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Aiding the untrained traveler's difficult experiences with benzos?

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VoidTraveler

VoidTraveler

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Allow me to begin this post by stating that I am no fan of Benzodiazepines. While they provide relieve from anxiety and fear they also have a very negative impact on the cognitive centers of the brain, especially with long term use. Then there's also the risk of side effects and dependence upon these substances to be able to function/sleep normally after prolonged use. However, they also provide very helpful effects for those that are scared or anxious.

I was given a prescription of Clonazepam 0.5 mg a few years back after I suffered from severe insomnia and activity in my sleep. I used these pills a few times but found that the side effects (such as drowsiness the next day) outweighed the positive effects and stopped using them. The symptoms for which I used them also disappeared and now I'm left with 4.5 tablets.

Due to my openness and experience with the use of psychedelics I get often asked by people to trip sit them. I'm very selective with whom I trip sit as I believe using psychedelics isn't for everyone. Those that I do trip sit generally have a good experience. However, I've had one girl freak out on me so badly I couldn't calm her down, no matter what I tried. I tried to have her speak to me, explain what she was going through, reassure her, take her into a different room, put on her favorite music, gave her something to drink. Nothing worked and the entire experience ended up being traumatic to her, something she'd rather not repeat.

And this brings me to the question: If I had given this girl 0.25 or 0.5 mg of Clonazepam during her frightening experience, could that have helped ease the experience for her? Mind you, I'm not looking for an easy way out of a bad trip, especially not for myself. I've had frightening experiences and sat through them and I've coached others through their difficult experiences. I'm looking at these as a last resort when nothing else seems to work.

I read there are no negative interactions between the RIMAs in ayahuasca or the other classic hallucinogens and that a 0.5 mg dose would be sufficient to help with the anxiety.
 
The clonazepam would have definitely helped reduce her anxiety. It wouldn't do anything to stop the trip, it only mentally calms the person and induces relaxation so it would be fine to use if the person cannot handle the experience. However, they're good to have around in chaotic situations like non-fatal overdoses so try to use them sparingly so you can have them when you really need them. Also, clonazepam is weaker in it's anxiolytic effects relative to some other benzos like Etizolam, Alprazolam, or Diazepam so it might take more clonazepam to have a better anxiolytic effect.
 
Clonazepam is a potent drug when compared to most of the other -azepams on a weight for weight basis; some branded versions such as Rivotril made by Roche work nicely sublingually which speeds up the rate of onset of action.Handy to be aware of this for acute situations requiring anxiolysis.Lorazepam made by Wyeth, also active sublingually, has more pronounced anxiolytic effects than clonazepam but both are indicated for acute mania, which makes both useful to have around.
 
In my opinion you should NEVER EVER NEVER EVER give someone even a small dose of a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them by their own doctor. Regardless of what anyone says, this is of tantamount importance. Don't do it! There's a reason this stuff is scheduled/controlled - it's strong, can be addictive if abused and has very strong side effects.

I'm sorry about the difficulty. Next time I would advise starting someone out new on a very very low dose rather than a full blown breakthrough or whatever. Nothing wrong with taking baby steps, with testing the waters with a toe BEFORE diving into the deep end head first.
 
Pandora said:
In my opinion you should NEVER EVER NEVER EVER give someone even a small dose of a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them by their own doctor. Regardless of what anyone says, this is of tantamount importance. Don't do it! There's a reason this stuff is scheduled/controlled - it's strong, can be addictive if abused and has very strong side effects.

I'm sorry about the difficulty. Next time I would advise starting someone out new on a very very low dose rather than a full blown breakthrough or whatever. Nothing wrong with taking baby steps, with testing the waters with a toe BEFORE diving into the deep end head first.
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Does this imply that theres a difference between giving someone a prescription drug and an ilicit one? Or does the same apply to both categories? If someone on say mushrooms came out with an itchy blotchy and clearly allergic rash, would you deprive them of an antihistamine even if it was in the house?
 
Pandora said:
In my opinion you should NEVER EVER NEVER EVER give someone even a small dose of a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them by their own doctor. Regardless of what anyone says, this is of tantamount importance. Don't do it! There's a reason this stuff is scheduled/controlled - it's strong, can be addictive if abused and has very strong side effects.
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Thank you for your concerns Pandora. I understand them but believe they are misplaced in this case. While I agree that these substances are controlled for a reason I see no reason why giving some a 0.5 mg dose of Rivotril (the clonazepam tablets that I have) or doing mdma with them. I have done my background research, I know the effects and the many reasons not to take them.

I believe that any drug, whether it is over the counter, prescribed or illicit can be used in a responsible manner when approached in the correct way.
 
Pandora said:
In my opinion you should NEVER EVER NEVER EVER give someone even a small dose of a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them by their own doctor. Regardless of what anyone says, this is of tantamount importance. Don't do it! There's a reason this stuff is scheduled/controlled - it's strong, can be addictive if abused and has very strong side effects.
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You do realize that virtually every psychedelic we gather to discuss here is scheduled/controlled, yes?
 
One of the quickest and most effective ways I've found to take the edge off of a heavy trip is around 50-100mg of diphenhydramine. There's a similar after effect to benzos with the grogginess and sluggishness, but, in my experience, nowhere near as bad and they also appear to be considerably safer when used responsibly.

Just my two mongolian tögrögs...
 
In Pandora's defence, I think she meant prescribed drugs being given to someone who hasn't had them prescribed to them by a doctor in the first place. Much as some of the hoodoo we all engage in might/could/probably will involve the unprescribed use of prescribed substances, e.g. MAOI's, I think her comment has been misunderstood.
 
I've given benzos to a couple of people in the past when they were in deep waters on LSD and was very thankful to have it to give. I have seen some pretty severe freakouts, benzos and time are the best to have around in a situation like that.
 
when needed I dont hesitate. I have taken em myself and I have given em to others.

my cure all is

Klonapin 2mg and a 10-15 grams inositol, a B complex, dissolved in some good black tea or fruit juice.

That cocktail above has rescued me from the jaws of death on more than one occasion.

lol

IH
 
In my opinion psychedelics were scheduled/controlled NOT for medical reasons but for political reasons. Whereas things like benzodiazapenes and other psychiatric drugs were developed for a variety of reasons, medical and profit high on the list.

I would suggest when offering someone a psychedelic starting very very low, because if they haven't done it or any before, the effects can be unpredictable. What IF there is an allergic or other reaction separate from a psychological freakout. Wouldn't starting low at least give someone a better chance?

In my opinion psychedelics are some of the safest drugs known to mankind, especially when viewed from a physical viewpoint. Sure there are dangers, but they are not the dangers of say for example, benzodiazapenes. We are talking very very separate worlds here.

Again, I stress it is my opinion that the prescription drugs are correctly classified as Schedule II, III and IV. But that the psychedelics drugs, being Schedule I is incorrect, not medically accurate and motivated by politics and racism in the past and (the maintenance of these ongoing Schedule I federal classifications) today motivated by profit as MUCH as the prescription pharmaceutical industry is.

And I did in fact say what I meant - I really don't think it is ever a good idea to give a prescription drug to anyone who hasn't had that drug specifically and recently prescribed by their own doctor.
 
Pandora said:
And I did in fact say what I meant - I really don't think it is ever a good idea to give a prescription drug to anyone who hasn't had that drug specifically and recently prescribed by their own doctor.
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The distinction between prescription and non-prescription drugs can be a little arbitrary and varies from one geographical location to the next.
 
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