Hi Zagor! I am sorry to hear you're in this situation. It can be a very difficult thing to remedy. The most responsible thing to do would be to not look for different/stronger drugs. You should think about how to work with what you've got.
When you become very tolerant to Benzodiazepines it's common for to report a variety of negative psychological symptoms, including just "not feeling it anymore". When this happens, you dont want to increase dosage, but find a way to get that one-half effectiveness back.
There are several options you can try, most of them will involve some pain. We can help you through it though. Im here, the community is here and we have a lot of helpful information based upon our shared experiences. We won't let you go unless you want us to. Even then, you will probably require a restraining order. I just care that much
The first step I think, is to experiment with some very, very small dose reductions. Pills only come in certain strengths, but you can use volumetric dosing methods to make the drops even smaller. A lot of people use this method to induct with Buprenorphine. The minuscule amounts taken allow the user to make decisions that aren't so scary or potentially wicked unpleasant.
I'm not saying you need to give up Benzo's, but I do believe that the key to a renewed benefit from these drugs will inevitably require a dose reduction, even just temporarily.
Could you please let us know your current dosing regimen, let us know what other drugs you use or have access to that can help mitigate the withdrawal symptoms and it would be helpful to know a little more about you.
Just let us know if you want to learn more. We can help literally every step of the way. It's not an awesome experience, but if we do it right, it doesn't need to be hellish.
I eventually used propranolol and 2m2b.
Chronic dosing of Benzos commonly leads to the paradoxical effect of anxiety. Benzos are not good for the treatment of anxiety long-term and when inappropriately rx’d for that purpose, kpin will yield the best results anecdotally.
Excellent post. Benzodiazepines are DEFINITELY to be used on as "AS NEEDED" basis.
I had 1mg of Xanax last Thursday night, and another ~0.7mg Xanax on Friday at 5:25pm.
I want to do five days in a row of Xanax to basically sleep through five days of P.A.W.S [post-acute withdrawal syndrome, from opiates], and I realize it is taking a small risk, but I strongly believe I am no longer addicted to opiates, because I took Suboxone after having previously only taken methadone and codeine [the latter, one time only] in the 10 or so days prior to Suboxone. Since the Suboxone did not precipitate withdrawal, I have good reason to believe I was not physically addicted to methadone or any other opiate/opioid at the time. I think I am willing to go five days in a row on Xanax, two days of LIGHT Suboxone use [<0.5mg Suboxone, for two days] after the Xanax, then another two days of Xanax without the Suboxone, then stop everything.
I have every reason to believe that I am not currently physically addicted to anything, and that even my mental addiction and my PAWS is at a low level. Sure, I will always have that craving to use, but that is like a nonsmoker smoking two cigarettes in a month, and then feeling like he is addicted the following month.
At some point, order and reason needs to dictate to me that I am no longer physically addicted.
Sort of off-topic, but as a former opiate addict, I want to allow myself to use opiates once a week at most, and likely at least once in a year. So 1-52 times in a year.
I was thinking - Oxycontin on Sunday night, then 1mg Suboxone the following Sunday, and rotate that way. Is there anything wrong with such a schedule? Is it true that former addicts can never use in moderation again? Because I used in moderation between 2007 and 2016 before things in my life took a turn, and I went downhill, and became a daily addict.
Whilst I wish it were possible, my experience says it is not possible (for me) to use opiates in moderation.Excellent post. Benzodiazepines are DEFINITELY to be used on as "AS NEEDED" basis.
I had 1mg of Xanax last Thursday night, and another ~0.7mg Xanax on Friday at 5:25pm.
I want to do five days in a row of Xanax to basically sleep through five days of P.A.W.S [post-acute withdrawal syndrome, from opiates], and I realize it is taking a small risk, but I strongly believe I am no longer addicted to opiates, because I took Suboxone after having previously only taken methadone and codeine [the latter, one time only] in the 10 or so days prior to Suboxone. Since the Suboxone did not precipitate withdrawal, I have good reason to believe I was not physically addicted to methadone or any other opiate/opioid at the time. I think I am willing to go five days in a row on Xanax, two days of LIGHT Suboxone use [<0.5mg Suboxone, for two days] after the Xanax, then another two days of Xanax without the Suboxone, then stop everything.
I have every reason to believe that I am not currently physically addicted to anything, and that even my mental addiction and my PAWS is at a low level. Sure, I will always have that craving to use, but that is like a nonsmoker smoking two cigarettes in a month, and then feeling like he is addicted the following month.
At some point, order and reason needs to dictate to me that I am no longer physically addicted.
