EMT on anxiety medication?

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cascadeclimbn

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So I want to go ahead and become an EMT but I am worried how my prescription meds will affect accomplishing my goal. I have moderate general anxiety and I take .5mg Klonopin 1x/day and 1mg Ativan prn (which is rare...maybe once a month if that). My question is will my anxiety and the medication I take to keep said anxiety in check bar me from a career in emergency medicine?
 
cascadeclimbn said:
So I want to go ahead and become an EMT but I am worried how my prescription meds will affect accomplishing my goal. I have moderate general anxiety and I take .5mg Klonopin 1x/day and 1mg Ativan prn (which is rare...maybe once a month if that). My question is will my anxiety and the medication I take to keep said anxiety in check bar me from a career in emergency medicine?
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Have you talked this over with your doctor?
Strangers on the internet who don't know you aren't the best resource for this type of question.

anxiety and stress levels are in EMS but it is dependant on the person, company, region.day, night, etc. how much there will be...

that said


There are numerous EMTs and Medics who suffer from anxiety, depression, etc and are able to function and do a good job....but like I said talk it will be a good idea to talk to your doctor.
 
I don't believe this is something my PCP would know anything about. I know that my anxiety would not interfere with job performance b/c my anxiety no longer affects my life...but part of the reason why it does not affect me is the fact that I take medication to make sure it stays away. The question that I do not know the answer to is whether being on benzodiazepines would limit job opportunities b/c of the nature of the drug?
 
You may have issues, as many services drug test for benzodiazepines. (Along with others)

Will probably be a question for individual services.
 
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Do you go to therapy with a mental health professional? Or just medication? The mental health person would know best. And therapy might get you off the meds!
 
cascadeclimbn said:
I know that my anxiety would not interfere with job performance b/c my anxiety no longer affects my life...but part of the reason why it does not affect me is the fact that I take medication to make sure it stays away.
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You absolutely do NOT know that in the least bit.

You will be doing different things in a different setting than you are now, in what for many people can be a very difficult and stressful job, especially in the beginning.

People with no other issues begin to have issues on a regular basis when doing this, in the beginning, and over time. To think that you shouldn't have some concern over the fact that you have an anxiety problem that is strong enough that you need to be medicated is asinine.

This isn't to say that you shouldn't look into this as a career or go forward with it, but to think that things will be fine because they are right now is dangerous for you.
 
MANY folks in EMS have anxiety disorders and panic disorders, and also things like depressions and I imagine there are a few with bipolar. Very few in EMS ever talk about it in the open.

It will be an adjustment period and could activate some panic attacks or an increase in anxiety. You may find that you do fine. You won't know 'til you get out and do it. And you really need to know yourself - triggers, early symptoms, and also how you respond to meds in case you need to take something PRN while at work.

I dealt with depression, panic attacks, and anxiety for a number of years (started in high school). However, I can't remember the last panic attack I had, it's been many years since I experienced a depressive episode (more than 6 years, I think). It was something that I was still dealing with when I was first getting into EMS about 10 years ago, but, lucky for me, it never impacted my work. If anything, work was therapeutic, as my symptoms were best when I had something to do.

But, despite having been doing well for many years now, I still take a low dose of a TCA and a benzo. (Based on psych guidlines, it is recommended that I stay on an anti-depressant for the rest of my life.) I'd like to get off the benzo, but right now I don't have the time to navigate a taper and any withdrawal symptoms or rebound anxiety.

As far as drug testing, I've never had a problem. Just make sure to disclose that you are prescribed a benzo so that there are no surprises.
 
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