The Benzodiazepine Thread v. IV

[opi8]

Swisse is overpiced turd

 

[dais]

can you expand on that? why do you think that? any sources to back that "claim"?

i used one tablet tonight along with my prescribed anti-psychtic and definitely felt drowsy - i took the swisse a few hours before the AP.

since then i've had caffeine which is perked me up a little. i'm happy with those results so far.

they might be overpriced but dependency isn't something i'm willing to deal with right now and i'm going on a health kick and am willing to give these alternatives a go for my own sake. this won't be long term, something short term to get me back on track and naturally getting to sleep.

i hope mods don't mind if i update my progress to share my experience with this. maybe their efficacy is overlooked, benzos being the easy way out. split it into it's own thread if necessary.

 

[opi8]

Here's one, I don't buy into the whole vitamin thing, be my guest if you want to waste your money on bottles that cost hundreds of times more than food containing the exact same shit.

http://theconversation.edu.au/trust-me-im-clinically-proven-6067

 

[dais]

as i said, it's a short term fix while i'm cleaning up. i haven't exactly had the best diet while coming off so it's to help replenish levels to where they should be. once i'm over the acute stages, able to eat properly and exercise to my full potential and just plain look after myself and take care of my family properly, i'll be dropping them and only using them sparingly if i find myself slipping.

these are sleep aids, not "vitamins", to help the transition of using benzodiazepines to getting to sleep naturally.

they were reasonably priced as well from chemist warehouse while they were having a sale. i paid half of what i would have for everything at full price.

that article just states the point that they should have (and have) stopped using their lines such as

terms “clinically proven” or “independently tested”, as well as its “Tired? Stressed? You’ll feel better on Swisse” tagline.

 

[spacejunk]

If they work for you as a sleep aid, that's great; all power to you.
Personally, that blend/concentration of herbs would be unlikely to help me sleep, but that's not to say it won't/can't work for you.
Placebo is a powerful thing! I mean that in a good way, not to be condescending or anything. Getting to sleep isnt like some other ailment that isn't affected by the mind - on the contrary - for a lot of us, it's all in the mind. So go with whatever works, I reckon.

I've known a lot of people that have had success with passionflower and other such herbs, so I wish you all the best. If something works for you, great! Use it!

 

[dais]

thanks, spacejunk

it may be placebo (it's definitely not to be discounted) as i had a fairly busy day yesterday and my dosing regime has cut down a lot.

i'm going to stick with it until i'm back from my vacation and completely clean of all dependent drugs and get back into my usual workout routine once home. i've been neglecting and missing the gym set for too long now. after a few light workouts throughout the day and a reasonably heavy weights regime in the afternoon and i'm almost ready to drop on the ground. unfortunately my parents don't have a gym sitting in the garage at the moment. and i'm here to spend as much time with them in between their daily routine and my own activities.

 

[justsayknow]

I think passion flower and hops have some effect but very mild, there are probably cheaper ways to go than swisse though, I was using a product called kalm kids which is straight hops and another called sedacalm which is only passionflower just because i dont really like valerian. As far as herbs go two of the stronger ones I have tried for sleep are mulungu and kava. Not sure if it is recommended to combine them though and I think kava is restricted now. I must admit I have never tried to use any of them as a replacement for benzos and I'm not sure how effective they would be.

Exercise is definitely one of the best things for sleep though, sounds like you are on the right track- good on ya

 

[Sustanon]

Those dried herbs did nothing for me, skullcap, damiana, passionflower, valerian, by themselves or combined did very little Theres not much otc that is good, if its good u bet it is illegal or going to be :S

 

[dais]

I think passion flower and hops have some effect but very mild, there are probably cheaper ways to go than swisse though, I was using a product called kalm kids which is straight hops and another called sedacalm which is only passionflower just because i dont really like valerian.

i do admit swisse are overpriced - most likely because they've got the advertising power behind them with well renown sports stars backing their product. i'm a sucker for adverts, what can i say. i did purchase them at chemist warehouse where things are reasonably priced all around.

