Seconding your experience. Used on an occasional basis, benzos can be helpful without resulting in the horror stories related here. Of course, everyone is different and YMMV, but confirming that your positive experience is not unique.

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exmadscientist 11 hours ago | parent [-]

They really are extremely effective drugs when used correctly. That's why the calls to ban them (as seen elsewhere in this thread) are not terribly compelling. There's no replacement for what they do.

That said: do not abuse benzos. They will fuck you up.

I was prescribed temazepam for insomnia. It was the only sleep medication that worked, and it was the best sleep I've had in my life. It stopped being effective after around 30 days (or maybe 60, I forget). That was the end of that. I could have argued for a higher dose or a refill or whatever, but... you don't fuck with benzos.

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Loughla 7 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Benzos can fuck you up good and proper without abuse. I was prescribed some for panic attacks. Take as needed, up to every 4 hours.

I took one a day for 4 days, as the panic would flare up right before I tried to sleep. I figured, I could be taking 6 a day, so 1 a day shouldn't hurt. And it was only 4 days in a row. No problem.

Day 5. Bang. Dt's. Immediate anxiety attack. Suicidal thoughts. Brain zaps. High blood pressure. Vertigo.

They are no joke, but doctors throw them around like they used to with opiates.

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rnd0 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

>They really are extremely effective drugs when used correctly. That's why the calls to ban them (as seen elsewhere in this thread) are not terribly compelling. There's no replacement for what they do.

>That said: do not abuse benzos. They will fuck you up.

This is pretty much my perspective, except I'd say that it doesn't even necessarily require abuse per se. I'd say just be very careful when using them, and get off of them ASAP. Myself, I only take them if there's a procedure of some sort they're called for.

I'd say awareness is more called for than a total ban. A total ban would be messed up because there is zero replacement for them for what they do -none.

	▲	omgwtfbyobbq 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It depends what they're being taken for. There are certain conditions where low doses of benzos are fine for years or decades.