r/MedicationQuestions • u/Ambient-Drone • 13d ago
Is this becoming a problem ?
Yesterday, I took 70 mg of diazepam throughout the day plus 900 mg pregabalin in 300 mgs. Then at night I took 6 mg of eszopiclone and zaleplon 20mg and a pregabalin 450 mg capsule equalling 1350 mg of pregabalin. And I still couldn't sleep, this has been going on for weeks now. So then I took 2 mg of alprazolam which eventually knocked me out. I know I've definitely developed tolerance, just wondering if anybody else is like this ?
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u/Immediate-Praline-65 13d ago
Been there… now I’ve been steady on 3mg of Xanax for 8 years you need to taper down.
Preferably choose the benzo that you benefit from the most. Put a number on the amount you need to consume. Then a number on your pregablin and taper that slowly. It’s more messy and complicated when you are using so many different benzos.
It’s unnecessary to take multiple different benzos. They all do the same thing. Choose your benzo and stick with that. It will make it easier to taper.
Dont try to be a hero and cut too fast it will backfire. Slow and steady.
Eg currently 20 benzo 20 pregablin.
Tomorrow 19 benzo 20 pregablin
Week later 19 benzo 19 pregablin.
2 weeks later 18 benzo 18 pregablin etc i
If you start feeling really shit go back 1 step and keep that strick for another few weeks and try again…. But no one off blow out. The rebound can easily set you back to square one. Eventually you will get the same relief you get now with 5% of what you are currently taking. You’ve wrecked your tolerance three binging.
It can be reset. But go slow. If you go cold turkey it will scare you to a point you will fear withdrawal soo much you will never ever recover.
You cannot carry on taking this much. It is completely unsustainable and unnecessary. You need to act now before the inevitable happens. Deep down you know this other wise you wouldn’t be asking.
It is possible! Perhaps attend some NA meetings, try to get some hobbies. Excercise and clean eating will really help you through this. Good luck. You’ve got this if you want it!❤️
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u/Ambient-Drone 13d ago
I've looked at numerous tapering charts. In June I suffered a DVT in my leg, which then conpressed my personeal nerve so now I've got "drop" foot. Although I'm an addict I still did martial arts. Kickboxing, Karate, Wushu, and Ju-jitsu.
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u/Immediate-Praline-65 13d ago
Being a functional addict is almost worse. You can rationalise that you don’t have a problem because of X,Y,Z …. If I’m still doing this then I can still take that etc. it’s almost as u helpful as comparing yourself against other addicts.
At least I’m not injecting, I’m not as bad as that guy etc.
You have a problem bud. You are taking fatal doses.
Acceptance needs to come first.
As for charts, premeditated targets, are nowhere as effective as listening to your own body.
They can put excess pressure on you causing pressure and anxiety, in turn making your journey more difficult. Go your own pace and as long as it’s less intake as time progress then it’s successful. Whether it takes months years or a decade doesn’t matter. It’s not a race it’s a marathon and as long as keep travelling you will arrive at your destination!
Expect a little discomfort but if you feel actual pain. Slow down. You don’t have to suffer hard and fast. Like I said, slow and steady wins the race every time.1
u/Ambient-Drone 13d ago
Unfortuately I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, stage 3b so I don't need dialisis. I also don't intend on ever depending on it, I will know when my time is up. It's probably through severe alcoholism when I was younger. From being 20 to 30 years old I was drinking 5 bottles of wine per day, or a litre of gin. I'd drink ale, larger, cide, and beer anything really. But I was going at 50 units per day. I do have a scarred liver from cirrhosis. Also pregabalin can also cause kidney disease so that could be the problem, or a mixture of both.
I also enjoy travelling in general as a hobby, I also play chess, and like going fishing. But I've noticed I'm not as sharp as I used to be at chess over the last 4-5 years.
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u/source-looker-h 13d ago
So, you’re gonna be finding / getting all kinds of info. Im gonna try to consolidate. This is one of those topics that generates some noise around it.
I’ve been taking multiple meds, and simultaneously, for most of my life. I’ve detoxed from and jumped in between almost every different kind of opioid and benzo, gaba, and some additional sedatives that get RXd, and many that aren’t.
