My recent experience with various benzos

[lost weekend]

I think I will stick with the Clonazepam - I added in that 200mg of Pregab and it did take the edge off but I hadn't taken pregab for a good while and forgot how wobbly it makes me... So I've taken to trying to white knuckle a 'benzo break' and take 200mg pregab but split between 100mg morning and 100mg if I need it later in the day, then switch. I don't want a pregab tolerance and especially habit cus I have a more difficult time accessing pregabs reliably for some reason. I also don't want a benzo habbit either but I suspect (not sure) that I may have fucked it there - I guess I will find out soon enough.

I hate the bolded bit because they really do what they are made for so effectively, so reliable at allowing me be able to just leave my house. I can't leave my front door unless I am on H or a Benzo, even though I live with family I still have crippling anxiety indoors.

Yeh it's a deep spiral .the best chance is to reduce benzo tolerance. H is a doddle compaired to full on benzo wd .depending what long lasting benzos you take seizures can and do happen .Gabapentin helped me 900mg per day ,stops that shakes but has the odd muscle spasms on its own lol .but can least get you 30 to 40 mins sleep per night if your lucky .I've never taken h so taking a bit of a liberty here but nothing can be as bad as benzo withdrawl .it's the never ending insomnia ,fear ,regret and it lasts for ever .I didnt want to admit I had a problem so wouldn't go to doctor then had a nervous breakdown ,my wife phoned the doctor and he actually came round to house [changed days] and guess what he put me on lol .2mg valium almost a open script ,I think I got hundreds over the course of a few months and then I was able to stop but was and still am always shy and nervous at work although I'm good at what I do so get away with it .it's a strange old world..when I said gabapentin helped me it was on holiday in Thailand, you can get it otc.

 

[justme6263]

Yeh it's a deep spiral .the best chance is to reduce benzo tolerance. H is a doddle compaired to full on benzo wd .depending what long lasting benzos you take seizures can and do happen .Gabapentin helped me 900mg per day ,stops that shakes but has the odd muscle spasms on its own lol .but can least get you 30 to 40 mins sleep per night if your lucky .I've never taken h so taking a bit of a liberty here but nothing can be as bad as benzo withdrawl .it's the never ending insomnia ,fear ,regret and it lasts for ever .I didnt want to admit I had a problem so wouldn't go to doctor then had a nervous breakdown ,my wife phoned the doctor and he actually came round to house [changed days] and guess what he put me on lol .2mg valium almost a open script ,I think I got hundreds over the course of a few months and then I was able to stop but was and still am always shy and nervous at work although I'm good at what I do so get away with it .it's a strange old world..when I said gabapentin helped me it was on holiday in Thailand, you can get it otc.

This scares the shit out of me.

I've been using a mixture of Temaz, Diaz, Nitraz, Clonaz (very recently was my first time) at varying doses and on occasion various combos with breaks here and there for near 6 months - I think I fucked it. Its mostly been Diazepam and tbh quite low doses (I think, in relation to what I see and read other people use) 40mg is the highest I've gone with that and only twice - mostly it will be 20mg.

That experience you shared is literally my worst nightmare - I can kinda cope with the physical withdrawals of a drug, kinda as in I won't be on the verge of suicide) the mentally I am very weak and fragile anyway - there is no way I could cope with what you describe. I'm glad you came out the other side mate and seem relatively ok.

 

[lost weekend]

This scares the shit out of me.

I've been using a mixture of Temaz, Diaz, Nitraz, Clonaz (very recently was my first time) at varying doses and on occasion various combos with breaks here and there for near 6 months - I think I fucked it. Its mostly been Diazepam and tbh quite low doses (I think, in relation to what I see and read other people use) 40mg is the highest I've gone with that and only twice - mostly it will be 20mg.

That experience you shared is literally my worst nightmare - I can kinda cope with the physical withdrawals of a drug, kinda as in I won't be on the verge of suicide) the mentally I am very weak and fragile anyway - there is no way I could cope with what you describe. I'm glad you came out the other side mate and seem relatively ok.

Yeh your alright kind of for 4 or 5 days depending what benzo your taking cos its still floating around your system then it hits like a bomb .alcohol helps but only short term then makes you worse next day .caffeine is a big no and you don't enjoy it anyway .nothing really helps not even small amounts of 2mg diazapam you just have to ride it out .but from what I've heard it's not the same for everyone some people can cope better .

 

[justme6263]

Yeh your alright kind of for 4 or 5 days depending what benzo your taking cos its still floating around your system then it hits like a bomb .alcohol helps but only short term then makes you worse next day .caffeine is a big no and you don't enjoy it anyway .nothing really helps not even small amounts of 2mg diazapam you just have to ride it out .but from what I've heard it's not the same for everyone some people can cope better .

