Question about tolerance, paradoxal effect

[Guest [da...]]

Sorry if I place this thread wrong.

 

I have a question about tolerance and cross tolerance when it comes to benzos. I used to take it before now it happens maybe once a month or so. If I take 2 medications as an example, preferably the ones I used to take. Xanax for anxiety and Zopiclone for sleep. Now Xanax has a half-life of 12 hours so 1mg will be about 0,5mg after 12 hours and 1mg xanax ≈ 30mg Zopiclone(which is a lot they come in 7,5mg pills so thats 4.)

 

Now lets say someone takes 1mg xanax and then 12 hours later 15mg Zopiclone. How does this work, does this mean you have 0,5  ≈ 15mg + 15mg = 30mg in your body(or 1mg xanax)? Is tolerance something that develops over time or instant? I remember when I used to take benzos daily that if I took Xanax during the day and then Zopiclone before bed the effect wasnt as good as normally, especially at the end before I stopped.

 

Also I have a question about paradoxal effects, how do you know if you suffer from this and does it go away? Why do people get paradoxal effects?

 

 

[[be...]]

Benzodiazepines are not meant to take long term. They should only be taken for several weeks for a couple of reasons. One, they really don't work long term. It is quite easy to develop a tolerance. This is when the dose that once worked no longer does and to get the same effect your dose must be increased. This is how so many of us got on such high doses. I was on benzodiazepines for over a decade, and by the time I withdrew last year I was on 8 mg of Ativan. Secondly, long term use can produce a paradoxical effect, where your medication does the opposite of what it is suppose to. As awful and unpleasant as your symptoms are they are only temporary. There will be a time when this is all behind you.