Benzos and Z Drugs

[V82]

I usually take 1 - 2 mg of Clonazepam no more than 6 times a month.

I also started taking Zopiclone at 7.5 mg once or twice a week.

I know Z drugs are similar to benzos. Does this increase my risk of withdrawal?

 

[Rewster451]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, although I xdo have to say that using only 12mg of clonazepam is probably not even coming close to causing physical dependence. At least not at a level that will give you withdrawals. In my opinion. But to be sure, benzo withdrawals are awful and should be avoided at all costs.

But I've never heard of "z drugs," or zopiclone. What are they?

I hope this doesn't derail your thread and you get your answer, but I'm really curious. I've always thought of myself as being extremely educated on drugs, both through research and experience, and here is a whole category of drugs I've never heard of.

 

[Kittycat5]

I seriously doubt you are at any risk for withdrawal with or without the zopiclone. Z-drugs, rewster, is the colloquial name for the non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, zolpidem, zaleplon, zopiclone and eszopiclone.

 

[Rewster451]

Ahh, thanks kittycat. Are any of those drugs worth doing? I like valium, but not Xanax. I call them time travel pills, because every time I take enough to get high I time travel to the future where I'm not high anymore and people have to tell me what happened in between. Usually really dumb stuff happened.

And yeah, I meant to say 12mg per month, Op (1-2 per day 6 times per month), is really a very controlled habit. Are you taking them for fun, or for social anxiety? Either way, I commend you for being as safe as you are. I'm not sure how strong zopiclone is, but just use your common sense. If you feel like that dose isn't working anymore, or if you get strong cravings and/or anxiety (if that isn't why you took them to begin with), you might be developing some dependence. I really think you're pretty safe right now.

You should note that addiction doesn't just mean physical dependence, because you can become psychologically dependent, and that kind of addiction can be just as hard, if not harder, to overcome. I'm not saying that to scare you, it's just an important distinction to make.

 

[Kittycat5]

I personally find no use either therapeutically or to get high but to many they are useful for insomnia. If you enjoy that time travel aspect of benzos you may like them as they are known to cause some interesting things to happen such as sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep eating. Usually with little rememberence of doing any such activity as well.

 

[V82]

Doesn't Zopiclone effect the same receptors to increase the chance of withdrawal?

 

[Kittycat5]

Yes but you need to be physically dependent on them which usually takes daily exposure for extended periods of time.