I have been on Benzo-therapy for over 20 years...this is a short list of things I found notable & interesting. Again, just my experiences, we all react slightly different, but I've seen these same observations with several people.
1- Xan's - WONDERFUL...when your anxiety levels are rising above your baseline therapy, ie panic attack. Quick to get on top of the panic attack & get things under control... HORRIBLE DEMON, if it's your baseline treatment. Too many peaks & valleys (I'm a HUGE fan of Extended/Sustained/Time-Release medications!!! I HATE the drop off crashes, anxiety over getting your next dose, etc. Much rather build a "slow hump", action once a day as opposed to "3 to 4 times daily")
2- Diazepam - Not euphoric to me at all, actually can't really tell when it "kicks in" or not. Due to it's lipid solubility & long half-life/second metabolism, it builds up in your system (like Librum), forming a wonderful baseline treatment for me personally. Started with 3 a day & a few Xan's on hand for panic attacks, 6 years later, take 2 daily, & have had not experienced any withdrawal or increased anxiety. Also very helpful with torn rotator cuff related, muscle spasms. Have missed a dose a couple times, only realizing it when I went for my second tablet for the day, no increase of anxiety or agitation.
3- K'pins - Decent, works well for some, felt very much like a Xan at the beginning, but had a slower, much more drawn out let off leaving my head foggy. Just not my favorite.
4- Lorazepam - Pretty much a joke in my opinion. Way too short acting without having any sedative/hypnotic properties, & required way more than the prescribed dose to quell a panic attack, & felt as though it had a "rebound effect" feeling where I felt worse off than before taking it. A dozen or so mg's, a great benzo-buzz for about 45 minutes.
5- Temazepam - An absolutely FANTASTIC benzo for sleep aid, with sedative/hypnotic properties! The one thing that I have to take while shutting off the TV & lights in the living room, on my way to the bed, & get in it asap. Other hypnotics (Ambien/Sonata/Lunesta - HORRIBLE TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH!!!), I would take, lay down, stare at the TV, get up for a snack, roll over, back over, & finally doze off. I take 30mg, out in 15 - 20 minutes, get a solid 6 - 6.5 hours, wake up refreshed, no fog, ready to go! Also a bit fun if you fight the drowsiness or split the capsule (30mg)...nice warm, "giggly"/happy, care free feeling euphoria & nods.
6- Triazolam - If you can find a physician who will prescribe them, or ever run across them (not suggesting or advocating illegal activities or drug abuse/misuse) & pick some up...welcome to the world of "Big Boy Benzo's"! In .25 or .5mg tablets, mentally (at least I did) your mind thinks "half mg of Xan...etc"...WRONG. The only thing I have ever experienced with more next day "WOW", was Rohypnol when I was in Europe. You won't feel it coming on ya, no warning at all. It's take it...10 minutes later, feel like you're getting close to feeling like you're going into a "K-hole". If you absolutely, positively, have got to knock your rear out NOW, here ya go. Like Rohypnol (and Temazepam to a certain extent), very fast acting, very sedating & very "zoned out"/hypnotic feeling, with no next day fog, & you're able to "regain your composer", after just a couple hours of taking it.
7- Librum - Much like Diazepam, with less muscle relaxant properties, NO euphoria, lipid soluble & long acting with second metabolism & half-life. Works great, to my understanding, in alcohol related DT's in high enough doses (after IV Lorazepam to stop the convulsions or seizures), when used & tapered off properly. Otherwise, even for basic GAD treatment, pretty much like a long acting Lorazepam...a sugar pill in my opinion.
After my 20+ years of prescribed Benzo-therapy, ranging from all of the above except Halcion, for me, I have found success & relief with 10mg of Diazepam @ 3x daily, 30mg Temazepam @ 1x daily at bedtime, & 1mg Alprazolam @ 1/2 - 1 tablet as needed for panic attack, in combination with 50mg Pristiq (SSNRI) @ 1x daily of morning...to the point, at my most recent doctor appointment, I asked to reduce the Diazepam to 10mg Diazepam @ 2x daily, 30mg Temazepam at night, & RARELY take a Xan, even more rare do I take a whole 1mg, usually half & I'm good
There have been others that I admit I fiddled with for rec purposes, & found there is so little difference among them, especially the same family types of benzos, it's not worth the risk to the stability of my condition, not worth the risk for a similar buzz as what I could get with my prescriptions, & not worth the legal risk to, again, get a very similar feeling to that of what I have legally. Just my two cents, for what it's worth.