Posted by AMenz on August 24, 2001, at 0:00:34
In reply to Alcoholic or Addict? , posted by Rosa on August 23, 2001, at 8:01:38
You're making the common mistake of thinking that addiction to tranquilizers and benzo's, etc is the same thing as taking antidepressants, antipsychotics etc which are not drugs that give an immediate high or low and therefore have the potentioal to create an addictive reaction.
People on this board have a disorder that requires medication, for which there is really not yet an optimal medical solution. You ought to become better informed before continuing to post here things such as just for today I won't take lithium. Then just for tomorrow I'll be insane.
> In my early twenties, I was prescribed Valium ...
>
> I kept renewing the prescription ... while continuing to drink alcohol. I did this for nearly fifteen years ... I also took Benzedrine for awhile. When I returned from overseas my doctor refused to refill my prescription ...
>
> After talking to the doctor, he said, "you don't need a tranquilizer, you need an antidepressant and changed my medication.
>
> Shortly after that I decided to quit drinking to see if it was really a problem ... it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I was a problem drinker, I drank when I had a "problem". It is still a temptation. I have attended A.A. ever since.
>
> I have been on and off antidepressants since then ... Now, I only take them when I need them ... I only take them at night. (Trazadone) My doctor recommended taking them earlier in the evening or cutting them in half because I said I felt so bad in the morning after taking them.
>
> Prescription drugs have been more of a problem than alcohol ever was.
>
> Two years ago, I finally got up enough courage to go to N.A. I got there by using and abusing prescription drugs.
>
> Today, I am extremely careful what drugs I take.
>
> I have bradycardia (slow heart rate) and passed out during a heart cath. There are a number of heart medications I cannot take.
>
> I also take medications for high blood pressure. There are drug interactions between heart medications and blood pressure medication.
>
> That's my story.
>
> Rosa
>
> -------------------------
>
> > I have had very serious substance abuse problems
> > In the past and go to AA meeting and have been to NA and I work the steps. I could care less if I
> > Am addicted to prescribed medications. I have
> > Not been prescribed any medication that have
> > Caused me to crash my car, assault a person,
> > Spend all my money on drug deals, are end up
> > In jail(like alcohol and street drugs have). The prescribed medications I take
> > Help me from going back to my old alcoholic, drug
> > Addict ways. Thank for the suggestion but the
> > People on this board have serious psychological
> > Problems that NA just will not fix.
> >
> >
> >
> > > If you think you may have a problem with prescribed medications, the Just For Today Meditation may be for you.
> > >
> > > Rosa
> > >
> > > You can read the JFT online at http://www.jft.ca/jftmeditation
poster:AMenz
thread:75755
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010822/msgs/76195.html