I have two close friends who were both benzo addicts - one said it was the worst thing he's had to go through, the other said nothing like a H rattle in terms of intensity. Swore it was a doddle compared to H - to steal and reword a quote of your's.

 

[lost weekend]

Yeh your alright kind of for 4 or 5 days depending what benzo your taking cos its still floating around your system then it hits like a bomb .alcohol helps but only short term then makes you worse next day .caffeine is a big no and you don't enjoy it anyway .nothing really helps not even small amounts of 2mg diazapam you just have to ride it out .but from what I've heard it's not the same for everyone some people can cope better .

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I have two close friends who were both benzo addicts - one said it was the worst thing he's had to go through, the other said nothing like a H rattle in terms of intensity. Swore it was a doddle compared to H - to steal and reword a quote of your's.

Yeh I think the big thing is benzos give you confidence or relief from anxiety which is euphoric in itself even though the drugs aren't. It takes months if not a year for your brain to stop short circuiting .prob less in fact ,I managed in 6 months but I still dreamed about scoring valium or finding some in a drawer .it's insane .

 

[justme6263]

⁹

Yeh I think the big thing is benzos give you confidence or relief from anxiety which is euphoric in itself even though the drugs aren't. It takes months if not a year for your brain to stop short circuiting .prob less in fact ,I managed in 6 months but I still dreamed about scoring valium or finding some in a drawer .it's insane .

Can I ask a question of your personal opinion - you don't have to answer - but the length of time and different kinds, dosages and combos I've been doing benzos for - would you think a person catches a habbit?

 

[lost weekend]

Can I ask a question of your personal opinion - you don't have to answer - but the length of time and different kinds, dosages and combos I've been doing benzos for - would you think a person catches a habbit?

It depends if your having a break in between like maybe just on weekends then you should be fine but if your taking them every day or every other day for a period of over 3 months or longer then in my experience you will get withdrawal symptoms. Trying different combos is a hard one cos they all have different half lifes .xanax I found was the worst .you can def catch a habbit very quickly .it creeps up slowly and you only notice till you run out or decide to stop .if you have just been experementing over a few months best to stop and your brain will return to normal after a few shitty weeks or a month .I'm not trying to scare you I can see your worried about it but it's just the way they rewire your brain and it takes along time for it to return to normal.

 

[lost weekend]

It depends if your having a break in between like maybe just on weekends then you should be fine but if your taking them every day or every other day for a period of over 3 months or longer then in my experience you will get withdrawal symptoms. Trying different combos is a hard one cos they all have different half lifes .xanax I found was the worst .you can def catch a habbit very quickly .it creeps up slowly and you only notice till you run out or decide to stop .if you have just been experementing over a few months best to stop and your brain will return to normal after a few shitty weeks or a month .I'm not trying to scare you I can see your worried about it but it's just the way they rewire your brain and it takes along time for it to return to normal.

But don't start worrying if I can do it then you def can .I've quit it twice 10 years appart .

 

[justme6263]

It depends if your having a break in between like maybe just on weekends then you should be fine but if your taking them every day or every other day for a period of over 3 months or longer then in my experience you will get withdrawal symptoms. Trying different combos is a hard one cos they all have different half lifes .xanax I found was the worst .you can def catch a habbit very quickly .it creeps up slowly and you only notice till you run out or decide to stop .if you have just been experementing over a few months best to stop and your brain will return to normal after a few shitty weeks or a month .I'm not trying to scare you I can see your worried about it but it's just the way they rewire your brain and it takes along time for it to return to normal.

I really appreciate your help mate, honestly. I just hate the idea I've knocked one on the head (H) for another, and to go through worse withdrawals I couldn't bare... I have kept doses relatively low but no clue if that makes a difference or not. I will tapper just to be safe - today I've only had 200mg pregab and 1mg clonaz - or speak to my drug support worker as to best approach. You've been a great help and source of knowledge though - so thank you mate.

I've not had xanax for over 2 months though.

 

[lost weekend]

I really appreciate your help mate, honestly. I just hate the idea I've knocked one on the head (H) for another, and to go through worse withdrawals I couldn't bare... I have kept doses relatively low but no clue if that makes a difference or not. I will tapper just to be safe - today I've only had 200mg pregab and 1mg clonaz - or speak to my drug support worker as to best approach. You've been a great help and source of knowledge though - so thank you mate.

I've not had xanax for over 2 months though.

