benzodiazepines for drug cravings

[JaWill88]

swim was wondering if benzos are ever perscribed for cravings for drugs like opiates. when swim wants to stay clean and has really bad cravings for injecting cocaine or heroin he will take therapeutic doses of benzos like alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, or whatever. actually swim mostly has cravings for slamming coke, thats the one that always gets him as he is already been on suboxone (buprenorphine) for almost a year and doesn't think about herion much. anyways, swim was wondering if anyone is ever perscribed benzos for drug cravings like these? they really do help swim out.

[Solinari]

Benzo's can and often are prescribed for drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, however doctors are usually very reluctant to prescribe any narcotic including things like Valium, especially to people who have a history of drug abuse.

That said, it is possible, but unlikely, especially on a first visit. I have actually heard that some doctors in the US (maybe elsewhere too) have a policy of not prescribing any narcotic on a first visit. I don't know if it's true or not, i actually saw it in the TV show called House with Hugh Laurie.

Never the less, as i said it is possible for it to happen, if one has a doctor one knows and who knows one and is sympathetic to ones situation, then that doctor may prescribe something like Valium in an attempt to stop someone using drugs because of say stress or anxiety.

That said, it would probably be more likely for someone to end up with a prescription for anti-depressants rather than benzo's. It used to be that doctors, well some doctors anyway, would give out benzo's no problem (before my time though). Now it seems they give out anti-depressants no problem instead.

[Panthers007]

One thing one needs to understand about benzodiazepines - they are EXTREMELY addictive. Even at standard medical dosages, in 2 weeks one will be hooked. And the withdrawl from benzodiazapines makes heroin look like a walk in the park. Doctors know this. If they don't - they should get a new job. Like trash collection.

There are other methods of getting off drugs - be they heroin, cocaine, alcohol, etc. Benzos can easily make the problem worse and longer lasting. Used for short term treatment, they are fine. But know the benzodiazepine will be tapered off and gone soon. Unless your doctor is an idiot.

[JaWill88]

swim has been on suboxone for a year now and has a good relationship with his physician (persciber of suboxone). swim gets bad cravings like once to maybe twice a week. swims mom lately has given him like 1 milligram of clonazepam when the cravings get to the point to where he is sure he is going to use. and they really do help. this is not an excuse to abuse them as swim doesn't really enjoy their effects that much. just the anxiolytic properties. when swim takes them he is able to relax and work through his craving. swim would like to do this short term for maybe a couple months of taking a benzos 1 to possibly 2 times a week. also, swim may be having more cravings now that he is tapering off suboxone? he was on 32mg and is now at 22 and been tapering by 2mg every 2 weeks. swim has an appointment with his physician on monday to talk about this, any advice? btw, swim knows all about the withdrawal, it is sickening. anyone who doesn't have any idea, go to youtube.com and search benzodiazepine withdrawal.. IT IS SICKENING. anyways, thanks for the information.

[Zaprenz]

From SWIM's personal observations benzo's can sometimes bringout the worst in people/situations - particularly drug use.

Benzo's are not inherently euphoric or happy pills (not saying they can't be but they don't put you in a good mood by increasing amine uptake etc - they stop your brain putting itself in a bad mood but enhancing gaba) but by reducing anxiety and inhibitions one can be more inclinded to go for thrill seeking behavior. A good example - taking benzo's and then ending up doing all of SWIMs stash of drug XYZ when he was going to save it/wait for a more suitable time.

Very different from the inhibitions from alcohol because one can feel much more lucid and in control of the situation [without realising how out of control or stupid they are behaving and having no physical barrier akin to alcohol like vomiting]. SWIM hasn't searched for information on this but from observation would suggest a fair few people may be turned towards things like shop lifting simply because of taking benzo's[*anecdotal observations by SWIM]. There's something about them that makes people seem much more able to plan for long term thrill seeking behavior. [for want of a better way of describing it]

Let's not forget what inspired the fun lovin' criminals to write the song scooby snacks depicting the armed robbery scene. [originally diazepam's in this context]

"Running around, robbing banks, all wacked on the scooby snacks"
FOR swim if he had to write a sentence summising benzo's it would probably be just that. :thumbsup:

[Solinari]

I would agree with this Zaprenz, it can and has brought out the worst in me. It makes my friend want to go and score some heroin and he usually does. In fact, most time, when he gets his monthly Temazepam script, he plans on taking several and scoring a couple of bags of heroin at least.

The thing is he always thinks he's fine, but in reality he isn't. It's weird, he really does feel like he is completely lucid and the things he is doing or saying are normal. Then the nest day he will regret saying or doing things and cringes at the thought of saying it completely sober.

He is getting better at controlling his inhibitions though, but he can still end up saying or doing things he wish he hadn't. It's not bad things or anything, just things like talking to people at length, repeating himself several times, probably coming across as being under the influence. When my friend sees other people under the influence of benzo's, he really can;t be bothered with them and frankly, wants to get away from them. Then he realises that that must be what he is like when he takes them.

That said, he is talking about relatively high doses of temazepam (or valium if he can get them), probably at least 140mg (7 x 20mg tablets) at first, then he will think he isn't getting that good a 'dunt' off them, so he will take one or two more, then another couple and another, and so on, this is when he is shooting heroin as well. Even so, he still feels in control and still thinks he is "fine". So strange actually.

So with therapeutic doses of temazepam for sleep, they are fine (short term really), and therapeutic doses of Valium seem fine as well, maybe 3 x 10mg throughout the day would be helpful for me but my friend would just end up abusing them, so it wouldn't really work, even if i were to get a legal prescription for them, which is highly unlikely.