Any particular case which requires Benzodiazepine use beyond 3 weeks should be legally required to be monitored by a highly experienced practitioner who has proven sensitive to the risks inherent to longer term usage Keep such cases out of the hands of General Practitioners.

If we knew then what we know now! 38 years of benzodiazepines prescribed at high dosages because that was the happy pill of my time and yes always prescribed by Primary Care. Mother's Little helper? finally I'm on a reasonable taper with a new Clinic and supportive care. Thanks!

That is very frustrating to hear that your GP referred you to a psychiatrist, I hope the psychiatrist was able to help mitigate what happened to you. I think a major problem in treating mental health is GP’s who practice beyond their expertise and means.

It was a doctor of osteopathy that put me on benzos. A psychiatrist tricked me using a brand name. Sarafem would eradicate severe premenstrual depression with onset, ~4 days prior, evaporate in l first 10 minutes of cycle. Sara Fem? Fluoxetine. It started MDD nearly finished me.

A DO also put my family member on benzos along with Prozac. FM thought that DOs avoided unnecessary meds so trusted him. The DO called Prozac "happy pills" and Xanax "perfectly safe," prescribing both in top if an antipsychotic for "anxiety disorder" that was really akathisia.

The crazy drug-symptom lineage went: insomnia because of life stress, multiple ADs and a benzo, all caused reactions, all quickly withdrawn, Prozac, psychosis, antipsychotic and off Prozac, akathisia (falsely called "anxiety disorder"),then Xanax and Prozac on top of the AP.

It is totally horrific. A traumatic and harmful experience. A culture of patience and caution must be cultivated in practitioners so as to not diagnose and treat what is actually withdrawals and bad reactions. It is helpful sometimes to- not- rush in and help.