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MODERATOR-INSERTED REMINDER: What you read here at Army.ca is intended for informational and discussion purposes, and is NOT intended to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment or for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition. Your health care provider is the best source of information about any conditions you may have and how to deal with them.
Brothers and Sisters;
Recent studies have shown that the use of Benzodiazepines in the treatment of PTSD creates long term harms that outweigh any short term symptomatic benefits. These problems have been known for over 50 years even though this treatment is currently being used for most Canadian Military personnel diagnosed with PTSD.
Our group has witnessed several veterans who have and are still struggling with this highly addictive drug. It causes higher levels of anxiety which are, in all cases, being suppressed with other drugs, alcohol and or illicit drugs. Some have had success with eliminating the use of this drug but the withdrawal is brutal, with high levels of anxiety which can last for several months or years. It is as one person described it "one hell of a journey".
The US Veterans Affairs cautioned providers in 2010 in the use of this drug do to the lack of efficacy, data and for the growing evidence for the potential risk of harm. We have attached the article for your reading.
Our goal in this post is to advise of the risks of this particular drug, asking you to share the knowledge with others so that we all can make informed decisions as to the treatment of our individual injuries. Speaking directly with a medical professional who advised us that "this drug can be very helpful in the very short term for people who feel out of control but to have a candid talk with their Doctor and NOT stop on their own".
The Canadian Military prescribes Benzodiazepines for the treatment of PTSD almost exclusively without much of the supportive group treatments and non pharmacological approaches. PSTD is in itself a daily struggle...Taking a drug that magnifies that struggle is not good for anyone. Families, friends and potentially our own lives can be affected by the Doctor's choice of drug.
We Stand Strong Together!
Here is a online article on the subject - http://wolterskluwer.com/company/newsroom/news/2015/07/benzodiazepines-not-recommended-for-patients-with-ptsd-or-recent-trauma.html
The medical article is attached below or visit this link
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/v23n4.pdf
MODERATOR-INSERTED REMINDER: What you read here at Army.ca is intended for informational and discussion purposes, and is NOT intended to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment or for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition. Your health care provider is the best source of information about any conditions you may have and how to deal with them.
