I seem to be immune to benzodiazepines. I don't mean that I've become tolerant to high doses;they just don't work on me

I suffer from anxiety which I treat with Celexa, but for breakthrough anxiety attacks I have been prescribed, at one time or another,  xanax and klonopin, and I have tried Ativan and Valium as well, but no matter what dose I take, I don't feel a thing. The meds don't quell the anxiety attacks whatsoever, and, HERE IS THE STRANGE PART, whenever I take them even if I am not having an anxiety attack, I still feel nothing. I admit that I have tried to take them recreationaly, which some of my friends do, but still, nothing. I know big, 200 lb plus guys who can take a 1mg xanax and get high. They describe feeling tingling in their body; their speech becomes slurred and there thought processes slows down, but no matter how many benzos I take, I feel absolutely nothing. I realize the risks of experimenting with prescription medication, but I've taken up to 20mg of klonopin at once and I've taken somewhere between 25mg to 30mg of xanax at once, and I felt perfectly normal. Nothing. No affect. Not even tiredness. Now this has ALWAYS been. I never built up a tolerance to these meds, they just never worked on me in the first place.
It is worth mentioning the other meds that I take: Celexa 80mg, Wellbutrin 300mg, Strattera 80mg and the Daytrana Patch 20mg. I have never taken benzos and NOT been on Wellbutrin and Celexa, but my question is: What's going on!? Am I immuned to benzos for some genetic reason? Does the Wellbutrin block the benzos from working?
What's your take on this? Also, have you heard of this before? I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I have never heard of anybody taking that much Xanax.  I don't have any explanation for your resistance other than some genetic quirk that allows you either to break down benzo's more quickly, or actually block their action on the neuro cells.   In any case, experimenting with these drugs can be dangerous, and I am not sure you can count on your metabolism to protect, it might change, and then you would be in real trouble.

[ufotofu9]

Anyone have a take on this?

[fearfactor]

I am sure you know taking that much Xanax at once can KILL you.  I don't get a "high" off of Xanax either, but it does calm me and make me sleepy.  I've never understood people trying to get high off of it, it doesn't even give you a euphoric feeling at all in my experience, it just makes you sleepy.  I think people that get "high" off it are just thinking they are high so it's a psychological effect (like the guy in high school who thought he was drinking wine coolers but it was just fruit juice and he "thought" he was crazy drunk), or maybe they are mixing it with alcohol or something.

[venora]

You are waaay overmedicated so I am not surprized you can even wonder what is going on.Get to your doc and start to see about getting off some of those meds.What is your diagnosis and why in heavens name are you on so many?Post here to let me know how you are doing.
Love Venora

[bradocd]

it all depends on your physiology

[Sudio]

i agree with venora ... waayyyy too much meds, especially psych meds ... how do you function?  do your homework, talk to some pharmacists:  they will tell you that a benzo overdose is lethal ... please, get some help ... you seem young and i'd hate to see you learn about this stuff the hard way ...

please keep us updated, okay?

[hrdcore]

well, it all depends on how you do em....railin em will get you the full dose all at once, taking orally is whi (i personally) (also not to encourage u, just an answer to a question) it doesn't work on u....but if u don't do it now, don,t start just because of some non advise, this is pure information only.i'm d/t ing right now, n depend heavily on em, no picnic to come down from either.....i just have to kep typing so i don't scream....any future questions, i know more than most pharmacists....married to one for 12 yrs.and have the street exp. of a 100 yr old man.....get of em bud....trust me.good luck, hard as a rock,shut like a lock........hrdcore

[ebj3]

I have the same problem.  I have not experimented with upping my dosage, but I have tried xanax, ativan, klonopin (all generic forms) and they do not do a thing for me.  They do not help with my anxiety or my panic attacks.  I am also now taking paxil for GAD.  I was searching to see if anyone else had this problem.  I can take these benzo's and nothing changes with my attacks.  I wish there was someone that could explain why this was.