As far as herbs go two of the stronger ones I have tried for sleep are mulungu and kava. Not sure if it is recommended to combine them though and I think kava is restricted now. I must admit I have never tried to use any of them as a replacement for benzos and I'm not sure how effective they would be.

Exercise is definitely one of the best things for sleep though, sounds like you are on the right track- good on ya

i've researched mulungu a little and it looks promising. i am still not sure because i can't find any reliable info on whether it produces dependence with use. does anyone know?

kava i'm not too interested in.

and thanks for the kind words, it's appreciated

 

[justsayknow]

i've researched mulungu a little and it looks promising. i am still not sure because i can't find any reliable info on whether it produces dependence with use. does anyone know?

Well I'm a fiend with most other stuff and Ive had 100gs of it sitting in my cupboard for a long time. I think mainly because I don't find it very recreational. It makes me uncoordinated and I do go to sleep but before sleep I feel very weird. I havent used it often enough to gauge tolerance.

Personally I prefer to drink kava. I have tried them together and that works but I'm not sure if its contraindicated or anything.

 

[dais]

are you using the concentrated extracts or powdered mulungu? wait, it would be the powdered if you've got that much hanging around.

getting a little wonky from something once every now and then, it's the physical as well as psychological dependence i'm most worried about.

i will do more research on kava and see if i can make a more educated decision on it

 

[pinkanga]

Ive always been pretty skeptical about all those natural sleep aids that you see at the chemist. Never really tried them though so 5 points for ignorance hey....

A great combo I use fairly regularly 5-htp and melatonin. Melatonin on its own is great obviously, but its worth combining with 5-htp just for the awesome vivid/lucid dreams.

 

[Ashley]

Took Too Many Valium, Please help with my prescription mathematics

Sorry guys, I'm wasted on a large dose of diazepam, 8mg buprenoprhine, mild dose of oxazepam. Finding everything a tad confusing

Saw Dr. Quack on 16/07/12, and was prescribed 25x 2mg alprazolam, Xanax brand.

He said that they should last me until an appointment for me on 22/08/2012 August. The doctor is reducing my reliance on benzodiazepines wanting to get me down to 1x 2mg tablet per day. Hence the reduction from my previous script whch was 40x 2mg alprazolam taken twice a day. Prior to take I had been scripted 50x 2mg alprazolam to be taken 3 times daily for around 6 months maybe longer.

Now, I recall the doctor saying that the 25x 2mg alprazolam should last for 30 something days, hence the appointment he made to see him on 22/08/2012 (which is 38 days yes?) Having thought about it, if I was taking 1.5 2mg tablets daily, a 25 count bottle should only last me 16 days. Right?

I think the doctor did his calculations wrong thinking he prescribed me 50x 2mg alprazolam as opposed to 25. He is very anal about coming in for a script early, so said don't come until the 22/08. Correct me if I'm wrong but 1.5 daily / 50 tablets = 33 days, but 1.5 daily / 50 tablets = 16 days - if he had of worked it out thinking he prescribed 50 then, 1.5 / 50 = 33 days.

I should be due for more Xanax from Dr. Quack tomorrow, 31/7/2012, correct?

 

[Ashley]

Does anyone find oxazepam (Serepax/Murelax) utterly disappointing and almost unnoticeable. I much prefer alprazolam, diazepam and clonazepam in that order. They're like placebo pills. According to the benodiazepine equivalency chart on benzo.org.uk; 10mg diazepam is equivalent to 20mg oxazepam. Since collecting my scripts this afternoon, I initally consumed 55mg of diazepam with a nice result, especially as I was hanging out from heroin/codeine. However I also took 100mg of oxazepam which is equivalent to 50mg diazepam and didn't notice a thing. This is far from the first time that I have experimented with oxazepam and always it is a disappointment.

Anyone find the same thing?

Ash.

 

[brimmy]

Your math makes sense (if he really did prescribe 1.5 daily).

