• TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | Eligiu | deficiT

Mental Health Is daily benzo use at therapeutic doses dangerous?

menidiatis

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 24, 2021
Messages
479
I am using every night 5mg temazepam to sleep 3-4 hours and then when I wake up I use another 5mg. If I don't use benzos, I cannot sleep. I am a chronic insomnia, have severe generalized anxiety, and severe mental trauma from my past which causes serious panic attacks, most pronounced in the night.

My question is, am I going to suffer severe withdrawal if I keep on going like this? It has been months that I have been using benzos (previously I was using 0.75mg etizolam every night).

I used to drink 5L of beer every day, and could stop any day without side effects (I don't drink anymore because I use heroin). With benzos, I feel no tendency whatsoever to increase my dose, as I am using therapeutically and do not have any tendency to abuse them.

Am I putting myself in danger? I cannot stop anyway because I cannot sleep without them due to the aforementioned reasons. Are there alternatives?
 
I have been on clonzepam for 15ish years and never got high just releif so I wouldn't say I'm addicted. Definitely dependant though.
It's all that works for my symptoms of ptsd so I don't even think of stopping.
Diazapam or clonzepam would last longer so you wouldn't wake in a couple hours. I get 8hrs sleep a night.
 
I have been on clonzepam for 15ish years and never got high just releif so I wouldn't say I'm addicted. Definitely dependant though.
It's all that works for my symptoms of ptsd so I don't even think of stopping.
Diazapam or clonzepam would last longer so you wouldn't wake in a couple hours. I get 8hrs sleep a night.
Will definitely give them a try, thanks for the advice!
 
I have generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, fibromyalgia and insomnia and take around 40mg valium a day mostly at night, sometimes an extra 10mg here and there in the day too, and co codamol, because my doctor won't prescribe what people need, benzos are for anxiety and insomina I have both, but not allowed benzos, I have a chronic pain condition untreated by doctors to scared to prescribe me meds as I have a bad reaction to everything they've tried me on, antidepressants and pregabalin, only thing I don't get side effects from are vallies and opioids which they won't give me so self medicate like do many people have to do

Alot of people will get withdrawl yes, but some, a few don't seem to but its rare
 
This is an issue that is by definition a little bit hard to discuss. I think there are people who manage to use Benzodiazepines safely for long periods of time. I've talked to them, I know them. However, they seem to be in the minority. The question is, how many of the people who end up, for lack of a better phrase, "washed up" from Benzodiazepines abused their prescriptions and ended up in some kind of unbreakable cycle of addiction and dependence. How many of the people who come one Bluelight claiming to have been "perfect" with their prescriptions are lying to themselves and to everyone else?

It's a deeply personal thing. I've been in denial in my life that has so many layers it's scary. As I hope everyone knows, I have no judgement for anyone who abuses their prescription of anything. That's not my realm of discussion... morality and ethics. I will say that I don't think addiction is a moral issue. We fail ourselves before we fail anyone else and we fail the world before we fail anyone else. We suffer in these addictions. Society has taught us to fear corporeal shit like prison as a result of our addictions. What about just not being a part of the universe? That's pretty shitty in and of itself.

I think Benzodiazepines can be used safely for long periods of time like @Jennn has described. Totally. The thing with addiction is that it might take weeks, months or years for the nature of it to become truly evident to the person and everyone around them and by then, it can be pretty difficult to get them back into that originally naive state. They can't really start over. Even doctors with all their charts and computerized record keeping has virtually no hard data on the nature of how addiction arises from "legitimate" prescribing, aside from attributing the effect to again, some vague moral failing of the individual. There's no "way" that people become addicted and yet again, to co-opt the Schroedinger's Cat example of multiple universes, who knows if it's just one extra presrictiption, one bad break up, one lost job that can mean a life of crime and misery as opposed to a life in a warm house surrounded by friends and family.
 
There have been studies tentatively showing a rise in alzheimers risk relative to amount of benzo use. It hasn’t been proven that benzos cause dementia, but that would definitely alarm me on long term use.
 
There have been studies tentatively showing a rise in alzheimers risk relative to amount of benzo use. It hasn’t been proven that benzos cause dementia, but that would definitely alarm me on long term use.
Thanks that's exactly the kind of info I am looking for

I also remember recently reading in another topic here that they can cause cancer

Which is surprising as I always thought benzos and opiates are the cleanest drugs, in the sense of not being toxic to the body
 
The problem is that it is dangerous to fuck with the GABA system chronically, due to how important GABA is in all areas of our functioning. Long term benzo use will destabilize the GABA system and desensitize it to normal functioning without the presence of GABAergic drugs. lack of sufficient GABA stimulation causes a state of excitation that produces brain damage. So occasional use of benzos that does not result in dependence is among the least damaging usage of drugs there is, there is virtually no toxicity. But long-term dysregulation of the GABA system can be quite toxic. In some cases, like in @Jennn's case, it is a good trade-off because it makes quality of life bearable, and as long as the meds aren't discontinued, there won't be excitatory damage. But I'd think long and hard about getting into GABAergics for recreational purposes, because that pathway (addiction, and slow increase to huge levels in order to continue to try to get high from it) is a very damaging one that is really hard to get past.

