Bro chillout before you get two habits. Your lucky you have large prescriptions but if you keep adding other drugs to that your going to have an unstainable addiction. And addiction pretty much only causes problems when its unsustainable.
I get prescribed a fairly high dose of oxycodone, OxyContin and codeine. I buy oxy, too. I Probably buy 35-40% of my oxy.
I have severe chronic pancreatitis (I've been told it's on the same pain-level as childbirth and had this confirmed by another inpatient last time I was hospitalized for a very serious flair up who had pancreatitis like me and also had two kids. She had natural birth and said it was no more painful than pancreatitis). I also have two collapsed disks in my lower spine. Being so ill with pancreatitis (into month 8 now) has given my fibromyalgia. Some mornings I can't move my neck or bend my knees at all and mysmaller joints swell/hurt. I am now being tested to see if the fibromyalgia is actually the beginnings of rheumatoid arthritis.
Not so lucky when you find out WHY I have a high prescription for opiates, huh?
I was only subscribed for Xanax for 2 weeks and then a two week taper. That's the most you're gonna get out of benzos (legit, prescribed) where I live. I get Xanax on my own now. It's muscle-relaxant properties help with my (fibro/arthritis) quite a bit.
My teen years were destroyed by crippling anxiety and panic attacks and I still suffer moderate anxiety (not crippling, but bad enough to significantly decrease my quality of life).
I'm doin' my best to avoid PHYSICAL dependency on benzos. Unlike my pain medication, I could live without alprazolam (Xanax), but without it (I strictly don't drink alcohol) I'm totally isolated socially in my bedroom reading, or watching TV or on my laptop (often the latter two simultaneously lol) apart from maybe watchin TV in the evening with my parents some nights. That's because of social anxiety. I also often just have a strong feeling of anxiety for no reason. I literally can think of no cause, but the feelin is there and strong and happens sometimes several times a day.
Sertraline (Zoloft) was a miracle drug for my depression (I'll leave out that story as it is not relevant here) and has helped with the anxiety, but as you can see by the above, not nearly enough. So I'd say the benefits outweigh the risks. And I DO have the will-power to do a slow-power taper with benzos if necessary.
I'm probably addicted to anti-histamines, too. I take several different ones. Primarily I take the prescription anti-histamine Phenergan (the active ingredient being Promethazine Hydrochloride), although I take Phlorpheniramine Maleat too, as well as OTC ones such as benedryl.
The prescription ones are my favourite. Promethazine is a great opiate potentiator and totally stops any itching or nausea, too. They help with anxiety. And are great for insomnia and it feels great combined with codeine (which I find useless alone). Basically Prometh is fucking amazing, but most anti-histamines are good. 1st-gen predominately.
I noticed I get really bad insomnia (bad enough to require xanax) and feel antsy and lose my appetite.