New 2017 Xanax Laws In Kansas

I've been taking Xanax for a few years now and I've been with my Dr. for 8 years. My Dr. moved in July 2017 and we received a new Nurse Practitioner in late August 2017. I scheduled an appointment with her so I could meet her and go over my history. She completely took me off my Xanax and my Ambien and put me on Klonopin. My daughter whose an RN, told me she did NOT want me taking Klonopin. But I thought I would try it. After only taking 2 doses of it my anxiety was so extreme I really thought I would just explode. I felt like I could hurt someone. My skin felt like it was on fire. My heart rate dropped to 73, it normally runs in mid 90's. I also got flu like symptoms. I let the NP know and she tried to tell me it was just allergies and to give it a chance. So I told her I refuse to take it because I cannot continue to feel that way. I have several health issues as well as depression, anxiety and bipolar. She never messaged me back and that was Tuesday and now it's Friday and no word from her at all. She doesn't know me at all and refuses to go by my previous Dr's orders. I'm on Medicare and it's very hard to find someone in the mental health field that accepts it.

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You should not be seeing a NP if a Doctor is available. One day we will get health care by Phone the way things are going. It sounds like you are going through withdrawal although Klonopin is pretty interchangeable with Xanax and certainly will work on Anxiety. Give it a chance, take an extra

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What were the relevant dosages of each medication? As Eddy stated, they are very similar, both are classified by the FDA as Benzodiazepines, which are listed a carrying the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, and irritability.

And what rationality did she provide for stopping your Ambien? While it is not generally given for long-term use, it is sometimes the best option for some people to take it.

As to your heart rate, neither of those numbers are dangerous, but both are actually considered higher than average. Are you on any other medications?

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I've been on xanax for 25 years. I take 4 1mg per day as needed and 1 2mg of the xr at night. If they take that away like they made me. Goose between pain management and my psych illjust move my "s" date up closer. I'm sick of politicians and quack drs running my life. I've already lost my entire family just need to find homes for my dogs. No narcan won't reverse a calciumchannel blocker.

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I was on Xanax for over 20 years and didn’t affect me at all anymore I am on generic. Have been on Klonopin for 20 years also. Prescribed to me for my RLS now if I have panic attacks I just take a Klonopin. I have social anxiety and agoraphobia. I have been on different anxiety meds this is working for me. Plus studies show Xanax causes memory loss, and believe me it does.

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There is a website that will help you find a dr that participates in Medicare & another if you ever need to file a complaint. U definitely have a recourse. I am on klonopin also, but depending on the brand I get, it has different effects on me. In some ways in this climate of medicine, we r really lucky to get any benzo's as it's all over twitter how dr's just cut ppl off their benzo's w/o even tapering due to fear of CDC guidelines. Suggestion - try another brand bc there are posts on here about klonopin either not working or side effects depending on the brand. Just look for them.

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Are you anywhere near a large hospital that perhaps has a teaching staff? If so then there are probably some new doctors, interns, that are supervised who will take new patients. that's how we got my husband a new doctor.. nearly everyone we were referred to was not taking new patients whether or not we were on Medicare, which we are. We were able to get my husband a new doctor this way and the office is about 5 blocks from here.

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Re: Kaylee (# 3)


PLEASE talk to your Psychiatrist honestly about your suicidal thoughts. If you don't feel comfortable enough talking with the one you're seeing....find one you CAN talk to. NO ONE should have to feel the way you do. There are AWESOME mental health specialists out there who can help you feel better and regain some joy in your life. Believe me I understand. I have been a chronic pain patient with severe anxiety for 25 years. I know how frustrating it is to have to jump through more and more "hoops" to get relief!! Please don't give up!! You are probably better off with a Psychiatrist who cares...than pain mgmt. where they treat you like a 6 year old junkie looking for a fix!! There is hope!! Why not find a chronic pain support group in your area. No one can REALLY understand us like another pain patient. If there isn't a support group in your area....why not start one yourself. Sounds like you have nothing to lose by trying. You might be surprised by how much it helps to talk to others who are going through the same thing. Suicide is NOT the answer. There really are people out there who care. Please take one day....or one hour at a time. Your life can change for the BETTER in an instant. I don't know if you believe in it....but I will be praying for you. I would love to see you post an update saying you have CANCELLED your "s" date. God bless Kaylee....PLEASE hang on.

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Keac, I am one of the MOST anxious people Ever. I was on generic Ativan for yrs. & then asked for generic(not my choice Medicare) Xanax. My PCP understands my anxiety very well and prescribes 4 a day. I only take 3 and save the rest for "Survival mode". If you have panic attacks like me, then Clonopin will not help you throughout the day. It's one pill at night and I've tried it and 1 mo. later I went back to Xanax. Clonopine is in my view for Bi Polar folks also on Lithium. Fight back. If you don't the withdrawal will be weeks long w/no sleep....Promise, I tried it 2 times and it's worse every time.Good luck Sweets.

