I am on several antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. At the time they were first prescribed, I didn't think I needed them, but now I am truly thankful for them. living with COPD is just full of scary, anxiety ridden things. each new term or description I hear makes me shudder. The meds help me stay rational and calm to assimilate what it all means and how it actually relates to me and to manage coping.

I take 15 mg of Valium for anxiety every day from my psychiatrist. She didn't want prescribe them and it took a few months of other Meds. But when I had a meltdown in her office she came to my thinking and been on it for a year. It also helps as muscle relaxer. My little twofer. You probably need to see a psychiatrist to get any doc to prescribe a benzodiazepine.

This answer is for Margie Marshall or anyone who may be afraid sometimes as I know I can be. I just have to remind myself of what's good.

We all have copd just in different stages, hon, anyone of us could walk out doors and be struck by something or an accident on the way to the dr. or store. It is Gods well what happens to us and when so if you could try not to worry so which is not good for us with this crappy disorder and enjoy every precious moment you have instead of making every one miserable you will be so much happier hon. I know it isn't always easy but the choice is ours. God Bless and hope this helped.

There were a bunch of lawsuits early on before the federal government sued; they were probably 25 or 30 years ago. Very few actually were settled, but some people got a fair chunk of change. The federal lawsuit ended up with every state getting tobacco money for years. Check to see what your state did with it.