Benzodiazepines

[EightBall]

Hello all. My name is George. I am curious as to how benzodiazepines affect the brain and how they work. I have been taking them for quite some time now, but when I take them now, all that happens is I get "tired". I don't feel the slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness that I once felt. Does anyone know if this type of drug has a quick tolerance build up? If so, please help me so that I can understand it more. I am fighting the addiction now, but it is getting worse. I have been taking them for about 2-3 months straight. I am also on methadone (160mgs daily), which elevates the tiredness that I feel when taking these pills. I don't feel "good" persay when I take them now, I just feel kind of normal and nod out. I would like to hear some experienced sides of some stories from people who have long-term or good experience with taking benzodiazepines...

THANX

[California Girl]

Hi- George- PLEASE be careful with benzos- they destroyed my bf- they are ver ybad when you are ready to get off of them- please do it with medical assistance as it can be life threatening and thwy attack your gabba receptors int he brain and in the stomach after you begin to wothdrawl off of them- please look up the Ashton Manual- that can help you.

I wish you luck!
Love Ca girl

[shestruggles]

HI 8ball:

One thing I learned fast on this site and through my doc is that methadone and benzos are a bad combo. Here, they won't even put you on methaodne if you are taking benzos. I ended up going the suboxone route, which also does not mix well with my 10 year use of xanax, but my doctor allowed me to begin a highly supervisied suboxone program while I lowered my benzo intake. Although I know it is far more complciated, my doctor explained that the primary risk lie in the fact that you are taking two 'downers' & thier combined effect on your respiratory system, alterness, etc.
Again - I am not a doc and I am sure the combined use of methadone and benzos is dangerous for plenty of other reasons.
Just a personal experience - my sister is taking a similar dose of methadone to you. Last time I saw her she had also taken (what I would consider a relatively small) dose of xanax and ativan. The result; her eyes were rolling back in her head and she kept nodding off in the middle of a family dinner. Scary.
So, my uneducated guess is that it is the methadone/benzo combo that is making you sleep so much..

[namommy]

Originally Posted by EightBall

I would like to hear some experienced sides of some stories from people who have long-term or good experience with taking benzodiazepines...

THANX

I really don't think you are going to find that here. Most of us have been through withdrawl of one form or another, and could not exactly call it a 'good experience'. Both are highly addictive, both reak havok on your body, both can and eventually will kill you if you don't stop.

[WNY Addict]

Different benzos have completely different properties. Some have a short half-life and are more addictive than others (valium, xanax), and others are longer acting and "less addictive" (ativan, klonopin).

Generally addicts get placed on klonopin, if anything. It has a very long-half life as opposed to other benzos and it works just as well as the shorter life drugs. Half-life means the time your body takes to metabolize the drug... when it becomes less active.

If you're "just feeling tired" and "nodding out", perhaps you're on too much of one of (or both) the drugs. It's not a drug that's meant for "slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness", it's for anxiety and panic attacks. It's very habitual, has a huge abuse potential, and abrupt withdrawl can lead to seizures and death. Not a drug to play with.

[godsonmyside]

Yeah,
I agree with whats been said here. If you are on that much Meth. and Benzo's, what kind of life are you looking for. We are not here to explain to you that if you cut down on this and take more of that you will do ok.


"What is our message? That an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live. Our message is hope and the promise of freedom. When it is said and done, our primary purpose can only be to carry the message to the addict who still suffers because that is all we have to give."
You are asking the very people that have been where you are now, there is nothing that you can do that we haven't done. Give yoursef a break. There is a New Way of life. Don't exclude yourself!!
Todd J.

[Recoveree]

Hey 8Ball

Its the methadone thats messing up your high.
Give up the methadone and the benzodiazepines will work much better.
you might wanna snort some cocaine to overcome the "tired" feeling you are getting from all the other drugs.

[WNY Addict]

Originally Posted by Recoveree

you might wanna snort some cocaine to overcome the "tired" feeling you are getting from all the other drugs.

