RN taking prescription benzo's for sleep

fireball72 · Feb 22, 2009

As far as holisitic goes, I have tried all the herbal sleep aides. I am in the good habit of getting exercize and eating healthy. I am not overweight nor do I have any other health conditions. I have taken an antidepressant for years for mood swings. I don't drink alcohol very often, definitely not before bed on a work night. I have a supportive husband and an overall healthy life. I am not sure what has brought on the insomnia. It is hard on me and I hate taking the xanax, but for now I need it until I get help. It is either take a xanax or get no sleep. Ambien, lunesta and trazadone have all become useless to me. I have been taking sleep aides on and off again for years. Sleep is a precious thing!

Thanks for your compassion. I need the support.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2009

One good rule for posting on internet forums, where people give a variety of opinions, is to not assume that comments are personally directed at you. I've never met you, know nothing about you, so therefore my remark obviously isn't personally directed at you.
Obviously I'm the one in the minority here with the unpopular opinion, but I stand by what I said. I would be concerned about myself or a loved one who had such a level of anxiety that they required one or two xanax to get through a day. I would question whether they ought to either get on a daily med that wasn't a PRN or else take some non-medical, holistic approaches to reduce their anxiety.

I agree with you. Totally.

rninmi · Feb 23, 2009

I'm gonna have to go with the "minority" here....this is a forum that is supposed to be about nurses in recovery....I'm assuming that means we are all addicts!!!!! Now, my program taught me that a drug is a drug is a drug...NO mind or mood altering substances FOR ME....(ME..not you, ME)....I guess is someone is not an addict, then taking a controlled substance as prescribed is fine, absolutely fine.........

For ME... I cannot take one of anything! I cannot imagine taking a benzo or an opiate as prescribed...but if this person is not an addict...no prob! Habit forming, yes. That's up to you on how you want to handle that

I just hope there are not addicted nurses taking a controlled substance..for any amount of time...To me that seems dangerous.....so there it is, my opinion! Hope these panic attacks get better for anyone suffering from them....try working out for 30-45 mins every day and you will sleep better.

waitingforthedream · Feb 23, 2009

My apologies to everyone, I did not even realize when I was posting on this thread that it was under recovery. I was just seeing the OP need for sleep and chimed in. :uhoh3:

rninmi · Feb 23, 2009

My apologies to everyone, I did not even realize when I was posting on this thread that it was under recovery. I was just seeing the OP need for sleep and chimed in.

No prob...I hope you get the sleep you need!

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2009

I'm gonna have to go with the "minority" here....this is a forum that is supposed to be about nurses in recovery....I'm assuming that means we are all addicts!!!!! Now, my program taught me that a drug is a drug is a drug...NO mind or mood altering substances FOR ME....(ME..not you, ME)....I guess is someone is not an addict, then taking a controlled substance as prescribed is fine, absolutely fine.........
For ME... I cannot take one of anything! I cannot imagine taking a benzo or an opiate as prescribed...but if this person is not an addict...no prob! Habit forming, yes. That's up to you on how you want to handle that
I just hope there are not addicted nurses taking a controlled substance..for any amount of time...To me that seems dangerous.....so there it is, my opinion! Hope these panic attacks get better for anyone suffering from them....try working out for 30-45 mins every day and you will sleep better.

I totally agree with this too!!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2009

I'm gonna have to go with the "minority" here....this is a forum that is supposed to be about nurses in recovery....I'm assuming that means we are all addicts!!!!!

Nope. I'm an alcoholic, never been an addict.

I don't care what any program says about mind-altering substances. I can't 12-step my way out of clinical depression and crippling anxiety. That's a job for Lexapro and Xanax.

rninmi · Feb 23, 2009

Nope. I'm an alcoholic, never been an addict.
I don't care what any program says about mind-altering substances. I can't 12-step my way out of clinical depression and crippling anxiety. That's a job for Lexapro and Xanax.

"Alcohol is a drug..." I know more "12 step"...but it's true.

I have a thinking problem/disease, of which the side effect is using opiates in large, large doses! If you are an alcoholic, then you have the same thinking disease as me....doesn't matter what your drug is....Just b/c I am a IV drug abuser, do you think I can ever drink alcohol??????

If you are comfortable taking benzo's GREAT! For ME and MY recovery.....I pray to God I never have to use a mind or mood altering substance....and on that note....allot of people in 12 step programs have stopped taking meds after a few years in the program...they realized the root of their anxiety, and b/c of the twelve steps were able to cope with it. That may not be the case for everyone....but it is something to think about.

Mommy_of_3_in_AL..RN · Feb 23, 2009

As far as holisitic goes, I have tried all the herbal sleep aides. I am in the good habit of getting exercize and eating healthy. I am not overweight nor do I have any other health conditions. I have taken an antidepressant for years for mood swings. I don't drink alcohol very often, definitely not before bed on a work night. I have a supportive husband and an overall healthy life. I am not sure what has brought on the insomnia. It is hard on me and I hate taking the xanax, but for now I need it until I get help. It is either take a xanax or get no sleep. Ambien, lunesta and trazadone have all become useless to me. I have been taking sleep aides on and off again for years. Sleep is a precious thing!
Thanks for your compassion. I need the support.

I have tried all the herbal/OTC counter meds as well. I have had insomnia, full force, for 8 years. I have been on ambien for 4 years, but developed a tolerance, and was up to taking 40-50 mg a night for sleep. I would have anxiety without it, and went to great lengths to make sure i stayed stocked up (purchasing online, multiple docs, etc). It was awful!! I finally opened up to my doctor, and he took me off of them..completely. He prescribed Lexapro for depression, Klonopin for anxiety and to help me relax, and Adderall, hoping that by boosting my energy during the day, i would be more active and be more tired at night. The adderall works wonders! I still dont sleep, but at least i can get off the couch and function during the day! I went back to him today, and he increased the adderall some, and gave me Restoril for sleep. I am trying to be open minded, thinking it may help..but i dont know how it will knowing i am so tolerant to meds like that (for instance, 2 mg of Klonopin has NO efffect on me, at all.) So, i guess we will see. I can say, however, that i am off all meds but the prescribed daily amount of adderall and restoril, and i feel great!

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2009

I guess I basically see not much different between self-medicating with alcohol for anxiety and taking benzos on a daily basis. In both cases your body starts to crave it, you develop an increasing tolerance, you become physically dependent, you hurt your liver, and you need it to get through the day.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 23, 2009

Nope. I'm an alcoholic, never been an addict.
I don't care what any program says about mind-altering substances. I can't 12-step my way out of clinical depression and crippling anxiety. That's a job for Lexapro and Xanax.

It IS possible not to be cross-addicted, although I imagine more people than not do have that problem. For example, my sister has an issue with narcotics, but can take or leave alcohol; she has the occasional glass of white wine and that's pretty much it, but give her a script for Fiorinal and she becomes a blithering idiot. By contrast, I'm a confirmed alcoholic who's OK with opioids; I've been given scripts for Vicodin and Percocet after the numerous procedures I've had over the years, but I don't use them any longer than absolutely necessary, which for me is usually no more than a day or so. (I have a fairly high tolerance for pain.) So, it's best not to generalize and assume ALL addicts are addicted to ALL substances; like everyone else, we are individuals and our bodies function individually as well.

lolalolacherrycola · Feb 23, 2009

As long as you have prescriptions for them and are taking them as prescribed there is NOT a problem.

Nurses have the right to take any medication that is medically necessary for them as prescribed as long as it does not interfere with their ability to do their job!