Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Timothy Wood38 said:Look, it’s not actually that powerful—well, okay, maybe it is on the US market, though I suppose everyone reacts differently. Personally, I developed a tolerance to Ambien so quickly that I could only take it for about a week before it stopped working. For me, Lunesta actually works much better.

Please, would you mind sharing which one is actually the most potent? Even if you don't know the specific brand name, just tell me the active ingredients, and I will attempt to coordinate with my doctor to pick it up at the pharmacy. Furthermore, if you happen to know, could you please rank these hypnotics in order of their strength?

Jamie Lee67 said:I have another question for the group... I was handed a box of Zyprexa at the hospital, and I just realized I didn't notice the expiration date printed on the packaging says 12/2011, even though there are still tablets inside that are technically valid until January 15, 2012.
Should I go ahead and take them all given that expiration window, or would it be wiser to head back to the hospital and request a fresh supply dated after January 1, 2012?

Honestly, you can probably just finish off the ones you have left; being a few days past the date isn't going to make a difference. I once took a pill that had been expired for a year (maybe even longer), and I didn't experience any side effects—it worked exactly the way it was supposed to.

restlesstrucker15 said:Please, would you mind sharing which one is actually the most potent? Even if you don't know the specific brand name, just tell me the active ingredients, and I will attempt to coordinate with my doctor to pick it up at the pharmacy. Furthermore, if you happen to know, could you please rank these hypnotics in order of their strength?

Look, that’s a tough one to answer... are you asking for true hypnotics or just meds that have a hypnotic effect? If you're looking for what's actually available on our market, I'd suggest 30 mg of Fluzepam and 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson, but obviously, you have to be disciplined about how you take them. You need to take them right when it's time to sleep—I assume you can feel when that window opens. So, you take the 30 mg of Fluzepam, and once you start feeling that sedative kick in, immediately take the 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson and get straight into bed. The Valium 4. Cerson will pull you under, while the Fluzepam keeps you out. As for which hypnotic is the "strongest" available at a standard pharmacy (not talking about IV stuff used in hospitals), honestly, it varies so much from person to person. But, if I had to rank what we have on the market based on quality—considering things like sleep onset, staying asleep, side effects, and impact on sleep architecture—I'd list them like this:
1. Circadin + Xanax 5. Cerson
2. Circadin + Valium 4. Cerson
3. Fluzepam + Valium 4. Cerson
4. Valium 4. Cerson + Xanax 5. Cerson
5. Valium 4. Cerson + Valium 4. Cerson

Timothy Wood38 said:Look, that’s a tough one to answer... are you asking for true hypnotics or just meds that have a hypnotic effect? If you're looking for what's actually available on our market, I'd suggest 30 mg of Fluzepam and 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson, but obviously, you have to be disciplined about how you take them. You need to take them right when it's time to sleep—I assume you can feel when that window opens. So, you take the 30 mg of Fluzepam, and once you start feeling that sedative kick in, immediately take the 20 mg of Valium 4. Cerson and get straight into bed. The Valium 4. Cerson will pull you under, while the Fluzepam keeps you out. As for which hypnotic is the "strongest" available at a standard pharmacy (not talking about IV stuff used in hospitals), honestly, it varies so much from person to person. But, if I had to rank what we have on the market based on quality—considering things like sleep onset, staying asleep, side effects, and impact on sleep architecture—I'd list them like this:
1. Circadin + Xanax 5. Cerson
2. Circadin + Valium 4. Cerson
3. Fluzepam + Valium 4. Cerson
4. Valium 4. Cerson + Xanax 5. Cerson
5. Valium 4. Cerson + Valium 4. Cerson

Thank you very much; I shall attempt one of these combinations.
Which non-hypnotic medication might be recommended that still offers a hypnotic effect?

Here are my questions...

So, my psychiatrist prescribed Abilify and Risperdal. He already gave me enough meds to cover the first week, which is now over. The issue is I don't have a primary care doctor nearby, and I can't get an appointment with one anytime soon, but I really need those refills. Is there any way to reach them, or is it possible to just show up at a pharmacy with a doctor's note and the recommended treatment plan? 🤷

Or maybe some other alternatives? I tried checking at the campus health clinic, but they aren't authorized to handle this kind of thing. As for the electronic prescriptions that a GP sends straight to the pharmacy, it sounds like I’d still need to hand them the paperwork I received, which means I'd have to physically go to their office in person...