As for the OP, temazepam is a very sedating benzo but there are sedating benzos that last a full night, and those would probably be better. You will definitely experience dependence, if you haven't already, unfortunately, taking benzos every night for sleep. But again, it may be worth it for you, if you truly can't sleep any other way. Insomnia is very debilitating.
 
The problem is that it is dangerous to fuck with the GABA system chronically, due to how important GABA is in all areas of our functioning. Long term benzo use will destabilize the GABA system and desensitize it to normal functioning without the presence of GABAergic drugs. lack of sufficient GABA stimulation causes a state of excitation that produces brain damage. So occasional use of benzos that does not result in dependence is among the least damaging usage of drugs there is, there is virtually no toxicity. But long-term dysregulation of the GABA system can be quite toxic. In some cases, like in @Jennn's case, it is a good trade-off because it makes quality of life bearable, and as long as the meds aren't discontinued, there won't be excitatory damage. But I'd think long and hard about getting into GABAergics for recreational purposes, because that pathway (addiction, and slow increase to huge levels in order to continue to try to get high from it) is a very damaging one that is really hard to get past.

As for the OP, temazepam is a very sedating benzo but there are sedating benzos that last a full night, and those would probably be better. You will definitely experience dependence, if you haven't already, unfortunately, taking benzos every night for sleep. But again, it may be worth it for you, if you truly can't sleep any other way. Insomnia is very debilitating.
I tried long and hard to sleep without benzos, but it is not possible so I thought, if I am gonna die of a heart attack or whatever else from sleeping 2 hours every night I might as well fuck my body from benzos

Which are the benzos that last all night?? I thought temazepam was among those that keep u asleep but in my case it did not work
 
imo they are in no way safe/manageable for long term treatment of anxiety etc. They damage the same systems responsible for these feelings. If you plan on being on a drug forever. And also note - if you hit 65 and develop dementia (these drugs carry a large dementia risk over time) your GP will just pull it. and leave you hanging. Im dealing w two or three folx in that boat right now. After dealing with the withdrawal they created in me, you could not pay me any amount of money to take another bzd. read benzobuddies forum to get a feel for what long term bzd withdrawal actually looks like. it makes heroin withdrawal look cute.
 
I tried long and hard to sleep without benzos, but it is not possible so I thought, if I am gonna die of a heart attack or whatever else from sleeping 2 hours every night I might as well fuck my body from benzos

Which are the benzos that last all night?? I thought temazepam was among those that keep u asleep but in my case it did not work

Lots of them... alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, a whole shit ton of RC benzos. I will say you also don't want to take one that lasts too long either because then youi'll get more addicted since there will be less time without benzos in your system.
 
And also note - if you hit 65 and develop dementia (these drugs carry a large dementia risk over time) your GP will just pull it. and leave you hanging.
My uncle (as well as the whole family) have been on antidepressants and benzos pretty much all their life. My aunt thought it was wise to start her grandson on AD's because they claim it helps them. I can tell you they are the most depressed family I know. lol But my uncle was on clonazepam for years and ended up overweight and in need of hip surgery. After hip surgery he seemed to drift into dementia quickly. But he was in his mid 80's. He also would get violent. But they had to find a special hospital that would administer lorazepam all day to keep him sedated. Others would not admininster them. Friggin doctors, aggravate me more than I can speak. But he finally passed a few weeks ago so that whole chapter is over

So the notion that doctors can and will cut you off is the real worry if you ask me. These are drugs thar really should be researched too.

Saying that my aunt has also been on clonezepam for at least 30 years and although elderly still very intelligent and keeps her mind sharp. So there are all kinds.

Keep yourself healthy no matter what you do and make sure you do not go into CT with this stuff. Yet the people we trust to not let that happen (doctors) can and do let us down.

I did read benzobuddies and that place is an amazing testament to the subject. Recommended for people that use this med and want off.
 
Thank you everybody for all the case studies shared!

From what I understand, it is not impossible to use benzos long term in therapeutic doses, although it can certainly go the wrong way

Hopefully within the next year I will have recovered enough from my social anxiety to finally get a girlfriend, and replace the benzos with a hug, as for me that's what I think I am missing and is preventing from sleeping (since a young kid I always hug a blanket when I sleep which always suggested to me that what I needed was a girl to hug and sleep with, but then again I can't know for sure as I've never had a girlfriend)
 
There have been studies tentatively showing a rise in alzheimers risk relative to amount of benzo use. It hasn’t been proven that benzos cause dementia, but that would definitely alarm me on long term use.
Pesticides are proven provoker's of Alzheimer. Even in youngsta's.
 
(Possible Spoiler?)

