Psychotropic medication discussion thread

For certain individuals, even subclinical doses can achieve a therapeutic effect. 😉

Thanks for all the input!
Honestly, I’m at a point where I don't even know what to think anymore. This is actually the third time I've had to go back on Prozac. Both previous times, as soon as I stopped taking it, my panic attacks and fears came rushing back even harder than before. And it feels like every single time I start up again, my body reacts to the medication differently; the first time, I started with just a quarter tablet and peaked at three-quarters, which worked wonders for me. The second time, I started with half a pill and moved up to the full dose pretty quickly. But now, this f**king third time around, I managed to stay off antidepressants longer than ever before, and I guess my system just didn't recognize the drug anymore, because the side effects have been pretty rough. Just when I finally feel like I'm stabilizing after two weeks—when the anxiety starts to mellow out and I begin to feel okay—that dose increase just knocks me two steps back.
God, everything sounds so messy when I say it out loud, but I really am just completely lost...

James Young87 said:Thanks for all the input!
Honestly, I’m at a point where I don't even know what to think anymore. This is actually the third time I've had to go back on Prozac. Both previous times, as soon as I stopped taking it, my panic attacks and fears came rushing back even harder than before. And it feels like every single time I start up again, my body reacts to the medication differently; the first time, I started with just a quarter tablet and peaked at three-quarters, which worked wonders for me. The second time, I started with half a pill and moved up to the full dose pretty quickly. But now, this f**king third time around, I managed to stay off antidepressants longer than ever before, and I guess my system just didn't recognize the drug anymore, because the side effects have been pretty rough. Just when I finally feel like I'm stabilizing after two weeks—when the anxiety starts to mellow out and I begin to feel okay—that dose increase just knocks me two steps back.
God, everything sounds so messy when I say it out loud, but I really am just completely lost...

I read somewhere that if you get side effects, it’s just a sign your body is responding to the medication and you just have to hang in there... I don't know... if they stick around, then I guess it's not worth it in my opinion...

" For Prozac, some patients may experience an aggravation of symptoms, though this is quite rare. The benefits of the medication far outweigh the risks, which is why it is indicated alongside other antidepressants in this class for treating your condition. It is highly effective as long as you stay under regular supervision by your doctor and follow their guidance. The dosage is increased gradually until we find the sweet spot that works best for you personally, and sometimes the medication needs to be taken over a long period. We taper the dose down slowly when the doctor decides it's time; please never stop therapy on your own, as that can lead to a sudden relapse (the "rebound phenomenon"). Every patient is unique, so the drug will affect everyone individually. Again, please begin therapy because the overall benefit is much greater than the described side effects. You should begin to feel the full effect within 14 to 21 days of consistent use, so don't give up during the initial stages when it might feel like the medicine "isn't working."

Best of luck, sincerely

Viola Macolić Šarinić"

http://cybermed.com/specialization/psychiatry/prozac

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paroxetine

http://www.healthline.com/discussions/paroxetine

http://www.psychologytoday.com/forums/depression

James Young87 said:Thanks for all the input!
Honestly, I’m at a point where I don't even know what to think anymore. This is actually the third time I've had to go back on Prozac. Both previous times, as soon as I stopped taking it, my panic attacks and fears came rushing back even harder than before. And it feels like every single time I start up again, my body reacts to the medication differently; the first time, I started with just a quarter tablet and peaked at three-quarters, which worked wonders for me. The second time, I started with half a pill and moved up to the full dose pretty quickly. But now, this f**king third time around, I managed to stay off antidepressants longer than ever before, and I guess my system just didn't recognize the drug anymore, because the side effects have been pretty rough. Just when I finally feel like I'm stabilizing after two weeks—when the anxiety starts to mellow out and I begin to feel okay—that dose increase just knocks me two steps back.
God, everything sounds so messy when I say it out loud, but I really am just completely lost...

I read somewhere that if you start getting side effects, it just means your body is responding to the medication and you just need to hang in there... I don't know... if they stick around forever though, I guess it's not worth it...

