I'm glad I have never rx'd xanax

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Specializes in medical surgical.

It's on the news the Vegas shooter was on Xanax. Now I'm sure it's all legal BUT I do not need that kind of stress. I can't imagine being the provider who rx'd. I never want my name plastered all over the news. I was told years ago that klonopin can be addictive but less so than xanax. Thoughts on prescribing benzodiazapines.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sometimes they are needed. Please don't completely negate providing needed Rx's to patients.

What kind of practice/facility do you work at?

I do Rx benzos, opiates and basically what my pt needs. I tailor my scripts to the situation and pt. I have close f/u with them and have not had any issues.

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Specializes in ER.

There is a lot of sloppy prescribing going on. I think these so-called rare side effects can be detrimental when they happen.

Having said that, I have a prescription for Xanax which I take only when I fly on an airplane.

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Sometimes benzos are the only thing that works for someone's uncontrolled anxiety. I don't like giving patients Xanax because it's fast acting and gives more of a "high" than other benzos, so I believe it is more abused.

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Specializes in ER.
Sometimes benzos are the only thing that works for someone's uncontrolled anxiety. I don't like giving patients Xanax because it's fast acting and gives more of a "high" than other benzos, so I believe it is more abused.

I had a prescription for Xanax years ago when I was going through menopause that I briefly used. It just made me sleepy I don't know how anybody gets a high from that. It's a very boring drug...

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As with all prescriptions, I think we have an obligation to prescribe them with responsibility and safety. Avoiding them out of fear is wrong. Prescribing them for inappropriate reasons is also wrong.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

What if he was also on Zocor for his cholesterol? Would you be embarrassed to have prescribed it and never do it again? I guess I don't get it. Xanax didn't cause him to shoot people.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

Exactly, but we know how the media is. No provider wants to be connected to any of this. The person who stated that about zocor is correct. However Xanax is a drug that is currently being abused. That's why I wondered how others felt.

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As long as you have an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate indication with sufficient counseling for the patient and monitoring, you're doing the right thing for you patient. Benzos have their utility. Select patients benefit from them. Just do your due diligence. Not prescribing them when indicated because you are scared of far fetched ramifications is just as irresponsible. It's the same for any controlled medication. Of course throwing them at any soccer mom who walks in complaining of normal levels of anxiety is also irresponsible.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Exactly, but we know how the media is. No provider wants to be connected to any of this. The person who stated that about zocor is correct. However Xanax is a drug that is currently being abused. That's why I wondered how others felt.

I've seen interviews from the shooters neighbors, from the realtor that sold him one of his houses, heck even from a Starbucks barista who used to sell him coffee. Nobody else seems to be embarrassed to have come across him at some point in time. I see no shame in someone having been his doctor or nurse practitioner, either. Of course, you probably won't see them get interviewed, but that likely is because of HIPPA, not Xanax shame.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

If he was on antibiotics, would we be blaming them?

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