Opinions - So do people even use Alprazolam recreationally?

[dark12]

Hey all,
As described in a previous thread, SWIM was diagnosed with GAD and now has a scrip for Alprazolam.
Of all the accounts of recreational use SWIM has read, none of them seem enjoyable. They usually take X mg's and wake up not remembering a thing. SWIM has not tried using Alprazolam recreationally, but SWIM is curious if it possible to get a good feeling from it.
How would 1.5mg and a couple beers affect someone with no tolerance? Are there even any drugs out there prescribed for anxiety that can be used for fun once in a blue moon?

[staples]

Originally Posted by dark12

Hey all,
As described in a previous thread, SWIM was diagnosed with GAD and now has a scrip for Alprazolam.
Of all the accounts of recreational use SWIM has read, none of them seem enjoyable. They usually take X mg's and wake up not remembering a thing. SWIM has not tried using Alprazolam recreationally, but SWIM is curious if it possible to get a good feeling from it.
How would 1.5mg and a couple beers affect someone with no tolerance? Are there even any drugs out there prescribed for anxiety that can be used for fun once in a blue moon?

I mean, there're a bunch of different benzos but they have very similar pharmacodynamics. Some like the effects of recreational doses, some don't. It sounds like SWIY doesn't. I think part of the enjoyment is the amnesia, just as is the case with drinking when one first starts... feeling awful the next morning and/or not remembering anything doesn't mean the high wasn't fun; though I suppose I'm not really the one to ask here so maybe someone else will have a better response..

The pharmacodynamics are considerably similar to that of alcohol and using a benzo will potentiate any alcohol use, but it shouldn't change the experience a whole lot. In fact, my doctor told me once that taking a 0.5mg dose of ativan is about equivalent to 2 drinks, but she added that they're not entirely the same in how they affect you, obviously. The danger here is suppression of the pulmonary system -- one could stop breathing!

So of course, use care when mixing these if SWIY must; SWIY should pay attention to how much he feels affected by moderate amounts of each before making a judgment on how much can be used safely.

[dark12]

Thanks for the objective and informative post. I wish I could add to your rating! )

SWIM understands completely what SWIY is saying though. SWIM just finds that Alprazolam makes him sleepy instead of lowering his inhibitions. Nothing will ever fight anxiety like 10-20mg of hydrocodone in SWIM's opinion.

SWIM took 1mg of Alprazolam this morning for a very minor episode of anxiety. Tonight he is going to a party. SWIM will take 1.5mg Alprazolam and two beers. SWIM will post the experience tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Reputation Comments on this post:

=)- TRUTH

[truth]

SWIM is interested. Post AWAY, and heres a green box.

[dark12]

Originally Posted by truth

SWIM is interested. Post AWAY, and heres a green box.

Hey all,
Well last night SWIM took 2mg Alprazolam and then 30 minutes later had 2 drinks. SWIM was pretty wasted and there are parts of last night be can't recall. No euphoria though. In fact, alll it seems to do is make SWIM drunk faster. It also makes him sleepy.

[Panthers007]

Mixing benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and alcohol or other depressant drugs, sets in motion what is known as mutual-potentiation. In other words: 1 Xanax + 1 Beer = 2 xanax + 2 Beers. This can result in fatal respiratory depression and/or brain damage. Flat-liners, baby. And in that one's judgement becomes increasingly impaired, it easy to keep upping the dose without even knowing it. This process is often referred to as retrograde amnesia: You don't know you just took the pill so you take the pill you just took. And now you forgot you just took the pill again! Ya Hoo! Thud!

SWIM needs to be more than a little careful playing with these molecules.

Reputation Comments on this post:

informative and helpful info for me

[dark12]

SWIM understands what SWIY means. That is why SWIM only took 2mg Alprazolam and a couple beers. SWIM was at a party with his girlfriend and his pills were sitting in his room at home.

SWIM wants to know why it is suddenly looked down upon in this forum to use a substance for legit reasons except for every one in a while.

Anyway... The question still stands, are any anti-anxiety meds abusable?

[Stephenwolf]

Many people enjoy taking anxiety meds for recreation. Valium and Xanax are very popular for it. There is recreational value to the drugs, near any benzodiazepine is abusable, but like many things out there some people just don't enjoy the buzz they give.

