Benzodiazepines

What is it?

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that act as depressants by binding to GABA receptors. They are commonly prescribed for conditions such as anxiety disorders, but are also done recreationally. Some examples of benzodiazepine drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and clonazepam (Klonopin).

What are the effects of benzodiazepines?

Common effects of benzodiazepines include:

• Anxiety suppression
• Sedation
• Disinhibition
• Muscle relaxation
• Amnesia
• Sleepiness
• Motor control loss
• Euphoria

What are the potential risks?

While they are relatively non-lethal, benzodiazepines can still lead to addiction and overdose. Overdoses are more likely to occur when combining benzos with other depressants like alcohol or opioids.

What can I do to minimize harm while using benzodiazepines?

AVOID COMBINING BENZODIAZEPINES WITH OTHER DEPRESSANTS!!

Combining benzos with other depressants increases risk of overdose.

Start low, go slow. High doses can cause blackouts and memory loss.

Test your shit for fentanyl. Fake benzo presses are commonly laced with fentanyl.

When discontinuing benzodiazepines, taper off of them instead of going cold turkey. Withdrawing from benzodiazepines without tapering increases risk of high blood pressure, seizures and death.