Yeh speak to them they should put you on a diazapam taper lasting months which seems to be tried and tested although never had the luxury myself .Good luck and I wish you all the best

 

[Opana313]

Can I ask a question of your personal opinion - you don't have to answer - but the length of time and different kinds, dosages and combos I've been doing benzos for - would you think a person catches a habbit?

No offense but I think you already caught a habit my dude.

If you take a relatively low dose for therapeutic reasons for anxiety, let's say 1mg Xanax instead of a cocktail or whatever your recreational mg it may be, avoid it..just take the one to get by..I found that instead of shoveling 4mg+ down a day i can get by with whatever I may need JUST to take that edge off(sometimes means switching it up; kpin or Valium) but more importantly this means to try not to take it for bed (for me, this is a waste) bc I can replace this with something else that may knock me out(marijuana/clonodine and/or gabapentin).

The ultimate goal here over all is to sustain(thanks to opiate addiction). Also to annihilate all anxiety and still have relatively low but not quite naive tolerance, to avoid addiction, blackouts/tragedy or god awful withdrawalsymptoms. In my opinion.

 

[Opana313]

Save that rec. dose for a nice night out of a weekend or maybe twice a month if possible? Be safe

 

[justme6263]

No offense but I think you already caught a habit my dude.

If you take a relatively low dose for therapeutic reasons for anxiety, let's say 1mg Xanax instead of a cocktail or whatever your recreational mg it may be, avoid it..just take the one to get by..I found that instead of shoveling 4mg+ down a day i can get by with whatever I may need JUST to take that edge off(sometimes means switching it up; kpin or Valium) but more importantly this means to try not to take it for bed (for me, this is a waste) bc I can replace this with something else that may knock me out(marijuana/clonodine and/or gabapentin).

The ultimate goal here over all is to sustain(thanks to opiate addiction). Also to annihilate all anxiety and still have relatively low but not quite naive tolerance, to avoid addiction, blackouts/tragedy or god awful withdrawalsymptoms. In my opinion.

Honestly no offense taken - I appreciate the response and the advice. I have been switching it up (between Diazepam20mg and recently Clonazepam 2mg daily) keeping doses to what I think is relatively low dose? I will speak to my drug worker who also prescribes my buprenorphine maintenance dose. IF he can't help then my GP, if they can't help the I'll have to figure out a taper of own.

Save that rec. dose for a nice night out of a weekend or maybe twice a month if possible? Be safe

Thanks for the advice man. The thing is I have such crippling anxiety that I can't leave my front door, answer phone calls etc. I have paranoia and am waiting on a mental health team referral to come through, I have recently started video call therapy with a psychotherapist to address anxiety.

 

[lost weekend]

Honestly no offense taken - I appreciate the response and the advice. I have been switching it up (between Diazepam20mg and recently Clonazepam 2mg daily) keeping doses to what I think is relatively low dose? I will speak to my drug worker who also prescribes my buprenorphine maintenance dose. IF he can't help then my GP, if they can't help the I'll have to figure out a taper of own.


Thanks for the advice man. The thing is I have such crippling anxiety that I can't leave my front door, answer phone calls etc. I have paranoia and am waiting on a mental health team referral to come through, I have recently started video call therapy with a psychotherapist to address anxiety.

Kratom can help with these things and small amounts of alcohol, like 2 beers or ciders a night till the worst has past .it will also give you motavation to get out of bed and face the world .belive me I know how you feel or will feel .replacing one drug with another is never a good idea but I firmly believe in the benefits of kratom .

 

[justme6263]

Kratom can help with these things and small amounts of alcohol, like 2 beers or ciders a night till the worst has past .it will also give you motavation to get out of bed and face the world .belive me I know how you feel or will feel .replacing one drug with another is never a good idea but I firmly believe in the benefits of kratom .

Its horrible isn't it. I never used to be like this but I guess abusing drugs my entire life is the outcome and an obvious one at that - although I've had this anxiety my entire life since I can remember.

Alcohol was my first one - it dealt with it and I ended up an every day drinker and alcoholic, until I started using H and then my alcohol consumption slowed down. I would just end up abusing alcohol.

I have heard so much about Kratom - I will look into it. How would I use it to help with the anxiety? The paranoia is going to need medical treatment and lots of therapy I think.

 

[lost weekend]

Its horrible isn't it. I never used to be like this but I guess abusing drugs my entire life is the outcome and an obvious one at that - although I've had this anxiety my entire life since I can remember.

Alcohol was my first one - it dealt with it and I ended up an every day drinker and alcoholic, until I started using H and then my alcohol consumption slowed down. I would just end up abusing alcohol.

