I prefer diazepam but I too need 20mg+ to achieve what 1-2mg etizolam can. Etizolam is undervalued and it surprises me that it isn't used in Western medicine at all. Diazepam lasts much longer and is more sedating which is why I prefer it but etizolam is very effective especially if you can redose.
That's interesting to know about the tolerance, I have read that tolerance appears to be different and that in fact etizolam upregulates some specific subset of benzodiazepine receptors, although I don't know what to make of this exactly it sounds surprising and maybe even a good thing.
Tbh, a lot of the time when I take diazepam now it's 30/40mg... generally to come down from cocaine, which is another substance I am trying to not do. And in these cases, I can very much enjoy the long duration and relaxing day after where what would otherwise be a horrible hangover just turns into a blissed out good day... maybe with a little ketamine historically (another one I'm not allowed right now :giggle

. But other times the day after grogginess is not so desirable. I don't remember building up to this dose at all, I just used to get such horrible cocaine comedowns I'd just keep popping benzos until the badness went away and 4 was usually the magic number. Pretty sure I've taken up to 80 before. Recently I seem to have been able to listen to my body a bit more and stop cocaining before getting into such a state.
Yeah etizolam is pretty great, I find it many times superior to alprazolam in that it is actually euphoric to some degree and has a good body feeling, and has less propoensity for memory loss (though it is certainly not benign in this way). It's my favorite benzo (I know, it's a thieno but you know) of those I've tried. It's amazing for sleep, 2mg will knock me out if I lay down and try to sleep, no matter what. I use it for drug comedowns and insomnia, and every once in a blue moon, for anxiety if I'm really having problems.
Yeah having said the above maybe to sleep after a psychedelic I can get away with 10/20mg val... I always like to have some benzos around for stimulant/psychedelic emergencies/soft landings and rarely do them alone, and I really liked alprazolam in theory but anywhere above 3 or even 2mg and I'm in danger of bingeing on anything else I might have around and calling up everyone I know to join me no matter what my responsibilities the next day...

Evidently not everyone gets this from xanax... but I've always just found it scary how easily it just switches off some part of my self-awareness in a way that diazepam does not. I also find alprazolam to be more lucid and clearheaded than diazepam which makes the memory of being on it lucid, and behaving so strangely even more disturbing.
Etizolam so far seems a good balance between the 2, not too impulsive, not too long lasting... Glad I gave this one another chance.
As far as the topic at hand. +35mg MXE insufflated about 10 minutes ago!

I really do seem to have trouble keeping ACHs around, got this intending to store it given it's relative scarcity nowadays and kinda cheating on my no-ketamine rule with an analogue, but... it's Saturday, I have no other plans, it's raining, why not. I'm not even the biggest fan of MXE, we do not seem to get on that well, but I seem to keep coming back to it because I know so many people love it and it's like I want to figure it out... Won't be combining with ketamine today which might help.
I just purchased a paperback of Vortech's book on MXE the other day so maybe I'll give that a read... RIP Vortech, didn't really know you myself but I am very much looking forward to reading this particular echo in eternity that you left behind. Anyone else read this? Getting a bit off topic, maybe I'll move my ramblings, I just remembered I took another 75mg Armodafinil about midday, probably explains it.
