Can online doctors prescribe benzodiazepines?

This blog answers questions about: Can online doctors prescribe benzodiazepines?What are benzodiazepine?What are the two types of benzodiazepines? What are the common side effects of benzodiazepines? Can benzodiazepines cause withdrawal symptoms? What are the ways to manage one’s withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepine? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are some other ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Can online doctors prescribe benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines which are classified as controlled substances cannot be prescribed online. These medications have a very high chance of abuse, addiction, and other dangerous risk factors.

A person is required to meet a doctor or a healthcare professional such as a psychiatrist in person for this medication and its management.

However online doctors can prescribe other anxiety medications that are not classified as controlled substances such as benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines are sedatives and are used to treat symptoms such as anxiety. Taking these kinds of medication without proper prescriptions can lead to side effects.

Hence individuals must consult doctor one to one and discuss in detail regarding their symptoms and history to avoid any unnecessary side effects from the medicine

Benzodiazepines are addictive and should not be taken for longer than one month. Individuals might also experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking benzodiazepines.

Hence individuals must consult their doctor before starting or stopping the medication.

What are benzodiazepine?

Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative that is usually prescribed short-term for about two to four weeks. They are also known as “benzos”. Benzodiazepines are oral medications however in rare cases they can be injected to help reduce a person’s panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines can be used for relieving individuals of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Apart from this, it can also be used as a replacement for antidepressants for those individuals who do not respond to these.

Benzodiazepines are also known to treat insomnia where individuals have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Nevertheless, benzodiazepine’s are recommended for insomnia only if it is severe and causes impairments in an individual’s life

What are the two types of benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are of two types which are: hypnotics and anxiolytics

Hypnotics last for a shorter period and can mostly be used for treating sleep problems such as insomnia

On the other hand, anxiolytics have a longer effect and are used for treating symptoms of anxiety.

What are the common side effects of benzodiazepines?

The common side effects of benzodiazepines are:

• Addiction
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Muscle weakness
• Tremors
• Reduced awareness
• Numbed emotions
• Ataxia
• Confusion

The less common and rare side effects of benzodiazepines are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Increased appetite
• Memory loss
• Delusions
• Aggression
• Constipation
• Stomach upset

Can benzodiazepines cause withdrawal symptoms?

Benzodiazepines if stopped abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms when it is taken regularly for four to six weeks.

Individuals to avoid these withdrawal symptoms must talk to their health care practitioner before stopping the intake of benzodiazepine more safely.

Some physical withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepine are:

• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Stomach problems
• Visual problems

Some psychological side effects of withdrawal are:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
• Problems with memory
• Depression
• Hallucination where people smell, hear, see and feel things that are not there.
• Delusions where individuals believe that things that don’t match reality

What are the ways to manage one’s withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepine?

If individuals tend to stop the use of benzodiazepine abruptly after four to six weeks they might experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

However, antidepressants and mood-stabilizing drugs can help with individuals’ withdrawal symptoms. In case of insomnia, individuals can benefit from melatonin.

On the other hand for psychological side effects, individuals can consider therapy to get some relief

What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:

 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

What are some other ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion

Considering the nature of benzodiazepines and their side effects prescription of these medicines are not possible online. It is suggested that individuals looking to reduce their symptoms of anxiety or sleep problems can consult a doctor personally.

Consulting a doctor personally for such medications also helps to understand the side effects, dosage, and withdrawal symptoms even better.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a benzo prescription online?

Benzodiazepines which are classified as controlled substances cannot be prescribed online under any circumstances. This is mainly because these medications have a high potential for addiction, abuse, and other risk factors.

What anxiety medications can be prescribed online?

some anxiety medications can be prescribed online. However controlled substances such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Lorazepam are not prescribed online.

Is Teladoc any good?

Teladoc is rated 1.6 out of 5 and is often used by travel and tourism professional

Citation

https://plushcare.com/blog/can-you-buy-anxiety-medication-online-2/

https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/medications/benzodiazepines/