Phenazepam
Aliases: Fenaz, Panda, Bonsai, Soviet benzo, Bromdihydrochlorphenylbenzodiazepine
Categories
Summary
Phenazepam is an extremely potent, long-acting benzodiazepine developed in the Soviet Union in 1975, reportedly 5-10 times stronger than diazepam. Its extremely long half-life and delayed onset of peak effects create severe risks: users often redose before feeling effects, leading to dangerous accumulation and blackouts lasting days or weeks. Not approved in most Western countries but sometimes sold online or found in counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Medical doses range from 0.5-2mg; recreational doses above 2mg carry extreme overdose risk. Effects can persist for 3+ days with substantial amnesia and impairment.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 0.5-1mg | 1-2mg | - | 2-4mg+ |
| Sublingual | 0.5-1mg | 1-2mg | - | 2-4mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 20-60 min | 1-3 hrs | 2-4 hrs | 24-72 hrs | 0 min | 0 min |
| Sublingual | 15-45 min | 30-90 min | 2-4 hrs | 24-72 hrs | 0 min | 0 min |
| Insufflated | 10-30 min | 30-90 min | 2-4 hrs | 24-72 hrs | 0 min | 0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops over 1โ4 weeks of daily use; hypnotic tolerance faster than anxiolytic tolerance
Reset
weeks to months depending on half-life and duration of use; taper recommended
Cross-tolerance
Effects
Positive
- Muscle relaxation
- Anxiolytic
- Muscle Relaxant
- Physical euphoria
Negative
- Respiratory depression
- Motor impairment
- Sedation
- Sedative
- Dystaxia
- Hypnotic
Positive
- Anxiety suppression
Negative
- Amnesia
- Motor control loss
- Cognitive impairment
- Dizziness
- Compulsive redosing
- Dream suppression
- Thought deceleration
- Delusions of sobriety
- Emotion suppression
Positive
- Increased libido
- Appetite enhancement
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Acuity suppression
- Visual acuity suppression
- Acuity Suppression
- Decreased Libido
- Double vision
- Dulled perception
- Perception of bodily heaviness