Sort of off-topic, but as a former opiate addict, I want to allow myself to use opiates once a week at most, and likely at least once in a year. So 1-52 times in a year.
I was thinking - Oxycontin on Sunday night, then 1mg Suboxone the following Sunday, and rotate that way. Is there anything wrong with such a schedule? Is it true that former addicts can never use in moderation again? Because I used in moderation between 2007 and 2016 before things in my life took a turn, and I went downhill, and became a daily addict.
Excellent post. Benzodiazepines are DEFINITELY to be used on as "AS NEEDED" basis.
I had 1mg of Xanax last Thursday night, and another ~0.7mg Xanax on Friday at 5:25pm.
I want to do five days in a row of Xanax to basically sleep through five days of P.A.W.S [post-acute withdrawal syndrome, from opiates], and I realize it is taking a small risk, but I strongly believe I am no longer addicted to opiates, because I took Suboxone after having previously only taken methadone and codeine [the latter, one time only] in the 10 or so days prior to Suboxone. Since the Suboxone did not precipitate withdrawal, I have good reason to believe I was not physically addicted to methadone or any other opiate/opioid at the time. I think I am willing to go five days in a row on Xanax, two days of LIGHT Suboxone use [<0.5mg Suboxone, for two days] after the Xanax, then another two days of Xanax without the Suboxone, then stop everything.
I have every reason to believe that I am not currently physically addicted to anything, and that even my mental addiction and my PAWS is at a low level. Sure, I will always have that craving to use, but that is like a nonsmoker smoking two cigarettes in a month, and then feeling like he is addicted the following month.
At some point, order and reason needs to dictate to me that I am no longer physically addicted.
Sort of off-topic, but as a former opiate addict, I want to allow myself to use opiates once a week at most, and likely at least once in a year. So 1-52 times in a year.
I was thinking - Oxycontin on Sunday night, then 1mg Suboxone the following Sunday, and rotate that way. Is there anything wrong with such a schedule? Is it true that former addicts can never use in moderation again? Because I used in moderation between 2007 and 2016 before things in my life took a turn, and I went downhill, and became a daily addict.
Based on my experience and that of others, no one can Repeatedly dose an opiate and not get addicted. Now it may take a week or it may take 2 decades but you will eventually raise your dose and frequency of intake to the point of dependence.
Addicts are especially predisposed to this behavior. You may have the will power to keep your schedule for years but eventually you’ll be right back to the point of addiction if not worse than before.
Whilst I wish it were possible, my experience says it is not possible (for me) to use opiates in moderation.
I got clean in 1996, hurt my back in 2012 and turned to opiates out of desperation for pain relief.
The last eight years have seen me lose a number of jobs, attend multiple rehab s and achieve only a few months here and there of life free from daily dependence and misery.
I'm not saying you cannot achieve equilibrium but my experience shows that I cannot control my use regardless of the negatives consequences.
Whilst it was the back pain which initially drove me to seek out opiates for the first time in many years - after trying Pilates, swimming, yoga, chiropractor, acupuncture, stretching, meditation, hypnotherapy .... - what I found was that once i d broken the stigma again, the pain side of things was and remains secondary.Am I assuming too much to say that it seems you have [or at least, had] legitimate pain to deal with?
If so...what can you do? With me, I use opiates purely for recreational reasons, when I went through some hard times [no excuses, but...excuses]. In your case, it sounds like you had a legitimate basis for use for opiates. Am I wrong about that?
Quite true. I thought that I was one of those that could use weekly again. After 8 months on methadone I picked up again...How many times has this occurred???
To tell the truth I have actually lost count. I have detoxed off AU smack many times - well those times I did not leave after a few days....
Over the past years - detoxes have changed. Who the fuck can handle a benzo reduction and no cigarettes at the SAME time???
Same old story - back on methadone to hold me. Go to clinic - titrate up, titrate down. Get a private Dr - not much better, still dose at pharmacy. Is it any better than the clinic line? Not really, at least there are people I know. Find a contact and pick up.....
I have only stayed on methadone long enough, I think twice - which granted me access to takeaways.
Despite being on methadone, I used it in combination with other things learned over time. Yes, the methadone cocktail - that great junkie treat.
It is something that just will never leave one alone. Sure I have the choice to stay on methadone and not pick up, however seeing and knowing lifers kind of makes me think of where my destiny is.
At least, for now, our heroin is heroin. Sure, there are cuts, however fentanyl is not a thing I along with others I know have encountered.
If klonopin and ativan don't work any longer due to tolerance can any other benzos help for anxiety?