New Florida Benzo Control Law or B.S.?

[somneferum]

Hello! I am going CRAZY trying to find an answer to what I suspect may be my doctor's office feeding me some B.S. 8(
I live in FL (US) and have (amongst other ailments) osteomyelitis. Because of the constant worry over my diabetes-related conditions, I began having SEVERE panic attacks in 2012. After trying psychiatrists and their various potions, I sought help from my family doctor.

He is elderly, but still incredibly smart, gentle, and knowledgeable. I told him what the shrinks had tried (all non-benzos/none worked) and he said we might need to try something stronger. He recommended the smallest dosage of Xanax (alprazolam). He has since had to adjust the dosage up to 1mg 3xday. I have read about how much pleasure some folks get from it, but I don't get it. I guess its just a case of what you like, but then again I am taking this for a real problem that had made my life pretty awful.

This keeps me "grounded", and also prevents the leg and arm "jerks" caused by high levels of Gabapentin (for neuropathy).

Recently--after over 2 years of positive use--I ran into a roadblock: the office manager. After we had a disagreement about something (which makes me feel like she is B.S.'ing me), she informed me that Florida had passed "brand new laws that made it illegal for a doctor to prescribe 'psychiatric' drugs like alprazolam or [even] the sleeping pill I've been taking for years (not every night), Dalmane".

So she wants to take me off "the drug I've become addicted to" (a comment I became enraged because of) AND my sleeping pills unless I can find a psychiatrist who will sign off on it. I know the local shrinks in FL don't like to use benzos, and so does she. She ALSO has her own little kingdom as my dr. is taking a leave of absence due to his health and they've hired a doctor who has had problems with his license and only recently got it back, so he is playing by whatever song she sings.

I've done search after search to try and find out if there is such a law, but I can find NONE and wondered if anyone has heard of this. Sorry to be so lengthy, I'm freaking out a little already as she wants to "wean" me off in 1 month (after over 2 years of daily use) all while I am having DAILY IV antibiotic and hyperbaric chamber (already claustrophobic) treatment that tires me out and this is all making my tension rise.

 

[cj]

She is bullshitting you but there is nothing you can really do about it.

 

[Yourmomonice]

Yea straight bullshit

 

[ZacherySwan]

@somneferum
I tend to agree with the other posters to your question..................if I were you, to gain some self confidence, just "google" a words like
"new Florida state law on Schedule IV meds" or change the words around, on several search engines.
I considered myself quite literate to pharmaceutical laws, but to my surprise, I only discovered in the past 30 days, that any medication with
hydrocodone in it, is now a Federal Schedule II, since Oct 6, 2014, also, that Ultram, has been a C-IV, perhaps since last April, in the USA. How
did find out, mostly on the free internet, and a MD visit, where one of my 4 M.D's had a plaque, by the payment desk of no refills on Vicodin, Norco,
and pain med with hydrocodone in its contents.
In some cases, individual states enact a "State law" if they want to, to reclassify a drug. I know of some examples, but, it covers a lot of history.

You sound somewhat paranoid, and, as a long time user off and on, with pain meds, especially benzo's, and now stimulants, I identify with your
fears. Many profound changes have taken place in the past 10 years, that will not go away, but will keep the individual monitored, very closely,
all over the USA, concerning ethical pharmaceutical usage, my state, is regulated, just like yours, with the Prescription Monitoring Programs, in place,
and a sense of paranoia, with all MD's in general, about keeping or starting any patient on a drug that has addiction potential from CII, CIII, and
CIV. It used to not be that way, but has been quite tight, at least in the past 4 or 5 years.........

 

[T. Calderone]

Your conditions are well-documented so it might be best to search for another doctor, even if you have to see a psychiatrist. Once they see your records of what you were legitimately prescribed, they should help you continue your meds.