Benzo's as appetite stimulant's

[yellowdog]

Hey all,
After 30 years of counseling emotionally-troubled client's, I have seen my share of anorexia. There are 4 or 5 conventional appetite stimulant's available by script. Most are used by patient's undergoing chemo. Not once have I seen one of our prescribing doc's write for one of those drugs. We used benzo's to break through the anorexia. When the anorexia is caused by a fear of gaining weight (anorexia nervosa), treatment with benzo's was only moderately effective. When it was treated by lack of hunger for no apparent cause (anorexia), the results were stunning. Very few cases that weren't resolved. After a couple of weeks, we could remove the med and the lust for eating continued! Of course, we live in a world of benzophobic doc's who rather prescribe harsh, potentially life-threatening medications in place of a simple benzo. My personal opinion is that benzo's are a Godsend. I can't think of a medication that I have seen help more people. Yes, there are abusers...and they harm themselves and they harm legit users), but the majority of scripts are written for the truly needy. Benzo's can save lives, just as much as an antibiotic, or a heart medication, or a blood pressure drug can. Yet so many have trouble getting access. Anorexia is only one example. It's an under-reported problem in the US. It could all but be wiped out if doc's wouldn't be so hesitant to give a patient what they need.

are you saying that in your country they use  benzos to help cure anorexia?.   In the UK we just get a nose hose.  I  had a bmi of 14. something, I was given NG tube, ensure, a dietitian ,  and had to be weighed by me GP. as soon as my bmi was 17 I was described as weight restored ( despite the fact anything under 17.5 is classified as anorexic.  When I look back there was NOTHING wrong with my body at all, in fact I was slim but toned, but when you have to weighed as part of your job, it does mess with how you look.  I was never given any appetite stimulators nor benzos.  Just stuck in room with a nose hose.