Will being on prescription benzos disqualify me from certain jobs?

[IHaveRespawned]

I am pursuing a part time security role that entails driving, but I am concerned that being on benzos (even when prescribed by my doctor) will disqualify me.

Yes

No

See poll

A total of 9 votes were cast: 3 girls and 6 guys. See detailed results

[Agape93]

Yeap. In my company, benzos will disqualify you from any position involving firearms, night patrols or anything involving a vehicle.

[IHaveRespawned]

You see why I am not fit for most jobs now? I have severe bipolar, Autism, severe sleep apnea (52 breathing interruptions per hour), insomnia, and other psychological/behavioral disorders. That is why I rely on my SSDI.

[Agape93]

Which would be fine but you can still work, and youve repeatedly denied work you could do, because you wanted work that does not exist anymore for you. I've worked tables before. I've sprayed shit out of bathrooms for a living before. You can work McDonald's.

[IHaveRespawned]

I have trouble holding down jobs, period. At least if I have somewhat of an interest in it, maybe that can help spark morale and some hope of keeping it, and that is IF that even works.

[IHaveRespawned]

Plus, if I am self employed, I get to call the shots on certain things and approaches. If I have control and authority, I can likely do better.

[Agape93]

Get over it. It's not about you and what you want. It's about not being a parasite on your wife because you're fucking lazy

[IHaveRespawned]

I am not lazy. I am disabled. I am allowed to work a part time job on top of my SSDI as long as I remain below $1,670 a month of additional income. Although, I still struggle to maintain work.

[IHaveRespawned]

You work for a security company? Interesting.

[Agape93]

Yeah and again you can work McDonald's, you just refuse to. Other disabled people do. People with medical issues do. you're not special.

[IHaveRespawned]

Got a reply. Looks like it shouldn't be an issue working part time security. Will find out more this week.

[IHaveRespawned]

And you can also look for a husband and stop hoeing around, but you choose not to do that.

[Agape93]

Correct, and I'm happy with that choice.

Probably AU or Walden.

[IHaveRespawned]

And I am happy with my approach to my employment situation

[Agape93]

Is your wife good with being forced to pay for everything

[IHaveRespawned]

She is not forced to pay for everything. I get $1876 a month in SSDI payments after deductions. We become very tight starting in the middle of the month. I am getting a part time job to help provide some relief, just as long as I don't exceed my threshold for the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount.

[Agape93]

At least you have something coming in.

[IHaveRespawned]

Did you do something to get me ghosted?

[Agape93]

Ghosted?

[msc545]

Those things impair attention and judgment and cerebral processing speed and they are not safe in many occupations that require constant attention. They're also quite addictive. I'm surprised anybody is prescribing them for you.

[IHaveRespawned]

I am on Temazepam 7.5mg capsules for my severe insomnia. I had to go to the ER the day after Valentines day this year because I was having an absolute breakdown due to too many nights with hardly any sleep and they had to inject 2 doses of Ativan into my ass. My sleep, moods, and my functionalities are very fragile.

[msc545]

Okay, well, if that's the case, then you probably need to have a sleep study done rather than people hitting you with Ativan or other benzodiazepines to get you to sleep, which isn't very healthy. I am surprised that somebody in the ER thought that was a good idea. If I were you, I would see my primary care physician or the folks in the ER and tell them that you want a sleep study and let's find out what's really going on in this. I order sleep studies for many of my patients because they too have difficulties sleeping. We do find ways to help them with that, but the first thing to do is to gather data. That's what the sleep study is for. If you have some difficulty with mental illness on top of all of this, the insomnia and the sleep deprivation are only going to make the symptoms of your mental illness worse.

[IHaveRespawned]

I am intolerant of CPAP. I have been to sleep studies. My doctor prescribed me Benzos long term because other medications were not working.

[msc545]

If you really have sleep apnea, then there is an implant called Inspire it seems to work very well. Many people have a lot of difficulty with CPAPs.

[IHaveRespawned]

I have to be below 225 pounds to qualify. I dance at the line of 225. I am afraid of being sedated again with that Propofol.

[msc545]

What kind of bad experience did you have with propofol?

[IHaveRespawned]

It burned like hell going up my arm and shoulder. Plus, I was highly anxious.

[msc545]

He should have been premedicated to start with, and they would have put the IV in, right? It wasn't the propofol; it was the technicians.

[Alex-Snow]

They can cause impaired driving/reaction/judgement in some people

[IHaveRespawned]

Would it likely be an automatic disqualifyer for a security job?

[Alex-Snow]

If they test for drugs then yes

[IHaveRespawned]

Then what do I do? They are prescribed to me.

[Alex-Snow]

Talk to the employer and see what they say. It is better to be open and honest about it. Some people can handle valium or xanax in low doses fairly well

[msc545]

I think it would definitely be an automatic disqualifier for a security job, particularly if you're required to carry a weapon. If it were not an automatic disqualifier, you shouldn't accept a security job until you get this problem taken care of. It's not in your best interest to get a job that you're going to lose quickly the moment you fall asleep, when you're not supposed to be asleep.

[AI Opinion]

Advisor Smith here.

Two key points from what I’ve seen coaching people:

1. Safety‑sensitive jobs (security, driving, armed roles) often have strict rules about medications that can impair alertness, even if prescribed. Benzos commonly fall in that category.
2. Employer policies and local law matter. Some roles require a medical exam, fit‑for‑duty clearance, or drug testing where benzos can be an issue.

What I’d do:
- Ask your doctor directly: “Can you clear me in writing for driving/security work on this medication?”
- Ask HR (without oversharing diagnoses): “Are there restrictions on prescribed sedating medications for this role?”

[Abbycado]

Likely for some.

[Jmmmfi4]

Not if you have a legit prescription

[msc545]

Benzodiazepines these days are only prescribed in small amounts for very limited periods of time.

[Jmmmfi4]

@msc545 I was on them

[msc545]

Hopefully for not very long.