Benzodiazepine dependence is caused by your GABA-A receptors becoming dependant on your OWN gamma-Aminobutyruc acid, aka GABA. Tolerance also grows on these receptors, but it resets because your brain recycles the excess receptors when you are through withdrawal and your GABA levels are back to normal.
HOWEVER...
The benzodiazepines themselves attach to different "sub-receptors" called a1, a2, a3 etc... And it goes up to a15. When a benzo attaches to one of these sub-receptors it causes GABA to be released and to bind to the GABA-A receptor. Tolerance ALSO builds on these "sub-receptors", but it NEVER resets back to normal, because your brain does not recycle these specific "excess sub-receptors."
If you were on 4mg Klonopin, which affects only a2 and a3 sub-receptors, and then you stop, go through withdrawals, and If you take a small dose of Phenobarbital after this (barb affects a7 or a6 receptors) you will feel strong effects, but if you take a small dose of Klonopin many years after this, you will still not feel it.
I learned this the hard way while recklessly using flubromazolam, and within 5 days I built permanent tolerance equivalent to 4mg clonazepam.
HOWEVER...
The benzodiazepines themselves attach to different "sub-receptors" called a1, a2, a3 etc... And it goes up to a15. When a benzo attaches to one of these sub-receptors it causes GABA to be released and to bind to the GABA-A receptor. Tolerance ALSO builds on these "sub-receptors", but it NEVER resets back to normal, because your brain does not recycle these specific "excess sub-receptors."
If you were on 4mg Klonopin, which affects only a2 and a3 sub-receptors, and then you stop, go through withdrawals, and If you take a small dose of Phenobarbital after this (barb affects a7 or a6 receptors) you will feel strong effects, but if you take a small dose of Klonopin many years after this, you will still not feel it.
I learned this the hard way while recklessly using flubromazolam, and within 5 days I built permanent tolerance equivalent to 4mg clonazepam.