[Smokus Cannabis]

Hey all. Among other things, I take benzos and MMJ for my depression. I was hooked on Ativan for years, then tapered off them about 3 years ago. Then I got back on Xanax a few months later. I got on it shortly after I started smoking MMJ (I smoked once a month before that). My pattern of abuse of benzos has changed dramatically, but I'm still a bit afraid of getting hooked again. if I fall into another depression, I'm afraid I will.
Since I've been smoking MMJ, over two years now, I'm only prescribed a small dose of Xanax once a month. Sometimes I'll wait six weeks to get it.
When I get it, I pretty much take it all within a week. I might skip a day or two, but I'm pretty fogged out until it's out. When it's out, I don't think about it anymore until the time rolls around again. This has been going on for 2 years. It's working for me - or so I think.
Well, anyway - I'm sure everybody on here is medicating with the sacred herb, but my benzo intake has been stripped down about 85%. MMJ for benzo addiction, perhaps? Anyway, if anyone else has seen their benzo use decrease with MMJ, or increase, let me know.

[clinton]

Better watch out for that Xanax, as it is very addictive. It was very hard to kick the addiction. I lowered the daily dose little by little for 6 months until I was low enough to stop even that small dose. By small - I shaved 1/4 mg pill so there was a visable amount of powder; pill lasted 3 weeks. That was the final dose before I quit. Yes it took 6 months to drop from 8 mg per day to zero. Ya I was on elephant level dosage.

clinton

[frita]

The useage pattern sounds very familiar to when I was on klonopin. I used to use my month's supply within a 2 week span (doubled the dose). Due to long half life in klonopin, it was never a real issue but the cycle was bothersome and somehow I've managed to steer clear of benzos entirely for 8 months now. I know they can be easily obtained, but, the indica strains I've been using seem to do the job nicely.

[Smokus Cannabis]

Originally Posted by frita

The useage pattern sounds very familiar to when I was on klonopin. I used to use my month's supply within a 2 week span (doubled the dose). Due to long half life in klonopin, it was never a real issue but the cycle was bothersome and somehow I've managed to steer clear of benzos entirely for 8 months now. I know they can be easily obtained, but, the indica strains I've been using seem to do the job nicely.

Sounds like we have the same pattern. Did you use MMJ the whole time you were on Klonopin? When I wasn't using MMJ, I was on elephant level dosage as well - about the same as Clinton, but with Ativan. The half life of Klonopin is long about 36 hours on high doses, but that stuff was almost entirely out of your system by the end of the two weeks you were off it. When I wasn't on MMJ, I was on high doses of Ativan every single day for years, which I can hardly remember. Anyway, thanks a lot for the replies.

[foo]

I take benzo's as well and it sounds like you have a problem with them that you should talk to your DR about. The way you are taking the pills is dangerous. For me, my medications are all for a reason and it's important that I take them as prescribed or I get really tweeked, bad! GL to you, I hope you get it worked out.

[MJP420]

Originally Posted by Smokus Cannabis

Hey all. Among other things, I take benzos and MMJ for my depression. I was hooked on Ativan for years, then tapered off them about 3 years ago. Then I got back on Xanax a few months later. I got on it shortly after I started smoking MMJ (I smoked once a month before that). My pattern of abuse of benzos has changed dramatically, but I'm still a bit afraid of getting hooked again. if I fall into another depression, I'm afraid I will.
Since I've been smoking MMJ, over two years now, I'm only prescribed a small dose of Xanax once a month. Sometimes I'll wait six weeks to get it.
When I get it, I pretty much take it all within a week. I might skip a day or two, but I'm pretty fogged out until it's out. When it's out, I don't think about it anymore until the time rolls around again. This has been going on for 2 years. It's working for me - or so I think.
Well, anyway - I'm sure everybody on here is medicating with the sacred herb, but my benzo intake has been stripped down about 85%. MMJ for benzo addiction, perhaps? Anyway, if anyone else has seen their benzo use decrease with MMJ, or increase, let me know.

All I have to say is that my benzo use has decreased to zero with the use of MMJ. It took me a while but MJ reduces my cravings to almost nothing and do the same job my benzodiazepines were doing. That is all.

[Kushad]

Originally Posted by MJP420

All I have to say is that my benzo use has decreased to zero with the use of MMJ. It took me a while but MJ reduces my cravings to almost nothing and do the same job my benzodiazepines were doing. That is all.

wat strains do u use to replicate the benzo feeling? i heard purples and basically any strong indica is good for people stopping benzos. because the sativas tend to stir up more anxiety.

[Smokus Cannabis]

Originally Posted by Kushad

wat strains do u use to replicate the benzo feeling? i heard purples and basically any strong indica is good for people stopping benzos. because the sativas tend to stir up more anxiety.

Hey, I know you didn't ask me, but I'll tell you my 2cents anyway. As you probably know, MMJ isn't the same high as a benzo. It's a much more enjoyable high, but not as effective, at least for me, for sleep and anxiety. That's why I still take Xanax. Might want to try water hash, which occasionally knocks me so hard on my ass, I go to sleep early. Strong edibles are also very good. It's hard to worry about things when you're laughing your ass off. Good luck!

[Smokus Cannabis]

Originally Posted by foo

I take benzo's as well and it sounds like you have a problem with them that you should talk to your DR about. The way you are taking the pills is dangerous. For me, my medications are all for a reason and it's important that I take them as prescribed or I get really tweeked, bad! GL to you, I hope you get it worked out.

The thing is, I think it is working for me, though I know I have to watch my ass with benzo addiction. I've gone way, way down in my benzo intake since I got on MMJ. When I get benzos, I usually haven't slept much in a while (I'm an insomniac ) so I take them every night for about a week and sleep like a baby. I do that every four to six weeks. The rest of the time, I stay the hell away from them and take my other sleep aids that don't work as well. I've never once missed a day of work because I was zonked. I'm just wondering if others have found that MMJ has made their benzo intake go way down as well. People might want to use MMJ during the time they're tapering off benzos. Anyway, thanks for your reply.

[foo]

in that regard yes, mjj has indeed lessened my intake of pills in general, benzos included.

[OGHASHPLANT310]

Originally Posted by foo

in that regard yes, mjj has indeed lessened my intake of pills in general, benzos included.

same here

[somdumhoe]

ive been taking ativan about 6mo. for my anxiety.i just started smoking mmj to see if i could taper off the ativan.so far its been kinda hard.i havent found the right strain yet.....i wish you luck in your mission...i would love to be pill free!

[pogoismydog420]

when dr first prescribed them, i took em first day. didnt get off the couch and felt like i was just a lump on a log with no emotion watsoever...next day i broke the indicas bak out and went to skool and functiond fine. i use the benzos when i really need them...kinda last resort type deal if my anxiety is so damn bad i cant even get some sleep...which hasn't been an issue since i been finding good indica srains trim and making my own edibles...seem to work just gotta know your tolerance and pick your strains wisely based on how they affect you, which takes time...

[pogoismydog420]

Originally Posted by Kushad

wat strains do u use to replicate the benzo feeling? i heard purples and basically any strong indica is good for people stopping benzos. because the sativas tend to stir up more anxiety.

dont think a strain can replicate the feeling of benzos. just my .02... i use indicas to help my anxiety, however they dont 'zonk' me out lik benzos do...

[MadRiverTurtle]

Why are you being prescribed Xanax for depression? I'm curious as I've never heard of that being the Rx route for battling depression. Or do you have anxiety issues coupled with the depression?



edit: old post is old. there's a bunch of other benzo threads in here. closed.