Anyone know of a benzo doc in Louisiana?

[Etherealremnant]

I am having a hell of a time finding a doctor down here that is willing to prescribe benzos for me. I have been on them for 8 years (currently taking Klonopin but I was taking Valium until I moved from CO and my doctor wouldn't fill it for me here) and the doctors around here do not really seem to care about the fact that the withdrawals could kill me.

I am fine with a doctor that wants to switch me to Valium and taper me (that's actually what I am looking for anyway), I just need to get medicated suitably so I can get out and look for a job!

[mrsjones]

Louisiana is one of the strictest states for pain management and this appears to extend to anxiety management. Your best bet is to find an understanding phychiarist. Sorry I am no help here. I have to travel to Texas for pain management.

[gringo777]

If you are serious about tapering from benzos, I would suggest finding a substance abuse clinic that will give you substances to taper. Certain places will give opiate addicts suboxone and benzo addicts a valium taper. There is only one place I know of in my state that does this, so you will need to do some research.

Other than that, it will be hard to find a doctor who will prescribe you benzos to taper-down. They will be too worried that (even if they give you 0.5mg's) you will just take them all in a matter of days. A psychiatrist could help.

I suggest doing a search for 'substance abuse clinic suboxone' (even though you don't need sub) to find places that will taper you while in rehab. Or search for 'substance abuse psychiatrist' along with your city and state.

You might have to taper with your own willpower with what you have left. Benzo w/d can be deadly, as you know.

[Etherealremnant]

@gringo777 - it is impossible for me to taper off of what I have without having seizures.

I don't really understand how they can do this crap... I've had a legitimate prescription for 8 years - on top of that, the trending in my prescriptions has been REDUCED dosage over time, not increased, so I was doing just fine on my own.

I can't do an inpatient rehab - I don't have insurance and the state program here is the same rapid taper they tried doing on me last time that caused me to have seizures plus it has a wait list.

I guess what I'll have to do is just keep ordering online.

A friend of mine is taking me to her appointment to see her doctor on Friday and we're going to talk about getting me on a maintenance Valium or Klonopin dose. My fingers are crossed on this one but she said her doctor will give me the script as long as I have a legitimate prescription history to show, which I do.

[crucibelle]

@Etherealremnant - I was born & raised in Louisiana. I remember most of the doctors down there had signs on their doors "we do not prescribe xanax". Crazy. That was in the larger towns/cities, though. From my experience, I would say find a small-town older doctor. They are old-school & don't mind prescribing benzos. When I was in college, I went to an older doc in a very small town, and he put me on Librium. No problem. I live in the mid-atlantic coastal area, now. Psychiatrists give out benzos like candy here.

[Etherealremnant]

@Etherealremnant - I was born & raised in Louisiana. I remember most of the doctors down there had signs on their doors "we do not prescribe xanax". Crazy. That was in the larger towns/cities, though. From my experience, I would say find a small-town older doctor. They are old-school & don't mind prescribing benzos. When I was in college, I went to an older doc in a very small town, and he put me on Librium. No problem. I live in the mid-atlantic coastal area, now. Psychiatrists give out benzos like candy here.

@crucibelle - thank you for the tip. I actually have an appointment with a doctor in Sunset today and I am hopeful that he will help me out.

It truly is crazy that these doctors down here will not do anything for someone that is already taking the meds as prescribed by a doctor. Apparently they are so new school that they think stopping meds cold turkey is acceptable!