Misc need advice on my "taper"...

[Abhaya]

So, lately i've screwed my "controlled use" (once a week) of opiates...again. After six heroic months i've lost my job, my mother has been sick and you know, there is always an excuse for the little junky to come back again. After nine years of in and out, it still surprises me how i pretend to have some control...

I've been using everyday for just a couple of months now, so my addiction is not that great yet (although today i'm really pissed off: 100mg of tramadol + 10 of oxy + 100 of tapentadol during the course of the day and...i'm not high), but now i can't see myself not using opiates in the next months, so my biggest concern is to keep my tolerance to the lowest level possible, manly not to burn my stash in a matter of some weeks.

I was thinking to try to cut down the tolerance i've gained by taking only 1mg clonazepam + 225 mg pregabalin (75 mg three times a day) for a full week. The main reason for adding a benzo is that pregabalin alone gives me an uncomfortable speedy feeling sometimes, although it works very well for withdrawals. Furthermore, the combo is appealing to me since it still provides some euphoria, making more probable that i'll stick to the regimen.

My main concern about this method is benzo addiction. Lately i've acquired a taste for benzos, but i'm really paraniod about getting addicted to them. Now i'm not, but i can definitely feel that 0,5 mg of alprazolam are not what they used to be in terms of effect.

So do you think that there are some chances that i will get some physical or psychological discomfort from a week like the one i've described? Or, anyway, have anyone of you tried such a method to cut down tolerance a little bit?

Thanks.

 

[macd610]

First I must admit that I don't have experience with many of the drugs you listed. I'm currently taking fentanyl and oxycodone for pain, MPH for Adult ADHD and alprazolam...the latter mainly for sleep, although I have noticed that if I go more than a couple of days without alprazolam I become VERY uncomfortable.
This brings me to the only part of your question that I feel I'm qualified to answer. I have much experience with benzos (including clonazepam). For me, they are easily addictive. From what I understand, these drugs are also among one of the most dangerous to withdrawal from.
It seems that you already have very valid concerns about becoming dependent on clonazepam in the process of using it to get off of something else. Listen to that inner voice. Chances are, if you have an addictive personality, you have quite a big risk of realizing your fears.
Take care, and keep us posted.
Also, keep in mind that I don't know about the interaction of clonazepam with the other meds you mentioned. I try to make sure not to give advice regarding meds I don't know about. Be on the lookout for more experienced replies
Cat

 

[Abhaya]

First I must admit that I don't have experience with many of the drugs you listed. I'm currently taking fentanyl and oxycodone for pain, MPH for Adult ADHD and alprazolam...the latter mainly for sleep, although I have noticed that if I go more than a couple of days without alprazolam I become VERY uncomfortable.
This brings me to the only part of your question that I feel I'm qualified to answer. I have much experience with benzos (including clonazepam). For me, they are easily addictive. From what I understand, these drugs are also among one of the most dangerous to withdrawal from.
It seems that you already have very valid concerns about becoming dependent on clonazepam in the process of using it to get off of something else. Listen to that inner voice. Chances are, if you have an addictive personality, you have quite a big risk of realizing your fears.
Take care, and keep us posted.
Also, keep in mind that I don't know about the interaction of clonazepam with the other meds you mentioned. I try to make sure not to give advice regarding meds I don't know about. Be on the lookout for more experienced replies
Cat

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, definitely an addictive personality here . That's strange that you came up with this exact terminology, as in this period i have been interested in the book from where (i suppose) it come from. It has some valid points, but i've not really read it yet. I will take this as a sign and proceed to buy it.

Anyway, this is just day one but the pregabalin (even at my low dosage) works very well. I woke up in mild withdrawal this morning and one hour and a half after a 75mg pill i was fine. Three pills a day sound fine given the half-life. Probably i won't even need to add a benzo, but sadly i probably will, just to catch some buzz. You're right, everyone i've heard tell that benzos are worse than opiates when it comes to withdrawal, and i really don't need TWO addictions.

 

[macd610]

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, definitely an addictive personality here . That's strange that you came up with this exact terminology, as in this period i have been interested in the book from where (i suppose) it come from. It has some valid points, but i've not really read it yet. I will take this as a sign and proceed to buy it.

Anyway, this is just day one but the pregabalin (even at my low dosage) works very well. I woke up in mild withdrawal this morning and one hour and a half after a 75mg pill i was fine. Three pills a day sound fine given the half-life. Probably i won't even need to add a benzo, but sadly i probably will, just to catch some buzz. You're right, everyone i've heard tell that benzos are worse than opiates when it comes to withdrawal, and i really don't need TWO addictions.

The thing that concerns me about benzo wd is the risk of seizures ( I've heard about )...
So it's not only extremely miserable, but downright dangerous, I believe.
Please research this risk for yourself though Don't just take my word for it. If you use the search engine within BL itself I'm sure you'll find bountiful info on the subject
Cat

 

[Swimmingdancer]

If you are just going to take 1mg clonazepam per day for only 1 week and you have never been physically dependent to benzos or similar drugs in the past that is not enough time to become dependent on it. How much role the pregabalin will have is another story, I'm not sure if pregabalin + cloazepam for a week could have greater likelihood of dependence. According to 2 doctors I've asked taking clonazepam or pregablin, or clonazepam + pregabalin for 1 week should not cause any withdrawal symptoms, maybe a little rebound anxiety and insomnia at worst (which are not technically considered withdrawal symptoms but rebound symptoms). Personally I have taken clonazepam + gabapentin daily for a week with no withdrawal symptoms.

My main concern is what is your current benzo and pregabalin use like? If you've been using them fairly frequently lately that will have an impact on potential dependence and withdrawals. My other concern is what if you don't want to stop taking them after 1 week?

The other thing is that once you have used opioids regularly even after a break your tolerance is not going to go back to opioid-naive levels and you will rapidly regain a substantial portion of your old tolerance within just a few days of using daily (or almost daily), MUCH more rapidly than tolerance builds for someone who is just starting opioids for the first time. So that is something to bear in mind, if you want to keep your tolerance down you must use infrequently.