I'm going to have to pass a drug test before they will renew my Ativan prescription.

[Siwsan]

My previous APN did tell me that if I got my medical card I couldn't be prescribed Ativan, so I already knew this and haven't been to a dispensary in over a year.

The interim provider I'm seeing, while mine is on leave, is a DNP and I did really feel comfortable with her so I might ask to be transferred to her care. But she was clear that once I need a refill, which won't be for quite a while, I'll have to pass a pee test. I'm not taking Ativan every day. She did 'up' the Zoloft strength and suggested I take it at night because it will help me sleep.

She's also leaning towards having me see a psychiatrist to deal with my PTSD. No doubt she will discuss this with my therapist.

The advice I will give anyone is DON'T TRY TO HIDE YOUR EMOTIONAL PAIN!!!! Get help because without help the pain doesn't get better. It multiplies in strength.

[Goddessartist]

1. Sending love to you

And you are correct. I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation, and am now treated with Citalopram, a therapist, a psychiatrist, and a myriad of other drugs for other issues. I take Trazadone at night. PTSD, Major Depression...you are so right. Don't try to hide the pain....

With love and hugs to you and your kitties!

[MiHale]

2. Hugs for ya Siwsan...

Great day to settle in with the kits and breathe deep.

[Siwsan]

3. True. It's wet, cold and rainy.

A good day to binge watch something with the kitcats. Not sure what, yet.

[MiHale]

4. Hinterland is on Acorn.

That was a good series. If you don’t have Acorn there’s a 7 day free trial. I think it’s in a 4th season now.

[elias7]

5. Pee test for what?

Ask this practitioner what they’re looking for. Typically, people who get regular prescriptions of a controlled substance will get a test to make sure they are taking it rather than diverting it/selling it. If you’re not taking it every day, negative test doesn’t mean anything, nor does a positive test.

You can tell that practitioner that you take this on an as needed basis so that you do not develop a tolerance or dependency.

It’s on the other hand they are looking for other drugs, is your practitioner going to say that if you have THC in your system you won’t get a prescription for Ativan?

I have found a lot of mid-level providers go by an algorithm or cookbook and don’t really know what the hell they’re testing for or why.

[Siwsan]

6. Specifically THC

They know I am being responsible with the Ativan. Apparently there can be a bad interaction between those two drugs.

[elias7]

7. Bad interaction? Actually, that's a stretch.

We run across plenty of people on benzos and most also have THC in their system (a community hospital ED). THC has both relaxation and stimulative aspects and Ativan in normal doses can be lightly sedating but when taken on an as needed basis, it is mostly anxiety relieving. So the combo of the two can technically be oversedating, but in practice not really except in overdose. For prudent users it is not an issue.

A second issue is anxiety. In some frequently and in most on occasion, THC can be anxiety provoking, so it is an abusive situation if pot makes a person anxious and they take Ativan to take that edge off.

For a functional person with no red flags for abuse, the combo should not be a problem.

Frankly, the greater danger is concomitant use of opiates or heavy alcohol use with benzos.

I think there are ways online to assess likelihood of a positive THC test based on frequency of use and heaviness of use. Habitual users, as you may know, may take months to clear to a negative test.

[Siwsan]

8. I'm sure it's a applied to everyone just as a safeguard

Who knows - it could be something in the prescribing regulations that, if I had a card, the prescription for Ativan would be flagged. Just a guess on my part.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. Yep. More of the traditionalists trying desperately to tarnish cannabis.

They cannot stand the fact that there is a plant that can help with many physical and mental issues instead of having to take a pill for each issue. Especially when anyone can grow it! What about the monopoly of Big Pharma? How can those CEOs afford that tenth mansion in The Hamptons if we start treating ourselves with things that do not require five other things to combat the side effects of the first one? No, cannabis is not for everyone. Despite the constant propaganda from certain industries, nothing is. Yet, they will make sure we never see anything simple and natural as more than a massively bad thing that may have one good use. I am sorry that you are now in the same boat as all of us who have had to live for decades with this lunacy... a lunacy which is solely driven by greed.

(No, I am not denying the dangers. I am saying that they are being severely overhyped for effect.)