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Misc Alcohol Effects Compared To Benzodiazepines

Thomas29

Thomas29

Bluelighter
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
1,505
All Benzos Effect different Sub Units hence they all give a different feel and I was wondering which sub units Alcohol hits the most?
 
Alcohol doesn't operate on the benzodiazepine receptor

It has its own designated place from which it increases GABA-A and GABA-B
 
^ simple as it gets

If you're withdrawing from one you can use the other to stop seizures/death, but other than that they're pretty different substances in most aspects
 
alchohol effects alot of things, its a cns nerve depressant, but if you have a light benzo wd, beer and cannabis, will get ya through. i also recommend taking valerian root alongside.

but if your wondering if alchohol is similar to any benzo buzz, id have to say no.

**question** what about those GABA capsules they sell at the health food store by the magnesium and stuff? i bought a bottle of those and tried to use those to taper.....bad idea. they made me feel tingly in a bad way. they may have contributed to my seizures who knows. i know valerian root works. i dont want to waste any more money on bunk supplements tho. just curious if anyones ever had any luck with the GABA capsules
 
Okay well let me rephrase my question what EXACTLY are the BIGGEST differences in Effects that Alcohol produces in comparison to Benzos in General?
 
What makes Alcohol more Euphoric I heard it Effects Adrenaline since your body perceives it as a toxin trying to get rid of it quickly as possible. Do Benzos cause depression over long-term use or even short-term from like decreasing Dopamine and or Serotonin?
 
I don't have a scientific answer at all. I know that for me, benzos are relaxing and the effects are consistent. Like, if I take 1mg of the same benzo every day, I know what to expect.
I'm sure we've all seen people go nuts when they get drunk...sometimes even violently nuts.
I've never once seen people getting into a brawl bc they've taken too many benzos, ya know?
The alcohol hangover is nightmarish as well.
In addition to the above, the 2 substances produce entirely different feelings for me.
If I have too much alcohol, I have a tendency to become loud and overly social. I feel like I could do anything, and all of my fears disappear... obviously, this is not a good thing although it may feel good at the time lol. There have also been times I have gotten very emotional, Even to the point of tears while drinking.
On the flip side, I can depend on benzos to be consistent in their effects. Depending on the dose of alprazolam (which is what I take) I'll always feel anything from slight to moderate relaxation.
I guess part of the point I'm trying to make is that I believe (in general) that benzos will consistently produce relaxing effects. I mean, unless someone has a strange allergic reaction to a benzodiadepine they are not going to get wild and crazy and wound up.
Of course, alcohol can be relaxing as well but it doesn't feel anything like benzos, and results can vary greatly- and not just from 1 person to the next, but 1 person may have several different reactions on seperate occasions with alcohol.
 
benzos are like alcohol without the side effects and euphoria. Benzos have 0 euphoria compared to alcohol. Alcohol is a dirty drug pharmacologically and feels dirty as well, just affects so many different parts of the brain.

and never use alcohol in benzo withdrawal, you're asking for trouble, unless you plan to stay drunk until you make it to a hospital or something.

benzos can cause depression over time but i don't think that has anything to do with serotonin or dopamine as benzos do not directly affect these neurotransmitters, alcohol however probably does but i'd have to look into it.
 
I find that benzos cause me to black out quicker, and also seem to be more disorienting. However benzos imo are more anxiolytic and i prefer them to alcohol considering the latter's side effect profile.
 
Alcohol doesn't cause depression unless one is addicted to it (not necessarily if one is dependent)

Benzodiazepines probably cause depression more than is known, particularly through Clonazepam. I think in effect shutting down any few brain regions for a moderate length of time would cause depression, and probably brain damage (grey matter reduction).
 
Ho-Chi-Minh said:
Alcohol doesn't operate on the benzodiazepine receptor

It has its own designated place from which it increases GABA-A and GABA-B
Click to expand...

This is kinda a mute point considering they will both open the channel, and both have an overall calming effect. NMDA antagonism, downstream DA effects, opioid activity and and 5-HT manipulation are what make alcohol different, more awesome, yet at the same time dangerous.
 
Actually there is a main difference, being that benzos don't add any GABA to the picture, they just open the channel more frequently, and of course only affect GABA-A, both in contrast to Alcohol
 
Ho-Chi-Minh said:
Alcohol doesn't cause depression unless one is addicted to it (not necessarily if one is dependent)

Benzodiazepines probably cause depression more than is known, particularly through Clonazepam. I think in effect shutting down any few brain regions for a moderate length of time would cause depression, and probably brain damage (grey matter reduction).
Click to expand...

I think both can cause depression with too much use. Alcohol is lucky in this regard because it has a relatively low half life so your brain spends at least some time without it affecting it. Benzos however mostly have longer hl and so with regular use they never really leave the body.

Then there is also the fact that for most people too much alcohol -> hangover -> avoid alcohol for some time which again is actually helpful in not getting addicted. But with benzos you can basically eat them like candy without much in the way of short term problems other than getting arrested because you did something stupid.

Long term... idk... neither is good for you, but if I had to guess, benzos are a bit better (not that I would suggest doing either more than occasionally).
 
Wow, never knew alcohol and benzos were that different!

To me, benzos feel like a 'cleaner' alcohol buzz--no headache, moodiness or hangover. Both reduce inhibitions and affect balance/coordination. Both can cause lasting memory problems even after quitting (mostly with heavy use) and can cause serious birth defects if taken while pregnant.

Oh, and the whole sometimes-fatal withdrawal thing.
 
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