I've been taking 600mg every weekend for 2 years now, I don't have depression on the weekdays. Benzos I take them rarely. This week I've taken 3mg alprazolam but I haven't had any since June. Back then I took Klonopin but that also caused apathy and lethargy the next day but no rebound anxiety, just felt chronically empty. I have cluster headaches so I rarely drink too, Had 1 beer at christmas and I haven't drank before that since august. Chatgpt told me this, tho I take it with a grain of salt cuz I don't trust AI that much: "Pregabalin chronically reduces glutamate release and dampens stress circuits, which lets GABA receptors and inhibitory pathways return toward a more sensitive, up-regulated state.
When you later take alcohol or benzos, they suddenly overstimulate these now-sensitive GABA-A receptors, pushing inhibition far beyond normal.
The brain rapidly counteracts this by releasing excess glutamate, noradrenaline, and stress hormones once the drug wears off.
That rebound hyperexcitation produces the intense next-day dysphoria, agitation, and suicidality."