How to use Xanax without developing physical dependancy

[Jega]

It's a Great, absolutely excellent, anti-anxiety medication that gets you off a scheduled substance.

(though if it was going through the review process in 2015 I don't see how it wouldn't be scheduled. Hell they gave lyrica a 5 lol)

[Diacetylmorphinefiend (OP)]

Ok after more thought. What if I continue the 900mg gabapentin a day but cut my Xanax use down to once a week? Would that be a sustainable usage pattern? If not what would be? Basically I like Xanax as a recreational drug but I don't have a steady supply all the time. That's why I don't want to get physically addicted.

[Jega]

That sounds perfectly rational and reasonable.

[Diacetylmorphinefiend (OP)]

Thanks jega. I'll post an update if/when I start feeling withdraw from the Xanax. I'm continuing the gabapentin at 900mg a day. If I do start feeling withdrawal would upping my gabapentin dose be a good idea?

Thanks to everyone for all the help and info! I would of been fucked otherwise.

[Jega]

You'll be fine. And frankly as infrequently as you intend to take them, if you need to take a xanax, take a fucking xanax. You'll be fine.

[Chip]

makita, that was a great post ! *claps, sort of*

[Zoops]

From Wiki:
"Though similar in structure to the endogenous neurotransmitter GABA, gabapentin has not been shown to bind to GABA receptors at concentrations at or below 1 mM. Gabapentin modulates the action of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT), two enzymes involved in GABA biosynthesis. In human and rat studies, gabapentin was found to increase GABA biosynthesis, and to increase non-synaptic GABA neurotransmission in vitro.

The GABA biosynthesis-increasing effects act at the transcriptional level and cannot explain the immediate effect one gets when taking a large dose of gabapentin. Despite the literature that's out there, I believe it must act at very significantly some receptor-binding level. Increasing non-synaptic GABA neurotransmission, which has been shown in vitro, is intriguing, however.

I'd like to think that it just acts as a more potent version of the natural neurotransmitter, but it's not that simple, unfortunately, like with many drugs.

It definitely does something to GABA-ergic neurotransmission, though. And can't high-dose gabapentin (and pregabalin, I'd presume also) jack up your tolerance to benzos, alcohol and basically anything that affects GABA?

Jega? Anything you'd like to say about that?

[Jega]

I think it's bullshit, i've seen studies that say the opposite. Im working on an Etiz post and when i'm done i'll go over your study.

But if you just look at the chemical structure of Gaba and gabapentin, you can see how it could be treated as GABA(a) at the receptor sites.

After using this for more then a decade, I don't believe every study on gabapentin. Just throwing that out there

Edit: Ok First off were talking about tests on gaba at extremely low amounts.

I've seen where it shows activity at calcium channels. It's possible. But I would imagine that it's a metabolite. I know that's why they tested such a small about but you have a chemical mind zoops. In your mind imagine the structure of gabapentin and gaba and think what would happen to gabapentin after first pass. How would that structure look.

I still think at prescription (or higher) doses it's comparative agonist (not necessarily competitive but companion) at GABA sites.

[Opus]

at concentrations at or below 1 mM

I have no idea how to relate this to dosage, but it seems to be a low level?

I'd be pretty hardpressed to believe that regular use of GP wouldn't bring a risk of dependency..

Kinda like how some insist that GABA doesn't cross the BBB. GABA actually works quite well for me to help alleviate WD; it's not a miracle fix, but it definitely helps.

[Zoops]

In your mind imagine the structure of gabapentin and gaba and think what would happen to gabapentin after first pass. How would that structure look.

Hard to believe it wouldn't be a jacked-up version of GABA itself, with that hydrophobic attachment on it to help it get into the nerve cells. What I'm saying is I agree with you that it must have some GABA-agonist activity

But it's not metabolized at all, really. Instead, it's renally excreted unchanged. One would expect, though, that the ring part of the structure might be hydroxylated by some hepatic enzyme or collection thereof.

[Griffin]

The only thing that helped me from becoming dependent on benzos again was having my doctor prescribe me a super low dose that I usually end up using it all in 4-5 days. Thats the only thing thats worked for me as my self control is not anywhere near good enough to have them around everyday unless someone was giving them to me when needed. I get depression really bad the days after I take them for a few days and crave getting high but can't seem to stop refilling my benzo scripts. it's just to easy to call in a refill or goto the doctor for 10 minute especially sense I have medicaid and my scripts are a dollar and my doc visits are $2.


Griffin

[Diacetylmorphinefiend (OP)]

I haven't taken any Xanax since Saturday afternoon and so far so good no withdrawal. I really wish I understood all of you guys conversation.

[Chip]

at concentrations at or below 1 mM

I have no idea how to relate this to dosage, but it seems to be a low level?

I'd be pretty hardpressed to believe that regular use of GP wouldn't bring a risk of dependency..

Kinda like how some insist that GABA doesn't cross the BBB. GABA actually works quite well for me to help alleviate WD; it's not a miracle fix, but it definitely helps.

if it's Gabapentin then what's the optimum dosage ? they never worked for me.

[Opus]

if it's Gabapentin then what's the optimum dosage ? they never worked for me.

No idea, I've only taken GP like twice and all it seems to do to me is make me really dizzy. I tend to really dig GABA agonists, but apparently not that one..

[Diacetylmorphinefiend (OP)]

at concentrations at or below 1 mM

I have no idea how to relate this to dosage, but it seems to be a low level?

I'd be pretty hardpressed to believe that regular use of GP wouldn't bring a risk of dependency..

Kinda like how some insist that GABA doesn't cross the BBB. GABA actually works quite well for me to help alleviate WD; it's not a miracle fix, but it definitely helps.

if it's Gabapentin then what's the optimum dosage ? they never worked for me.

My unscientific response is that 900mg feels good to me.

[Chip]

if it's Gabapentin then what's the optimum dosage ? they never worked for me.

My unscientific response is that 900mg feels good to me.

that much ? wow, ok no wonder i got nothing from it.

and YES, we can and must talk about dosages on this site. I am in full support of that despite it being frowned upon at Opiophile