Benzos Experienced users - When is does recreational benzo consumption become a problem

[placebonaut]

There's always lots of talk and advice about the dangers of taking benzos and rightly so, they have a massive reputation for being one of the very hardest drugs to give up given awful withdrawal problems.

I often read common advice that includes
1. Never start taking them ever
2. Save them for after stims
3. Once/twice a week at 20mg diazepam dosage "should" be ok - but there a big risk you won't be that disciplined

I'm not saying the answer isn't the right 1, however my perception is that people who say "never use them" are polarized towards those who have had dependency issues with them and know what the pain is really like, in fact their experience is arguably much more valid here, but is it just as valid for a "typical" rec user?

So I thought it would be worth a poll to see if there's any kind of consistency amongst forum users for what people think is a reasonably realistic dose & frequency that isn't too high a risk - yes this is still subjective, and to counter this I'd love to hear from anyone who has any studies that they can share on dose/frequency addiction risk.

Please only vote if you have good knowledge and/or experience about the topic, if you're giving an unfounded opinion then you're skewing the results and actively might be putting people at risk, and If you vote it would be amazing if you could explain your rationale in the comments.

For the poll I've used diazepam given that's often used as an equivalent baseline for other benzos, let's assume if multiple doses in a week then they aren't taken on consecutive days to reduce build up in your system.

This is focused just on recreational users only, those of you you have medical reasons to take benzos should be talking to your medical practitioner about safe usage.

Last word of caution, this is just a collective indication of what the hive mind thinks, it's not a scientific study. Your body chemistry, mental state, and medical history are unique.

Spoiler: Benzo eqivalency table

 

[Chaurus]

I would say it would mostly depend on your inclination to become addicted.

Although I have overdosed on various benzos before even without any addiction risk (I haven't been addicted to any drug since I started to dabble with them in my teens).

I have slept for almost two days on etizolam and on another occasion on bromazolam. I would say, however that the 'sleeper' benzos are very useful after a nightly stim sesh with no obligations the next day.

I used pyrazolam for anxiolysis during or after stims. They are my favorite benzo, as I easily fall asleep on the other ones I tried.

I have overdosed on pyrazolam, causing me to act visibly tranquilized. It is one of the few drugs I take that I'm open about to my mother.

Now that I think of it, I had Xanax bought in Buenos Aires as a sleeping aid. My partner said I was tossing and turning in my sleep in a scary way.

Please be advised that navigating traffic on a significant dose of benzos or operating having machinery is not recommended.

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

When you're taking them everyday, then it's definitely a problem. However, there are far too many variables involved to give a precise answer.

But like all drugs of dependance, you're probaby much better off by not taking them at all...

 

[Chaurus]

When you're taking them everyday, then it's definitely a problem. However, there are far too many variables involved to give a precise answer.

But like all drugs of dependance, you're probaby much better off by not taking them at all...

Yes. Every day is too much.

I use benzos to help with my occasional recreational drug use which often has weeks between individual sessions.

But now pyrazolam and bromazolam are banned (etizolam too, but I didn't like that drug anyway) and I'm down to my last pyrazolam.

 

[PtahTek]

I would say from day one.
at least when one cannot do without the substance could be an indicator.

the really isnt a recreational dosing of benzos. (imo/e) unless one deals with panic, stress, anxieties, insomnia etc etc

be as safe as possible

But now ... (is) bromazolam banned

no you didnt!
damn knew it was coming don the pipeline eventually. have to research now ffs thx lol

ed

yep added substance 1 inda good 0l usa 3,18,2026

 

[Dr. John Thackery]

i use a mix for pain and sometimes recreational (aka sleep)

i’ve been using valium for about 6 years.

but i use it in and off

my worse fear is to get dependent on benzos

so my last break was a 2 week long break about a month ago; no withdrawal even at the end of the 2 weeks. since then i’ve used almost daily 20mg or so.

i’ve definitely used daily for a month or longer even before and not become dependent

i used pregabalin heavily for 5!years straight with no withdrawal.