Binge watching The Queens Gambit on Netflix and if I am not mistaked this girl has taken librium since a kid and it helps her chess game. Sort of the opposite of all the brain damage scares we hear about. :) Still have a few more episodes to go. Of couse she gets cut off and has to steal. (friggin doctors) Then learns they are OTC in Mexico. Totally OT but I thought that was an odd twist (so far) to add into a story of a chess prodigy, It is a great show so far. Don't think that spoils much either.

Anyway carry on.
 
Binge watching The Queens Gambit aon Netflix and if I am not mistaked this girl has taken librium since a kid and it helps her chess game.
It's fictional. I was a prodigy chess player in my youth and can say through experience that taking drugs does not make you a better chess player.

It's alluding to the fact that many master chess players also grapple with major mental illness. I can point to several. It's a fact that great genius and major mental illness go hand in hand. Many of the most brilliant people have periods of insanity, it's a recurring theme.

The chess "hallucinations" she has in the show are anecdotal from Susan Polgar's biography (the best female chess player ever)

just had to point that out

Librium is also a really boring drug and hardly addictive (also from experience), but it makes sense for the time period if that's what she was taking, oldschool prototype benzo
 
It's fictional. I was a prodigy chess player in my youth and can say through experience that taking drugs does not make you a better chess player.
In other words don't try this at home kids. lol

Good show. Thanks for the reference I did not know that. I see it has a lot of deep thoughts.

I have not played chess in years but got quite good when I was prison 30 years ago.
 
In other words don't try this at home kids. lol

Good show. Thanks for the reference I did not know that. I see it has a lot of deep thoughts.

I have not played chess in years but got quite good when I was prison 30 years ago.
I need to finish watching it. I watched the first 3 episodes and loved it but was also extremely critical because the show really parallels my own life in a lot of ways, from ages 12-14 or so, I was a lot like the main character in a lot of ways, even though I'm a dude :p

I was nitpicking everything wrong in the show while I watched it, simply because I went through the same story of the main character. It's a great show.

now I should finish watching it

The best chess player of all time, Fischer, went insane and died a fugitive, wanted by the US government :/
 
Negentropic your story sounds interesting and since I am on episode 5 it intrigues me even more .If you ever start a thread detailing it do let me know. Although I know personal stuff is,well, personal. But your few sentences say a lot. You already know this movie and lived a life of your own.

We do have a lot of interesting members here. I may want to go read the chess thread in the Sporting section now.
 
If I can just offer something from my own perspective here because I don't know anything near as much about a lot of most drugs as many members here like some above.

But the way I regard it unless I'm mistaken because I am using consistently and prolonged large doses daily in abusive fashion really because recreational doesn't really cut it.

I do suffer withdrawl like side-effects which I have to ride out at times if I've dosed to have fully like above 13.5 mg I guess would be the absolute maximum do not feel rough the next day maybe.

Whereas for example 10 mg daily and sufficient sleep and I'm really not noticing any significant discomfort or withdrawl.

That's very rarely happens for me for more than a day or two at most but 8 mg is noticeably better there as well.


Unless I'm mistaken the real danger is in continuing for long periods at really quite ultra high benzo doses (For measure sake I'm estimating equivalent to 200 mg diazepam daily or more which is quite exorbitant consistently when it comes to rapering and full discontinuation which will inevitably surelybe aharder challenge.

That is how I have been recording it because I honestly feel and the fact why evidence that to a point as long as you are not being stupidly extortionate and is trying to balance things out to some degree prolonged daily usage itself does not pose any significant immediate dangers as such until you attempts to withdraw then the main danger ironically for me personally will be mental and emotional stability.

Not that we can rule out for one second the real seriousness which must never be neglected of the potential for adverse physical reactions like seizures etc.

No sorry these photos of some weed I ground up earlier somehow accidentally got pasted and I'm way too stoned to get this awkward tablets to highlight and delete them in this moment. Well cained lol. Good weed too. 4 month cured Outdoor sativa, amazing grinder too promise.





url=https://ibb.co/5BVtqvy]
08528-D21-2-DB8-4646-9-D24-ED70709907-A8.jpg
[/url]ely be more difficult a process
nope, the recommendation has changed completely from doctors (in the U.S.), even standard doses are not recommended by the medical community for longer than a two week period. we are finally really learning what they do to the GABA system. it's not AS rough as barbiturates, but it is not good. imo/ime daily use of benzos for anxiety control period is not a safe direction to go. (I had to wd from 10mg diazepam, for context, and it was absolute hell. I do have a history of abusing other GABA drugs, but there are plenty of people that don't that are equally screwed as I was coming off of them). like any wd syndrome, genetics plays a part and there will be the rare person that can take benzos daily for an extended period without too much problem, much like there are people that can drink a few bottles of wine a night for years and not have much wd. FWIW - every single person I have ever seen go down the long term bzd treatment route either has experienced life changing withdrawals, or is still medicated. as always -- do what thou wilt/YMMV.
 
Top