Nothing like the therapeutic value of one addict helping another...

[Laurie 4]

I started out using benzo's and moved up to something stronger to get that "feel good" sensation. I had been taking them for over 5 years. You are right, I believe that our bodies build a quick tolerance for them. Might as well, quit, the high you used to feel is gone. But, even with any drug the "high, feel good sensation" gives way to addiction. Just taking them to feel normal and to not get withdrawal's, the "feel sick sensation" is it really worth it?

Laurie

[Recoveree]

Originally Posted by WNY Addict

Nothing like the therapeutic value of one addict helping another...

Right...and your post indulging him in his insanity is helpful how????. Your post is actually responding to the insanity of his questions. Whats up with that.
We are not pharmacists here anyway.

The post is from sopmeone who wants to figure out how to make his drugs work better, not how to stop. That should be obvious from the extremely high dose of methsadone and the desire to take more drugs on top of that to get high...he wants to "feel the slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness that I once felt"

If someone is lame enough to come to an place where we are all about not using drugs to ask for " good experience with taking benzodiazepines", then a little dose of sarcasm is what he is gonna get from me.

I am not going to enable him.

If someone wants to stop using, well then thats another story.

I'm sorry you don't see the therapeutic value of my post.

Richie

[Kahlia]

Originally Posted by Recoveree

Hey 8Ball

Its the methadone thats messing up your high.
Give up the methadone and the benzodiazepines will work much better.
you might wanna snort some cocaine to overcome the "tired" feeling you are getting from all the other drugs.

I JUST love it when a plan comes together.....anyway, I was on Klonopin for years....changed to ativan...for PSTD. I am sure that the combo has you reeling....Methadone and benzo's are a bad mix....I agree with everything that has been said about what is going on except the snorting thing...just ANOTHER drug to detox off of.......good luck....try suboxone instead.....get off the other stuff now.....Kahlia

[godsonmyside]

I don't feel the slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness that I once felt. Does anyone know if this type of drug has a quick tolerance build up? If so, please help me so that I can understand it more. I am fighting the addiction now, but it is getting worse. I have been taking them for about 2-3 months straight. I am also on methadone (160mgs daily), which elevates the tiredness that I feel when taking these pills. I don't feel "good" persay when I take them now, I just feel kind of normal and nod out. I would like to hear some experienced sides of some stories from people who have long-term or good experience with taking benzodiazepines...

What part of this has to do with carrying the message to the addict who still suffers.

Its the methadone thats messing up your high.
Give up the methadone and the benzodiazepines will work much better.
you might wanna snort some cocaine to overcome the "tired" feeling you are getting from all the other drugs.

Right F*cking on, needs to be said, are we gonna carry the message or the mess?

WHAT IS THE NARCOTICS
ANONYMOUS PROGRAM?

N.A. is a non-profit Fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only ONE requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. We suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself a break. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that THEY WORK.
There are no strings attached to N.A. We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are not connected with any Political, religious or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us, regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion or lack of religion.
We are not interested in what or how much you used or who your connections were, what you have done in the past, how much or how little you have, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help. The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting, because we can only keep what we have by giving it away. We have learned from our group experience that those who keep coming to our meetings regularly stay clean.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Before coming to the Fellowship of N.A., we could not manage our own lives. We could not live and enjoy life as other people do. We had to have something different and we thought we had found it in drugs. We placed their use ahead of the welfare of our families, our wives, husbands, and our children. We had to have drugs at all costs. We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves. Through our inability to accept personal responsibilities we were actually creating our own problem. We seemed to be incapable of facing life on its own terms.
Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Most of us ended up in jail, or sought help through medicine, religion and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until in desperation, we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous.
After coming to N.A. we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure. It can, however, be arrested at some point, and recovery is then possible.

If you want to learn how to stay F*cked up and slow your roll, ask someone at the clinic how they are doing it. If you want to learn a new way of life, Welcome!!!!!!
Todd J.