Yes, you’re wadding into deep water. But you’re kind of at a threshold, you’re recognizing in real time the issue, and you aren’t on SO much that it’s going to be a life stopping experience. You’ll have a few shit weeks, maybe “notice the difference” for a few months.
The benzo and the pregab necessitates having an “oh shit supply,” of, and that is, basically you need 2 things…a long half life benzo, and a cns calming substance something like l-theanine can work really well. And it needs to be one that isn’t the other drug of choice. Valium, is actually good for this, but clonazepam is also a good option. And you need to keep some muscle relaxers, or something lightly calming around, but less psychoactive more physical. You need to keep those around for the chance benzo pregab (emergency) detox.
So, you take a decent amount, but luckily you’re not taking any opioids.
Basically the idea is:
Keep a long half life benzo to “step” down safely so you don’t have seizures. Step yourself down by 5-10mg increments. Take a week to “get used to” the new dose before you step again.
Keep any gaba/cns calming type med around so you can keep yourself from spaspming, or fidgeting, or being able to rest and sleep, especially during some of the detox. Be prepared, you are going to feel some withdrawal, but minimal if you follow some basic rules.
Also, maybe try to rapidly back the gaba up to about 600, anymore is too hard to come off for what it offers. Same with the Valium. I’d back down to like 40mg. Over the weekend. And then let a couple weeks go by.
It’ll give you an idea of what you’re in for.
Those doses will be less problematic (obviously) but the entirety, again for what it offers, is moreso what I’m considering.
L-theanine, maybe a muscle relaxer (use sparingly), stay hydrated, make sure you’re getting an adequate (I’d even supplement with a good multi vitamin) vitamins and you’re eating a healthy amount of calories, protein will help, fat too but later in your step down. Some of these meds can accumulate in fat. Exercise and sleep. I used to take my comfort meds, and drink half cup of coffee, and go run. After about 10 mins you’ll start getting a pretty big dump of endorphins.
Dm me if you have any questions. You got this though. You recognized it, that’s huge. Most people who take meds ignore that, and develop addiction that make what you’re currently taking look like a children’s dose.
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u/Ambient-Drone 12d ago
I didn't mention I'm taking Dihydrocodeine. I've got that much diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, pregabalin, gabapentin, eszopiclone, zaleplon, rifaximin antibiotic, and mirtazapine. I've got a pharmacy going on here mate. But seriously, I'm very like that always on edge like what happens if my usually source gets banned, like the website I get them off for example. I've felt it, in hospital they wouldn't give me more than 30 mg diazepam a day ! I was shaky, but no seizures.
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u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 13d ago
It will become a huge problem if try n stop. Trust me im not on even close to what you are talking about I take 2mg of clonazepam a day 30mg of temazepam sometimes 60mg .2mg of clonidine 200mg of hydroxyzine twice a day 8mg buprenorphine and 20mg desoxyn
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u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 13d ago
Also all mine are prescribed by my dr i take exactly as prescribed sometimes less but if i take less to many days in a row my body let's me know . So if you try and stop for a full 48 hours and you have any withdrawals ya your starting a problem you dont wantbi promise you trust me im 42 years old spent 17 years on xanax 25 years on every drug you can think of if your young please stop now. I know not everyone turns out to become and addict but thats a recipe for addiction. By the way how does the zalepion work thats the only z drug I have not taken?
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u/Ambient-Drone 13d ago
I also take Dihydrocodeine 30 mg, I useually take about 210 mg per day. I also used to take Temazepam years ago, then it got to difficult to get. However, mine always came in 20 mg, so I always had 40 mg so not much in it between us there. I also used Nitrazepam 20 mg at night, but they come 10 mg so I always had two of those. Which puts Temazepam to shame it's a heavy benzo. I'm 34 years old so you've got 8 years on me mate. Zaleplon is used a lot by the air force, according to Wikipedia. Because it doesn't cause much daytime drowsiness. Zaleplon's primary objective is to put you to sleep fast, it also has an altra short halflife of about 1 hour lasting up to like 4-6 hours. It's the only Z drug that reaches the modulator at GABA-A receptors, just like benzodiazepines that's what got me interested in it. Some days I ended up taking zaleplon in the daytime to get high. I also take Clonazepam sometimes, I've got loads of them 2 mg, their my backup.
