Prescribed Xanax

[Lauren214]

Ok so I got a call today from my psychologists office that I need to pick up a prescription for Xanax, Why would my therapist prescribe this and what does this mean for job searches? I've heard different stuff about side effects should I be worried about it?

 

[shesadiamond]

Hi there!

Xanax is a fast-acting benzodiazipine that is often used to treat panic and anxiety and sometimes used to help with sleep. It isn't usually prescribed long-term because the body can become resistant and the drug can become habit-forming. It can have a sedating effect for some people which they can find unpleasant or distracting. I'm not sure what you mean about job searches but if you're worried about drug testing, a company that decides not to hire you because of a drug you are prescribed could be held liable of discrimination according to the ADA. (see link below)

There's a bigger question here. Did you and your psychiatrist discuss the prescription? Are you sure it's your prescription? Psychiatrists generally don't prescribe schedule IV controlled substances without talking it over with their patient. If it is your prescription, talk to your doctor before taking it. There may have been a mix up. You can talk out your worries and then do it again with your pharmacist. They enjoy warning patients of the perils of benzodiazepines. :)

Hope that helps!
diamond

 

[WillyKat]

I'm a bit confused too. You used the word "psychologist" not psychiatrist and psychologists are not MDs and cannot prescribe medications. But I'm assuming you meant psychiatrist.

In any case, I agree with shesadiamond that employers can't discriminate for an Rx. Besides how would they know? I don't think such things with show up in urine or blood tests, and there's no reason that you need to tell an employer about what doctors you see or what medications are prescribed to you. I guess there are probably exceptions to that, like if you work for the CIA or are planning to go into orbit sometime soon.

You can look up the side effects on the Internet. Keep in mind that it depends on dosage and not everyone has the side effects. Everyone responds differently.

Hope that helps.

 

[Venator]

Some drug tests look for benzodiazepines. Shouldn't be a problem with job hunting - don't nee dto tell them unless you are operating heavy machinery and have to get specifically tested. I'm getting a CDL with them no problem.

 

[Lauren214]

Did you and your psychiatrist discuss the prescription? Are you sure it's your prescription? Psychiatrists generally don't prescribe schedule IV controlled substances without talking it over with their patient. There may have been a mix up.

We didn't discuss any prescriptions in fact she knew I was quite concerned about any medications. I was quite confused to have gotten a call about it, anyways im contacting my office in the morning to talk to my psychiatrist.

@WillyKat I did mean to say psychiatrist even after a few years of EMT training I still get the two confused.

@Venator Thank you for the response.

P.S. I'm hoping my quote isn't considered too long, I have tried to minimize it as much as possible in order to respond to @shesadiamond.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I take Xanax. You want to be careful about addiction and only take it when other means of relieving your anxiety have been exhausted. I can go days and sometimes weeks without taking it but that doesn't mean I am not having anxiety everyday, it just means I have other non-medication ways of handling it that I don't need to take Xanax for.

Best of luck.

 

[PearBlossom]

The only caution I would give you about job hunting is to be sure you know how your body responds to the med before taking it and then heading off to an interview.

 

[WillyKat]

Oh, what PearBlossom said is excellent advice. I once switched meds and had an absolutely awful anxiety attack. I could hardly function.