Has anyone dealt with this kind of bureaucracy before? Any solutions? 😬

An excellent article about psychopharmaceuticals in American😁

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

Sam Vaughn7 said:Here are my questions...

So, my psychiatrist prescribed Abilify and Risperdal. He already gave me enough meds to cover the first week, which is now over. The issue is I don't have a primary care doctor nearby, and I can't get an appointment with one anytime soon, but I really need those refills. Is there any way to reach them, or is it possible to just show up at a pharmacy with a doctor's note and the recommended treatment plan? 🤷

Or maybe some other alternatives? I tried checking at the campus health clinic, but they aren't authorized to handle this kind of thing. As for the electronic prescriptions that a GP sends straight to the pharmacy, it sounds like I’d still need to hand them the paperwork I received, which means I'd have to physically go to their office in person...

Has anyone dealt with this kind of bureaucracy before? Any solutions? 😬

Try finding their fax number and faxing the documents over, or just head to the pharmacy with your paperwork and explain the situation...

fadedbear92 said:An excellent article about psychopharmaceuticals in American😁

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

Ah, this theory, that theory, maybe, perhaps, it is considered, well, it isn't known... You know? And the article—I’m guessing it’s from 2004 or 2005, at least that's what Sam Vaughn7 concluded based on the references. There are a few mistakes, too. Honestly, I suspect 90% of what they wrote hasn't even been empirically proven. Plus, they missed several things; for instance, they don't really touch on theories regarding norepinephrine, melatonin, and so on. All in all, if you ask me, it's far from great—just a pretty superficial piece.

restlesstrucker15 said:Thank you very much; I shall attempt one of these combinations.
Which non-hypnotic medication might be recommended that still offers a hypnotic effect?

Well, mostly you're looking at stuff from the antipsychotic or antiepileptic groups, maybe some antihistamines... honestly, nothing else is jumping to mind right now. There's probably more out there, so maybe give Google a quick search.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, if you ask me, I suspect we're looking at actual tremors here. In my experience, antidepressants don't typically trigger parkinsonism; that's usually a side effect tied to typical antipsychotics. That said, even these newer atypical ones can cause extrapyramidal symptoms. Personally, when I was on Zyprexa, I developed tardive dyskinesia, despite my psychiatrist insisting it was practically impossible. Anyway, maybe try switching up the anxiolytic? Give Lorazepam or Diazepam a shot, because it’s very possible you've just built up a tolerance to Xanax. If that doesn't cut it, you might need to talk about an anti-parkinsonian medication.

I don't know... I think I'll ask my doctor what she thinks first. It feels a bit premature, or perhaps just unwise, to jump straight onto an anti-parkinsonian drug without more certainty.

Has anyone here actually experienced significant weight gain while taking Zoloft? I’m aware that people can pack on as much as 65 pounds when they're on Zyprexa, so I suppose I’m just wondering if Zoloft carries that same kind of risk.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Has anyone here actually experienced significant weight gain while taking Zoloft? I’m aware that people can pack on as much as 65 pounds when they're on Zyprexa, so I suppose I’m just wondering if Zoloft carries that same kind of risk.

Zoloft is one of the few APs that doesn't cause increased appetite. In fact, patients on Zoloft often lose weight.

Timothy Wood38 said:Ah, this theory, that theory, maybe, perhaps, it is considered, well, it isn't known... You know? And the article—I’m guessing it’s from 2004 or 2005, at least that's what Sam Vaughn7 concluded based on the references. There are a few mistakes, too. Honestly, I suspect 90% of what they wrote hasn't even been empirically proven. Plus, they missed several things; for instance, they don't really touch on theories regarding norepinephrine, melatonin, and so on. All in all, if you ask me, it's far from great—just a pretty superficial piece.

Well, come on, send over some better links if you have them... and I'm assuming you do...

That article was pretty general regarding psychotropic drugs anyway...

Here is a fresh one from this year:

Melatonin agonists in primary insomnia and depression-associated insomnia: Are they superior to sedative-hypnotics?

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...78584611000984

The Roles of dopamine and norepinephrine in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of ADHD http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...06322311002605

Harold Anderson3 said:Hi there.
I’m on a 25 mg Risperdal injection every two weeks, which works out to roughly 2 mg daily. Personally, I think it’s a solid medication. I’ve been using it for over two years now to manage schizophrenia, and it has honestly made a world of difference for me. You might actually want to be glad you're just taking the pills instead of having to deal with the shots.

