RorerQuaalude714 said:
And the "contrary experiences" of bluelighters would qualify as "strong scientific data" 8) ? How about you show us some "strong scientific data" to support your claims? I'd just *love* to see what you come up with. Until you actually have some research behind what you're saying, do us all a favour and can the arrogant know-it-all replies.
Exactly!
burn_out seems to think that the his/her and other BL'ers opinions are above and beyond the empirical evidence provided by scientists and doctors through controlled scientific studies. 8)
I mean, we all have our own opinions and experiences with all kinds of different drugs. But they mean very little at the end -- they are just our own personal preferences, and our personal preferences have no bearing on what X drug is and what Y drug isn't.
I know people that prefer hydrocodone over morphine and heroin. They believe that hydrocodone is more euphoric and recreational and that is fine, I have no problem with that. However, that is simply not true when you look at the facts.
I freely admit that nitrazepam and temazepam are my 2 favorite benzos (I generally prefer the hypnotics).
I myself am prescribed alprazolam on a regular basis and I believe it to be a wonderful benzo. It is very potent and it does its job very well. I like alprazolam also. But it is WHAT IT IS! It may be more potent by weight than most, if not all the benzo hypnotics (except triazolam), but it just doesn't pack the punch that any of them do.
It's definitely not just a matter of being "more sedating" as the totally clueless burn_out thinks, but the hypnotic benzos have a much more profound effect on respiration, the heart, blood pressure, memory and brain function. They also kick in quicker, most hypnotics will be felt within the first 30 minutes. Most of the hypnotic benzos are also much harder on the unborn fetus than the typical benzodiazepines. Three of the hypnotics (temazepam, nitrazepam, and nimetazepam ) are listed under Category X for pregnancy - this is the highest risk category for fetus.
Another thing, as I have mentioned, some of the hypnotics share cross tolerance with barbiturates. Temazepam, nitrazepam, flunitrazepam, nimetazepam, and flurazepam are known to have this quality.
In conclusion, the hypnotics are not only stronger, but they are more toxic and potentially dangerous.
So I hate how idiots can claim strong drugs to be weak and then on top of that claim to take massive doses and say they walked around and drove and nothing happens (like burnout claiming he/she took 300-400 mg of temazepam). To compare, that would be like taking 10 mg of alprazolam, only with the temazepam there would be more profound sedation, respiratory depression, decrease in heart rate, etc etc. This is not just dangerous, but it is stupid. Plus, the facts are there, yet they still want to be stupid about it. I mean, temazepam is the leading benzo in overdose deaths. Just stupid and dangerous. People like that should not be allowed to post on here, seriously!
Read some of this stuff below:
"Temazepam is a drug which is very frequently involved in drug intoxication, including overdose. Overdose of temazepam may result in excessive sedation, impairment of balance and speech. This may progress in severe overdoses to respiratory depression or coma and possibly death. The risk of overdose is increased if temazepam is taken in combination with alcohol, opiates or other CNS depressants. Temazepam overdose responds to the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil.
Benzodiazepines were implicated in 39% of suicides by drug poisoning in Sweden, with temazepam, nitrazepam and flunitrazepam accounting for 90% of benzodiazepine implicated suicides, in the elderly over a period of 2 decades. In three quarters of cases death was due to drowning, typically in the bath. Benzodiazepines were the predominant drug class used in suicides in this review of Swedish death certificates with 72% of benzodiazepine overdoses showing that benzodiazepines were the sole drug used in deaths by overdose. Benzodiazepines and in particular temazepam, nitrazepam and flunitrazepam should therefore be prescribed with caution in the elderly.
Nitrazepam, and especially temazepam were the benzodiazepines most commonly detected in overdose related drug deaths in an Australian study of drug deaths. Benzodiazepines were found to be the sole cause of death in one third of cases.
In a retrospective study of deaths, when benzodiazepines were implicated in the deaths, the benzodiazepines flunitrazepam, temazepam and nitrazepam were the most common benzodiazepines involved. Benzodiazepines were a factor in all deaths caused by drug addiction in the study. Temazepam, nitrazepam and flunitrazepam were significantly more commonly implicated in suicide related deaths than natural deaths. In four of the cases benzodiazepines alone were the only cause of death. It was concluded that flunitrazepam and temazepam were significantly more toxic than other benzodiazepines."
Sources:
Drummer OH; Ranson DL. (Dec 1996). "Sudden death and benzodiazepines.". Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 17 (4): 336-42.
Garretty DJ; Wolff K, Hay AW, Raistrick D. (Jan 1997). "Benzodiazepine misuse by drug addicts.". Annals of clinical biochemistry. 34 (Pt 1): 68-73.
Ericsson HR; Holmgren P, Jakobsson SW, Lafolie P, De Rees B. (10). "[Benzodiazepine findings in autopsy material. A study shows interacting factors in fatal cases]". Läkartidningen. 90 (45): 3954-7.