You just make the point that I neglected to make regarding addiction. If something is so short acting that you need more of it in spite of taking it as prescribed by your doctor, then what should this be called if technically it isn't addiction?
I do understand your dilemma regarding medication as it is a darned if you do and darned if you don't situation. Regarding being able to function, if there were unbiased studies on the effectiveness of the drugs, then in my opinion, it would be worth risking the side effects if it was reported in a positive manner. But when that information is missing, I feel like you are playing Russian Roulette.
By the way, The book by Ben Goldacre, ""Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients"" seems to further discuss these issues.
49er
JoshCallahan wrote:These sorts of medications present a difficult choice for many, and are often given out like candy by doctors with out fully explaining the side effects never the less the difficulty you will experience trying to get off the. Lorazepam is addictive because it is a so short acting, thus requiring 3 to 4 doses per day. Eventually your body builds a tolerance and or dependence towards it and will require a larger dose. How do you tell you have a problem? Well as Dr. Mark Viner (aka doctorofmindmd on youtube) put it if you are taking it every four hours and find self becoming agitated if you do not you more then likely have a problem. The hard part about this all is some really cannot function without this sort of medication, and unless you your self have suffered from debilitating anxiety it is really hard to understand just how hard this really is. Medication is never an easy choice, but what is? would you rather function or sit and suffer its a hard choice for many. I know it was for me. Pro tip though this medication is only fda approved for 8 weeks of use so if your dr gives you more then that you might want to question his motives.