[grypes]

Swim has been taking pain meds for almost 5 years now, when swim cannot find any pills and starts to withdraw Xanax and other benzo's make swim feel a little better and helps swim sleep till he can find his next batch of opiates.

[dark12]

Originally Posted by grypes

Swim has been taking pain meds for almost 5 years now, when swim cannot find any pills and starts to withdraw Xanax and other benzo's make swim feel a little better and helps swim sleep till he can find his next batch of opiates.

SWIM wishes he had a good way to obtain opiates. They give him the best anxiety relief as well has being the most fun for him.

After taking 2mg of Alprazolam on an empty stomach SWIM just wants to sleep... Maybe SWIM should as his doctor about Klonopin as he hear's it is a better benzo for what he is looking for.

[Steva]

Yes 1 Mg Xanax and a few beers no problem.
A whole bottle of Scotch and 2mg 1 hour later adios.
Be carefull mixing booze with benzos. If you consume the benzos first then have a few beers then no problem usually. The problem is if you get drunk first
then take a bunch of benzos you might suffer respiratory failure a la Jimi Hendrix,
John Bonham etc. Timing is imp. Only you know your tolerance.
Swim's experience from personal times.

[rocksmokinmachine]

Originally Posted by dark12

Hey all,
As described in a previous thread, SWIM was diagnosed with GAD and now has a scrip for Alprazolam.
Of all the accounts of recreational use SWIM has read, none of them seem enjoyable. They usually take X mg's and wake up not remembering a thing. SWIM has not tried using Alprazolam recreationally, but SWIM is curious if it possible to get a good feeling from it.
How would 1.5mg and a couple beers affect someone with no tolerance? Are there even any drugs out there prescribed for anxiety that can be used for fun once in a blue moon?

Alcohol and benzo's can be a dangerous combination. Just stick to them on thier own. Some people like benzo's. Some people don't. Some people only like certain types. For example SWIM only really gets off on flunitrazepam and midazolam

SWIM finds benzodiazepines fantastic recreationally.

[dreamingawake]

SWIM was prescribed alprazolam because she too has GAD..not nice.
SWIM tries not to take it every day because its so bloody habit forming. But anyhoo, it works wonders for panic attacks and panic symptoms and is very comforting to have with you when you have GAD. SWIM carries 5mg of it with her everywhere, just in case.

Though SWIM tries not to use it recreationally much, its quite lovely, a floaty, nice benzo buzz. In SWIMs experience, a little alcohol with a xanax is ok but you'll become fairly incoherent and forgetful. but don't mix with alot of beer - you'll be knocked out cold, and there isn't much fun in that!
Also, SWIMs short term memory has become quite bad from benzo usage. Cest la vie!

[dark12]

SWM wishes he could atleast say that it helped with his GAD, but the sedation is just too extreme.
SWIM going to ask his doc to prescribe something else tomorrow, what should he be looking for and what should be staying away from?

[staples]

Originally Posted by dreamingawake

SWIM was prescribed alprazolam because she too has GAD...it works wonders for panic attacks and panic symptoms

I'm curious as to why GAD seems to be diagnosed in the presence of panic symptoms in spite of the DSM-IV-TR? Are they really panic attacks or just excessive worry (which I imagine would be thought of as a panic attack).

Just for clarification: a panic attack is usually described as intense fear, not unlike the terror experienced in a situation where one is in immediate danger (e.g, upon spotting a fox, a bunny would go into state of panic: first by freezing up while its heart rate sky rockets and its muscles tense up, preparing it to flee).

[dreamingawake]

Well, all SWIM knows is that SWIMs doctor told her she has Severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Acute Panic Attacks (phew!)
After that, she couldn't tell you much more really. Because she's not a doctor. Though God knows she wishes she was. Meds and appointments are so frigging expensive.

[staples]

Originally Posted by dreamingawake

Well, all SWIM knows is that SWIMs doctor told her she has Severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Acute Panic Attacks (phew!)
After that, she couldn't tell you much more really. Because she's not a doctor. Though God knows she wishes she was. Meds and appointments are so frigging expensive.

