Addiction to both alcohol and benzos?

[amapola]

Oh ethanol. Why is it that governments are so willing to allow this toxic solvent to be freely consumed in any amount yet other safer alternatives are cracked down on.

Anyways it seems to me behindblueeyes that the alcohol use in the evenings is as you said to help with anxiety and generate euphoria, but also it is just something to do to fill up the time. Trying to cut out drinking beer while maintaining the rest of your evening routine as is would be extremely difficult. Ideally you would just instantly change your whole mentality towards life, but you can't just will something to happen and expect it to. The more realistic option is to replace that drinking aspect of your life with something else.

I'm not talking about another drug, though there are some which would indeed be markedly less toxic, but more a hobby or another activity. I know it sounds cliche but several concrete things to do instead of spending the evening sipping beer is a straightforward way of switching your mindset in a very practical manner. Joining a gym or otherwise exercising every evening will help with sleep and can assist in anxiety and I dunno a bridge club on tuesdays and piano lessons on thursdays would fill up time with activities that require full alertness.

My most sincere apologies if I sound like I'm preaching or trivializing your situation. I just get a feeling that you feel trapped and am trying to help. If I'm way off base here feel free to correct me or if you just want advice on the facts about booze and benzos than tell me to back off.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Yeah I know the alcohol can cause a lot of damage down the line but I wouldn't mind being on benzos for life. It's the only thing that helps my horrible anxiety. I just like the alcohol bc while the benzos "sedate" me, the alcohol actually makes me feel happy and sedated. Although it takes more and more over time. Tolerance is a bitch.

I was looking into gabapentin for benzo withdrawal if needed. it's a generic. lyrica obviously isn't though and I've heard that was better

Lyrica is incredible for benzodiazepine withdrawal. After 11 years of benzodiazepine addiction that included years of drinking, I went onto Lyrica and switched the Klonopin to Diazepam and tapered slowly from there. I still have plenty of cravings but I got off without experiencing any significant withdrawals. If you take 2mg of Clonazepam you should switch onto 40mg of Diazepam and taper 10mg every 2 weeks until you get onto 10mg you taper onto 5mg. You can stop there or if you feel like you need to, go down to 2mg first before completely getting off it. Get off the alcohol first. You have to have the will-power and be committed if you want to quit. I was in your situation years ago, don't crave alcohol anymore but extreme craving for benzos.

 

[baldheadedbull]

I enjoyed this combo too...For about 7 years straight I would take 1mg kpin in the morning and drink about 4-6 beers at night. It was a great combo for me until tolerance set in and I would wake up shaking having panic attacks.

I decided to quit drinking and slowly cut back over a period of about 3 weeks. Then I gradually cut the kpin down to 0.50 mg daily but cant seem to get below that without having problems.

I'm going to have to see if i can get a hold of some Lyrica....