stefx85
Bluelighter
How long does it take for a person to become tolerant to benzodiazepines? Or does it differ from person to person?
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BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic
benzodiazepine tolerance
- Thread starter stefx85
- Start date
NOT long... I'm sure it does differ from person to person.. I've gone from from 1mg Lorazepam (ativan) 2 times a day and .25 alprazolam as needed 10 pills a month... to now being completely and honestly scarily addicted to 4mg lorazepam daily and 1mg total xanax a day within a span of 2 years give or take a little.(I'm also on an ass loads of other meds like lithium seroquel etc that come with it)
TRUST me I've said it a few times... if I could go back in time I'd slap myself and tell myself NOT to do benzos. If you have a medical need as I do (PTSD, severe social anxiety and bipolar) then let you and your doctor decide what is best. But they are addictive either way I do personally recommend you stay away from recreational use for this.
There are much better things to do than benzos....
Take care! Don't hesitate if you have more questions
TRUST me I've said it a few times... if I could go back in time I'd slap myself and tell myself NOT to do benzos. If you have a medical need as I do (PTSD, severe social anxiety and bipolar) then let you and your doctor decide what is best. But they are addictive either way I do personally recommend you stay away from recreational use for this.
There are much better things to do than benzos....
Take care! Don't hesitate if you have more questions
WRONG benzos are not addictive they do not MAKE YOU do anything they do not have anything addictive in them like cigarettes for example
no different from being addicted to porn
tolerance or dependency depends on
how much
how long
and how often
easiest way to be "safe but can be the hardest way to use benzos
take as needed, try not to keep redosing the same day , and take the lowest effective dose that works for you and if you catch yourself in a mini binge take breaks maybe a couple weeks
that will help keep tolerance down
i say if you need benzos take them but while you are under the influence take the steps you need to better yourself so you dont have to rely on benzos
because they are band aids not a cure
maybe therapy
and quite honestly if you an anxiety disorder etc and you catch yourself popping benzos like candy you are gonna be headed no where and fast
better off going on a SSRI or something along that route
i have been on xanax for 8 months on and off and the last one i took was over a month ago and had a few panic attacks within that month
and for the first time ever i have been able to get over panic attacks without taking anything which is a achievement of its own
no different from being addicted to porn
tolerance or dependency depends on
how much
how long
and how often
easiest way to be "safe but can be the hardest way to use benzos
take as needed, try not to keep redosing the same day , and take the lowest effective dose that works for you and if you catch yourself in a mini binge take breaks maybe a couple weeks
that will help keep tolerance down
i say if you need benzos take them but while you are under the influence take the steps you need to better yourself so you dont have to rely on benzos
because they are band aids not a cure
maybe therapy
and quite honestly if you an anxiety disorder etc and you catch yourself popping benzos like candy you are gonna be headed no where and fast
better off going on a SSRI or something along that route
i have been on xanax for 8 months on and off and the last one i took was over a month ago and had a few panic attacks within that month
and for the first time ever i have been able to get over panic attacks without taking anything which is a achievement of its own
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^You're one of very few whom would argue that benzodiazepines aren't addictive.
It's easy to get addicted to them, especially if they're taken every day, or even every other day. The short-acting benzos are sometimes thought to be more addictive than the longer-acting ones.
Please don't view them as an option unless you have tried SSRI. In that sense, I do agree with the above poster.
I also agree that they're much more of a band-aid than a cure.
Some people say that getting off of (prescribed) benzodiazepines was the hardest thing they ever did, no joke.
It depends on lots of things.
There are a small minority of people that don't seem to get dependent on them, a very small portion of people.
Learning how to deal with your anxiety by meditating/exercising would be a much better option. It's only if absolutely nothing else works and your life is severely hampered by anxiety that benzos become a realistic option.
There are people on bluelight that have gone through the horror of benzo withdrawal/ that are currently withdrawing from benzos. It would be a good idea to check out their stories before you commit to these substances, which produce a withdrawal that many say is unmatched, even by hard opiates.
It's easy to get addicted to them, especially if they're taken every day, or even every other day. The short-acting benzos are sometimes thought to be more addictive than the longer-acting ones.
