Benzo Withdrawal questions and concerns

[HourGlass22]

Last May of 2012 I found out about etizolam and binged 1-4mg per day for months and months until I realized I had 10 left and no supplier. I withdrew hard as hell and quickly found phenazepam online and started taking that maybe around July 2012. I tried tapering and was somewhat successful but the withdrawal still was kicking my ass so I was still taking phenazepam up until I quit cold turkey on Thanksgiving. I took Phenibut instead for a month or two to alleviate some of the symptoms and have weened myself off of that as far as I know. I haven't taken any in a couple weeks and feel okay.

The real question I have is, I still feel a dependency to take a dose of Phenazepam once a week, but don't feel withdrawal symptoms really by 7 or 8 days after taking my dose, but mentally I feel that I need to take another dose. Am I really still dependent on Phenazepam if I can go 8+ days between doses? Or could I just stop taking it altogether without withdrawals? I'm terrified of what might happen if I run out again and do go through terrible withdrawal and I can't handle that again. Someone please give me some hopeful news or suggestions.

Thanks

 

[bronson]

Well, phenazepam has a half-life of 60 hrs, so you've went through about 3.2 cycles in 8 days. If you're taking a higher dose when you do use, I'd say there is unfortunately still a likelihood that you are dependent. If so, just a slow taper down and off.

I wish you the best, keep us informed on how you are doing.

 

[RobotRipping]

phenazepam does have a huge half life but if your doses are small, then you will have a very minor withdrawal as you've essentailly tapered yourself.

i'd say it's purely psychological; it's been years and i sometimes still crave phenazepam and most people hate it.

if you run out next time go to a hospital. Don't ever cold turkey, just keep trying and trying to find a Dr who will taper you properly. it's the only way out of the benzo game unless you have your heart set on tapering on your own and quitting for good (when negatives outweigh positives).

 

[HourGlass22]

Well, phenazepam has a half-life of 60 hrs, so you've went through about 3.2 cycles in 8 days. If you're taking a higher dose when you do use, I'd say there is unfortunately still a likelihood that you are dependent. If so, just a slow taper down and off.

I wish you the best, keep us informed on how you are doing.

Could you care to explain the cycles part to me? I understand half lives and all that, but what am I shooting for cycle wise to not be dependent?

phenazepam does have a huge half life but if your doses are small, then you will have a very minor withdrawal as you've essentailly tapered yourself.

i'd say it's purely psychological; it's been years and i sometimes still crave phenazepam and most people hate it.

if you run out next time go to a hospital. Don't ever cold turkey, just keep trying and trying to find a Dr who will taper you properly. it's the only way out of the benzo game unless you have your heart set on tapering on your own and quitting for good (when negatives outweigh positives).

I really wish I could, but my medical insurance is through my parents and they would surely see and know why I'm going to the hospital. As of now they have no idea I even know what a benzo is.

 

[bronson]

^ Each hl or cycle is just when the body eliminates half of the drug it has remaining in it. It's depends on the dose more than the number of cycles, with a small dose, 3.2 cycles would be more than enough to know if you were still physically dependent or not. With a larger dose 3.2 cycles might still leave enough in your system that you wouldn't yet know for sure if and to what extent you would experience withdrawals.

 

[RobotRipping]

well it'd probably be cooler to tell them than to have a grand mal seizure. You'll probably fair out okay, ativan is weak, 5mg is a relatively low dose and you were only taking it for a month. Seizures' still a risk, i wish i could assure you 100% it won't happen but people are very different. I've come off 6 month phenazepam binges cold turkey without tapering and didn't seize while other people seize very easily.

do you parents just think you're extremely sick now or something? either way, whats your dose of phenazepam and how many times a month do you take it?

 

[HourGlass22]

I'm not in any sort of withdrawal right now, I feel fine. This is my second batch of phenazepam which was heavily cut, so I take 15mg of the cut Phenazepam every 7 or 8 days but am going to try to space the days out longer and longer while cutting the dosage. Or just stop cold turkey if I don't feel anything after 8 or 9 days.

well it'd probably be cooler to tell them than to have a grand mal seizure. You'll probably fair out okay, ativan is weak, 5mg is a relatively low dose and you were only taking it for a month. Seizures' still a risk, i wish i could assure you 100% it won't happen but people are very different. I've come off 6 month phenazepam binges cold turkey without tapering and didn't seize while other people seize very easily.

do you parents just think you're extremely sick now or something? either way, whats your dose of phenazepam and how many times a month do you take it?

Also, I'm not sure where you read I was taking ativan for a month at 5mg doses? I was on etizolam and then phenazepam.

 

[RobotRipping]

well after rereading this thread i don't know either man, i was on a good combo of drugs yesterday, forgive me lol. Etizolam has an easier withdrawal than phenazepam FWIW, still i think it's mostly psychological at this point, and your brain is recovering too so you will still get symptoms for a while.

 

[Jnk]

Not to be snide, but welcome to addiction. It sucks and you can be clean from something for 10 years and all of a sudden, you get the taste of it in the back of your mouth and your mouth starts watering.
Good Luck to you!

 

[HourGlass22]

So unfortunately I've run out of my phenazepam, and forced to stop altogether again. It's been 10 days since my last smaller dose, and I was taking it once a week before that. Right now I know I'm definitely withdrawing, but my symptoms only seem to be physical. I have a stiff neck, a muscle twitch every once in a while, dilated pupils, slightly shaky hands, and I can't stop grinding my jaw. I don't feel any anxiety or depression like I have in the past, so I'm hoping this goes away in the next week or two. I have more phenazepam on the way, but now I'm not really sure if I should take more and try to taper, or just continue without taking another benzo. Any advice?