two years ago, she began to suffer from chronic dizziness — her GP > sent her for brain scans and heart tests but these proved inconclusive, > so Helen did her own research, and discovered that her symptoms matched > the symptoms of the long-term side-effects of common tranquillisers. > > `When I went back to my GP, he said my symptoms had nothing to do > with drugs and asked me why I wanted to come off them,' says Helen. > > Even when she did finally get herself into a detox unit, the drugs were > withdrawn at a much faster rate than officially recommended, causing her > such terrible side-effects she's had to go back on to the drugs. > > Helen is one of an estimated 1.3 million Britons addicted to > prescription tranquillisers, also known as benzodiazepines. > > These drugs include diazepam (known previously as Valium), Xanax, > Ativan, Serax and Librium. They are commonly prescribed as a treatment > for severe anxiety and insomnia — last year ten million > prescriptions for benzodiazepines were issued in England alone. > > > They work by boosting the action of a naturally occurring brain chemical > called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA tells brain cells to slow > down and stop firing, and has a calming effect on the brain, muscles and > heart rate, helping to ease the insomnia that often accompanies anxiety. > > But the drugs use the same addictive pathways in the brain as illegal > drugs such as heroin. Patients often need progressively higher doses as > the body becomes accustomed to the drug — these higher doses can > cause side-effects including paranoia, fatigue, dizziness, memory > problems and dulled emotions. > > Because of the high risk of addiction, the UK's Committee for Safety > of Medicines issued guidelines back in 1988 advising GPs that the drugs > should be prescribed for no more than two to four weeks. > > Despite this, there are huge numbers of patients who've been left on > the pills long term, even for decades, say campaigners. > > The concern now, however, is that over the past year GPs have performed > a drastic U-turn and, without warning, are rapidly reducing > patients' drug doses in a short space of time to get them off the > drugs. > > Campaigners believe this has been prompted by a Department of Health > review looking into the number of prescriptions GPs are issuing for > benzodiazepines. > > But going `cold turkey' in this way can cause severe withdrawal > effects, including excruciating pain in the muscles and joints, > insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. > > Barry Haslam, the chairman of Oldham TRANX, a support group for patients > addicted to benzodiazepines, says the charity is taking calls from > people all over the country about being suddenly and abruptly withdrawn > from their tranquillisers. > > Apart from the crippling side-effects, he points out that, `most > patients are just left to go on with it on their own. > > `And even if they are offered help it's usually a referral to a > detox unit for illegal drug users, and that is just not appropriate > because they bring patients off the drugs in too short a space of > time.' > > Official advice for health professionals (NHS Clinical Knowledge > Summaries) suggests reducing a patient's dose of benzodiazepines by > five to ten per cent every one to two weeks. Once a lower dose is > reached, the reduction should be slowed. > > > It acknowledges that it may take a year or longer for patients to come > off the drugs and stresses a patient must be stable, and willing to come > off their tablets — and that the withdrawal plan should be tailored > to their individual needs. > > Campaigners say it's the latter point that is crucial; patients > should be allowed to proceed at their own pace and have their personal > situations taken into account. > > Dr Trevor , a consultant psychiatrist at the East London > Foundation Trust, says: `GPs are caught in the middle between trying > to be humane prescribers — after all, some of these patients really > do need this medication to function — and following clinical > guidelines. > > If patients do want to come off their medication they should be offered > alternative therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation > classes and maybe alternative medication such as anti-depressants.' > > One of those affected by the new change of heart about benzodiazepines > is . The 26-year-old writer was shocked when he received a > terse phone call from his GP practice six months ago telling him he must > quit his prescription tranquillisers. > > `My old doctor retired and a new doctor rang out of the blue last > summer and said my pills were addictive and were only a short-term > treatment,' recalls , who lives in Cardiff. > > `I was horrified as this had never been mentioned to me before. > > was 14 when he was first prescribed diazepam for panic attacks. > > `I was on a repeat prescription, and if I felt stressed or anxious > my GP would put it up a bit more each time. No one ever mentioned I > shouldn't be on them long term.' > > But 's new doctor was adamant he must come off the drugs, and > reduced his prescription by 2mg a fortnight from his daily 45mg a day. > He is now taking 20mg, but although this reduction rate was in line with > official advice, has found it hard to function and he suffers > from headaches, lack of concentration and panic attacks. > > > `The effects are horrendous,' he says. > > In some ways, however, he's been more fortunate than patients such > as Helen, whose prescription was reduced at a much more brutal rate. > > > Initially undeterred by her GP's reluctance to take her off the > drugs, Helen had started to follow The Ashton Manual, an online guide to > coming off benzos written by Professor Ashton, an expert in > benzodiazepines. > > `I gradually reduced my dosage down from 15mg a day to 1.5mg over > ten months, but I was in excruciating pain,' she says. > > > `In desperation, I called my GP who said I would have to have my > dosage increased to 20mg a day to stabilise my condition — which was > higher than when I started out.' > > So Helen rang her local drug and alcohol misuse service, who suggested > she go to a residential NHS Detox Unit, and made a referral. > > `The problem is that the staff reduced my dosage far too rapidly > — from 16.5mg to 8mg in two weeks, which is the speed used for > illegal drugs. I was in a terrible state, crying and shaking. After a > four week break, I was re-admitted and my dosage was reduced to > zero.' > > Eight weeks later, the pain was so bad that Helen had to go back on > diazepam and is back up to 15mg. > > `I don't want to stay on the pills — they suppress all your > emotions and make you feel like you're in a parallel universe,' > she says. `I will come off them eventually, but it has to be at my > own pace and I need support to be able to do this.' > > The solution, ultimately, is for psychiatrists, GPs and patient groups > to sit down `and thrash out a good set of guidelines on monitoring > and assessing patients', says Dr , a GP and trustee of > the Patients' Association. > > A Department of Health spokesman says: `GPs should be prescribing > benzodiazepines and managing withdrawal from these drugs based on their > clinical judgment of their patients' needs and in line with the > guidance available to them.' > > However, patients such as and Helen say they can't come off > these drugs alone. > > `All I'm asking for is a GP or psychiatrist to be willing to > help me,' says . `And that means more than just stopping > the prescription. > > Source: DailyMail > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-a\ > ddicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html > <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1368666/Misery-tranquilliser-\ > addicts-forced-cold-turkey-GPs.html>>