Please don't view them as an option unless you have tried SSRI. In that sense, I do agree with the above poster.
I also agree that they're much more of a band-aid than a cure.
Some people say that getting off of (prescribed) benzodiazepines was the hardest thing they ever did, no joke.
It depends on lots of things.
There are a small minority of people that don't seem to get dependent on them, a very small portion of people.
Learning how to deal with your anxiety by meditating/exercising would be a much better option. It's only if absolutely nothing else works and your life is severely hampered by anxiety that benzos become a realistic option.
There are people on bluelight that have gone through the horror of benzo withdrawal/ that are currently withdrawing from benzos. It would be a good idea to check out their stories before you commit to these substances, which produce a withdrawal that many say is unmatched, even by hard opiates.
I have been on a benzo for 5 years straight, I do have very bad social anxiety so my doctor prescribed me these. I can say that my body has become dependent on them. Its horrible, I wish I could go back and have chose not to go this route.. I have gone just ONE day without them and let me tell you. It had me feeling like I was going to die! Am I addicted to them? Yes, in a sense when I don't have them around me, I panic. I however don't crave them, if it makes any sense.
DixiChik
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2015
- Messages
- 972
I'm certainly no expert (stating the obvious) However, I was prescribed Ativan in 1987 for life-threatening anxiety. I was prescibed 1 mg x 3 day. My dosage has not been increased in 28 years. I use them only as directed, and NEVER have used meds for recreational purposes.
I have no doubt that my body is dependent on them. They have literally saved my life through decades of severe physical pain. I could not have dealt with the pain without relief from anxiety. I've had a couple of doctors say "There are so-o-o many newer, better meds in the class". IDGRA because it works for ME and if it ain't broke...We each must do what works for us as individuals, though sharing our experiences is vital.
I also take Zoloft for depression since 1998. Dosage was increased briefly to 150 mg per day. I had enrolled in PM and the doctor thought perhaps I needed a boost. I couldn't handle the brain zingers it caused, along with failed opiate trials.
I have no doubt that my body is dependent on them. They have literally saved my life through decades of severe physical pain. I could not have dealt with the pain without relief from anxiety. I've had a couple of doctors say "There are so-o-o many newer, better meds in the class". IDGRA because it works for ME and if it ain't broke...We each must do what works for us as individuals, though sharing our experiences is vital.
I also take Zoloft for depression since 1998. Dosage was increased briefly to 150 mg per day. I had enrolled in PM and the doctor thought perhaps I needed a boost. I couldn't handle the brain zingers it caused, along with failed opiate trials.
Deos68 you are certainly the exception to the rule I believe. More power to you, I wish I had the willpower that you do. However I do not, and like many others am addicted/dependent on them. Before I got on the lorezepam my PTSD episodes were many and more than once I had a heart rate that was dealy 186 bpm .. I thought and felt as if I were dying. (that was the highest I've have) I try all the time to take 3 pills instead of 4... a couple hours after I was supposed to take the pill I suddenly get massive panic attacks. You are very lucky to have been able to walk away.
They have been a life saver for me to work on my issues. That being said, benzos are most definitely a band aid. It saved the life of the above poster. I take zoloft as well, and seroquel and lithium. I do not enjoy or get high off any of these things and wish I could flush them down the toilet. But I cant... and they are MUCH more addictive than people give them credit for. Doctors give them out like candy compared to say opiates and are far deadlier, in my opinion.
OP did not give any details on whether it was medically necessary or recreational.
My heart goes out to you all out there reading this that take benzos and are trying to taper. It's WAY worse than opiate withdrawal, which I have been through with a heavy habit.
Take care everyone!
They have been a life saver for me to work on my issues. That being said, benzos are most definitely a band aid. It saved the life of the above poster. I take zoloft as well, and seroquel and lithium. I do not enjoy or get high off any of these things and wish I could flush them down the toilet. But I cant... and they are MUCH more addictive than people give them credit for. Doctors give them out like candy compared to say opiates and are far deadlier, in my opinion.
OP did not give any details on whether it was medically necessary or recreational.
