On Thursday, December 5, Gail Dawson, NP, a member of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) Medical Advisory Board, delivered a presentation in Toronto, Canada, at the Centre for Rehabilitation and Health’s Holiday Education Session. Her talk addressed recent changes in Canadian policy regarding benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND), and the challenges of safer deprescribing. She highlighted issues such as the lack of provider knowledge and the limited evidence and effectiveness of available treatments.
The session was attended by Canadian long-term disability insurers and clinicians from across the country, both in person in Toronto and via livestream. The presentation sparked significant discussion and was well received, covering material important for anyone working in vocational rehabilitation. One participant shared her personal experience with benzodiazepines, noting how the presentation resonated with the struggles she had faced in recent years with prescribed benzodiazepines.
This marks BIC’s third awareness effort in Canada this year, following Radio Canada’s Enquête episode Cauchemar Sur Ordonnance, or Prescription Nightmare, in English, which explores the risks of prescribed benzodiazepines and features interviews with BIC members Nicole Lamberson, PA, and Jim Wright, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, as well as a Benzo Blunder video and blog addressing a CTV Montreal segment that used improper addiction language.
This is scary I take, .25 mg of clonazapam since 2012. I’ve been watching the videos on YouTube from Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and now to frightened to try again to get off clonazapam. No one believes me how hard it is to get off both clonazapam and Effexor xr 75 mg. Been taking Effexor for about 8 years and feel so tired on this and want off. I started medications through my doctor who is now retired he perscribed me Pristq 50 mg was switched to Effexor xr after a failed attempt to get off Pristq 50 mg ( could not sleep during taper at the time did not know it was from tapering which was done by a compound pharmacist I think it was done to fast looking back and what I know now. Then saw a psychiatrist who put me on Effexor xr long story short , I just need to get off because of side effects). Was put on this originally for what my doctor thought was depression and anxiety, but reading lots on Diabetes distress this is what it was after being diagnosed. Go to the American diabetes website and the Uk diabetes website and read about diabetes distress when first diagnosed, and can happen anytime through living with diabetes. I’m trying to bring awareness to this to. People with diabetes have a tough time living with this disease everyday of there lives. When I was diagnosed and weeks after diagnosis was quite overwhelmed, you have to pay attention to your emotions with this disease it can be quite daunting I was in tears when I went to see my doctor and didn’t have the emotional support back then. Which I don’t think people know about the emotional part of this disease, even doctors. The blame and shame of this disease is terrible. People do not cause there diabetes, wether you are Type 1 or Type 2 there needs to be empathy and compassion when it comes to diabetes, not psych meds.
Hi,
Hope you’re OK. I’m not a medical professional, however unfortunately I’ve awarded myself a near master in benzodiazepines (I’ve been addicted to valium, Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin (all at different times) Regarding the other medications you stated you’re taking or have taken I’ve never had to take them, therefore have zero knowledge….It can get tricky due to one doctor prescribing something different (or at different dose) than another doctor…One great source in my opinion is Doctor is Josef Witt Doerring
Taper Clinic
https://taperclinic.com
He offers sound, knowledgeable, and credible information on most drugs i.e. Effexor…super nice guy !(unconventional psychiatrist).In addition, he treats patients and has a youtube channel. 🙂