Ah, well I'm not a doctor either, just a little curious, it sounds like there's more to it than I thought. Also, I believe doctors cannot prescribe themselves nor their (immediate?) family members to much more than antibiotics. Well, they can and they do, but my doctor told me it's illegal, not sure if this is a federal or state law. Either way, working as a doctor would likely provide some health insurance or cheap assessments from other doctor friends, so yeah.

Anyway, back on topic, I was just curious about the GAD with panic symptoms thing.

[seeingred]

Originally Posted by Panthers007

Mixing benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and alcohol or other depressant drugs, sets in motion what is known as mutual-potentiation. In other words: 1 Xanax + 1 Beer = 2 xanax + 2 Beers. This can result in fatal respiratory depression and/or brain damage. Flat-liners, baby. And in that one's judgement becomes increasingly impaired, it easy to keep upping the dose without even knowing it. This process is often referred to as retrograde amnesia: You don't know you just took the pill so you take the pill you just took. And now you forgot you just took the pill again! Ya Hoo! Thud!

SWIM needs to be more than a little careful playing with these molecules.

Painless suicide. Swim overdosed on xanax, a few other pills and a bottle of wine. Needless to say swim woke up in bed with a band on swims arm, and a slight memory of being in the ER, swim was taken there because swim was incoherent and it could have been fatal. So Swim reached the conclusion xanax is the best drug for fatal suicide. No memory, nothing, and a lot of bruises from falling down.

[radiometer]

To steer back to the original topic:

Many drug users are rather, shall I say, unsophisticated. They have no sense of discrimination whatsoever. Anything which can "fuck you up" is recreational in their eyes.

Hell, just glancing on the last days posts, one can discover that some people think that cyclobenzeprine is recreational - as good as opiates! They'd probably equally enjoy munching some lithium salts.

One man's cynical but evidence-supported view.

[drab4]

Swim enjoys benzodiazepines in combination with other drugs, and feels they have excellent recreational value in that sense. Dangers of mixing drugs are discussed often on this forum, and rightly so. Still, benzos are best when combined with other drugs, Swim feels

On their own, they do not have so much recreational value, though Swim does sometimes consider feeling relaxed and calm to be recreational as that is not always his natural state of mind

[dark12]

Thanks for the info.
SWIM finds this unfortunate because he was looking for something to clear his head and make him worry less. SWIM wanted something that lowered his inhibitions without lowering his judgement.
SWIM enjoys Kratom to treat his anxiety and thinks it works better than Alprazolam. SWIM just wishes he could get his doctor to prescribe some opiate since that is by far the most helpful thing for SWIM as far as anxiety goes.
Are there any other anxiety meds that are effective and can occasionally be used for a good time?

[drab4]

SwiY could always ask his doctor to prescribe a different benzo. Everyone seems to have their own particular favourite or favourites, whether it be one which helps relax them more, gives more of a happy feeling, makes them more sleepy, or whatever. It may be that a different benzodiazepine could suit SwiY better, if SwiY feels the current medication is not really having the desired effect. It might at least be worth discussing with your doc and seeing what he or she thinks

[dark12]

Thanks for the response.
SWIM hears good things about Clonazepam (Klonopin).
SWIM isn't really sure how each benzo is different because everything he reads puts benzos in a group like theyre all the same.

SWIM is looking for something to take the edge off and make him feel more relaxed.

[staples]

Originally Posted by dark12

Thanks for the response.
SWIM hears good things about Clonazepam (Klonopin).
SWIM isn't really sure how each benzo is different because everything he reads puts benzos in a group like theyre all the same.

SWIM is looking for something to take the edge off and make him feel more relaxed.

I think changing the chemical structure slightly gives different benzos different affinities for some GABA receptors as well as it seems to change slight properties of metabolization (causing some to have more quick, strong effects, and others to have slower, longer-lasting effects).

[dark12]

Originally Posted by staples

I think changing the chemical structure slightly gives different benzos different affinities for some GABA receptors as well as it seems to change slight properties of metabolization (causing some to have more quick, strong effects, and others to have slower, longer-lasting effects).

Interesting.
SWIM does enjoy how fast Alprazolam acts, but just doesn't like the feeling it gives him. With Kratom, SWIM feels more sociable and more upbeat. SWIM is curious if there is a benzo that can provide some of these things. If not, what else should SWIM ask his doctor about tomorrow?