My heart goes out to you all out there reading this that take benzos and are trying to taper. It's WAY worse than opiate withdrawal, which I have been through with a heavy habit.
Take care everyone!
ShadowedLight
Bluelighter
IME not very long at all unfortunately. But everyone is different 
From what I understood the most important thing should be to NEVER use them on consecutive days. Limit yourself to 3 times maximum per month, spread your usage and you'll avoid both rapid tolerance to them along with addiction.
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pally pete
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2010
- Messages
- 2,428
I'm an extreme case.
I went from using just a single 10mg Diazepam tablet once per week back in April - September 2009 to taking 300mg Alprazolam almost every weekend by mid 2010. I was just a 'weekend user/abuser' but escalated my doses rapidly (And foolishly) Between September 2009 - December 2009.
I had suffered with crippling anxiety since around 1997/1998, but never sought help for fear of being ridiculed/disbelieved. I was prescribed 2x8mg Diazepam tablets in April 2009 for fear of flying. Within half an hour of taking the Diazepam I felt like my old relaxed happy self. It was then I realised the possibilty what this 'Magic' pill could bring to my life. Fast forward 5 Months and I realised if I ever wanted to forget any of my problems just take a handful of these 'Magic' pills. By this time I'd also discovered Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Temazepam. So each and every weekend beginning Saturday 12th September 2009 (I used to keep a diary of my use) I began to abuse.
Many cold turkey withdrawals later I lost my mind and nearly lost my life.
After that incident in September 2013 I tapered under my G.P's supervision, starting at 30mg Diazepam per day, cutting by 5mg every 2 weeks. My G.P said that this was very slow even considering the hospital specialist recommending a 2mg cut every 2 weeks or so.. Needless to say I failed. Then I went travelling for a year maintaining at 30mg Diazepam per day. I came home in November 2014 and began to taper myself at a slower rate. I got off the Benzos by April 2015. Then I came away to live abroad in May this year and since then I've been on and off Benzos again, I never use on consecutive days, but I'm still well and truely addicted. I never dose more than 50mg Diazepam. Yesterday I took 40mg and it helped my anxiety but I really want off, once and for all. I plan to wait as long as possible until my next dose, and then begin at 20mg and slowly taper, again!!!
My story sounds unbelievable. I wish it was!
I went from using just a single 10mg Diazepam tablet once per week back in April - September 2009 to taking 300mg Alprazolam almost every weekend by mid 2010. I was just a 'weekend user/abuser' but escalated my doses rapidly (And foolishly) Between September 2009 - December 2009.
I had suffered with crippling anxiety since around 1997/1998, but never sought help for fear of being ridiculed/disbelieved. I was prescribed 2x8mg Diazepam tablets in April 2009 for fear of flying. Within half an hour of taking the Diazepam I felt like my old relaxed happy self. It was then I realised the possibilty what this 'Magic' pill could bring to my life. Fast forward 5 Months and I realised if I ever wanted to forget any of my problems just take a handful of these 'Magic' pills. By this time I'd also discovered Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Temazepam. So each and every weekend beginning Saturday 12th September 2009 (I used to keep a diary of my use) I began to abuse.
Many cold turkey withdrawals later I lost my mind and nearly lost my life.
After that incident in September 2013 I tapered under my G.P's supervision, starting at 30mg Diazepam per day, cutting by 5mg every 2 weeks. My G.P said that this was very slow even considering the hospital specialist recommending a 2mg cut every 2 weeks or so.. Needless to say I failed. Then I went travelling for a year maintaining at 30mg Diazepam per day. I came home in November 2014 and began to taper myself at a slower rate. I got off the Benzos by April 2015. Then I came away to live abroad in May this year and since then I've been on and off Benzos again, I never use on consecutive days, but I'm still well and truely addicted. I never dose more than 50mg Diazepam. Yesterday I took 40mg and it helped my anxiety but I really want off, once and for all. I plan to wait as long as possible until my next dose, and then begin at 20mg and slowly taper, again!!!
