Do doctors prescribe alcohol for social anxiety disorder?
Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at
6:24 pm
My friend told me that a lot of doctors have started prescribing alcohol to treat social anxiety disorder. He says he has a prescription for bacardi rum and that is why he is always drinking it. Is this true or is he pulling my leg?
Filed under: General
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I don’t think your friend is telling the truth.
I never heard of a doctor prescribing alcohol for anxiety.
It’s probably a joke.
sounds like theyre yanking your chain
you = gullible.
That’s ridiculous.
They prescribe anti-anxiety meds.
No, because alcohol is not regulated. Doctors will only prescribe what the pharmaceutical companies tell them to do. And they get good rewards from the companies. Thats why you always have to question what a doctor prescribes to you!
Yea sure and pills of marijuana too …. oh boy !
Absolutely. Alcohol actually is a good treatment for Social Anxiety. I have known several people who have been told to use alcohol for their anxiety, especially before stressful situations. And it was a prescription from a doctor. Doctors can ‘prescribe’ anything, from bed rest to drugs from the pharmacy.
But there is a drawback to this treatment. While it will work it is far too easy to develop a dependence on it. I had a friend who had anxiety which resulted in his hands shaking like crazy. But he began to drink and he drank way too much. He ended up having a problem. I wish Doctors could prescribe it like anything else, you get a bottle of it and take a prescribed dose, nothing more. It is just way too easy to use it as a excuse to drink too much, which sounds like your friend might be.
But yes, alcohol is a legitimate drug that Dr.s use for anxiety.
OK, for the record alcohol for treatment for anxiety is not for ALL anxiety. If you noticed I mentioned that one of the people I know who used alcohol to treat anxiety experienced hand tremors when he felt anxious. Those people who have motor manifestations of their anxiety benefit most from alcohol, but others on here who say it can make anxiety worse are correct, for many people it will make them worse. But it really is a treatment for some. Not sure if your friend is one of them.
And one more thing, alcohol should never be combined with other anxiety treatments like benzodiazepines. Also, it should be a huge red flag if someone is using alcohol to try and counteract safety behaviors. For that they need therapy not booze.
For the record, I do not support this treatment, I think it is bad news. But I just wanted to acknowledge that it does happen.
thats a load of crap and dont believe anyone who tells you that. alcohol is a depressant and can actually CAUSE anxiety. after the first few drinks, the person may think hes feeling better, but hes actually getting drunk. the next day, the anxiety is ten times worse.
I am not sure if they do that anymore but some Doctors used to tell people to try alcohol for stressful social situations. I had a brother who was told that back in the eighties. Nowadays though it seems they tend more towards medication since there are so many problems with alcohol addiction.
I bet your friend is just trying to make an excuse for his drinking though.
NO. he is wrong.
You just fell of the turnip truck, hey?
No, alcohol would not be prescribed for social anxiety.