i just got done reading a news story about jordan peterson and how he basically has brain damage now from his benzo use. my mom has been permanently stuck on benzos her entire life since i was born at least.

i am terrified of getting hooked on this shit.

but i have one chronic pain issue that flares up randomly that not even opioids work for and only the diazepam does.

the problem is sometimes i get depressed over other health issues and just want to sleep my whole life away so then i use benzos outside of my pain management.

this needs to change.



so anyways based on the above bold text am i freaking out or am i gonna be ok if i stop now for at minimum several weeks. if i dont get pain ill stop for months

im terrified tho

 

[Dr. John Thackery]

nobody has voted at all and i think it’s a really interesting poll to have data on

 

[Didgital]

1. Never start taking them ever
2. Save them for after stims
3. Once/twice a week at 20mg diazepam dosage "should" be ok - but there a big risk you won't be that disciplined

I voted never start taking them ever, because getting off of them can be extremely difficult. That said they are a life saver in certain situations, I wish I had not abused them, because I will not take one unless of a true mental emergency.

If one can actually moderate, then they aren't the absolute worst substances.

I suspect I'm at the point, that even though I havent taken one in years, I would be feeling withdrawl effects within only a few uses.

 

[azurelimousine]

I put down 10mg a week, just cause it's the first option implying use at more or less regular intervals. If you're taking them regularly, it can be slippery. It's easy enough to find a reason to take more, and then an extra night becomes every night becomes every day, etc. After a certain point you start missing days. That's scary when that happens.

 

[paranoid android]

Depends entirely on the person. For example i take 3mg bromazepam everyday usually with 0.5mg of clonaz and im currently not dependent on them. I take a 1 week break every month though

 

[Skorpio]

Benzos end up in my possession every few years. A while ago my friend gave me a box of rivotril, and I ate them for a few months, keeping doses reasonable and spreading out my use.

I noticed that toward the end of that period my baseline anxiety was noticeably higher.

 

[paranoid android]

Benzos end up in my possession every few years. A while ago my friend gave me a box of rivotril, and I ate them for a few months, keeping doses reasonable and spreading out my use.

I noticed that toward the end of that period my baseline anxiety was noticeably higher.

Omg temaz is my absolute fav benzo. I used to get the 30's quite abit back in the day i loved those. Very relaxing

 

[Dr. John Thackery]

Depends entirely on the person. For example i take 3mg bromazepam everyday usually with 0.5mg of clonaz and im currently not dependent on them. I take a 1 week break every month though

yea but you also take 60 mg morphine every other day and aren’t depended which is astounding to me

i duis take 15 mg morphine 2X a week and would be dependent

not there’s any crossover i’m suggesting. i don’t know.

i seem to be resistant to benzo (can take daily for a month with no withdrawals), wjrh opioids 3 days and i’m hooked.

 

[paranoid android]

yea but you also take 60 mg morphine every other day and aren’t depended which is astounding to me

i duis take 15 mg morphine 2X a week and would be dependent

not there’s any crossover i’m suggesting. i don’t know.

i seem to be resistant to benzo (can take daily for a month with no withdrawals), wjrh opioids 3 days and i’m hooked.

I always take about a 2 week break with morphine every month though

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

I would say supply dictates how much a person can take before it becomes a problem.

I erm know people/person that were on triple digit c-lam habit and on the deans list at uni - still functioning etc. Did become a problem cuz that bag 'becomes home' -- but it was legal so you could carry it.. I wouldnt want to be found with a bag of mystery powder but better than alot of alternatives...

But for the sake of giving a straight answer id say at around 10mg alprazolam or equivalent

 

[placebonaut]

it's really a minefield of a question isn't it, everyone's different!

I can 100% see there's a big dependency risk with benzo's but for me I seem to have a take it or leave it attitude to them.