My story sounds unbelievable. I wish it was!
dont mean to offend anyone
dont mean to make people feel weak
not gonna sit here and bullshit everyone and say i am high and mighty
i have good days bad days shitty days and dog shit stuck on the bottom of a shoe days
plenty of days i feel horrible i sit there and contemplate taking some xanax but most often than not i tell myself ok in an hr if i still feel like this ill take it
before i know it that hr comes and goes and i forget about it and i feel fine
i know anxiety can bring you to your knees i use to have waves of panic attacks and for a long time i didnt know wtf was happening and i toughed it out but at the same time you have to put in some type of effort on your behalf to get better benzos are really just a band aid eventually that band aid gets dirty
benzo WD isnt a joke i went into detox once and i was thrown in with everyone
i was there for alcoholism
and i saw it first hand how brutal benzo WD even the people there for H detox werent going crazy like the benzo users
kicking, screaming, yelling people literally begging for mercy
after seeing that at first i was hesitant to even take benzos but i swore to myself i rather feel like shit somedays my anxiety isnt shit compared to what i remember seeing in that detox
just be safe and limit the usage im not gonna front and say oh its easy not to take them i struggle on a daily basis not to take any but i push through it
dont mean to make people feel weak
not gonna sit here and bullshit everyone and say i am high and mighty
i have good days bad days shitty days and dog shit stuck on the bottom of a shoe days
plenty of days i feel horrible i sit there and contemplate taking some xanax but most often than not i tell myself ok in an hr if i still feel like this ill take it
before i know it that hr comes and goes and i forget about it and i feel fine
i know anxiety can bring you to your knees i use to have waves of panic attacks and for a long time i didnt know wtf was happening and i toughed it out but at the same time you have to put in some type of effort on your behalf to get better benzos are really just a band aid eventually that band aid gets dirty
benzo WD isnt a joke i went into detox once and i was thrown in with everyone
i was there for alcoholism
and i saw it first hand how brutal benzo WD even the people there for H detox werent going crazy like the benzo users
kicking, screaming, yelling people literally begging for mercy
after seeing that at first i was hesitant to even take benzos but i swore to myself i rather feel like shit somedays my anxiety isnt shit compared to what i remember seeing in that detox
just be safe and limit the usage im not gonna front and say oh its easy not to take them i struggle on a daily basis not to take any but i push through it
stefx85
Bluelighter
I do have an anxiety disorder. But those dreaded pills call me to take them. I also usually wait an hour or 2 before I take anything. Sometimes the anxiety passes but not always. and I asked this question as a precautionary curiosity cause I dont want to find myself stuck as ive also heard horrible stories about benzodiazepine and rebound anxiety caused by benzos upon stopping the medicine. So basically what your saying is only take when / as needed?
crunchyplanets
Bluelighter
Well, me personally, i take .5mgs. I space them apart. I took 8 pills in april, 4 in may, 4 in june, 2 in july, and 1 so far this month. I plan on taking 1 next weekend as i have a far drive. I 100 percent of the time get attacks on drives, so i wont take any until the day i go. When i was spacing them out 3 to 4 days i realized that i was getting intense anxiety the day or 2 after my last dose
So i decided once a week, but lately i just haven't been needing them as much. And i went through it rough, I've got a lot of medical bills for tests i got done, im talking in the thousands. The tests came back good, so that helped...plus i got counseling (CBT ). Every time so far that i take the .5mg it works, so no tolerance build up for me. Best of luck to you with your anxiety, its a horrible thing to suffer from and when you try to explain to people who dont suffer from it what it feels like they often look at you like you have 3 heads...in my experience anyways..
So i decided once a week, but lately i just haven't been needing them as much. And i went through it rough, I've got a lot of medical bills for tests i got done, im talking in the thousands. The tests came back good, so that helped...plus i got counseling (CBT ). Every time so far that i take the .5mg it works, so no tolerance build up for me. Best of luck to you with your anxiety, its a horrible thing to suffer from and when you try to explain to people who dont suffer from it what it feels like they often look at you like you have 3 heads...in my experience anyways..
eye dew Things
Bluelighter
when I have Benzo's.....I can NEVER skip a day...........VERY ADDICTING 