Driving vs working ?
Question:
I cannot drive on benzos (Clonazepam) because of tough scary new laws here. I drive fine on them, but still probably dangerous for legality. I cannot work without taking benzos, and even then, no guarantee. I have tried most/all SSRIs for anxiety, but they don’t work like benzos. What to do ? I live in exurbs in parents’ basement apartment sort of arrangement (own closed space, lower rent, pay my own way on ther things of course), and it is almost impossible to get anywhere without a car, especially on weekends and evenings. Can commute to work for now if downtown. Father can’t drive anymore, mother ok, but they are up there in age. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I cannot drive on benzos (Clonazepam) because of tough scary new laws here. I drive fine on them, but still probably dangerous for legality. I cannot work without taking benzos, and even then, no guarantee. I have tried most/all SSRIs for anxiety, but they don’t work like benzos. What to do ? I live in exurbs in parents’ basement apartment sort of arrangement (own closed space, lower rent, pay my own way on ther things of course), and it is almost impossible to get anywhere without a car, especially on weekends and evenings. Can commute to work for now if downtown. Father can’t drive anymore, mother ok, but they are up there in age.
Almost everybody I know is driving on benzos. Seriously, would you rather have someone on the road who is anxious and nervous, or someone who is calm and cool. It all depends on how the benzos affect you. For me they make me normal again. The last time I got stopped the officer and I had a nice conversation and he sent me on my way — forgot to turn my lights on when I left a gas station. Without the benzos I would not have been driving at all, and if I had been driving and stopped by a cop without my benzos I probably would have freaked out. If the benzos put you in a drunken state, obviously you should not be driving or working. The word here is "normal." When you take your meds are you more normal? If yes, I wouldn’t worry about it. If they make you sluggish and sleepy you should not be driving on them. Do they slow your reflexes? Probably, but what about coming up on a situation where you have to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid an accident? In a calm state you will probably do the right thing. In an anxious state you may do nothing. It all depends on how you feel when you drive. I can’t tell you to break the law, but if your meds bring you back to center, and they are prescribed by a doctor, I doubt you will get into trouble. Anyway, that’s my two cents. Let’s see what others have to say. Sheldon — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot drive on benzos (Clonazepam) because of tough scary new laws here. I drive fine on them, but still probably dangerous for legality. I cannot work without taking benzos, and even then, no guarantee. I have tried most/all SSRIs for anxiety, but they don’t work like benzos. What to do ? I live in exurbs in parents’ basement apartment sort of arrangement (own closed space, lower rent, pay my own way on ther things of course), and it is almost impossible to get anywhere without a car, especially on weekends and evenings. Can commute to work for now if downtown. Father can’t drive anymore, mother ok, but they are up there in age.
If the drive I am about to take is an anxiety provoking one, I’m better off TAKING the benzo.. That keeps both me and the other drivers safe!! Depends on your level of anxiety, but unless you take a large amount, or if you are super sensitive to them – benzos should not be a problem for anyone who has an anxiety disorder. They will make you feel normal, not impair you. If the dosage you are on is too strong, try a half or a quarter.. Are you new to taking this medication? When I first began taking Xanax, before I learned what dose worked best for me, they would make me sleepy – but that only took a few weeks to sort out and now, I take them so I can just feel like a normal person feels. Anxiety is a worse impairment for me than my meds. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot drive on benzos (Clonazepam) because of tough scary new laws here. I drive fine on them, but still probably dangerous for legality. I cannot work without taking benzos, and even then, no guarantee. I have tried most/all SSRIs for anxiety, but they don’t work like benzos. What to do ? I live in exurbs in parents’ basement apartment sort of arrangement (own closed space, lower rent, pay my own way on ther things of course), and it is almost impossible to get anywhere without a car, especially on weekends and evenings. Can commute to work for now if downtown. Father can’t drive anymore, mother ok, but they are up there in age. Almost everybody I know is driving on benzos. Seriously, would you rather have someone on the road who is anxious and nervous, or someone who is calm and cool. It all depends on how the benzos affect you. For me they make me normal again. The last time I got stopped the officer and I had a nice conversation and he sent me on my way — forgot to turn my lights on when I left a gas station. Without the benzos I would not have been driving at all, and if I had been driving and stopped by a cop without my benzos I probably would have freaked out. If the benzos put you in a drunken state, obviously you should not be driving or working. The word here is "normal." When you take your meds are you more normal? If yes, I wouldn’t worry about it. If they make you sluggish and sleepy you should not be driving on them. Do they slow your reflexes? Probably, but what about coming up on a situation where you have to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid an accident? In a calm state you will probably do the right thing. In an anxious state you may do nothing. It all depends on how you feel when you drive. I can’t tell you to break the law, but if your meds bring you back to center, and they are prescribed by a doctor, I doubt you will get into trouble. Anyway, that’s my two cents. Let’s see what others have to say. Sheldon
I would have to agree with you. I wish my mother-in-law was on benzo’s when she drives. Sheesh. I don’t know who stresses out more, me or her! kili — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot drive on benzos (Clonazepam) because of tough scary new laws here. I drive fine on them, but still probably dangerous for legality. I cannot work without taking benzos, and even then, no guarantee. I have tried most/all SSRIs for anxiety, but they don’t work like benzos. What to do ? I live in exurbs in parents’ basement apartment sort of arrangement (own closed space, lower rent, pay my own way on ther things of course), and it is almost impossible to get anywhere without a car, especially on weekends and evenings. Can commute to work for now if downtown. Father can’t drive anymore, mother ok, but they are up there in age. Almost everybody I know is driving on benzos. Seriously, would you rather have someone on the road who is anxious and nervous, or someone who is calm and cool. It all depends on how the benzos affect you. For me they make me normal again. The last time I got stopped the officer and I had a nice conversation and he sent me on my way — forgot to turn my lights on when I left a gas station. Without the benzos I would not have been driving at all, and if I had been driving and stopped by a cop without my benzos I probably would have freaked out. If the benzos put you in a drunken state, obviously you should not be driving or working. The word here is "normal." When you take your meds are you more normal? If yes, I wouldn’t worry about it. If they make you sluggish and sleepy you should not be driving on them. Do they slow your reflexes? Probably, but what about coming up on a situation where you have to hit your brakes or swerve to avoid an accident? In a calm state you will probably do the right thing. In an anxious state you may do nothing. It all depends on how you feel when you drive. I can’t tell you to break the law, but if your meds bring you back to center, and they are prescribed by a doctor, I doubt you will get into trouble. Anyway, that’s my two cents. Let’s see what others have to say. Sheldon I would have to agree with you. I wish my mother-in-law was on benzo’s when she drives. Sheesh. I don’t know who stresses out more, me or her! kili — The charter is available at:http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm – Show quoted text –
Since my panic attacks started while driving on the freeway, and since my doctor prescribed them for me to take specifically while driving, I don’t worry about it being legal. In my opinion (and obviously my doctor’s), I’d be more dangeorus without them then with them. Besides, I’m on such a low dose (0.5 mg) that I don’t worry about it impairing my driving in any way. Joe — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
