We are angry benzodiazipnes are controlling our lives the government must act responsibly

I agree with you, when I was put on Diazepam initially it was stopped suddenly after 3 weeks and I suffered terrible withdrawal, I was put back on it but with no plans to follow that up with the slow reduction that should have happened in the first place, I was told many times that I needed to be on it and that it was unaviodable.

Now I wont deny that I was told it could be addictive, they always said it could be and that I might get tolerant to it but they explained it in a way that made me think I would reach a stage where I did not feel much benefit and as for being addictive? They would remind me I needed it and tell me not to dwell on that fact.

When I started sweating profusely for hours on end,  shaking, going to the toilet 5-10 times per day, had non stop anxiety and too many other things to list I asked my doctor if it was possible that I was in withdrawal even though I was still taking it and the reply was 'I wouldn't have thought so'.

I researched and found the Ashton manual, clearly it states that this is possible and this document goes back to the 1980's, I was precribed it in the 1990's.

I have seen so many doctors and consultants over the years and not one ever warned me that you can go into withdrawal whilst still taking the prescribed dose, not one warned me as stated in the Ashton manual that it can cause depression and agoraphobia.

I am furious, why was I not warned? How could that many doctors and consultants not know?

I did not have the internet back at the start, no way to reserach it myself and besides many people simply trust their doctors, why wouldn't they unless they are given reason not to?

And they keep saying it's not happening anymore, that they are following the guidelines when prescribing but that is not always true, I have seen it, I know a woman who was given it 4 years ago and is still on it, she is noteabley worse than before but insists it is saving her life and the doctor says she needs it.

Something needs to change and fast, my life has been destroyed by Diazepam and I never abused it, I took it as prescribed and because the doctors said I needed it.

And people including myself live in terror of telling doctors that they want to coe off these drugs because they cut too fast and rush the process, I actually did tell my doctor that I am thinking about it and luckily she was pretty good about it, I told her it would be when and how I chose to do it and she agreed but also said she didn't think it was a good time, well since it's this damn drug that has caused my problems I am struggling to think when it will be a good time.

And one more thing, doctors need educating properly, mine said that once you have psychotherapy you can give up diazepam because all it does is calm anxiety and when you learn how to do that yourself you don't need it.

Ahem, what about the chemical reactions? What about the way it affects the brain etc? The brain needs to adjust to the damage and have time to heal, no techique will allow that to happen, only a slow, careful withdrawal will.

I have been learninng techiques and using them for 17 years so why am I worse than ever and why do these techiques no longer work? I am sure it's because I have hit withdrawal due to tolerance, this is not a worsening of my anxiety at all, it's something entirely different.

I want just one doctor to look me in the eye and admit it but they don't want to  know.

At least you in the UK have tried to take a stance. Here in the US they talk about how bad these drugs are but there are MD's here who base a large part of there practice on these meds just keep them coming back for more. My Dr.,looking at her sign in sheet saw 19 patients in the span of 3 and one half hours .And yes I am on xanax for sleep but want off so I asked her for diazepam so I could get off this stuff before having to up and up my dose. They sure know how to put you on it but clueless as to how to get off. Big pharma rules here they have very powerful lobbies that keep this stuff and many others going. Our government,including the FDA could move against abuse but don't with Obama Care our already expensive healthcare has become untenable insurance premiums have sky rocketed I know one person whose premium went from 160.00 a month to over 400 in 2 years another who works for IBM and pays 900.a month The people on the cheap plans have 10,000 deductables before their insurance kicks in. So that does't even take in the prices of drugs that many even with insurance can not hope to afford. But do you know what is cheap? benzos 4.00 a month and 100.00 or more to see the Dr. to get them. A money making machine for some. Hi BS8

IT's simple.  STOP, forget all the reduction bollacks. Trust me they are not needed ( but keep a few in the bathroom, just in case ) I was on 80mg diaz and 4 lorazepam. Benzo has the same effect on on CNS (central nervous system) as alcohol.Get a lawn chair and combine all. Relax