[WNY Addict]

Originally Posted by Recoveree

Right...and your post indulging him in his insanity is helpful how????. Your post is actually responding to the insanity of his questions. Whats up with that.
We are not pharmacists here anyway.

No, I'm not a pharmacist... then again I gave no information about benzos that any addict doesn't know already. Half life applies to any drug, but it's of particular importance with addictive medications. If you bothered to read through my post you may have noted that my main goal was to subtly imply that EightBall may be taking too much medication(s), and not for the reasons they're intended. Let me indulge you once more. That's why I closed my post with:

"If you're "just feeling tired" and "nodding out", perhaps you're on too much of one of (or both) the drugs. It's not a drug that's meant for "slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness", it's for anxiety and panic attacks. It's very habitual, has a huge abuse potential, and abrupt withdrawl can lead to seizures and death. Not a drug to play with."

Originally Posted by Recoveree

The post is from sopmeone who wants to figure out how to make his drugs work better, not how to stop. That should be obvious from the extremely high dose of methsadone and the desire to take more drugs on top of that to get high...he wants to "feel the slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness that I once felt".

Who are you to judge what they're here for? Read your 12 traditions!

You call me out for simply stating some factual information about benzo half-lifes, but you're going to question EightBall's methadone dose as if you were an addictions specialist with the title of M.D. after you name? A little hypocritical of you, don't you think?

How do you know EightBall's past intake and history?

Maybe the question is a little insane, but I can relate to that someone as an insane addict. I am one, and I always will be one without ever having to use again. NA is about identification, not disqualification. Stop disqualifying.

Did you think that maybe the reason EightBall is on a sobriety message board in the first place is because he/she knows there's a problem? Did you think that maybe they're not as fortunate as you to have gained full insight into the disease of addiction and all the insane ways it manifests itself in our lives and thoughts? Maybe they're tired of hurting from drugs but they're not ready to give up yet? If you've been around rooms long enough you see that a lot. Not everyone is so priviledged as to just be able to put down the dope and recover.

We're not here to make rock-bottoms for anyone else... and every addict is entitled to their pain if they wish. Some people linger for awhile before they surrender. Last time I checked, all that was required in NA is a desire to stop using. Obviously being on methadone means they're not using something else, correct?

Who are you to judge someone else and how they make it to recovery?

Originally Posted by Recoveree

If someone is lame enough to come to an place where we are all about not using drugs to ask for " good experience with taking benzodiazepines", then a little dose of sarcasm is what he is gonna get from me.

I am not going to enable him.

If someone wants to stop using, well then thats another story.

What's lame is your attitude to an obviously sick addict. Don't enable them... but don't insult them either!

Last time I checked we were all about using drugs, Richey. Did you make it into the rooms of NA for another reason? Please, indulge us all if that's the case.

Eightball is on methadone and a benzo, and my post isn't going to change that. Maybe a little questioning about the reasons for said meds (as I did) will instill the seed of recovery.

I would imagine it's more of a message of hope than your inferring that they use cocaine

Originally Posted by Recoveree

I'm sorry you don't see the therapeutic value of my post.

Well, I'm glad there's nothing wrong with my eyes because there is no therapeutic value in your post. In fact, your type of "sarcastic" yet "therapeutic" post is the type of thing that drives people out of rooms... or message boards. Some of those people never make it back, and that's something I know that I would never want to be part of. Maybe you need to do a little Basic Text reading and remember where you came from before you start lambasting sick and suffering addicts.

I can only keep what I have by giving it away. I'm not plagued by a life of giving grief and sarcasm to others... so maybe that's why I have the attitude that I have. Recovery has brought joy to my life, and dumping on an addict that's obviously still suffering wouldn't be me giving away what I've been gifted with.

I'm sorry that you don't recognize the therapeutic value of my post. Try to show some empathy for the person still using. Humility isn't such a bad thing. We don't have to play tough and knock people down to plant the seed.

