Benzo addiction?

[addict200]

I'm just wondering. I'm an oxy addict and I like them b/c of the uphoric feeling. I was wondering what the attraction to things like valium, clonazapam etc is? I take clonazapam everyday but it's only 1 .5mg tab, it relaxes me and gets rid of RLS. I've taken valium for shaking but I don't understand what people who abuse these drugs are getting from it?
I don't intend to abuse mine lol I am just genuinly curious.

[addict200]

Thank you so much for your input and for standing up for me. I'm in early stages of my recovery and am thankful for this forum and the helpful people here.

[joann1975]

I did not and do not see anything wrong with his question. I have often wondered how things affect people since we are all different. I often ask others about thier methdadone or suboxone use for this reason: SO I CAN BE EDUCATED ON IT TO HELP OTHERS .. you don't know his intention and you just blatantly assumed he was asking with only the worst intentions. I beleive the majority of us here are addicts... you are implying we can't ask questions. Personally I do not feel others should come on here and assume people are asking things with the worst intentions.

[addict200]

I was given Klonopin (clonazapam) for restless legs the 1st time I was withdrawaling from oxys and it helped a lot. I have also been diagnosed with axiety and panic disorder.
I remember b4 I started using again I decided to stop taking the clonazapam and I felt like I couldn't relax and didn't sleep for days, but I didn't know why. After reading posts here and doing my own research I'm stunned that I have been given another addictive drug to help get me off the other one.
Since I don't take more than I'm perscribed and I don't get high from it I think I'm dependent on it but not addicted. I wonder if I'm going to be on this for life?

[Victor322]

I've been taking Benzo's since 1994 and had taken as much(?) as 2.0 mg of Klonopin  a day when detoxing from pain meds but I'm now down to .5 mg per day and for myself I never experienced the "need-more" Benzo physical dependence creep up on me. Actually, it's been the opposite for me.

I am hoping to soon fully wean off of Klonopin and currently thinking that I'm near  the jump off point how-ever I'll probably taper further before I actually go CT.

But again, even having been on benzo's for 14 years I've never had to increase the dosage to get the same effect, but perhaps I'm just unique...or not an addict, I dunno.

[NovusVita]

Yikes. "You sound like a pill popper who has no intention of stopping". That's a little over the line. I understand that you want to keep this forum recovery centered to protect the sobriety of yourself and others. That is very important. This is why forums have moderators. If you think a line of discussion is inappropriate you should try to contact them and they can make that call.

[addict200]

No I started by saying I'm an oxy addict, I understand oxy addiction and I don't understand benzo addiction and was looking for someone to explain it to me. Yes I'm an addict as are you so name calling ? Not sure what your point is? I don't have to justify being here to you.

[mr.lucky66]

you sound like a pill popper who has no intention of stopping. Read the posting guidlines. It's ok if you want to be that way but someplace else.

[mr.lucky66]

you started this thread by saying you are an oxy addict and you were wondering about the euphoric feeling from mixing benzos? That's not a good start and not what these boards are about.

[kimmieb]

it just seemed like an innocent question to me.....i've often been very curious as to what pushes people's buttons, too....what makes one become addicted to something that someone else absolutely despises or gets nothing out of....i guess i'm just naturally curious and like to gain all the information i can get my hands on....certainly can't hurt to be well-informed and therefore hopefully cautious and more safe....just my thoughts....no hard feelings towards anyone!  maybe some of us are just more curious or information seekers or something of the sort.....who knows?! :-)  anyway, best to everyone.....

[addict200]

If you don't like this thread please feel free to ignore it.

[addict200]

No it wasn't that was just your interpretation,

[mr.lucky66]

I guess you are new here and don't really know and maybe don't want to get off dope. The way you started this post was completly from an addicts view who still enjoys drugs. I've been through way to much  for any of this. enjoy them

[kimmieb]

i agree with whomever posted above....i had troubles with benzos (still do, i guess, although i've been off of them for awhile)....i started on them with obviously NO intention of becoming addicted or dependant upon them or building up a tolerance to them so that i had to take more and more!  i used them solely for sleep purposes at night....started at .5 mg at night....over 5 years, worked up to 2 mg at night....the "attraction?"  they helped me to sleep more than my normal 3 hours!!!!  no high, no thrills, no euphoria, no energy, no big whoopdeedoo....they helped me to gently and gradually relax and then sleep, and for that, i fell head over heels in love with them....i don't chase a "euphoric high" or loads of energy or anything like that, just wanted to relax and sleep....pretty simple, eh?  so, anyway, that's my answer to the original question asked.....hope it helps! :-)

