Question for anyone that's taken benzos long-term...

[IrisGr3y_]

It's said that over time one develops tolerance to its effects, causing dependence. You've heard it by now plenty of times.

What I wish to know is... how bad is this phenomenon? I use Clonazepam when I go out, so 0,5mg is enough to reduce the Social Anxiety by a very decent stretch. 1mg and I feel able to do many things without the annoying cortisol spikes.

Were I to become employed I'd have to use them everyday.

Will they stop working eventually?

I'd aim at getting healthier to have less of the dreaded cortisol spikes, since apparently I'm living in "Power Saving Mode", just won't manage that in the short term, so benzos are all I got for this particular issue.

 

[endboss]

Please only use them sparingly if at all. You do not want to become addicted to them, trust me. Please do more research. https://benzobuddies.org/ for example. Don't fall into the trap.<3

 

[IrisGr3y_]

Please only use them sparingly if at all. You do not want to become addicted to them, trust me. Please do more research. https://benzobuddies.org/ for example. Don't fall into the trap.<3

It's what I do for now.

But the risk of becoming addicted is there. I have way too much of cortisol spikes.

That's not a way to live.

 

[endboss]

Just don't get addicted. Cortisol spikes will be the least of your worries if you do. Can't you try something else like breathing exercises, quit caffeine, meditate, therapy.. try any of that stuff? If it has to be pills, why not antidepressants? They are safer and you can take them long term. There are some that also take care of social anxiety. Benzo addictions destroy lives. It is harder to come off that stuff than heroin, even on "low doses" and you get addicted quickly. Please stay safe!

 

[IrisGr3y_]

Just don't get addicted. Cortisol spikes will be the least of your worries if you do. Can't you try something else like breathing exercises, quit caffeine, meditate, therapy.. try any of that stuff? If it has to be pills, why not antidepressants? They are safer and you can take them long term. There are some that also take care of social anxiety. Benzo addictions destroy lives. It is harder to come off that stuff than heroin, even on "low doses" and you get addicted quickly. Please stay safe!

...

Have you actually used them?

 

[Atonal]

Ugh, I'm kind of in the same boat. Trying to find a balance between meds, employment, and just functioning at least more or less without ending up addicted to anything.

Benzos are rough though, taking them every day or even just on workdays doesn't really seem sustainable for me, tolerance builds very quickly.

Although some people manage to get by on a small dose without increasing it so I'm not sure. It sort of becomes the norm, something you simply can't function without at all and it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.
But withdrawal is really tough.

I'm trying to manage things with pregabalin and a few other GABA meds. And benzos occasionally, yeah. So I'm juggling a few different meds, switching between them. But I don't know how long I can keep this up.
So I can't really recommend it. They are still addictive and probably aren't a good fit for everyone or every condition.
For me it just seems a bit easier to keep under control without needing super high doses especially if I avoid taking them on days off.
Still shitty tho

 

[endboss]

...

Have you actually used them?

I have been using them for 3 years, every day. I wish someone had warned me about them when I started. They are the main reason why I am suicidal and on SaSu. I tried to taper them (Ashton Protocol) after 1 year use. Even going extremely slow was impossible.

 

[amy joyce]

Have you actually used them?

I've been on just about everything trying to get off of something else. I would certainly try the lowest dose antiD or antipsychotic with a LONG half life before continuous benzos. I understand the cortisol spikes although that may not be exactly what you are experiencing. Doctors don't always know and they will never admit to knowing less than a patient. It's very easy for them to get you addicted, dependent and keep you coming back. We're dealing with very powerful drugs systematically given to us for the purpose of numbing us and keeping us spending money. If they cure us they can't make money.

I'm on a horrible cocktail of meds given to me by a doctor 16 years ago (three meds all with major interactions with one another). When I suddenly worsened after entering menopause (year 8) my new doctor added two new ones, benzos, to the already deadly mixture.

Exercise, herbal teas and a regular sleep schedule is best. I know I'm the last person who should lecture and I'm not trying to. Just advising based on my miserable experience and now existing. Wish you the best, really.

 

[IrisGr3y_]

I've been on just about everything trying to get off of something else. I would certainly try the lowest dose antiD or antipsychotic with a LONG half life before continuous benzos. I understand the cortisol spikes although that may not be exactly what you are experiencing. Doctors don't always know and they will never admit to knowing less than a patient. It's very easy for them to get you addicted, dependent and keep you coming back. We're dealing with very powerful drugs systematically given to us for the purpose of numbing us and keeping us spending money. If they cure us they can't make money.

I'm on a horrible cocktail of meds given to me by a doctor 16 years ago (three meds all with major interactions with one another). When I suddenly worsened after entering menopause (year 8) my new doctor added two new ones, benzos, to the already deadly mixture.

Exercise, herbal teas and a regular sleep schedule is best. I know I'm the last person who should lecture and I'm not trying to. Just advising based on my miserable experience and now existing. Wish you the best, really.

