Responsible recreational use of benzos?

Question

I am in my mid 20s and have been diagnosed with acute anxiety a few years ago. Though counciling and meds I have controlled the panic that comes with this condition. My problem is the physical chest pain . Even when I get the mental aspect under control, my physical response keeps getting too intense. I have a perscription for klonopin and ativan.

I have learned to control the mental symptoms with psychotherapy and meditation, but the physical is still a problem.

I take them only when I need them, but I have had a stomach infection that prevents me from drinking alcohol, and cancer runs strongly in my family so I do not smoke. My problem is that when I do go out with my friends to bars (Maybe once or twice a month), I want to relax and have a good time. I ask for a drink that looks like it has alcohol in it (but doesn't) and usually take a few benzos to relax and have a good time.

What are the safe limits to these drugs? (klon is 1 mg and ativan is 1 mg).

Answer 1

Don't drink, don't use your meds as recreation.

Get new friends, or you will be dead.

The only thing we ever did on downers was nod off.

Seriously get into a friendly church and forget about a carreer in freakiness.

Answer 2

You are aware that both meds chemically addictive?  For that reason alone they are not safe to use recreationally.

Most people would use thc.  You can use mj without smoking.  You can chew, sit it under the tounge, or eat.  

And yes, you do need to tell your doctor that you are using recreationally.

Answer 3

don't worry about what churchy churcherson is spewing off about.  he should go read Matthew 7:1.  

anyway, sorry to say that the correct medical answer would be: you shouldn't use them recreationally.  However, that doesn't mean you can drink and spend time with your friends.  Lorazapam (Ativan) and clonazepam (klonopin) are both benzodiazepines as you know, but they are a little different. Lorazapam is considerablely more potent (it takes less of the drug to get a similiar effect) and it is intermediate acting while clonazapam is a longer acting drug.

It sounds like you may be taking them intermitantly, which really isn't as good as taking them on a schedule.  If you are taking them on a schedule it would be preferable to skip the dose of lorazampam if you are planning on having a few drinks.  If skipping doses is out of the question then drinking isn't necessarily out of the question as well.  Alcohol has additive effects with these drugs and a lot less will tend to hit you a lot harder when you consume the two together.  

You just have to learn your limits and take it easy.

You may want to ask your dr about switching to a different class of drugs for your anxiety buspirone (Buspar) is a nonbenzo and it is non sedating, and isn't associated with dependence, abuse or withdrawl and it has the advantage of no interaction with alcohol.  It does take sometime to start working, so you will have to take care in how you switch over (ask your dr).  

Coming from someone who has delt with depression for a long time I know mental health is a very hard thing to deal with. It effects all parts of your life and you just need to educate yourself and work hard to get better.  Just asking this question was a way to do that, and you should be commended for making a good, solid effort to better your life.

To the d-bags who just want to chastise others because they don't adhere to their narrowminded views: You are doing nothing to help anyone by making those comments. In fact that just isn't WJWD.