Psychotropic medication discussion thread

quietgull75 said:To each their own—Zyprexa never really worked for me, but I was doing alright on Risperidone

Glad to hear some positive feedback. It’s only 2 mg for now, though. No side effects yet, aside from feeling completely chemically castrated XD

Timothy Wood38 said:Every body reacts differently. I was on 10 mg of Zyprexa daily for a year and I didn't sleep at all because of it; it actually had zero sedative effect, let alone hypnotic, so I had to take extra sleep aids on top of it. Zyprexa isn't a bad drug, per se, but it doesn't fit everyone. As for Abilify, I think it's been approved in the US for about seven months now, though it might hit the mainstream markets more broadly next year. Regardless, plenty of people are switching to Abilify, especially in America, because it tends to have fewer side effects than other antipsychotics, but again, it's all highly individual. For doctors to actually find the right medication for someone, they would need a much deeper, more concrete understanding of psychopathology (which is mostly based on assumptions anyway), followed by psychogenetics, then psychodynamics, then psychokinetics, and so on. But of course, that's not profitable for them, so psychiatrists usually just prescribe things based on trial and error.

p.s. Found something interesting about benzodiazepines that I didn't know. Apparently, once you develop a tolerance to a certain dose, that tolerance stays with you forever.

Is Abilify covered under Medicare?

Kenneth Scott41 said:I wonder, did you ever give Zeldox a shot?

I actually gave it a shot. Twice. And both times, immediately after that first pill, I felt as though I had overdosed on some kind of lethal poison. I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before—unless, of course, I was actually overdosing on something 😬—and while I am certainly not one to shy away from medication, this was nothing short of a nightmare.
That is precisely why I am on Zyprexa now, fully aware of the reality that with an appetite like this, I’ll probably pack on 25 pounds in no time. 🙂

What might be the potential consequences if a mentally healthy individual were to accidentally ingest an antipsychotic medication?

Kenneth Scott41 said:Is Abilify covered under Medicare?

I'm guessing not... since you can't even pick it up on the American market yet, even though it's officially registered. With so many other antipsychotics already on the formulary, I really doubt they'll bother adding it to the list. It's a similar story with Valdoxan—it's cleared for use here in the States, but it hasn't actually hit the shelves yet, and honestly, they probably won't cover it because the price tag is just astronomical. Though, interestingly enough, it's the first melatonin-based antidepressant out there.

driftinggull21 said:A 2 mg dose of Risperdal is actually quite low. If you’ve just started, give it some time—a lot of those side effects tend to taper off. As for that F20 diagnosis code... without the suffix, it basically points to F20.0, which is paranoid schizophrenia. F20.6 would be schizoaffective disorder. Either way, we're talking about chronic, lifelong conditions that require ongoing medication management.

By the way, Abilify and paliperidone are FDA-approved here in the States, though they aren't covered by Medicare yet.

I assume you're referring to pharmacogenetics and neurochemical pathways. Psychology students cover psychopathology in their curriculum, but Psychodynamics is the theory and systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, especially the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation—that's more of a psychotherapy school of thought, not really something pharmacists deal with.

No, that’s not what I meant. I was talking about psychopathology and pharmacogenetics. Believe me, I know my stuff. And of course, psychodynamic and psychokinetic properties are relevant to pharmacology, specifically regarding how drugs are metabolized. Perhaps there was just a bit of a misunderstanding.

Is this what you had in mind?

http://forum.ottawa-rs.com/lofiver...php?t3806.html
The following links are related—specifically when an American scientific journal is mentioned at the end of the text:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceed...my_of_Sciences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceed...my_of_Sciences

Or perhaps this one?

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgc/PsychogeneticsHP.html

Psychodynamics is the theory and systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, especially the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation. Psychodynamics is the theory and systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, especially the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation. The legendary psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) actually coined the term "psychodynamics" to explain how our minds operate—essentially treating mental processes as flows of psychological energy (Libido) within the organic complexity of the brain.
In clinical practice, psychodynamic psychotherapy is a much lighter approach—usually just once or twice a week—compared to the old-school Freudian psychoanalysis, which can demand three to five sessions every single week. These psychodynamic therapies are built around the idea of inner conflict, where those deep-seated, repressed behaviors and emotions eventually bubble up into a patient's conscious mind; typically, there's one core conflict lurking in the subconscious.
Psychodynamics is the theory and systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, especially the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation.

