Health - lowering benzodiazepine tolerance?

[mark_v]

I've been (ab)using Valium, Xanax and Lorazepam for a few months on a daily basis.

Just to chill and relax at night and watch some TV or something...

But a few weeks ago, all those effects ( drunk like feeling, relaxed)
went away and even when I increased the dosage, all i felt was a bit
sleepy.

Now i stopped taking them and switched to Zopiclone (not a Benzo) to get a good night sleep.



But how long will it take to lower my tolerance on those benzo's to get all those nice side effects again ?

Weeks, months ??

[mattp]

What dosage were you taking daily? give it a few days break and try a larger dose and see if it hits you.

also, be careful with cutting off benzos cold turkey. benzo withdrawls are a bitch. taper your dose if you plan on quitting.

[mark_v]

About 60 mg Valium or 3 mg Xanax or 5 mg Lorazepam.

Now i switched to 15 mg of Zopiclone.

[mattp]

give it a week (if you can - watch out for withdrawl symptoms, if you get them, take a lower dose of a benzo)

after a week, try a nice dose and see if it hits you like it used to.
maybe take 2 weeks off, and try not to make it an every day habit, if
not used for anxiety.

[zipoo]

60 mg of v is quite a bit. you seem to have build up a tolarence. i would saty away from any benzos for 2 weeks at least. it might not be easy but there are other things you can use that have seditive effects. start with some good kava tea or phenibut or other downers.

[Ninja]

Are there any herbs or anything that SWIM could use to lower SWIMs benzo tolerance? Thanks

[hh339]

Umm, so SWIY has a high tolerance from taking lots of benzos or what? I would say that SWIY would have to cut down on it if that is the case. Im not aware of any plants or herbs that potentiates the effects of benzos.

[Ninja]

yeah, SWIM has a high tolerance. SWIMs dose used to be 3mg xanax and 40mg valium. But it now takes SWIM about 15mg xanax and vals dont even work for SWIM anymore. So about how long would SWIM have to stop using them to lower SWIMs tolerance? Thanks

[hh339]

Yikes, SWIY would have to gradually lower his dose or he could go into a seizure. He could even possibly die from quitting cold turkey. For SWIM it never got as good again after he had a break from it, and eventually he stopped. If SWIY can not get the desired effects anymore then maybe its time to quit? May I ask why SWIY takes them? Those fuckers are highly addictive and not easy to quit after some time.

[Ninja]

Damn, SWIM wasn't even aware of that. But yeah, SWIM got into benzos when SWIMs mother got a script of valium. Now SWIMs been using them off and on ever sence. SWIM uses them cause SWIM was always shy and did'nt have any friends, but when SWIM took some bnzos SWIM could talk to and do anything. Yeah i guess its time for SWIM to get off of these damn things. Thanks for your help.

[hh339]

Originally Posted by Ninja

SWIM uses them cause SWIM was always shy and did'nt have any friends, but when SWIM took some bnzos SWIM could talk to and do anything.

I am very sorry to hear about that. I would advice SWIY to try and sort his issues out before taking anymore drugs, if he still suffers from them. Benzos can be good for those kind of things you describe, but it will not fix the problem, its only temporary. It could be a good idea to use benzos for a while if one needs to, but some meetings with a specialist would also be necessary, if you ask me. SWIY will make friends, just give it some time and try SWIY´s best. I hope things turn out well.

[IHrtHalucingens]

I agree with hh339 that SWIY should cut down on the benzo use and maybe keep recreational use to once a week at most to keep tolerance down. And maybe drink some grapefruit juice 30mins before taking the benzo, as i understand it grapefruit juice potentiates benzos. At least theres a warning about it on the prescription bottle.

[tre2005be]

swim would like to know just out of curiosity what would be a high dose of valium?

[Kristy]

SWIM believes anti histamines can also add to the benzo effect...

[IHrtHalucingens]

anti histamines add to the sedation effects of benzos, as i understand it grapefruit juice inhibits an enzyme that metabolizes the drug adding to all the effects.

[Jatelka]

IHH is right. Grapefruit juice inhibits cytochrome P450: A liver enzyme which metabolizes benzos. Thus blood levels are higher because the benzo isn't cleared by the liver.