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.

[MsQuickFix]

My husband is addicted to benzos. Valium, klonopin and xanax.  Taking these meds in combination or in larger quantities gives you the euphoric feeling and belly buzz and also brings you out of your shell a little bit.  He started taking the meds for social anxiety he didnt even like to leave the house, and on benzo's hes cocky, fulll of self confidence and would say anything and wants to go out in public..in addition to the actual getting high part. He likes those for the same reason you and I like pain pills.  It's different for everyone though.  I can take handfulls of benzos and they dont do anything to me.  In fact one night in a (stupid) rage I ate 16 or 17  klonopins. Nothing happened to me. I went out with my friends, drove home later that evening just fine, I was a little tired though.  So like I said It's different for everyone and plus for some people it isnt even about getting high.  You get prescribed to these benzos for anxiety, sleeping, rls, grief, nerves, etc. and become addicted to it bc they are (I believe) a schedule 4 controlled substance. (to give you an idea of the scale schedule 1 is HEROIN and 5 is cough suppresants) Once you are taking these meds its lethal to come off of them cold turkey.  You would have seizures and possibly die.  You must taper down your dosage and level it off at a low level then slowly come off them.

[MsQuickFix]

PS im sure you know this allready but taking benzos and pain pills can be lethal as well, so watch your combinations and dosages!!

[addict200]

Actually I didn't know any of that! Thank you very much.

[worried878]

I have wondered what the attraction is as well...i used for energy and they make me tired..so why would i want to load up on something that makes me feel like a zombie?  but i guess different drugs hit people in different ways..also possibly has something to with where our deficiencies are as far as neurotransmitters go..a certain drug may just push someones "button" and it becomes their drug of choice....i have heard some say they get energy from benzos

[TimmyVD]

Well...I guess that's like me asking what people get from Oxys...they just make me sick to my stomach and give me a headache. Different strokes for different folks.

Anyway, the attraction to a benzo addict (at least in my case) is the relief of anxiety. I suffer from all types of anxieties. When taking benzos (xanax in my case) I was able to relax. I could think. Like Ms.QuickFix's husband I was full of confidence, chatty, smart all this stuff. It was like all of my guards came down (shame I couldn't remember any of it). Then it turned into a bad cycle because benzo withdrawal is maddening. You can seriously lose your mind. So what does that mean? More benzos and it goes on and on. After a while its not even about getting high its about keeping the withdrawal away. As time continues you really start messing up because you aren't as "smart" and as :"confident" as  you may think. You're just a mess.

So there's your answer. The attraction is the same for any addict. To be relieved from something that is undesirable when you cannot find a sober way to do it.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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

[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

[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]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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! :-)

[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

[addict200]

No it wasn't that was just your interpretation,

[addict200]

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

[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.....

[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.

[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.

[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.