Nicole Barrett76 said:What might be the potential consequences if a mentally healthy individual were to accidentally ingest an antipsychotic medication?

Nothing. Aside from being extremely drowsy.

Anthony Lopez8 said:I actually gave it a shot. Twice. And both times, immediately after that first pill, I felt as though I had overdosed on some kind of lethal poison. I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before—unless, of course, I was actually overdosing on something 😬—and while I am certainly not one to shy away from medication, this was nothing short of a nightmare.
That is precisely why I am on Zyprexa now, fully aware of the reality that with an appetite like this, I’ll probably pack on 25 pounds in no time. 🙂

And don't you find Zyprexa to be at least a little bit rough? I mean, I know it has that pleasant lime flavor, but it definitely carries its own set of side effects too.

Kenneth Scott41 said:And don't you find Zyprexa to be at least a little bit rough? I mean, I know it has that pleasant lime flavor, but it definitely carries its own set of side effects too.

Honestly, nothing is so unbearable that it would force me to quit my treatment—aside from the weight gain, obviously. Right now, I'm managing four different medications, including 300mg of Effexor, and I don't experience any debilitating side effects, nor do I feel "drugged."
Before I actually tried Zeldox, I truly believed that pills, regardless of the dosage, simply had no effect on me whatsoever. 🙂 😂

fadedbear92 said:Is this what you had in mind?

http://forum.ottawa-rs.com/lofiver...php?t3806.html
The following links are related—specifically when an American scientific journal is mentioned at the end of the text:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceed...my_of_Sciences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proceed...my_of_Sciences

Or perhaps this one?

http://www.jcu.edu.au/cgc/PsychogeneticsHP.html

Well, I was actually thinking of that last link—something closer to that, anyway. As for those other two, I managed to get them a bit mixed up (completely unintentional, I assure you). I meant to say "pharmacological" instead of "psycho." Basically, I was referring to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics within the organism. My apologies, really, that was my mistake. I read about it ages ago and clearly, my memory isn't what it used to be. I hope you'll forgive the blunder. Sorry again.

driftinggull21 said:Nothing. Aside from being extremely drowsy.

Well, I suppose it depends on which one we're talking about and the dosage... for instance, Haldol would likely trigger some pretty intense side effects compared to something like Zyprexa.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, I suppose it depends on which one we're talking about and the dosage... for instance, Haldol would likely trigger some pretty intense side effects compared to something like Zyprexa.

Since antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine, I couldn't help but wonder: if a mentally healthy person were to take them, wouldn't they experience symptoms mirroring Parkinson's disease? Given that Haldol is one of the oldest antipsychotics on the market, is it not reasonable to assume it isn't nearly as refined as the modern alternatives? Therefore, wouldn't the side effects from Haldol be significantly more pronounced?

Nicole Barrett76 said:Since antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine, I couldn't help but wonder: if a mentally healthy person were to take them, wouldn't they experience symptoms mirroring Parkinson's disease? Given that Haldol is one of the oldest antipsychotics on the market, is it not reasonable to assume it isn't nearly as refined as the modern alternatives? Therefore, wouldn't the side effects from Haldol be significantly more pronounced?

Well, I wouldn't say they completely nullify dopamine. It’s more that they act on the dopamine receptors—how exactly that mechanism works is still a bit of a gray area in the science. And, if we're being technical, I don't think Haldol is actually the oldest; personally, I’ve always thought chlorpromazine was the very first real antipsychotic.

Anthony Lopez8 said:Honestly, nothing is so unbearable that it would force me to quit my treatment—aside from the weight gain, obviously. Right now, I'm managing four different medications, including 300mg of Effexor, and I don't experience any debilitating side effects, nor do I feel "drugged."
Before I actually tried Zeldox, I truly believed that pills, regardless of the dosage, simply had no effect on me whatsoever. 🙂 😂

300mg of Effexor?! That seems like quite a heavy dose. I only take one 150mg pill in the morning along with two 1mg Xanax SR, and while I should be taking the Zeldox too, I somehow always manage to forget about it...😂

