Etizolam + other help

[kev948]

Hi,

This is my first time posting, I have never been a drug user before except for the odd valium or xanax (even with no tolerance I would need 50mg valium, or 6mg or so of xanax) anyone else that took even half my dose would be floored, but I would feel good and have more energy... which I find very strange?

But now need help - I don't know if I am in the right forum. I started using etizolam, (I have Bipolar disorder) and this somehow gave me energy and the drive to do things and interact with people and have a good relationship.

Its been about 1 and a half months now, and I have taken 5 - 10mg everyday (5 - 10 small blue pellets). I started getting depressed recently (the first signs of the type of bipolar depression). I have realized I have to stop taking the etizolam, but without it I feel terrible ill, physically and mentally (this normal?) I am trying to hide it from everyone and get off this.

I don't drink alcohol but when I don't take the etizolam I have such bad cravings for alcohol... or something. I don't want this way of life. Help?

I have access to gabapentin, I just took 400mg instead of etizolam atm, but everytime my glands swell up very large with this, my veins tend to get very noticeable large. Anyone else had this?

 

[Tripman]

Switch to a nice long acting benzo like clonazepam or valium and use it with your gabapentin, or better yet see if you can get pregabalin instead.

Clonazepam + Lyrica is by far the easiest way to come off benzo's.

 

[effie]

kev948, welcome to BDD! posting in here is fine

Other Drugs is the other place to check out, as there are a lot of people who have been through the same thing you have, or if you want to talk things through with lovely people who understand the psychological impact of addiction and withdrawal, then The Dark Side is a great place for that. It's so hard keeping something like this secret, talking it through with others on here who understand can help enormously. Is there anyone you can speak to about this in real life? A trusted friend?

What you are feeling is entirely normal, and there are a lot of people on BL who have been through the same thing. Cravings for alcohol are normal too - alcohol acts on the GABA system in your brain, as do benzos. It is not a good idea to go down that path though, I'd hate to see you swap one addiction for another..

Can you speak to a doctor about this? It's really great that you have realised that you need to cut down your etizolam use - coming to that realisation and being honest with yourself is the hardest step for many people!

Stopping benzos cold-turkey is dangerous and can result in seizures, and benzo withdrawals are not much fun at all. Your safest bet is to taper down, and as Tripman said longer-lasting benzos are often the best way to do that. Ideally, I think you should speak to a doctor about the situation and arrange a tapering regime with them.. especially given your psychiatric history. I think professional help is what you need, to make sure you do this safely and as easily as possible. Gabapentin can help, but I am a little concerned that you seem to react badly to it..

Good luck!

edit: Here is a thread I found on benzo withdrawal, and here is a thread and FAQ on benzos in general