Health - moderating xanax (Alprazolam) use

[dopenose77]

hello all,


Over the last few semesters of my college career I've taken xanax (2mg) recreationally and/or to help me sleep. Usually once every one or two weeks.


I never aquired too much of a liking for it, as i'm a frat boy and into more social drugs, such as alcohol and coke.


As of recent my dealer has been able to give me excellent deals (XXX per bar) and i've accumulated quite a few pills.


being that I'm used to buying only 1 or 2 bars at a time, I've never been concerned with addiction or withdrawl. But now that i have a shitload of them it's very attempting to go crazy. I'm aware of the fact that benzo withdrawls are horrible and can even be fatal. Obviously I would like to avoid that.


So my question is, what in your opinion/experience, is a good and safe schedule for getting barred out? how much should i space out my highs? how long does it take for a benzo user to build up enough dependance to go thru nasty withdrawl symptoms after quitting?


thanks-

[greener]

The following advice will probably make me sound like somebody's
parent, or worse yet, a propaganda-agent in the war on drugs...
I'm not, I promise...



Benzos, Xanax in particular, can be wicked substances. Not
because they f*ck you up particularly well or even provide much fun --
rather, because they seem so innocuous that it's really easy to get in
a bad spot. My personal reccomendation would be to set your
schedule and stick to it like life depends on it... The only
problem is that with sneaky drugs like Xanax, it can be very easy to
violate the terms you set out without even realizing that things could
be headed in a bad direction. Although it seems a bit overboard,
it wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone else hold the pills for you,
if you have anyone trustworthy enough.



I realize, of course, that right now you're fine, and my reaction
probably seems like an overreaction... 2 mg is a low recreational
dose (still within therapuetic range, in fact), and chances are as long
as you stick to that dose, you will probably be okay... The
moment that you catch yourself considering raising it, however, and the
"take a break" alarm better go off. Of course it works
differently for different people, but many folks experience a quick
rise in tolerance with benzos, especially those chasing recreational
effects. Before a person realizes what happened, sleep can be
nearly impossible without a non-recreational dose which grows larger at
an alarming rate...



Mind you, I'm not saying this WILL happen, or even that it is very
likely, but personal experience has shown me that it's possible.
And you're right about the withdrawal. I am not proud to say that
I've gone through full-blown withdrawals for opiates as well as benzos
(and to a lesser extent, certain stimulants), and I would sooner go
through opiate withdrawal while getting a rimjob from Mike Tyson than
go through my first experience quitting Xanax again... I'm
talking about flu-from-hell, 2 grand mal seizures, and 6 days without
falling asleep once. Something as unexciting as Xanax is NOT
worth the hell that comes after you stop.



I realize that this post is long and rambling, but that's simply
because I have a lot to say on that subject... I hope that you
don't dismiss my message as "Just Say No," because despite all the
negative things I've said about benzos here, I am not saying that they
are intrinsically bad or even that you shouldn't use them. I'm
sure that you can moderate your usage and be safe; all I'm really
preaching is the indescribable value of responsibility.



Sorry again about the length...

[Piglet]

As someone who has been through benzo addiction as well as opiate addiction, I assure you benzos are WORSE. With opiates you get dog sick BUT at least after day 3-4 it starts receding. With benzos your not even INTO full withdrawal until day 5. You get massive rebound anxiety so you cannot sleep. You get shakes, seizures and much else. Don't use ANY benzo continuously for more than 2 weeks. For recreational use, don't do it once every 2 weeks (IMHO).

[johnnyG]

i somtimes use xanax and i take at least like a 2 or 3day brake befor
doing them agin but i olny do like 2mg every time one of my freinds
dose 4mg every time

[allyourbase]

xanax withdrawl = male PMS


never had shakes shivers or seizures, and Im a daily user (6mg) and Ive gone up to 3 months without.


I like benzos myself. all except valium (which has NO effect on me. even at the 300 mg range).


drink some grapefruit juice with it. smoke some weed. I find MJ has vast and differing effects on the benzo feeling. I advise against the use of benzodiazapines and opiates together. it totally ruins the effects of the opiate, and inhibits the sleep giving powers of the benzo line, only to later multiply the same effect (after around 8-16 hours, depending on substance and dose)