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Unbelievable. Absolutely NOT. The NP is doing something very stupid!!! You cannot just come off of Xanax you have to titrate. In fact coming off of Xanax without slowly titrating is extremely dangerous and that's why you're feeling bad!!! You need to call her back and tell her that she cannot just pull you off of Xanax arbitrarily without titrating you and threaten to SUE THEM!!!! Very very very dangerous being pulled off of Xanax abruptly!!!

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Re: Angry 65 year old (# 8)

I am 68 and I was on xanax. It got to the point where I wanted one every 2 hours. I am on klonopin now and it works for me taking 1 at midnite, 1/2 at noon & 1/2 at 6 pm.

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Re: Jerry M (# 9)

Haaa. Try and find a lawyer to take the case. The doctors are being forced to stop giving drugs that make you feel good. Have a glass of wine when you feel overwhelmed and thank the doctor for ending your drug habit.

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Re: Vinny (# 11)

That's ridiculous and you don't know what you're talking about!!! Any doctor knows, any the doctor at all, that you cannot just abruptly come off of Xanax. It can cause all kinds of issues. This is NOT an option, you absolutely have to slowly step down off of them.

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Re: Vinny (# 11)

Wine Vinny is not a replacement for Benzodiazepines

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Klonopin does not do much for me and these SSRI Antidepressants make a Zombie out of me causing more depression which I have been diagnosed. The Tricyclic antidepressants do not do a damn thing for me such as Amitriptyline. The only thing that took away my depression are not being manufactured and I think you all know what I am talking about. If I were you, I would stay on the Xanax if it helps you. Depression can be DEADLY. I'd rather be hooked than dead. Good luck, I hope you find the medication that will work for you.

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There is something very wrong going on here when doctors can just take you off if medications that have been prescribed for years. Why else do people need to get on a website to ask for doctors who will prescribe Xanax or other benzos? A new doctor needs to treat a new patient with the same respect that their doctor before had been treating them... No wonder web-based pharmacies are still making a killing... incompetent doctors? I too take Xanax 1-2 mg a day although I usually don’t need that much. I have been on Xanax since the 1980’s when they started prescribing instead of Valium. I am having problems getting in to see my doctor because Medicaid cut me off this month and I am not going to be covered again until Nov 1st. I ran out of my prescription but they don’t care. I now need to find $60.00 to see my doctor on Tuesday or I’m screwed. I’ve been taking an old prescription of Ambien but it’s not helping much. My heart rate is through the roof and I’m scared to drive because I could have a seizure. I’m thinking if I get worse to call 911. I’m not going to make it till Tuesday.

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Kaec,

I was on Xanax for many years, and truthfully took more than I was supposed to, because .5 mg didn't work.

I was changed to Klonopin 1mg and it works great! My doctor explained to me Xanax can cause rebound anxiety. It's when the pill stops working, the anxiety comes back with more strength.

Klonopin, on the other hand, doesn't do that. I have found this to be 100% accurate. I also have extra meds at the end of the month. :)

I had no problems switching from 1.5mg - 4.5mg of Xanax to 3mg Klonopin. Why did your daughter not want you to take it?

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The point here everybody is not whether or not the new pills should work. The point is that a nurse practitioner cannot just come along and cut somebody off a prescription without a valid reason especially when her own doctor is the one that prescribed them.

The topic here is the nurse practitioner did something very wrong and she did not have the authority to do this. Sounds to me like she's on an authority trip and has power syndrome!!! She likes to play doctor.

What I don't understand is why you are writing on a forum like this and not simply calling your original doctor and telling him what happened? Call the administrator if you want action and you will get the action.

Who is she to decide whether or not the patient needs to be on a different prescription and what was the NP's reasons for doing it? Why would somebody just out of the air decide to take somebody off of a prescription that has been working fine?

So to answer the question of this poster has asked, YES, the nurse practitioner did something wrong and being cut off of Xanax without stepping down slowly can cause extreme deep issues and yes you can threaten to sue them for patient abandonment, but most importantly, for an adverse reaction that she is experiencing because of a dumb decision of a nurse practitioner.

Of course you're not really going to sue and make any money, as that's not the point, the point is to get their attention and tell them that you're taking legal action because they're DIRECTLY responsible for her adverse reaction.

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They took me off Xanax AND Klonopin, given so U could cut the Xanax, end of 2013. I had been on it years. Now I am out of the fog, was best thing I have done. I had all your symptoms, too. Now, I am happier and more cheerful than ever. I get anxiety, sure, but I ride it through with deep breaths and focusing. There is a reason you are on Medichat rather than going to your primary Dr. (If not, go to him). Xanax is highly addicting. Taking it becomes a behavior. It is now a date-rape drug. Ask Bill Cosby. It is very hard to get a prescription now. The county I live in - California - hardly ever prescribes it at all. If I was going back on a benzo, would be Klonopin. It is still a benzodiazepine but has a longer half life. You do need to give the Klonopin time, though. Has to get in your system. I now realize what a fog I was in on benzos and many memories and years gone. Took me a couple years to get where I am now. Good luck.