[addict200]

I'm sorry you're having a bad day, I understand. It helps a lot of people (myself included) to talk about every aspect of drug abuse, I started taking oxys b/c they were fun, it's all part of it, the good and the bad. I think it's a great idea to talk about it but I respect the fact that you don't. Please respect my right to ask questions.
I'm really glad I did ask b/c I had no idea you shouldn't mix benzos w/ oxy.
Also before finding this forum I didn't know what a benzo was or that I have been taking one for a couple years with no idea it was addictive.
Thank you for all who commented, I understand now and am safer for your knowledge.

[SammyTheSnail]

I think anxiety disorders and insomnia are what attract people to benzo's. Easier than learning to cope through meditation, cognitive behavioural therpay, etc. With oxy's picking you up so much, you're assured sleep so you can waste another day of your life on stimulating narcotics. Throwing booze into the mix has killed too many people.

You might find that benzo's are somewhat helpful during narcotic withdrawals, but they're every bit addictive to many.

[mr.lucky66]

The large majority of people on this board are trying to stop or stay straight from drugs. For people who are trying to stay off drugs , it's not a good idea to talk about the kinds highs you had and envoke euphropic recall.  It's very subtle the way in creeps into addicts conversations and can be dangerous.That's what we used to do at the methadone program or in detox when we really were just there for a break.

[worried878]

oh...i have learned alot on the forum reading about people's drug of choice and the effects even tho it wasnt my drug of choice...for instance i am scared to death now of benzos and would have possibly not known the consequences of abusing them...know they are habit forming but something about reading the experiences really drills it in my head to stay away or take with extreme caution

[nuredshuz]

this forum doesnt say it has to be about recovery, but about substance abuse. not everyone that abuses and/or comes on this page is in recovery, some are thinking about it, hoping for it, struggeling over it and just plain abusing.

[worried878]

it was just a curiousity post i guess...i have often wondered the same thing about drugs that are sedating and even had a conversation with a friend about why people would take a bunch of xanax or ambien..just because it is not my thing, i do know that if i had high anxiety issues it would cause me to want them....i am kinda laid back as a rule and i think maybe that is why hydros/energy hit the spot with me...then others say hydros put them to sleep or make them sick....over and done with for me/but a good discussion anyway

[mr.lucky66]

This thread wasn't  saying anything recovery oriented before, maybe now.

[TimmyVD]

Who in the world said that this was anyone's favorite subject?? Of course it is focused on recovery because it is helping other addicts understand that addiction doesn't have a face. It doesn't matter if its food or if it's drugs. Like addict200 didn't understand and like a lot of people do not understand a benzo addiction is a very very horrible and difficult addiction to get through. Some people do not understand the highly addictive nature of these drugs and take them like they're nothing. Then, 10 years down the road they are still taking them for some erroneous anxiety issue they had at that time. For some people benzos are a persons buzz...for you that wasn't the case, and that's fine. However, I do not think that you should be so quick to dismiss a person's request to understand something further.

So again, I will say I posted to this thread to help someone understand this drug a little further. It's not my favorite subject....I hate drugs especially benzos. It has made my life unmanagable at one point and I had to fight like hell to get it back in order. I seriously doubt a person's DOC is anyone's "favorite subject". I also do not think the purpose of this forum is to flame people for asking questions about things they do not understand.

[mr.lucky66]

I don't get the jist of this thread but it's not at all focused on recovery. It seems to be about lets talk about drugs because it our favorite subject. It always was my favorite subject.

That being said, Benzos and opiates are a bad mix. I used to take benzos on methadone and go into blackouts and wake up in ER's. Somtimes I would get a narcan shot and go into agonizing withdrawls, all from trying to get an extra buzz on benzos. The same can happen with oxy or any other opiate.

[MsQuickFix]

I couldnt agree more with TimmyVD. That is exactly where my husband is right now too.  Has to take obscene amounts to get high, and really now just takes what he needs to in order to get through the day and keep w/d away.  Today he ate the last of his valium and will be out until he gets his klonopins which wont be for a few days. Were worried

[addict200]

Thanks I get it now,
I don't get high off them so I wasn't aware that other people actually got that uphoric feeling from them.