I only really seem to get any satisfaction out of them in their own right when combined with pregabalin, then it's more a side dish to the main coarse, and even then when I take large amounts of benzos I struggle to really see the point of taking more than 10mg diazepam.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

it's really a minefield of a question isn't it, everyone's different!

Echo'd strongly -- Context is everything -- you are part of the context.

There are no strong toxicity problems like with alcohol, cocaine, meth ---- but you best cover your ass on the backend if you gunna have a habit ...... Blackout dosage you kinda are the dependant variable.

A problem in what context? Perhaps that will help give a better answer --- like before you "Die"? Before you blackout? Before it becomes financially unmanageable? I see alo t of questions in one here and really only answered because I have some experience...

Halflife and Onset are definitely things to consider -- ex phenazepam if you take every day (because of thte halflife) you have more and more in your system perpetually (Only benzo I had 'blackout problems' with)

Some people seem prone to aggression in blackout zone -- personally I am inclined to lock the doors and not let anyone see me but i could see being one bad decision away; "Oh shit im thirsty, surely I can run to the store" --- "You just shoulder bump me, for some reason i feel like making a deal out of it" -- don't think that would be me IME but ya never know!

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

yea but you also take 60 mg morphine every other day and aren’t depended which is astounding to me

i duis take 15 mg morphine 2X a week and would be dependent

Physically dependent? Like you would have withdrawals from taking 15mg morphine twice a week? ---- Or you know that is gunna lead to every day 100% of the time if manageable ( I am in that camp if so lol )

i seem to be resistant to benzo (can take daily for a month with no withdrawals), wjrh opioids 3 days and i’m hooked.

Similar experience -- came off of a mad amount of benzos (Though it did take me almost 8 damn years in the woods) -- but that 1mg of bupe I cannot seem to shake for the life of me.

of course i am well physically dependant at over 20 yrs of being scripted at least a few a day .... but 'cutting back' wise; benzos were FAR EASIER for me

 

[Dr. John Thackery]

Physically dependent? Like you would have withdrawals from taking 15mg morphine twice a week? ---- Or you know that is gunna lead to every day 100% of the time if manageable ( I am in that camp if so lol )



Similar experience -- came off of a mad amount of benzos (Though it did take me almost 8 damn years in the woods) -- but that 1mg of bupe I cannot seem to shake for the life of me.

of course i am well physically dependant at over 20 yrs of being scripted at least a few a day .... but 'cutting back' wise; benzos were FAR EASIER for me

how much bezos were you using…so you did have a withdrawl to some extent?

and yes. i when i was totally clean i tried to take 15 mg hydrocodone 2X a week and was having dependeny issues already and mini withdrawals

15mg 1X a week was ok though

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

Damn --- I have had (well on subs so currently) a full opi habit; when I DONT I can get a good 3 days of use in straight before I am dependent again. Physically to the amount it bothers me I suppose.

I have a tapering -- not journal but it is in the tapering thread I do believe --- about 350 mgs c-lam a day id reagent... Everybody told me to go directly to the hospital -- but I knew they wouldnt ...maybe didnt have the capacity to keep me alright at those #'s -- the "sticker shock" alone would throw me into a different level of fucked.....

I also had enough foresight to split the order in two, half for research --- half for ceasing research.

I DID HAVE W/D TO SOME POINT -- but it was at my own discretion so if it got too bad / close to seizure land I could do the miiimum to keep going.

Honestly the worst benzo W/D's I ever had was going on vacation with my ma on the oregon trail --- took like 12 days longer than we planned for so I ran out of meds -- tried to tough it out; only made it two days. Fully knowing once I called walgreens from out of state they would probably inform my normal doc i was on sub ---- desperate times; desperate measures.

Luck has been a factor I would be ignorant to not mention that --- someone steals your stash, you done. you get locked up for having a pipe in the car, you done. (That one almost happpened and cost me 12k to avoid like 3 days in jail for constructive poss of mj paraphanelia)

It is a minefield of a question and variables --- than the way you conduct yourself and the way your body reacts to these things......Tough to give an accurate # at all!