Today marks the week mark. If I check myself into a mental hospital, are they going to force Benzos on me? I don’t wanna go if that’s the case.
Anyone with psych ward experience?
If you tell them you’re going off benzos they shouldn’t force them on you … but you shouldn’t check into a psych ward unless you are going through severe withdrawals. It takes 3 days for Ativan to clear your system so you should be going through withdrawals right now.
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Normally when you go in voluntarily they don’t/ can’t force meds on you. It’s only when you’re involuntary that they can force meds on you.
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I was involuntary 3 years ago and they forced Haldol and Ativan injections on me.
I’ve been in the psych ward several times and I dont think I was ever given a benzodiazepine. If you are worried maybe you can pick up a letter from your doctor.
Usually they try to stay away from benzos on the psych ward cuz they don’t want you to become addicted to them. The usual exception is an “agitation set” which typically has 5 mg haldol, 1 mg of a benzo (usually Ativan or clonopin), plus Benadryl…this is generally given involuntarily during emergencies but sometimes you can request one. Also called a “B-51”.
When I was in the psych ward they didn’t give out any controlled substances, which I didn’t ask for but I wanted. Hydroxyzine/vistaril is the normal protocol. If you tell them you’re getting off benzodiazepines they won’t give you any. I always wondered when I was in there and the other patients started to get out of control the nurses kept threatening patients with a shot or usually do you want another shot and the patients looked terrified of that. I wondered what it was. Anyone know? I figured it was something to make them calm down so I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t want it. I asked a nurse what I had to do to get it and she said be totally out of control. I then said can’t you just say I am and give me one? She didn’t like that I wanted it. I guess nothing to hold over my head. So what exactly is the shot?
I’ve only been given a benzo once in the psych ward, but that was because I hadn’t slept for days and was pretty out of it. I asked them for something strong to make me sleep.
Probably haldol @Pinkbarbie23
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