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Re: Vinny (# 11)


I agree. The withdrawls were small compared to the fog-like state I realize I was in. Whenever a problem, pop a pill. I did it years. I had to learn how to live life all over 4 years ago. I have bever been so content in my life and I an 58! Took me about 2 years but I am alert, laugh and realize the symptoms I had were mostly the result of the ups and downs related to the Xanax & wearing off. It is a tenporary fix while long term use ruins one's benzodiazepine receptors. I take nothing now. Eat healthy. Researching foods, herbs, etc are calming. I am sooooo happy I am done with that. Life is too short to forget any of it. I cannot remember so much now. Takes strength to do.

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Maybe I have not stated the obvious here. I assumed this. The ENTIRE reason that she is having the problems she listed, the whole reason is not because she's having a reaction to the new drug, but because they didn't slowly taper off Xanax and the issues she is stating she is having, severe depression, being extremely angry, feels like she wants to explode and HURT someone, THAT'S what happens when you take someone off Xanax abruptly without tapering them down slowly... I'm not saying it's a good drug or bad drug, I'm not saying she shouldn't be on a different drug, everyone please listen. The decision to take her off of Xanax should be done in a controlled medical manner, slowly reducing her milligrams over the course of a few weeks. And the doctor knows this, ANY DOCTOR KNOWS THIS. I know people who have committed suicide coming off Xanax ABRUPTLY. This is not an "opinion", just research it. It's all over Google!

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I’ve been taking Xanax for over 20+ years and I find it hard to keep the same doctor. They expect you to stop medication? That’s impossible to just stop. You’re only chance is to find a local phycologist or psychiatrist. I finally found my fifth doctor and seeing him for over 3 years. I had to change my insurance to keep her. Well best of luck. You can always go to the emergency room.

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Re: Karl (# 27)

I felt like that in withdrawal but not anymore. They are meant for temporary use, not long term. Many Drs don't want to deal with the withdrawal, keep handing it out like candy. Took a long time but am so much happier out of my system. Years, decades on that s***. Dam, I read these comments and relieved. I have felt like everyone here, thinking I needed it but now I know it was the problem, not the solution. I did taper, not long a month but it was okay. I wanted the drug but only thought I needed it. Very addictive, what addiction is - physical and mental. Anyone who feels otherwise is in their addiction. There are other ways and other non-addictive pills. I just don't take them.

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Re: BL (# 35)

I know BL, Blue Cross/Blue Shield made that an option about a year ago for my plan. I don't have a smartphone though, a webcam yes

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I’ve been on Xanax for 15 years. I take 4 one mg/day and one 2 mg xr at night. They keep me sane. You can die if you come off a Benzo cold turkey. I was an RN for 40 years. It’s not pretty to watch what happens to someone who’s family stole their meds then she couldn’t get any for a week. Was in ICU for a week in a lorazepam drip. I have no trouble getting xanax from my psychiatrist and I don’t want any other Benzo. It works for me.

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Re: EDDY (# 1)

Some doctors see patients now using Telehealth. Traditional Medicare pays for it in some situations.

Medicare Telehealth-
medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth.html

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Re: Eileen (# 5)

The Medicare website to help find physicians that accept Medicare is at the link below. It is always best to contact a doctors office and verify they are accepting new patients.

Medicare Physicians Compare-
medicare.gov/physiciancompare

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Vinny, How did U wean yourself off Xanax? I have a HUGE ANXIETY problem but I hate Benzos. I decided to try again to get off Xanax. My try was cold turkey and 3 weeks of no sleep etc - was HORRIFIC!! How did U accomplish this?

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Re: Patrice (# 28)

That should have read a longer acting Benzo. Not opiate. I swear this thing has a mind of its own

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It would appear the original poster who asked the question, hasn't bothered to check in or say anything so for that reason alone I'm going to stop trying to help :)

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Re: Dogs Rule (# 23)

Man Jerry, I couldn't agree more. I started smoking marijuana in the early to mid 70's and this Mexican stuff was really good and made you feel good. After that was gone, I never got the same feeling with it. The paranoia, thinking stupid thoughts, grades were slipping...too much strong stuff going around or something. I just plain quit. I never want to feel like that again. Some may call me a lightweight but I've been out there on a lot of strong stuff and would barely feel it. Been sober for a good 5 years thanks to the legal drug that almost killed me...Alcohol...Easy to get...legal if you don't drive...and cost efficient.

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