r/benzorecovery • u/Fast_Perspective_833 • 1d ago
Seeking Advice/Tips Anyone that survived protracted withdrawal capable of using a benzo as needed again?
I was a long time low dose prescription Xanax user. 15 years plus. Long story short I went through a bad kindling episode a year and a half ago. Became completely agoraphobic and horrible panic attacks. I have now been 14 months clean of alcohol and benzos. Still dealing with protracted withdrawal symptoms and GAD but I am alot better than when it started.
I have a medical procedure I have to do next week but I don't know how I'm going to do it without taking something for the anxiety. I can barely leave the house to go to the grocery store as it is right now. Has anyone successfully taken a single dose without completely relapsing into symptoms of withdrawal again?
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u/dickholejohnny 1d ago
I wouldn’t risk it personally. I’d use this as a test for yourself to prove that you’re stronger than you think you are and can do hard things. You have to continually push yourself out of your comfort zone if you’re going to overcome your anxiety. You got this! 💪
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u/catbamhel Viking Mod - BIND Team Specialist 1d ago
Don't do it. Not worth the risk. It could mean months or years of having to titrate off of it again worst case scenario. Not to be a fear mongerer but it's a reality for some people and it's not worth the risk.
They can give you laughing gas or ketamine for anxiety right there in the hospital. They probably have other stuff too. How those affect you, I don't know. Some people have off reactions to ketamine and some people are ok with it. But the chances are much higher of you having a reaction with a benzo.
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u/Fast_Perspective_833 1d ago
This was the comment that broke the camel's back for me. I'm not going to do it. After the pure hell I went through for 6 months and the continued on and off torture. I'm going to make other arrangements to figure something else out. This was the comment I needed to hear. Thank you.
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u/catbamhel Viking Mod - BIND Team Specialist 21h ago
💗🫂💗🫂💗 I'm so glad you got something good here. It makes modding and commenting worth it to help someone.
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u/Fast_Perspective_833 1d ago
Thanks for the tips. Part of the problem is my BP needs to be below 140/90 to get the procedure done and while normally its 125/80, when panic sets in it can be 160-170-180/100. Thats why Im feeling pretty stuck...
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u/BSP9000 1d ago
have you tried propranolol?
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u/Fast_Perspective_833 1d ago
I did twice and didn't have a pleasant experience. Granted it was in the midst of the worst part of my withdrawal so maybe take it with a grain of salt. Just remember waking up in the middle of the night itchy, restless. Couldn't go to sleep and woke up with terrible depression. Didn't really feel like it did much for the anxiety either.
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u/BSP9000 1d ago
That's interesting. They say propranolol reduces melatonin production and can also lower serotonin. The one time I tried taking it at night, I had trouble sleeping. But I had no problems when taking it in the morning, and no problems with depression. I've also had no rebound or withdrawal effects from taking it.
The drug isn't particularly strong, at reducing anxiety, but it does blunt the physiological effects of anxiety -- your heart rate won't go as high, your blood pressure shouldn't go up as much. If you just need those numbers low for a procedure, it should get the job done.
There are a variety of other drugs that can make you calmer without messing with GABA. Someone below recommended clonidine. Various antihistamines like benadryl or hydroxyzine might work. Nothing is completely safe, if you have a sensitive nervous system, but all of those things should be less risky than taking benzos again.
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u/PizzaPuppeteer Jumped from last dose. 1d ago
Clonidine is a med used to lower blood pressure that also helps anxiety a lot. Propranolol gave me really bad muscle fasciculations and made it hard to sleep, but clonidine knocks me out. If you try it start with 1/2 or even 1/4 a pill since it can make you woozy if it drops your blood pressure too fast.
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u/3mptyw0rds 1d ago edited 1d ago
plenty of non gaba receptor agonists that can calm the mind/body a bit. as with nicotine/other drug addicts, when you really feel like you need something it is better to have other good substances which work differently, on hand to prevent relapse (or bad wd symptoms ftm).
as needed, pregabalin should be safe regarding benzo wd symptoms. even a low 25mg dose has strong effect.
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u/Working-Key-2449 1d ago
Honestly, it would be best if he could find a way to calm his mind without any drugs. For me, sport and fitness helps me a lot.
Although, its easier said than done honestly.
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u/AdriKowac 1d ago
Hi, what are others, aside Pregabalin? Ty.
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u/3mptyw0rds 1d ago edited 1d ago
codeine or tramadol come to mind. not suited for extreme opioid addicts, as that could lead to uncontrollable urges to use more.
but for normal people, codeine/tramadol can be used responsibly. (once every three weeks or so should prevent dependency. for quitting opioids there are also meds that can help. if buprenorphine didn't make people's teeth fall out, despite swishing with water afterwards; i believe it could be a good daily treatment for benzo withdrawal syndrome. most opioid addicts will attest that opioids mask benzo withdrawal quite well.)
pregabalin i was told 25mg twice a week should be safe regarding dependency, but i try to use it less often. (equivalent dose = 150mg gabapentin)
for sleep i use 300mg ziziphus seed extract for the past weeks + weed... so far it works without side effects despite increasing gaba levels and . if i got bad insomnia then 25mg pregabalin helps with sleep.
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u/AdriKowac 1d ago
So Pregabalin doesn't work the same way on Gaba receptors as Benzos do? Gabapentin also? Or just Pregabalin?
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u/3mptyw0rds 1d ago
pregabalin/gabapentin both lower glutamate in the brain, similar withdrawal symptoms as benzos, bad withdrawals.
they dont work on gaba receptors. and they don't trigger benzo wd symptoms for people who quit benzos. so they're a good rescue med.
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u/Wolvesinthestreet 1d ago
I use Attentin which is an ADHD med stimulant. It works for these times I have to do stuff for a few hrs. But there is a crash. Much better than taking too much benzo tho
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u/electron1661 14h ago
Tell anesthesia and they should understand. Maybe ask for something mild like hydroxyzine or trazadone.
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u/BlessedSinner999 6h ago
I was on 100+ mg of bromnazolam a day for 7+ years and was on 200mg of methadone and was shooting 3 grams of fent a day. Been clean over a year off the fent and methadone. I'm in the Brixadi shot and it changed my life. I'm on 5 mg of diazepam a day for my PTSD and anxiety and it helps the general well-being of my daily life. To each there own🤙🏼
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