" For Prozac, some patients may experience a worsening of symptoms, but this is very rare. The benefits of the medication far outweigh the risks, which is why it is indicated alongside other antidepressants in this class for treating your condition; it remains highly effective provided you are regularly monitored by your doctor and follow their guidance. The dosage should be increased gradually until you find the specific level that works best for you, and sometimes long-term use is necessary. The medication should be tapered off slowly under a physician's supervision—never stop abruptly, as this can cause a sudden relapse (the "rebound phenomenon"). Every person is unique, so the drug will affect everyone individually. Again, please begin the therapy, as the overall benefit is much greater than the described side effects. You should feel significant results within 14 to 21 days of regular use, so please don't give up during the initial stages when it might feel like the medication "isn't working."

Good luck, sincerely

Viola Macolić Šarinić"

http://cybermed.com/specialty/psychiatry/prozac

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paroxetine

http://www.healthline.com/discussion/thread/218995

http://www.depression.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=629

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Thanks, Ray!
I know there’s quite a bit of controversy surrounding Paxil.
In my experience, it worked okay both times I used it, so I’m really hoping it does the trick this time around, too.
The side effects had actually started to taper off, so I decided to try increasing the dose—my psychiatrist suggested it was the right move.
To be honest, I’ve been battling anxiety since 2000, though I didn't start on antidepressants (Paxil) until about 2008. I suppose I’m just getting a little tired of the constant struggle and having to constantly tinker with my mental health.
If I end up needing to stay on Paxil for the rest of my life, I think I'm okay with that.
I’ve just had enough of the fear and the confusion. I really just want to live a full life without being held back by this paralyzing fear. :-)

Hey fadedbear92, thanks so much for sharing that link! 🙏 🙏

Helen says: "If I knew five years ago what I know now about the drug I never would have taken it and that's what it boils down to. I didn't know what it would do to me. And I would have never made the choice to take it had I known."

So, it really makes you wonder: is the initial benefit actually worth all the trouble once you try to get off it?

Roger Rodriguez said:Hey everyone! How's it going?
Well, here I go again—tapering off my Paxil. Is it always going to be this much of a cycle? 🙄
The last attempt didn't exactly go as planned. I managed to taper down from 20mg to 10mg over several months, but it was such an uphill battle—honestly, just thinking about it now makes me feel uneasy. Was it worth the struggle?
So, I’m finally starting to taper down from 10mg to nothing. Isn't that just the way it goes? 👋
My psychiatrist used to insist that I’d need to stay on this medication for the rest of my life because of the panic disorder I've been managing since 2006. Even though the panic attacks had completely stopped, he just wouldn't budge. I had put in all the work—therapy, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, visualization—all with the goal of finally being able to step away from the pills and handle things on my own. He simply couldn't grasp why I wanted to stop taking antidepressants. Eventually, I decided to switch doctors, and thank goodness I did, because I finally found an absolutely wonderful woman to take over my care.

The current plan is to take half a tablet every other day—so 10 mg. I’m on day five now, and honestly, I feel like I'm in a complete fog. My doctor keeps insisting that this dose is far too low to cause any kind of physical dependency, but how am I supposed to explain that feeling to my own brain?
Someone above was asking about how to taper off. Is anyone else currently taking Helexa? I'm curious to hear how everyone is finding it.I'm not sure if it’s even possible to compare tapering off two different medications, but I’ve been running a fever for three days now. Is anyone else dealing with something similar? 🤷
My vision is blurring, my head is pounding, and I’m dealing with sweats and intense nausea. It’s the same thing I went through last time, only this feels much more intense. Now, I’m just sitting here waiting to see how things unfold.
My mom tells me to just stop overthinking it because my brain is doing its own thing, but how can I not? I’m absolutely buzzing at the thought of finally tapering off these meds, yet at the exact same time, I am terrified.

So, does anyone have any advice if you’ve ever gone through something similar?
I’ve been sleeping terribly lately—maybe three or four hours at most. Could that be why I’m feeling so worn out?

Fingers crossed that I can finally be done with these tablets once and for all. Wouldn't that be something? 🙂

If I can offer one piece of advice, start your taper when you don't have school or work responsibilities. Take some sick leave if you need to, because right now is the last time you want to be dealing with demanding customers, a boss breathing down your neck, or any other "joys" of life.