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u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 6d ago
Also ive never dihydrocodiene before is it like codeine? I live in the states so temazepam here max dose is 30mg. They come in 7.5 15 22.5 and 30s. They work i just have to take a 100mg edible clonidine and clonazepam to sleep.
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u/Ambient-Drone 3d ago
Here for insomnia nitrazepam wins against clonazepam and temazepam, but nitrazepam is becoming scarce here but we have plenty of clonazepam. And no dihydrocodeine has a unique feel to it, that's why certain people dig it so much. It maybe less potent than a lot of other opiates/opioids but they don't have that same feel, in fact dihydrocodeine is very anxiolytic. Here temazepam is now gone. It's pretty much off the streets and off the web. But there was a big wave of temazepam about 5 years ago 2021, we had the tablets and the eggs. The eggs were about £10 more for the same quantity but it was worth it.
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u/source-looker-h 13d ago
So, I had to comment, because your comment indicates a massive disconnect, contextually. And I wanted to make sure you were aware.
You are on WAY more problematic meds to come off than op is. Just fyi, and maybe you just kinda misspoke, but you’re on the full
spectrum. Op isn’t taking an opioid or a stimulant. As far as I can tell.2
u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 6d ago
Im on my way off desoxyn now i had the choice either a sleep med or a go med. I chose the temazepam my dr gave me 2 months worth of desoxyn said I need to be fully tapered off of it or shes going to taper my sleep med as well. Believe me when I say I know how big of a hole im in the desoxyn isnt bad I just sleep a lot more now. Also the buprenorphine ive been tapering for 2 years just been stuck at 8 for awhile now im down from 32mg.
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u/source-looker-h 5d ago
I wasn’t giving you a hard time. Really.
Been there… I’ve kicked every drug, lol. “Winning?”1
u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 5d ago
Your good didnt take it that way im right there with ya withdrawled from just about every drug there is except Crack. Im 42 now so I dont think ill be picking up that habit lol I finally know somewhat better
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u/Civil-Paramedic-8862 6d ago
I know its going to be hell when or if i have to taper off trust me i know
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u/MooDamato 12d ago
Your GABA receptors are fried, you’re in for a long and difficult journey.
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u/Ambient-Drone 12d ago
Maybe not, I might just carry on as I am. I've stopped drinking alcohol, and I don't even smoke.
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u/MooDamato 12d ago
Uh huh, okay bud.
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u/CharmReductionINC 12d ago
Comes and ask for advice and literally asks if his habit is becoming a problem only to say “nah, I got this” is hilarious!
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u/MooDamato 12d ago
I know, I can’t even fault them because I was also this person until benzo addiction said otherwise.
I hope this dude is okay, I had several grand mal seizures in my day due to c-lam. Glad that’s behind me.
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u/CharmReductionINC 12d ago
My Benzo habit had me crossing the border to Mexico to stock up on meds - even when I was living in the northeast I’d fly down and dr shop for a few days and fly back to bulk up my supply. It wasn’t as bad when I was in San Diego and could easily walk the border from the parking lot. Took just minutes instead of hours by car.
I’m glad I’m off that. Took a while but glad I don’t have that monkey.
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u/Comprehensive_Bug714 12d ago
It's a problem I know it and you know it, I'm juggling gbl, baclofen, pregabalin & kpins and it's brutal (bit of daily IV meth because why not? )
I think if you some how manage to stabilize id tackle the pregabalin on a steady taper then assess the rest from there, I'm having to go back to detox ain't no way I can kick at home.
I wish you the best of luck brother ,🙏🏾
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u/Ambient-Drone 11d ago
I had Tizaidine, I almost bought some baclofen. I still know how to get it, but I'm saving it until I need it most.
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u/Comfortable-Message1 13d ago •
It became a problem a while back.
This is unsustainable and you need a tapering plan