Ativan or Xanax Safe For Social Anxiety Disorder?
Medications are safe, right? They are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, prescribed by a doctor, and dispensed by a pharmacist. They go through a long approval process with tons of data behind them before they are permitted to market. Medications are life-saving and beneficial, so what’s wrong with taking something like Ativan or Xanax if you have an anxiety disorder, a legitimate medical condition?
Sure, we all know that drugs can have side effects, but if the doctor prescribed something for you, then surely he has weighed the potential risks and judged the benefit to outweigh the potential cost. There should be nothing to worry about. After all, you are just following the doctor’s orders.
You may not be aware, however, of the long term problems that may arise with Ativan or Xanax use. Ativan and Xanax are in a class of medications called benzodiazepines which are controlled substances. This means they are even more tightly regulated than regular medications. This is because, besides the potential risks for side effects or drug interactions, physiological dependence can and often does occur. Not only do people become dependent on substances like Ativan or Xanax, but the level of dependence develops to a degree unparalleled by any other group of drugs, even opioids, like Oxycontin or Vicodin.
Dependence is so strong that it makes it extremely difficult to get off Xanax or Ativan once on them. And, if a person does decide to discontinue them, withdrawal can be severe and life-threatening. Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, anxiety, weakness, low blood pressure, hyperactivity and generalized seizures. Tapering the medication must be done over a long time period under the direction of a medical professional, and takes discipline, diligence, and determination.
The biggest problem with using Ativan or Xanax for an anxiety disorder is not the potential side effects from withdrawal. It is that using the drugs does not address the root cause of anxiety. The medication only temporarily masks symptoms of underlying problems. These are problems that must be dealt with for long term recovery. Ativan or Xanax may seem attractive in the moment, and may even help someone cope for a while, but ultimately they are a crutch and a way to delay the emotional work that must be done to heal. And, with getting off Ativan or Xanax being so difficult, you might as well learn coping skills and ways to center yourself, and do the work to face your anxiety head-on to create a life you love, rather than getting muddled up monthly trips to the pharmacy, bi-annual trips to the doctor’s office, and paying for a drug that keeps you stuck and doesn’t cure your disorder.
Even if a doctor recommends something like Ativan or Xanax, it is ultimately up to you to be your own advocate and choose the best course of action. Educating yourself about the risks and benefits of any therapy, including drugs like Xanax or Ativan, is a great first step to making a decision that serves you best.
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