Peace

[Kahlia]

Originally Posted by WNY Addict

No, I'm not a pharmacist... then again I gave no information about benzos that any addict doesn't know already. Half life applies to any drug, but it's of particular importance with addictive medications. If you bothered to read through my post you may have noted that my main goal was to subtly imply that EightBall may be taking too much medication(s), and not for the reasons they're intended. Let me indulge you once more. That's why I closed my post with:

"If you're "just feeling tired" and "nodding out", perhaps you're on too much of one of (or both) the drugs. It's not a drug that's meant for "slowness, relaxation, and peacefulness", it's for anxiety and panic attacks. It's very habitual, has a huge abuse potential, and abrupt withdrawl can lead to seizures and death. Not a drug to play with."


Who are you to judge what they're here for? Read your 12 traditions!

You call me out for simply stating some factual information about benzo half-lifes, but you're going to question EightBall's methadone dose as if you were an addictions specialist with the title of M.D. after you name? A little hypocritical of you, don't you think?

How do you know EightBall's past intake and history?

Maybe the question is a little insane, but I can relate to that someone as an insane addict. I am one, and I always will be one without ever having to use again. NA is about identification, not disqualification. Stop disqualifying.

Did you think that maybe the reason EightBall is on a sobriety message board in the first place is because he/she knows there's a problem? Did you think that maybe they're not as fortunate as you to have gained full insight into the disease of addiction and all the insane ways it manifests itself in our lives and thoughts? Maybe they're tired of hurting from drugs but they're not ready to give up yet? If you've been around rooms long enough you see that a lot. Not everyone is so priviledged as to just be able to put down the dope and recover.

We're not here to make rock-bottoms for anyone else... and every addict is entitled to their pain if they wish. Some people linger for awhile before they surrender. Last time I checked, all that was required in NA is a desire to stop using. Obviously being on methadone means they're not using something else, correct?

Who are you to judge someone else and how they make it to recovery?


What's lame is your attitude to an obviously sick addict. Don't enable them... but don't insult them either!

Last time I checked we were all about using drugs, Richey. Did you make it into the rooms of NA for another reason? Please, indulge us all if that's the case.

Eightball is on methadone and a benzo, and my post isn't going to change that. Maybe a little questioning about the reasons for said meds (as I did) will instill the seed of recovery.

I would imagine it's more of a message of hope than your inferring that they use cocaine


Well, I'm glad there's nothing wrong with my eyes because there is no therapeutic value in your post. In fact, your type of "sarcastic" yet "therapeutic" post is the type of thing that drives people out of rooms... or message boards. Some of those people never make it back, and that's something I know that I would never want to be part of. Maybe you need to do a little Basic Text reading and remember where you came from before you start lambasting sick and suffering addicts.

I can only keep what I have by giving it away. I'm not plagued by a life of giving grief and sarcasm to others... so maybe that's why I have the attitude that I have. Recovery has brought joy to my life, and dumping on an addict that's obviously still suffering wouldn't be me giving away what I've been gifted with.

I'm sorry that you don't recognize the therapeutic value of my post. Try to show some empathy for the person still using. Humility isn't such a bad thing. We don't have to play tough and knock people down to plant the seed.

Peace

I am an RN and I still do not agree with your original post. It is not up to us as addicts to tell other addicts about THEIR drug use...we are here to help them, not write a story as you have done. You have covered it ALL.....now LET it go.....WOW.......Kahlia

[Kahlia]

[quote=Kahlia]I am an RN and I still do not agree with your original post. It is not up to us as addicts to tell other addicts about THEIR drug use...we are here to help them, not write a story as you have done. You have covered it ALL.....now LET it go.....WOW.......Kahlia[/QUOTE}

I also cannot believe what RECOVEREE said....very sad...but it is an addict talking..........

