Quicker physical dependence: alcohol or benzo

[RTrain]

So I am just wondering which will leave you with with withdrawals if you use consistently for an extended period of time.

Just for instance, lets compare someone who drinks a 12 pack of beer a day versus someone who eats 4 mg of alprazolam(Seems to me like a good match for strength between the 2). Which of these 2 could you go longer doing on a daily basis and not feel physical dependence issues? Or if you went a month doing either of those every day, which would be harder to stop from the physical symptoms? (no factoring in any mental aspect of the addiction)

 

[RTrain]

Thanks for your input everyone? haha, bumping it back to the top.

 

[T. Calderone]

I've been both these people, and had gone a good year drinking 8 pints daily sometimes more. I would get shaky hands in the morning if I couldn't buy beer and I would get grumpy but not sick. Xanax did me in after a 6 week long binge of every day use (I can't recall exact doses, but over 4 mg?) It got tricky for me because I combined both alcohol and benzos.

It was a brutal withdrawal that first night, being alcoholic also made it worse. I was so nauseous and dizzy, and knew I was in trouble. Drinking some beer helped but only for a couple hours and then I was sick all over again. My symptoms were hellish, between sleeplessness, vomiting and diarrhea I thought I was going to die. It took nearly a week for me to get over that. I could barely walk I felt so weak.

To answer your question, Xanax for me was horrible after that one binge. Alcohol was not nearly as bad and I've withdrawn from it a few times.

 

[szuko000]

I drank about 200-375ml of vodka a night for 2 years with no issues stopping. Your mileage may very wildly.

My guess is benzos are easier and also lend themselves to all day use because of less noticeable smell and more social acceptance to take them when "anxious" I couldn't drink at work for example under the presence "I feel weird"

 

[RTrain]

So I guess the verdict is benzos are much more easy to develop a harsh physical addiction to. I think the lack of hangover and the ease of taking in situations where alcohol is not socially acceptable are also big factors.

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

The more subtle effect of benzos just makes it so much easier to take them more regularly and in higher relative doses than with alcohol. You can just keep going without noticing until you stop.

 

[Reb420]

Benzos for sure