Yes, we are all clearly chronic and lifelong cases. Given what I’m currently taking, I can manage a few days at a time. So far, I haven't noticed anything unusual regarding side effects. It isn't even particularly like chemical castration 🤣. Honestly, I feel fine and lucky. Mostly just business as usual. I won't sit here and wallow anymore. It is actually a blessing I was diagnosed BEFORE age 18 rather than after. If it had been later, it would be a hundred times harder. This way, I've already secured my "retirement." Others will likely face their own decline through sudden death or some malignant physical illness. It all ends the same way. For me, less is more. I wouldn't change much. Either perfect health—provided I work like a dog until I'm 65 or 70—or illness, provided it happens before 18, allowing me to do whatever I want (meaning normal things, not the stuff people associate with murder lol). Everything has pros and cons. Health and sickness alike. We make up about 1% of the world with our F20.x diagnoses. There are probably a good billion of us in the "F" section or the V category on IMDb, so it isn't exactly rare. Still, I believe certain issues could be minimized over the next 50 years, if not eliminated entirely. Primarily the antipsychotics, which are incredibly dangerous for the elderly. That's it. I'm done asking questions. It is what it is. It's fine.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, I suppose it depends on which one we're talking about and the dosage... for instance, Haldol would likely trigger some pretty intense side effects compared to something like Zyprexa.

So, what actually happens when a healthy person takes something like Haldol? I can tell you firsthand—I was 12 and did it just being stupid. Like someone else mentioned, I ended up with symptoms basically identical to Parkinson's. It was brutal—easily one of the worst days, or two, of my entire life.
It kicked in a few hours after I took it, and then the dread and anxiety just set in. Then came the stiffness—every single muscle started seizing up, my fingers cramped, my eyes were rolling upward uncontrollably, my face froze into this grimace, and my tongue—well, my tongue locked up and stuck out of my mouth, and I couldn't stop it. Mentally, I felt like garbage. I ended up in the ER where they gave me an injection of Akineton, if I remember right, just to get my muscles to relax. Just wanted to share that experience—definitely wouldn't wish it on anyone.

boldpilot2 said:Yes, we are all clearly chronic and lifelong cases. Given what I’m currently taking, I can manage a few days at a time. So far, I haven't noticed anything unusual regarding side effects. It isn't even particularly like chemical castration 🤣. Honestly, I feel fine and lucky. Mostly just business as usual. I won't sit here and wallow anymore. It is actually a blessing I was diagnosed BEFORE age 18 rather than after. If it had been later, it would be a hundred times harder. This way, I've already secured my "retirement." Others will likely face their own decline through sudden death or some malignant physical illness. It all ends the same way. For me, less is more. I wouldn't change much. Either perfect health—provided I work like a dog until I'm 65 or 70—or illness, provided it happens before 18, allowing me to do whatever I want (meaning normal things, not the stuff people associate with murder lol). Everything has pros and cons. Health and sickness alike. We make up about 1% of the world with our F20.x diagnoses. There are probably a good billion of us in the "F" section or the V category on IMDb, so it isn't exactly rare. Still, I believe certain issues could be minimized over the next 50 years, if not eliminated entirely. Primarily the antipsychotics, which are incredibly dangerous for the elderly. That's it. I'm done asking questions. It is what it is. It's fine.

From what I can gather from your post, it sounds like you're someone who is professionally incapacitated due to your diagnosis, the F20.x, and you're receiving the monthly disability benefits intended for that, which doesn't seem too bad given you mentioned how some people have to slave away until they're 65, and you even added those little smiley faces and plus signs.😁 Well, go ahead then; as long as you're doing okay, that's what matters most.😉

boldpilot2 said:Yes, we are all clearly chronic and lifelong cases. Given what I’m currently taking, I can manage a few days at a time. So far, I haven't noticed anything unusual regarding side effects. It isn't even particularly like chemical castration 🤣. Honestly, I feel fine and lucky. Mostly just business as usual. I won't sit here and wallow anymore. It is actually a blessing I was diagnosed BEFORE age 18 rather than after. If it had been later, it would be a hundred times harder. This way, I've already secured my "retirement." Others will likely face their own decline through sudden death or some malignant physical illness. It all ends the same way. For me, less is more. I wouldn't change much. Either perfect health—provided I work like a dog until I'm 65 or 70—or illness, provided it happens before 18, allowing me to do whatever I want (meaning normal things, not the stuff people associate with murder lol). Everything has pros and cons. Health and sickness alike. We make up about 1% of the world with our F20.x diagnoses. There are probably a good billion of us in the "F" section or the V category on IMDb, so it isn't exactly rare. Still, I believe certain issues could be minimized over the next 50 years, if not eliminated entirely. Primarily the antipsychotics, which are incredibly dangerous for the elderly. That's it. I'm done asking questions. It is what it is. It's fine.

I think I follow what you're getting at, but I have to ask: what on earth does an IMDb database have to do with the actual point being made here? 😕 😬