[shestruggles]

I am fighting the addiction now

I think maybe Recoveree missed that part of 8balls post. At least I hope so. He's asking for help, if you think it's an inappropriate request, maybe just simply say so. Being cruel and sarcastic...not the kind of thing I want to read on these threads. To be honest, it kinda scared me away from posting on this thread again. Hmmm - yuck, double yuck and yikes. I sure hope I don't write/say the wrong thing around here or at meetings...
BTW, I don't think WNYAddict 'indulged' him in his insanity - I thought his message about benzos

It's very habitual, has a huge abuse potential, and abrupt withdrawl can lead to seizures and death. Not a drug to play with.

was aimed at discouraging use. I had trouble accepting this very same message from WNY many weeks ago, but now see that he is indeed quite correct.

[Gooch]

judge, sterotype or moralize with each other" - The text

"There is no try there is only do or do not" - Yoda

[Recoveree]

WNY

Bravo....you get the award for drama queen of the month.

Your post did nothing for me, only justified and rationalized your enabling.
If you think enabling is helpful, then think again.

8balls post was not about quitting it is about using and how to use successfully and looking for glorified stories of using.

I didn't judge 8ball anymore than his post allowed me to.

Stop cryin already WNY

Help 8ball instead of hurting him.

[mackcat]

hi family

this internet be tricky stuff-
hard to see the compassion in your eyes
feel the hug
hear the concern in your voice...

[EightBall]

My post was not about using to get "high" as you see it RECOVEREE. I am only trying to use the benzodiazepines to deal with my anxiety/tension and have no intention of destroying my life with them. It seems to me like you have nothing better to do with your time then denegrate others with your pitiful selfishness. You are truly pathetic, and WNY stated it clearly. I want to thank WNY for caring about my well-being and for being there for me. I listened to WNY because he/she knew what they were talking about and got right to the point. WNY answered all my questions with the best of his/her knowledge. So to sum it up RECOVEREE, you are just another worthless, babbling idiot who thinks that they have everything in the world, but are so miserable that they try to look at other's mistakes and amplify them to only say, "I'm better, look at how insane 8ball is; and how he is only trying to ruin his life more by getting on such a high dose of methadone, BLAH BLAH BLAH". I am on 160mgs of methadone because it was the LOWEST dose that could abstain me from using heroin. Just as WNY had said, "How do you know my past history of use, and what drugs I had problems with? Did you walk in my shoes, RECOVEREE? I didn't think so." I had a bad heroin habit, definitely worse than your habit, since you can't seem to UNDERSTAND that everyone is different and dosages vary from person to person depending on how much they used and their body weight, etc. just like WNY similarly said. I'm extremely fortunate to not have any diseases either. God was looking out for me, as He may have been for others too... Now I AM trying, and God can see that, so He helps those who give effort. I have been clean off of heroin for almost 6 months now. WNY - THANK YOU, because without people like you in the world, I wouldn't make it by myself without the steady encouragement. I appreciate your kindness and insight. To RECOVEREE - You have a long way to go on dealing with your "little selfish pit of despair".... You are farther down the latter of recovery than I, and I wish I could help you.... You are alone and helpless like an infant crying for it's lost mother. I feel sorry for you. You have no identity, and with that being said, this might not even be the place for you. You might have to go a few steps back and REALIZE you have some SERIOUS personal problems to deal with. But I can only help someone who has the desire to get clean/stay clean and help themselves . You might not even know you have a problem, but now I have told you, so maybe it will help you to know that you need to work on yourself and not others. Thanx everyone else for the help. I will use it wisely, and until then, God Bless.

A reminder: this forum is for POSITIVE messages only, not negative ones. The only positive messages I seemed to grasp were by WNY and MAYBE a few others. But that's how 90% of people are - hateful, deceitful, and selfishly cold. I can only be blessed with the inspiration I have and cross out the strife that exists in my life. I love myself no matter what, and God loves me just as much. That's all that's important. 'Nuff said.

PEACE thanx for the knowledge!

[Recoveree]

8ball,

yeah I've been there done that. Rationalization, justification. Defensive....Old story