 

[MissNervosa]

Does anyone find oxazepam (Serepax/Murelax) utterly disappointing and almost unnoticeable. I much prefer alprazolam, diazepam and clonazepam in that order. They're like placebo pills. According to the benodiazepine equivalency chart on benzo.org.uk; 10mg diazepam is equivalent to 20mg oxazepam. Since collecting my scripts this afternoon, I initally consumed 55mg of diazepam with a nice result, especially as I was hanging out from heroin/codeine. However I also took 100mg of oxazepam which is equivalent to 50mg diazepam and didn't notice a thing. This is far from the first time that I have experimented with oxazepam and always it is a disappointment.

Anyone find the same thing?

Ash.

Yep I was prescribed a months worth of Serepax and even at higher doses it was quite disappointing.Give me Xanax (DOC) or Valium anyday! Clonazepam is on my "drugs to try" list

 

[Ashley]

Thanks mate. And yes, he did prescribe 1.5 tablets (3mg/day). I knew it didn't sound right when he said that they should last 30 something days.. I have the empty Xanax bottle, with the prescription on it right in front of me: "16/07/12" - "XANAX TRI-SCORE TAB 2MG 25" - "(ALPRAZOLAM)" - "Take ONE AND A HALF tablets divided as required" - (he explained that this meant take 1mg in the morning and 2mg at night).

Well, I guess I'm off to the doctor tomorrow! :D

Ash.

 

[Ashley]

Yep I was prescribed a months worth of Serepax and even at higher doses it was quite disappointing.Give me Xanax (DOC) or Valium anyday! Clonazepam is on my "drugs to try" list

Good to know, thank you. Does anyone actually enjoy oxazepam (Serepax/Murelax)?

MissNervosa, I think you will like clonazepam. Personally, I haven't tried Rivotril again since I got over my benzo addiction; but when they did work (as they didn't work every time, especially when my girl and I had a nasty benzo habit about 7 months back, due to our huge tolerance, I presumed). Though sometimes they would work, sometimes they wouldn't - I have never been able to figure out as to why. Some times we would take 50mg of alprazolam and not feel a thing, yet a day or a few later, we might take 20mg of alprazolam and be absolutely legless.. I always found this odd.

Thanks for your reply, been reading your posts - nice to see some fresh faces these days discovering bluelight - makes me feel old.

Ash.

 

[Ashley]

I might try oxazepam (Serepax/Murelax) on it's own tomorrow, as I haven't tried it exclusively since I had that nasty benzo habit. My doctor prescribes it for my insomnia, and the diazepam (Valium) for general anxiety - I am also using it to relieve withdrawal symptoms, with great success as I have only been using heroin once or twice a week at most. I've been alternating between ~400mg+ of codeine (CWE from 30x 12.8mg codeine/200 ibuprofen) or buprenorphine IV (Suboxone Film) when the withdrawal symptoms get too much. Whilst they're nothing to complain about, my weekly use is preventing me from getting "clean". Prior to this, I was taking alprazolam (Xanax) but the compulsion to re-dose usually results in me ending up in hospital, the police cells, etc.

I'm hoping to be able to take minimal amounts of Valium and Xanax to get through the physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal, which is what it is now, as I jumped off 16mg of buprenorphine around 6 months ago now (best thing I ever did, quitting - worst thing I ever did, getting on maintenance.. I lost 3 years of my life.

Anyway, sorry to carry on about opiates in the Benzo thread..

Ash.

 

[Ashley]

Oh, forgot to ask - how would you compare temazepam to oxazepam? Not just for a sleep aid, as I find oxazepam almost useless as I mentioned, and it certainly isn't going to help me sleep. If you were in my shoes, would you consider temazepam a superior benzo to oxazepam? With my previous experiences with temazepam I've had the same sort of experience as with oxazepam, but I think this is probably because I have never taken enough. What would be a good dose of temazepam and also oxazepam to a a lesser degree. I currently have a mild benzo tolerance, I need at least 50mg of diazepam for a decent experience and I generally need 4-8mg alprazolam to get a nice result.

Sorry for posting like a much determined machine.

Ash.