Anyone trying to stay sober while on Benzos?
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Anyone trying to stay sober while on Benzos?
Hi all!
It dawned on me today that I relapsed (after almost 6 years of sobriety) shortly after my doctor prescribed me Klonopin (aka Clonazepam) a benzodiazepine for severe anxiety & panic (which I have battled my entire life). I did a little research tonite & it seems that this medication can cause severe cravings for alcohol. It makes me wonder if my relapse & inability to stay sober for more than a few days at a time since my relapse last fall have anything to do with this???
Any experience or knowledge on this? Thx!
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It dawned on me today that I relapsed (after almost 6 years of sobriety) shortly after my doctor prescribed me Klonopin (aka Clonazepam) a benzodiazepine for severe anxiety & panic (which I have battled my entire life). I did a little research tonite & it seems that this medication can cause severe cravings for alcohol. It makes me wonder if my relapse & inability to stay sober for more than a few days at a time since my relapse last fall have anything to do with this???
Any experience or knowledge on this? Thx!
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Originally Posted by ScottFromWI 
I would agree, make sure your doctor is aware. Did you share your addiction history with him before getting the prescription?
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I can tell you what I have been told. I got clean off of almost 10 years of Klonopin when I got sober last summer. The addictions therapist I worked with was pretty adamant about the fact that benzos and alcohol were very similar.
I know you have been advised to talk to your doctor, but in my opinion there is a parallel between the two. But, I know people who I consider very sober who used benzos as directed. It is pretty easy to find info re this on the internet, but I would definitely speak to your doctor. Also, benzo withdrawal is as serious as alcohol withdrawal, it is not something you should do on your own.
I know you have been advised to talk to your doctor, but in my opinion there is a parallel between the two. But, I know people who I consider very sober who used benzos as directed. It is pretty easy to find info re this on the internet, but I would definitely speak to your doctor. Also, benzo withdrawal is as serious as alcohol withdrawal, it is not something you should do on your own.
EndGame
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You commented in your other thread that you've been looking for someone or something to blame for your relapse after six years of sobriety.
I'm not familiar with studies that demonstrate a correlation between benzodiazepine use and alcohol cravings, but either way, I wouldn't give too much weight to this being a primary cause for your relapse. If nothing else, your conclusion pole vaults over potential personal issues that need your attention and that may have contributed to your desire to resume drinking.
On a purely informational note, benzodiazepines were never intended for anything more than short-term use -- say two-to-four weeks -- in part because they are extremely addictive.
I'm not familiar with studies that demonstrate a correlation between benzodiazepine use and alcohol cravings, but either way, I wouldn't give too much weight to this being a primary cause for your relapse. If nothing else, your conclusion pole vaults over potential personal issues that need your attention and that may have contributed to your desire to resume drinking.
On a purely informational note, benzodiazepines were never intended for anything more than short-term use -- say two-to-four weeks -- in part because they are extremely addictive.
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Originally Posted by jaynie04
I can tell you what I have been told. I got clean off of almost 10 years of Klonopin when I got sober last summer. The addictions therapist I worked with was pretty adamant about the fact that benzos and alcohol were very similar. I know you have been advised to talk to your doctor, but in my opinion there is a parallel between the two. But, I know people who I consider very sober who used benzos as directed. It is pretty easy to find info re this on the internet, but I would definitely speak to your doctor.
I personally believe that the Klonopin is making it much harder to stay sober. I need to stay away from alcohol, then taper off the Klonopin under my doctors care. I know it's gonna be hell, but I HAVE to do it! I never have to go thru it again if I don't want to.
Thx & best wishes!
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Originally Posted by EndGameNYC
You commented in your other thread that you've been looking for someone or something to blame for your relapse after six years of sobriety. I'm not familiar with studies that demonstrate a correlation between benzodiazepine use and alcohol cravings, but either way, I wouldn't give too much weight to this being a primary cause for your relapse. If nothing else, your conclusion pole vaults over potential personal issues that need your attention and that may have contributed to your desire to resume drinking. On a purely informational note, benzodiazepines were never intended for anything more than short-term use -- say two-to-four weeks -- in part because they are extremely addictive.
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I won't make a comment on taking benzos, I have no experience of taking them, my Mother mixed them with alcohol and like endgame said, I understood their purpose to be for short term use only, for shock/trauma etc as they are exceptionally addictive.
My question would be though, you said you started taking them for anxiety initially? Isn't it more that you are drinking to self medicate THAT problem, along with benzos?
I'm sorry, mixing alcohol into benzos and making a cocktail, then blaming benzos doesn't make sense when you were already suffering from anxiety.
In other threads, you mention your relapse as you thought it was OK to drink after 6 years.
Do you think, deep down in the honesty pit, that you actually have been wanting to drink WAY before the benzos? Then danced with the benzos...."cos at least it wasn't booze"....then thought to hell with it, I really just wanted a drink anyway?
