Posted by ed_uk on May 12, 2005, at 17:08:27
In reply to concerned that my wife may be abusing, posted by concerneddude on May 11, 2005, at 20:06:06
Hi,
The aggression and slurred speach sound like Xanax intoxication, the dose might be too high. You really need to discuss your concerns with her doctors.
I think it might be useful for her medication to be dispensed in daily installments, supervised by the pharmacist. A long-acting benzodiazepine could be used to replace Xanax for the purpose of tapering. Long-acting benzodiazepines can often be taken as a single daily dose, the pharmacist could watch her take it. A 24 hour controlled-release morphine capsule could be used to replace OxyContin for the purpose of tapering. A 24 hour product would be useful because it would allow her to take a single supervised dose on a daily basis. I'm not sure what country you live in. Here in the UK, opioids are often dispensed in daily installments if a patient is thought to be developing an addiction. In the UK, diazepam (Valium) can be dispensed from the pharmacy in daily supervised doses/installments if a patient has developed an addiction to diazepam or another benzodiazepine such as Xanax.
Supervised daily consumption would prevent her from taking more than a days supply at once. It might be advisable for her to taper off the Xanax and OxyContin. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen are often effective in the treatment of pleuritic pain, acetaminophen is also sometimes effective. If she is still in pain you really need to find out why. A different type of anti-anxiety drug could be used in place of Xanax, there are many options.
Kind regards,
Ed.
poster:ed_uk
thread:496608
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050424/msgs/496985.html