I have heard so much about Kratom - I will look into it. How would I use it to help with the anxiety? The paranoia is going to need medical treatment and lots of therapy I think.

Google a strain that might suit but I recommend maeng da .it gives you more motivation and get go ,not to mention feeling more talkative and less stressed .it also will make you slightly constipated which is a good thing with benzo belly .there is no immediate cure for benzo wd but believe me kratom will help .I would recommend the powdered type just from my experience and dose first thing ,lunch time and evening time .tollarance builds up very quickly but you just have to deal with it ,don't try taking more its a waste.2 full teaspoons in a small amount of hot water add some cold water ,just a smidge and gulp down .use yoghurt In a spoon already prepared to take the disgusting taste away .it's like drinking sand lol

 

[justme6263]

Google a strain that might suit but I recommend maeng da .it gives you more motivation and get go ,not to mention feeling more talkative and less stressed .it also will make you slightly constipated which is a good thing with benzo belly .there is no immediate cure for benzo wd but believe me kratom will help .I would recommend the powdered type just from my experience and dose first thing ,lunch time and evening time .tollarance builds up very quickly but you just have to deal with it ,don't try taking more its a waste.2 full teaspoons in a small amount of hot water add some cold water ,just a smidge and gulp down .use yoghurt In a spoon already prepared to take the disgusting taste away .it's like drinking sand lol

Cheers mate - I'm definitely going to look into it. Honestly, I can't thank you, and others who have offered advice, enough. Really, thank you.

 

[lost weekend]

Cheers mate - I'm definitely going to look into it. Honestly, I can't thank you, and other who have offered advice, enough. Really, thank you.

You will come out the other side I promise.i did twice .wish you all the best

 

[vision conquest]

@justme6263, I am dangerously close to becoming dependent on benzos myself and starting to add carisoprodol to the mix isn't helping.

I have been doing some reading and found this study using nmda antagonists as an adjunct to benzodiazepines, ok the study is done on mice and rats, however they were able to get a full anxiolytic effect with a lower dose of benzo when taking the nmda antagonist together with the benzo.

I am currently doing some experiments using dxm at a dose of 1mg/kg of bodyweight or just slightly lower.

The study is worth a read, it appears that nmda antagonists my help lower benzo tolerence as well as opioid tolerence.

Iwill also experiment to see if a similar dose of dxm may help deal with benzo wd when it is time to completely stop the benzos/gabergics, the theory seems sound as many of the symptoms of benzo/gabergic wd come from the glutamate storm and nmda antagonists are good at inhibiting the effects of excess glutamate.
Edit...forgot to link the study...doh...here it is.

Involvement of NMDA receptor complex in the anxiolytic-like effects of chlordiazepoxide in mice - PMC

In the present study, we demonstrated that low, ineffective doses of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists [competitive NMDA antagonist, CGP 37849, at 0.312 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), antagonist of the glycineB sites, L-701,324, ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[justme6263]

@justme6263, I am dangerously close to becoming dependent on benzos myself and starting to add carisoprodol to the mix isn't helping.

I have been doing some reading and found this study using nmda antagonists as an adjunct to benzodiazepines, ok the study is done on mice and rats, however they were able to get a full anxiolytic effect with a lower dose of benzo when taking the nmda antagonist together with the benzo.

I am currently doing some experiments using dxm at a dose of 1mg/kg of bodyweight or just slightly lower.

The study is worth a read, it appears that nmda antagonists my help lower benzo tolerence as well as opioid tolerence.

Iwill also experiment to see if a similar dose of dxm may help deal with benzo wd when it is time to completely stop the benzos/gabergics, the theory seems sound as many of the symptoms of benzo/gabergic wd come from the glutamate storm and nmda antagonists are good at inhibiting the effects of excess glutamate.
Edit...forgot to link the study...doh...here it is.

Involvement of NMDA receptor complex in the anxiolytic-like effects of chlordiazepoxide in mice - PMC

In the present study, we demonstrated that low, ineffective doses of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists [competitive NMDA antagonist, CGP 37849, at 0.312 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), antagonist of the glycineB sites, L-701,324, ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Its had isn't it mate, with the relief they provide. Its annoying they can't find a med that does this without the potential for addiction - just 'instant' relief from worry and anxiety. I don't know about you but its crippling for myself, all I do is worry all day and I know a lot of it is down to my own thinking, I just sit and think. I need to get out more but the idea of it just brings it to the surface.

I don't know what dxm is but I'll look into the study you provided. Thanks mate. I hope things get better.