Not sure...but until you get super honest about why you took benzos and then drank and what happened in the lead up, way before that....can you then avoid problems in the future.
My question would be though, you said you started taking them for anxiety initially? Isn't it more that you are drinking to self medicate THAT problem, along with benzos?
I'm sorry, mixing alcohol into benzos and making a cocktail, then blaming benzos doesn't make sense when you were already suffering from anxiety.
In other threads, you mention your relapse as you thought it was OK to drink after 6 years.
Do you think, deep down in the honesty pit, that you actually have been wanting to drink WAY before the benzos? Then danced with the benzos...."cos at least it wasn't booze"....then thought to hell with it, I really just wanted a drink anyway?
Not sure...but until you get super honest about why you took benzos and then drank and what happened in the lead up, way before that....can you then avoid problems in the future.
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I took Klonopin for years. Never wanted to take more than prescribed. My mom is 81 years old and has took Ativan 2mg four times a day for the last 50 yrs. She ran out a few days before she could get her script refilled and it wasn't a pretty site.
If it had been something that was a stimulant I was prescribed, I couldn't say I wouldn't have abused them. I've had many addictions throughout my life. Just never benzos. In a way that's odd to me.
If it had been something that was a stimulant I was prescribed, I couldn't say I wouldn't have abused them. I've had many addictions throughout my life. Just never benzos. In a way that's odd to me.
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Personally I have been on 1 mg of Klonapin a day for 15 years for anxiety along with an SSRI for OCD. I was able to ween myself off of the Klonapin at one point but eventually started taking it again due to anxiety. So I have been taking my meds with alcohol for 15 years, and by some miracle my blood tests after 2 weeks sober from alcohol, marijuana, and 2 months clean from cocaine (at the time) came back not only good but great. Go figure, I used it as an excuse to start drinking again...
I'm not minimizing the effects of the drug, or the use of the drug with alcohol by any means. If you think you have an issue with the two talk to a doc. Good luck.
btw.. over 25 months clean from cocaine now.
I'm not minimizing the effects of the drug, or the use of the drug with alcohol by any means. If you think you have an issue with the two talk to a doc. Good luck.
btw.. over 25 months clean from cocaine now.
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Originally Posted by Croissant
I won't make a comment on taking benzos, I have no experience of taking them, my Mother mixed them with alcohol and like endgame said, I understood their purpose to be for short term use only, for shock/trauma etc as they are exceptionally addictive. My question would be though, you said you started taking them for anxiety initially? Isn't it more that you are drinking to self medicate THAT problem, along with benzos? I'm sorry, mixing alcohol into benzos and making a cocktail, then blaming benzos doesn't make sense when you were already suffering from anxiety. In other threads, you mention your relapse as you thought it was OK to drink after 6 years. Do you think, deep down in the honesty pit, that you actually have been wanting to drink WAY before the benzos? Then danced with the benzos...."cos at least it wasn't booze"....then thought to hell with it, I really just wanted a drink anyway? Not sure...but until you get super honest about why you took benzos and then drank and what happened in the lead up, way before that....can you then avoid problems in the future.
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Originally Posted by DoubleBarrel
Benzos=booze in a pill. worst withdrawal i ever had. I don't know how you can take benzos and claim to be "sober"
Some people NEED other meds. Without Klonopin, my panic attacks were so bad I couldn't get out of bed. And that was after 5 years of sobriety!
So right now....I am NOT claiming to be sober. Right now I am in the fight of my life!
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Mixing booze and benzos is perfect..........if you want to die like a rock star! It is not a pleasant way to go.
Please don't mix them. This said, from what I understand benzos affect the same neural pathways as alcohol. That is why they are so effective at treating anxiety. However, as another poster stated they are NOT designed for long term use UNLESS a physician has determined that the benefit to the patient outweighs the risks and side effects that come with long term use: mainly physical dependence, cognitive impairment and blowback depression.
There is a difference between physical dependence and ADDICTION. This distinction is often blurry in people who have problems with alcohol.
In this situation, perception may be everything. If you THINK that the clonazepam is negatively affecting you or hindering your ability to stay sober than IT IS! Share this with your doctor and taper off of it under his supervision.
Rooting for you!
Please don't mix them. This said, from what I understand benzos affect the same neural pathways as alcohol. That is why they are so effective at treating anxiety. However, as another poster stated they are NOT designed for long term use UNLESS a physician has determined that the benefit to the patient outweighs the risks and side effects that come with long term use: mainly physical dependence, cognitive impairment and blowback depression.
There is a difference between physical dependence and ADDICTION. This distinction is often blurry in people who have problems with alcohol.
In this situation, perception may be everything. If you THINK that the clonazepam is negatively affecting you or hindering your ability to stay sober than IT IS! Share this with your doctor and taper off of it under his supervision.
Rooting for you!
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