Benzos Benzodiazapines and Baikal Skullcap

[Pirrracetamol]

Anyone know if there is a cross tolerance between Baikal Skullcap and Benzodiazepines?

Also Reishi Mushrooms

 

[placebonaut]

Baikal Skullcap and Benzodiazepines?

just had a google and seems there's partial cross tolerance, though they act on different receptor subtypes.

I've never tried Baikal, what are you hoping to get from it? seems the best effects are likely to be mild anxiolytic and relaxation

 

[Pirrracetamol]

just had a google and seems there's partial cross tolerance, though they act on different receptor subtypes.

I've never tried Baikal, what are you hoping to get from it? seems the best effects are likely to be mild anxiolytic and relaxation

I'm looking for anxiolytic

 

[placebonaut]

not sure how your benzo reduction is going.

you might need to think about stacking a few things to get enough anxiolytic effect to replace the benzos e.g. skullcap, camomile, lemon balm, Kava ( though need to check on the interactions of these things). And other things can help short term, pregab/gabapentin maybe (though you're just switching 1 evil for another...).

sorry I forget exactly where you're at with things but remember you had a pretty big benzo habit, not sure if you have an underlying anxiety issue, or if the anxiety is a withdrawal effect as you're trying to cut the benzos down, if it's the latter, you might just be better off doing a slow and gradual taper rather than trying to rush things and use other substances to bridge the gap.

I seem to remember you had the ashton manual, key idea is getting to a stable maintenance dose where you're not needing to top up your daily dosage because it's a bad day, that just yoyo's your receptors around, same with not taking your maintenance dose consistently every day

 

[Pirrracetamol]

not sure how your benzo reduction is going.

you might need to think about stacking a few things to get enough anxiolytic effect to replace the benzos e.g. skullcap, camomile, lemon balm, Kava ( though need to check on the interactions of these things). And other things can help short term, pregab/gabapentin maybe (though you're just switching 1 evil for another...).

sorry I forget exactly where you're at with things but remember you had a pretty big benzo habit, not sure if you have an underlying anxiety issue, or if the anxiety is a withdrawal effect as you're trying to cut the benzos down, if it's the latter, you might just be better off doing a slow and gradual taper rather than trying to rush things and use other substances to bridge the gap.

I seem to remember you had the ashton manual, key idea is getting to a stable maintenance dose where you're not needing to top up your daily dosage because it's a bad day, that just yoyo's your receptors around, same with not taking your maintenance dose consistently every day

My Benzodiazepine reduction is going well. I've been able to cut my dose to 3 and a half Alprazolam and 40mg Valium as needed.

Not sure where to get Kava from and if it's legal where I live.
Also I don't want to stack a few things to replace the Benzodiazepines.

 

[nato23]

Baikal Skullcap? I take it’s a mushroom?
Does it work on gaba A receptors?

 

[placebonaut]

My Benzodiazepine reduction is going well. I've been able to cut my dose to 3 and a half Alprazolam and 40mg Valium as needed.

glad it's going well.

be careful with taking the Valium as needed though, you're just making your system bounce all over the place, you'd be better getting a stable consistent daily dose of it and then tapering that down.

this might explain why you're getting anxiety peaks, you're effectively in inter dose withdrawal, taking other things to plug the gap isn't going to help as much as you might hope would be my worry.

Not sure where to get Kava from and if it's legal where I live.

where are you?

Also I don't want to stack a few things to replace the Benzodiazepines.

I'd agree, you'd be better with a stable dose, then a taper.

Baikal Skullcap? I take it’s a mushroom?
Does it work on gaba A receptors?

yeah gaba-a but different subtypes to benzos

 

[Pirrracetamol]

where are you?

Australia

 

[Pirrracetamol]

glad it's going well.

be careful with taking the Valium as needed though, you're just making your system bounce all over the place, you'd be better getting a stable consistent daily dose of it and then tapering that down.

this might explain why you're getting anxiety peaks, you're effectively in inter dose withdrawal, taking other things to plug the gap isn't going to help as much as you might hope would be my worry.

where are you?

I'd agree, you'd be better with a stable dose, then a taper.


yeah gaba-a but different subtypes to benzos

It's a combination of anxiety and paranoia.

And they put me in the best mood. ALPRAZOLAM that is.

 

[Pirrracetamol]

glad it's going well.

be careful with taking the Valium as needed though, you're just making your system bounce all over the place, you'd be better getting a stable consistent daily dose of it and then tapering that down.

this might explain why you're getting anxiety peaks, you're effectively in inter dose withdrawal, taking other things to plug the gap isn't going to help as much as you might hope would be my worry.

where are you?

I'd agree, you'd be better with a stable dose, then a taper.


yeah gaba-a but different subtypes to benzos

 

[placebonaut]

It's a combination of anxiety and paranoia.

And they put me in the best mood. ALPRAZOLAM that is.

I'm far from a benzo expert so would welcome others views/checks on this, but my understanding from what I've picked up is there's a difference between taking benzos to effectively treat a medial issue, and taking them to get a buzz - and you can do both of these things if you take more than you need to treat the condition. Guess the question is are you committing to using benzos (xanax) for life/long term for medical reasons? if yes what is the lowest dose required to manage things? are the other benzos needed?

Given your variable usage pattern I think you may be getting inter dose withdrawal which is causing the anxiety/paranoia or exacerbating it, I'm not sure if this is the primary cause though? looking for other things to manage the symptoms caused by sporadic dosing is going to be tough as you might need to push to stronger substitutes which themselves have dependency issues, if you're using them this way the risk is that you'll use them for much longer term and at higher dosage which will lead to multiple dependencies. Better to get stable daily dosing then taper using other weaker things to help manage the taper where needed (or just make the taper very gradual with short term substitutes if needed).

not sure what's driving your desire to cut down and underlying base state, if any of this is prescribed for a condition I'd certainly have a chat with your Dr, and/or see if there are any support services locally it would be worth talking through with them - better to get expert help, my view is all picked up randomly from reading things.....

 

[nato23]

yeah gaba-a but different subtypes to benzos

Did you mean receptors?