Benzos Experienced users - When does recreational benzo consumption become a problem?

[awrt]

I have used benzos off and on now for 12years.

was first prescribed valium in 2015 then got a couple more scripts of it for severe anxiety.

fast forward to 2027 - that wasn't anxiety..it was PTSD that I was diagnosed with 2 years ago.

I have abused benzos at times taking them from 1-2 times a week to start off with - leading eventually to everyday use. when it becomes daily it definitely becomes a problem and I know about 2 weeks of daily use I will get some withdrawals.

I don't find benzos recreational really - I find them functional because they kill my PTSD symptoms and allow me to forget about the past. hence why I find them addictive.

but of course they don't cure my PTSD and I realise I was running away from it for years.

my benzo of choice is actually diazepam, but I have had almost every benzo under the sun - Alprazolam, diazepam, Temazepam, Clonazepam, etizolam, bromazolam, flualprazolam, diclazepam, nitrazepam.

I wish I never took benzos. I have now been sober from them for a month and hope to never take them again.

 

[white55]

It becomes a problem when one of these things happens - you're taking so much that you keep blacking out and doing something stupid, you're taking so much/so often that your tolerance is too high for them to be enjoyable or when you take them long enough to become dependent on them and can't stop without getting potentially life threatening withdrawals.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

^This is pretty accurate. The first can be solved with a trip sitter - which most dont consider for benzos, less a trip sitter -- more someone to remind you not to leave the fckin house.

I think I am the exception but I enjoyed them more recreationally when I had a higher tolerance -- zoning on 50mgs is different than 5 even if you have the tolerance to handle 50 -- IME -- YMMV -- NOT WORTH FINDING OUT.

Life threatening withdrawals were the big issue but I was careful to put a fuckton aside to taper with -- than I have my script which is enough to survive. Really they have gained full potency back I think, 2mgs id be takin a nap again.

 

[placebonaut]

Just wanted to add in these 2 useful bits of info from another post.

The half life of Alprazolam is right around 11 hours. 5 x a half life and the substance will be eliminated from your body, 5 x 11 =55 Then give it three days to be absolutely safe from dependence. 55 + 72=127/24=5.3 days. So IMO you will not develop a dependency if you use for a day or three and then weight five days before your next use.

I'm curious, why if you can moderate your usage so easily, do you even mess with these drugs at all? Most people who use Benzodiazepines intermittently do so for conditions like Panic Disorder/PTSD. You mentioned you like getting high off Benzodiazepines. This is where what you're writing and what, forgive me please, I feel the true nature of this situation is. I assume you're just now beginning to use them again after some abstinence. That is what I'm getting from the way you have worded things.

I talk about this a lot. I call this the "bargaining phase" to steal from the stages of grief. This is, as you have done here, when we have decided that we can't fully say no to a substance, we have given up on that idea, now we have to figure out how much we can take, the maximum, without anything terrible happening. I'm sure you're a smart individual. You likely know that this is heading for "everybody thought they had the answer, none did". Nobody who starts using any drug, I don't care who they are, does so believing that using that drug could lead to the catastrophic ruin of their entire life. Well shit, it happens anyway.

You really should think about just not using these. If you've enjoyed misusing them before, it is not impossible, but highly unlikely that you would be one of the few people to learn how to use these both chronically and effectively. If you have a panic attack once a month, fine. You can use Benzodiazepines probably your whole life with little incident. If you need them daily, say for a traumatic event in your life, 4 weeks maximum with the goal always being getting your strength back mentally with the Benzodiazepines helping you to do so.

I see others have provided estimates for your question. I honestly feel like I'd be doing you a major disservice by guessing at something that could ruin your life. Individual experience varies, addiction is always a possibility and nobody can answer a question of this gravity with the reciprocal level of surety.

and to also add some more info on receptors to help illustrate what you need to consider how each benzo effects your body

Primary receptor / target

Drug

Exposure assumption

Drug elimination range

Elimination average days

Receptor adaptation recovery after elimination range

Receptor recovery average days after elimination

Total receptor recovery from last dose range

Total receptor recovery average days

Hormone/endocrine effects

Hormone recovery after elimination range

Hormone recovery average days

Total hormone recovery from last dose range

Total hormone recovery average days

Evidence confidence

Evidence type

Notes / supporting papers

Recovery index score (0-100)

Receptor adaptation severity score (0-100)

Neuroadaptation type

Confidence weighted recovery estimate (days)

GABA-A

Diazepam

Single dose

2-5 days

3.5​

Minimal adaptation to several days

2​

3-7 days

5.5​

Minimal direct hormonal effect

1-3 days

2​

3-7 days

5.5​

Medium

Human benzodiazepine pharmacokinetic studies

Long half-life contributes to total recovery time

15​

20​

Receptor modulation

4​

GABA-A

Alprazolam

Single dose

1-3 days

2​

Minimal adaptation to several days

2​

2-5 days

4​

Minimal direct hormonal effect

1-3 days

2​

2-5 days

4​

Medium

Human benzodiazepine studies

Short acting benzodiazepine with rapid clearance

15​

25​

Receptor modulation

3​

GABA-A

Clonazepam

Single dose

3-6 days

4.5​

Minimal adaptation to several days

2​

5-10 days

6.5​

Minimal direct hormonal effect

1-3 days

2​

5-10 days

6.5​

Medium

Human pharmacokinetic studies

Long half-life delays clearance

15​

20​

Receptor modulation

​

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/208866

Post in thread 'Receptor & Hormone impact and recovery for common recreational drugs'

Jul 13, 2026

AI view on receptor and hormone recovery - had to split over 2 posts as it's too much for 1 post.

Spoiler: Single Drug Use Recovery

Primary receptor / target

Drug

Exposure assumption

Drug elimination range

Elimination average days

Receptor adaptation recovery after elimination range

Receptor recovery average days after elimination

Total receptor...

• placebonaut