Why is Xanax illegal in the UK?

In what way is it off label prescribing, it is, after all, an anti anxiety medication?
Indeed, its not exactly first line in their treatment though.

It means they are using it for something it is not licensed to do. Its allowed, but the doctor is opening themselves up to major liability problems if the patient complains or sues (and funding problems in some cases). And a highly addictive medication that is well known for abuse, and essentially not used in this country for any indication let alone an off license one.... yeah no thanks.

yeah, it's probably not a good idea then.. they make it so hard to focus on stuff. i used to be on benzos at work every day too, thinking that mixing them with red bulls would help but nope. and yeah same here propranolol doesn't do **** for me. it only helps for the physical symptoms of anxiety.
and honestly, if your issues are long term - stick to diazepam. xanax will make your anxiety worse in the long run because of it's half short life. diazepam wears off much more gradually so you don't really feel it as much. maybe you should consider ssris? sometimes they're also prescribed for anxiety issues, not just depression. personally, i can't take antidepressants but might be work looking into it? at least they're not addictive.
thanks, you too

Better hope OP doesn't decide he wants seroquel as Eminem mentions it.

Would Dr Dre be able to prescribe me this, as he is a doctor?

does propranolol get rid of all physical symptoms, such as a tight throat which may make it hard to speak?

thanks

Can't say i was ever aware of Klonopin being considered next to unusable in the UK? Somewhat rare compared to some of its cousins but the way you've phrased it makes it sound worse than Oxycontin (or some such)?!

Sorry thought we were still talking about xanax. Clonazepam is used on occasion in the UK, mainly for dying patients I think. There may be some regional variation in that though. Clearly, it is still a benzo.

Its hard to say if its 'worse' or 'better' than Oxycontin. They're both very addictive and very harmful when abused.

I am just wondering why Xanax is illegal in the UK and I am unable to get hold of it. A lot of my favourite music artists sing/rap about taking xanax to help their anxiety, and it makes me wish I could get hold of some so I could just get some relief.

If the doctors in the UK can't prescribe it to me, would I be able to travel abroad to get a doctor there to prescribe it to me and then bring it back home, or would the British border police confiscate it on my return?

I don't understand why it is not available in the UK when it is commonly prescribed in the USA. Please enlighten me.

Okay so basically doctors in the UK don't like to prescribe benzos because if the patient becomes addicted, they can sue the doctor? That is understandable, but a sh*tty thing to do if you're a patient tbf. If I got xanax from a psychiatrist and became addicted/bad side effects, I would only blame myself because it is my choice and responsibility at the end of the day.

I am just wondering why Xanax is illegal in the UK and I am unable to get hold of it. A lot of my favourite music artists sing/rap about taking xanax to help their anxiety, and it makes me wish I could get hold of some so I could just get some relief.

If the doctors in the UK can't prescribe it to me, would I be able to travel abroad to get a doctor there to prescribe it to me and then bring it back home, or would the British border police confiscate it on my return?

I don't understand why it is not available in the UK when it is commonly prescribed in the USA. Please enlighten me.

It's used in the UK as an anticonvulsant.

Sorry thought we were still talking about xanax. Clonazepam is used on occasion in the UK, mainly for dying patients I think. There may be some regional variation in that though. Clearly, it is still a benzo.

Its hard to say if its 'worse' or 'better' than Oxycontin. They're both very addictive and very harmful when abused.

Okay so basically doctors in the UK don't like to prescribe benzos because if the patient becomes addicted, they can sue the doctor?

Nah I actually happy with my how my life is right now. It's when I am alone at night that my mind starts playing up. Or when I have a day off work. I can't exactly meet up with friends or do a sociable hobby during this pandemic can I? I can't even travel to Monaco.

It isn't.

I have seen many people on clonazepam. All old people who have been on it for years though. Quite often they are also on oxycontin lol

No. Benzos have many negative long term consequence, including effects on cognition (studies have shown an increased risk of dementia in people taking benzos) and a worsening in psychiatric symptoms. So addiction and physical dependence are part of the problem but not the whole story. I doubt risk of being sued is high up on the list of reasons doctors don't want to prescribe them.

It isn't.

I have seen many people on clonazepam. All old people who have been on it for years though. Quite often they are also on oxycontin lol

No. Benzos have many negative long term consequence, including effects on cognition (studies have shown an increased risk of dementia in people taking benzos) and a worsening in psychiatric symptoms. So addiction and physical dependence are part of the problem but not the whole story. I doubt risk of being sued is high up on the list of reasons doctors don't want to prescribe them.

Have never seen this prescribed in the UK

In the UK? Both on clonazepam and oxycontin? Are we talking in a palliative care setting? I have worked in over 200 pharmacies, and oxycontin is used as little as possible in the UK, mainly due to cost. It is much more expensive than say MST, or Zomorph caps, (both morphine). I think it would be better on subjects like this to reply to a thread individually so as not to confuse laymen on pharmaceutical/ medical issues.

I work in community pharmacy, and am responding as though the OP was not an inpatient. Please state if you are UK based and a hospital pharmacist. That may be much different prescribing, but we would confuse the OP into thinking it is available in the sense of Klonopin in the USA, for anxiety, when it isn't. The only other community based indication is panic attacks, which is an unlicensed use. The BNF site/app is free to browse.