Well uh, regarding the picture and the caption... I'm sorry. It's a tragedy all around.



You're right, pills generally cause that dependence to keep us coming back and spend more money without really treating the issue.

Got a little dream of being, you know, healthy, see where that takes me, since I've lived in a bit of a stunted way. I'm very often tired, for instance. Living in "Power Saving Mode" as some AI put it, nutritional deficiencies. Also underweight, and the anxiety issue that led me to take benzos. It was initially my idea.

I don't feel capable of major decisions in this state. Being tired this often, my drive is low and I'm bound to take the path of least resistance.


I hope you eventually manage to get off the meds cocktail somehow... if it is possible yet.

Good luck to you as well.

 

[Matchaaa]

Although I don't have any experience with benzodiazepines, I've been taking pregabalin for a long time.
I used to be able to legally buy large amounts of it online, and I originally started taking it because the emotional pain I was dealing with felt unbearable. Later on, reality became too difficult for me to handle, and I stopped using it responsibly and ended up abusing it long-term.
Now I have to take pregabalin every day; otherwise, I get severe withdrawal symptoms and feel awful. My dosage has also gone up to 900 mg a day.
So if you're considering benzodiazepines, please be careful and stay safe,You really do not want to experience those kinds of withdrawal symptoms. I've heard benzodiazepine withdrawal can be even worse, I hope this doesn't come across as preachy or lecturing… I just hope my experience can be of some help.
hope you're doing well

 

[amy joyce]

Well uh, regarding the picture and the caption... I'm sorry. It's a tragedy all around.



You're right, pills generally cause that dependence to keep us coming back and spend more money without really treating the issue.

Got a little dream of being, you know, healthy, see where that takes me, since I've lived in a bit of a stunted way. I'm very often tired, for instance. Living in "Power Saving Mode" as some AI put it, nutritional deficiencies. Also underweight, and the anxiety issue that led me to take benzos. It was initially my idea.

I don't feel capable of major decisions in this state. Being tired this often, my drive is low and I'm bound to take the path of least resistance.


I hope you eventually manage to get off the meds cocktail somehow... if it is possible yet.

Good luck to you as well.

When I was younger there was a lot less opportunity to get benzos and pain killers. I was given an antiD at 23 after holding out for 3 years, miserable but in fear. Not sure what made me so depressed with anxiety but my past was complicated. I also think that synthetic dyes, preservatives and pesticides hurt some of us more than others..... I now believe that they're meant to. I'm US and I found that much of what is used here isn't used in other countries. A lot of it is against the law in other places. For example, we have a lot of fluoride in our water. The only other country that has it in their drinking water is AUS. They claim it's because it helps us with our teeth but that's hogwash. Companies convinced the govt to allow it be slowly expensed that way because trying to clean up their huge mess would cost them millions per year. They likely paid the DDS industry to write some BS how it's good for preventing cavities....

Anyway, this isn't a big help to you and I wish I had the answer, or at least something relatively easy for you. One thing that helped me as a younger person was personally deciding to take on a challenge. People outside of your space don't know of your struggles. Your inner pain. Even if you tell them it could go in and out of their ears, not even registering. We look so much toward others for confirmation that we forget that the most trustworthy sources are ourselves personally and God. If you don't believe in God and don't want to pursue that, it's fine. But if you could somehow find solace in Him you will be unstoppable as a source of goodness for yourself and those around you. The more I struggled the harder I found my faith so I focused on it when I was strong. When I wasn't strong in faith I relied on myself. Muscle. "I won't do this no matter what". Of course it had to be reasonable, like not having that desert (if that's your gig)...... Ah crap, I feel like I'm messing this all up but I don't want to erase it just in case. As they say in the program "take what you want and leave the rest". I can't stand the program but that's not bad advice, generally.

Peace and blessings.

 

[a-lien]

can only say, that I knew a person, and this person forgot nearly everything what we were talking about and took many over the day, EVERY day.. (think got used to itI always thinking of "how was this person able to get this high amount ... this must be sooo expensive". and hard to get )

I'M not addicted, i take weeks of breaks... so every day use would lead to addiction...
I would get 50 in 6 month, this would be like 8/9 per month. But I'm also fine with less.
so I count them, put 8 in one box, at the beginning of the month, so I can easily say, how much I took this month. and how much would be "ok" ;)
I have no problems with taking them not for weeks....
when I would take them more then 2/3 days, then I don't allow this anymore (just in cas)..then I need a break, to not get addicted. when there is everyday use, then the amount need to slow down and with control of a doctor. because then you are already adicted, when you took them for weeks every day.

so a hospital have them for weeks, they needed to slow down.. I didn't had any effect, so I sad I don't want this anymore. They slow down...I have them only for "just in case" use(now), not everyday use, because I know, they making addicted