Dose - Acceptable theraputic dose? (Alprazolam and Diazepam)

[Horiz]

SWIM suffers from a fair degree of anxiety but seems to have a natural tolerance, it takes around 4mg of Xanax or 20-30mg of Valium for any actual relief from anxiety.

Surely this dose daily would lead to a pretty intense addiction? Or would SWIM's natural tolerence make this dose actually feasible?

[Ontherooftops]

Benzodiazepines are pretty addictive even at theraputic doses. Most theraputic doses swim has seen are nowhere NEAR 4mg. Taking this sort of dose on a regular basis would certainly lead to a strong physical addiction. Benzodiazepine withdrawl is really really horrible stuff, swim would do his very best to avoid physical addiction to benzodiazepines, and physical addiction with this class of drugs isn't that hard to come by.

[Horiz]

SWIM had feared so, he thanks you. SWIM is considering using it at this dose for 3 days MAX per week.

Is there still a significant risk of dependancy this way?

[Ontherooftops]

For this lab rat, benzodiazepines are fairly habit forming, and using that often he would probably form some psychological dependancy, maybe leading to a physical dependancy. If a rat were wary of its state in relation to these drugs he could certainly maintain this type of use without acquiring a physical dependance. It would help too, he would think, trying to avoid taking them multiple days in a row.

Swim definately isn't a doctor, and it really sounds like swiy needs some sort of longer term anxiety maintenence, swiy should consider seeing a doctor about this if they feel that they should be medicated for a longer peroid of time.

[Horiz]

Thanks for the reply. SWIM has been on the waiting list for an anxiety support group and also CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for over 6 months and so far psychiatrists have been completely useless and diagnosed him with depression and prescribed anti-depressant after anti-depressant, but I'm veering off-topic now.

SWIM will definately split the days of usage up as much as possible and has a number of close people who can help monitor his use, just incase.

[Politicalchalk]

Can't recall the source off hand, but Swim recalls reading that 100% of patients on low-dose diazepam long term (ie; more than 6 months) become dependent.

Note than dependency does not necessarily mean addiction.

[matisse]

SWIM has a similar problem. Keep usage (especially of large doses) as spread out as possible and if sleeping is problem then try to use doxylamine succinate. It might help to reduce valium and xanax usage at night time. Its not scheduled and is available OTC in the US. SWIM finds that it is much more sedating than nytol and it can be brought very cheaply and legally through an internet auction site. This might help reduce your usage of benzos. Be careful mixing the two together though.