Valium / Diazepam News Blog

The Federal Government's new prescription drug benefit does not cover a category of drugs that are used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Medicare does not cover Benzodiazepines and medicines falling under this category are Serax, Tranxene-SD, Valium, Xanax , Intensol, Paxipam, ProSom, Restoril, Klonipon, Librium, Lorazepam, Diazepam, Dizac, Doral, Halcion, Alprazolam, Ativan, Dalmane, and Diastat.

Among these medicines, Xanax is one of the most popular antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug which have been prescribed to millions of patient everyday. Medicare cannot cover Xanax as it a type of benzodiazepines, nevertheless, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently advocated state Medicaid directors to provide coverage of the drugs for the 6.3 million people who are "dual eligible" for prescription aid under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and the states have agreed to cover benzodiazepines when prescribed for relieving anxiety, treat insomnia, treat muscle spasms, treat alcohol withdrawal, treat panic disorder, treat epilepsy and other convulsive disorders.

However, the elderly people who are prescribed Xanax but not covered by Medicaid in this situation has a few options open, they would have to pay for the drug on their own. Or else they will have to find a replacement for Xanax that is a part of the new Medicare benefit, and at last they may pay higher premiums for additional prescription coverage. But in a condition where the patients would look for an alternative medicine may have serious aftereffect. After all sudden withdrawal from benzodiazepines can raise serious concerns if it results in rapid, un-phased medication changes. Patients who are under Xanax therapy should not stop taking Xanax abruptly; it may lead to seizures and dangerous life-threatening problems.

When a patient takes Xanax for a certain time span, the body develops tolerance for it. At that time larger dose is required to get the same effect and the constant use may lead to addiction. At the time of stopping Xanax or taking reduced dose, there are chances that the brain can bounce back or race out of control leading to spasm and other harmful consequences. But while comparing to other CNS depressants, withdrawing from Xanax can be challenging but never life threatening, provided it is not abrupt, but a gradual process. But the low-income group who are not covered by Medicaid are bound to stop taking Xanax or look for an alternative. There are conditions in older and disabled adults in which only Xanax can help and the exclusion of this drug could be harmful to them. Even if they look for other options, the result would not be as satisfactory as Xanax's.

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