😕 I have a friend who was on tablets, but he didn't really pull himself together until he switched to Constant. Even then, he's on the highest dose possible. You'd think it's the same drug, just different packaging, but clearly it isn't... 🤷

Off topic—the way a drug interacts with an individual's unique chemistry produces a one-of-a-kind result. You can't just label a med as "good" or "bad." What works for one person might not work for another. ☕

fadedbear92 said:Well, come on, send over some better links if you have them... and I'm assuming you do...

That article was pretty general regarding psychotropic drugs anyway...

Here is a fresh one from this year:

Melatonin agonists in primary insomnia and depression-associated insomnia: Are they superior to sedative-hypnotics?

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...78584611000984

The Roles of dopamine and norepinephrine in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of ADHD http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...06322311002605

I don't actually care much for articles myself—books are far more my speed, if you catch my drift. But here is a link where you can find papers on the latest breakthroughs in psychopharmacology. Feel free to post whatever you find useful or interesting on the forum. 🙂

Dear forum members,

I must admit that I am quite disappointed with the selection of hypnotics available on our domestic market, which leads me to wonder if anyone here has experience with a medication called LENDORMIN. It is a hypnotic containing Brotizolam. While it is certainly possible to order it, the price here sits around $43, yet the drug is registered in Mexico where it costs only about 192 dinars—which is less than two dollars. Does anyone have any information regarding this specific medication? It is only available in 0.25 mg doses, and according to what I have been told in Mexico City, there is an absolute shortage in the local pharmacies. I assume that American psychiatrists must prescribe it frequently 😉, given that their lists of hypnotics with the same composition are identical to ours, with the exception of this one.
In any case, if you happen to obtain a private prescription for any psychotropic medication, it is significantly more cost-effective to purchase it in Mexico City.😁 The pharmacists there claim they honor prescriptions issued in America.
I am attaching their list of medications and prices. For reference, 100 dinars is roughly equal to one dollar. 😁

Prices: http://www.minzdravlja.info/download...CenaLekova.pdf

restlesstrucker15 said:Listen, I have a quick practical question here. Is it actually legal for a friend over in Mexico to mail me a box of medication in an envelope? Does anyone even check those? A few years back, a friend sent me a box of Valium 4. Cerson to Sweden and it arrived just like a regular letter—no issues at all. Or should I just go ahead and ask the local Post Office?

I'd say it's doable—though honestly, it might be safer to declare a value or maybe wrap it up in a small package rather than just tossing it in a plain envelope... and yeah, definitely check with the Post Office first...
😉

fadedbear92 said:I'd say it's doable—though honestly, it might be safer to declare a value or maybe wrap it up in a small package rather than just tossing it in a plain envelope... and yeah, definitely check with the Post Office first...
😉

That medication isn't registered over in Sweden, which is why sending it there is strictly prohibited. It’s pretty straightforward, really. If you happen to get caught, the authorities will likely seize the pills, notify you, and have a serious talk with you about how it's an unregistered drug, among other things—unless, of course, they happen to be opioids or heavy painkillers, in which case you could find yourself in some very real trouble.😉

p.s. my brother over in Sweden gets his Starbucks delivered the same way.😁

Has anyone here ever tried getting off Xanax, and if so, what was that experience actually like for you? I don't take much, just a tiny 0.25mg daily dose, but somehow I'm already on day three since I stopped and I’m starting to get these really intense stomach cramps. It feels like it might be my only symptom so far, I guess.🤷

gentlesailor25 said:Has anyone here ever tried getting off Xanax, and if so, what was that experience actually like for you? I don't take much, just a tiny 0.25mg daily dose, but somehow I'm already on day three since I stopped and I’m starting to get these really intense stomach cramps. It feels like it might be my only symptom so far, I guess.🤷

I went through the process myself. Honestly, I was on a much higher dose, sometimes taking up to eight 1mg tablets.
How did the taper go? It was absolute hell, I suppose. I had to scale back the dosage incredibly gradually, so it took me a very long time to actually reach zero.
I dealt with tics, tremors, cramping, muscle stiffness, and full-blown panic attacks.
Overall, it was a pretty miserable experience, if I'm being honest.