i fully agree with what everyone has said regarding not mixing the two, I avoid under all circumstances and personally think the benzo's take AWAY from rather than give anything to the opiate/opiod rush/buzz. You end up sedated rather than feeling that warm blood seeping through your body, far less euphoria in my opinion.
I want to ask how any medical professionals can justify these situations they put me in however, as the first seems irresponsible and the second just outrageously dangerous:
1) In the first months starting my ER Morphine opiate maintenance therapy, at night I would wake up abruptly in lots of shock and immediately JUMP out of bed feeling like I hadn't been breathing. I would instinctually take in massive gasps of air and sprint to my kitchen. After 2 mins of staring into it and drinking/eating sugary drinks/snacks such as ice tea/haribo, I would be able to return to bed, albeit somewhat shook, and usually sleep through the night. He determined the occurrences to be anxiety rather than any genuine sleep apnea, this seemed weird to me as I hadn't had anxiety in ages and is it really possible to have a panic attack whilst fully asleep? Anyhow, that's a topic for another time, it doesn't happen much anymore - but do let me know if you have had any similar experiences or know what it could be. After a few times of this happening and knowing I had an important day coming up where I would need to be well rested, I asked my opiate maintenance doc if it would be safe for me to take 0.5mg of my xanax prescription (which I otherwise never use, my tolerance is literally back to baseline). He said in that dose it would be no issue and that I shouldn't make a habit of it but can proceed on an exceptional basis without worry.
Given the fact the issue was around breathing (or seemingly not breathing) issues WHILST ASLEEP, doesn't this seem wreckless advice?
2) The second time I withdrew from Oxycodone (100mg per dose, 3-4 times a day) and prior to my opiate maintenance program, day 2 of the withdrawal got too much for me. I had to go to work the next day and new I wouldn't make it. After running around to pharmacies and ringing hotlines trying to get some sort of oxycodone substitute to relieve me I was eventually told to go to the hospital to seek help.
After waiting around for what seemed like an eternity I eventually saw the doctor who basically told me they would not give me any opiates but rather only benzos - oh the despair, I had valium at home - I wanted to avoid taking it as I just wanted the salvation of opiates, not some half assed attempt to mitigate the WD symptoms... and I didn't want to mix with benzos....what a waste of time, lugging myself around for 4hrs+ whilst feeling like death in 35 degree centigrade. I reluctantly succumbed, after they gave me the first 2.5mg lorazepam (again without tolerance), the gravity of the situation hit me - I began to weep and cry laying down in my hospital bed, I was a useless drug addict again. Maybe 45 minutes later the nurse came by again, saw me silently crying my eyes out and gave me another 2.5mg lorazepam to swallow, I looked at her and told her something close to the following in the most desperate and let down way possible - "how can you just pump me full of benzos, I told you I don't like them and this is not how you treat opiate addiction, not in Switzerland! I need a taper program guided by a professional or I will never escape - I came here to get treated not to get help not be sedated, tomorrow my withdrawals will be worse!". Something struck a chord, granted I am young (26yrs old) with a baby face, well presented and have a good job, I remember I was even wearing a dress shirt with shorts - all this must have helped relative to someone less fortunate who would be wearing the more obvious signs of drug addiction with their appearance and as a result unfortunately look more untrustworthy. The doctor soon came and I got 2x50mg of Oxynorm (IR) oral liquid solution, separated by maybe 30mins, RELIEF!!! I was sent home and given another 2.5mg lorazepam to take with me if the WD came back and finally referred to the clinic that put my life back on track and get me where I am today. You'd be surprised, here we have such great and supportive addiction treatment centers - but all I could find online when googling was upscale inpatient rehabs for 70K USD a month, I am still thankful for that doctor doing the research and referring me to the former to this day.
Anyway, sorry, I got involved in my story there. THE HOSPITAL, gave me 5mg lorazepam combined with 100mg instant release oxy and gave me another 2.5mg lorazepam to take for the road!!! Needless to say I nodded the fuck out when I made it back home. How can they justify that? They also knew that my flat mate was out of town for the weekend, so I would be unsupervised.I would never dare to go over a fifth of that dose by myself, I find it incredible...
sorry for the long post.