Is weaning off antidepressants actually a nightmare? I mean, once I finally decide to stop taking them, am I going to be dealing with muscle spasms, physical pain, and all that other stuff?

Merry Christmas to everyone out there, whether you're on Paxil or not. 🙂

Go ahead and stuff yourselves with cookies. 😂

I’ll probably just end up gaining back every single pound I lost, then I can start the whole cycle all over again. 🙂

Got hit with a little wave of sadness today. It just popped into my head that this time last year, my ex was actually here with me for the midnight festivities. We were still together then.
Once this holiday depression lifts, it'll be gone just as fast as it showed up.

Hey everyone,

My doctor just put me on half a pill of Zoloft daily, plus some Xanax twice a day.
Most people seem to swear by Zoloft, so I’m kicking things off tomorrow.
Anyone else dealt with this stuff? What was your experience like?

THANKS A MILLION

🙂

Ashley Morales said:Hey everyone,

My doctor just put me on half a pill of Zoloft daily, plus some Xanax twice a day.
Most people seem to swear by Zoloft, so I’m kicking things off tomorrow.
Anyone else dealt with this stuff? What was your experience like?

THANKS A MILLION

🙂

My doctor prescribed Zoloft—half a tablet—and some Xanax.
I'd honestly prefer Lexapro since I've had great luck with it, but apparently, Zoloft is the go-to recommendation during pregnancy.

I can tell you're feeling pretty anxious since you keep circling back to this topic... though I'm not quite sure what you're hoping to find here—I've already done some Googling and found plenty of relevant info myself.

Maybe try asking over here too:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/topics/pregnancy-medication
http://www.psychologytoday.com/us/forums
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/pregnancy-and-antidepressants

I actually already posted a reply regarding anxiety over at the other board: I'm not entirely sure where the info comes from saying Zoloft is the preferred choice during pregnancy... my doctor once mentioned that Prozac is generally considered the safest for the baby if it needs to be used, but according to one scientific study, if you've dealt with clinical depression, it's actually better not to stop taking your antidepressants mid-stream...

I’ve already given you my take on the anxiety question. I was on Zoloft myself; I dealt with about ten days of side effects—mostly feeling hyperactive—but after that, everything leveled out just fine. As for pregnancy, I used Zoloft, so I have no idea where you're getting those concerns from. My psychiatrist didn't mention any issues at all. That said, if a situation actually arises where medication is necessary, I trust that a doctor will know exactly what to recommend, especially during that early stage of pregnancy when the fetus is so incredibly sensitive.

Hi everyone!
Has anyone else here found themselves starting on Paxil for the third time, and if so, how long did it take before you actually started feeling a difference?
I know I’m probably being a bit of a nuisance by asking this, but I think it would really help my peace of mind to hear about someone else's experience. I'm currently on my third attempt with it—it's day 19 on a 10mg dose—and I guess it hasn't quite kicked in yet, so I'm still feeling pretty overwhelmed by this constant sense of dread. As for the physical side effects, the dilated pupils are probably the most bothersome, and I just can't shake this intense feeling of anxiety every single morning... ugh.

Is anyone else here taking antidepressants—specifically Zoloft—and dealing with this constant noise? Or rather, more like a non-sound? It’s this weird sensation in my head, almost like when you turn on a TV but there's no audio coming out. Just that static-like presence. Anyone else going through this?😕
It’s like my brain is a TV that someone left on mute. Everything is happening, the picture is there, I can see all the movement, but there's just... nothing. No sound, no clarity, just this weird, silent static playing on loop in my head. I guess that's one way to describe it. 🤷
It’s like this weird sensation... some kind of pressure or tension, I don't even know what to call it exactly. It doesn't really bother me during the day, per se, but once I'm lying there trying to drift off and I start focusing on it? Man, it just drives me a little crazy. I guess that's just how it goes sometimes, right? 🙂

I guess I should probably start by saying that I’m definitely not a doctor or anything like that—just someone sharing what’s been on my mind lately. But honestly, I've been thinking a lot about how much our mental health can be influenced by the little things we do every day, or even just the way we talk about it. It feels like there's such a massive spectrum of experience when it comes to things like anxiety or just feeling "off," and maybe we don't talk enough about the messy middle parts. Anyway, I was reading through some old threads, and it really struck me how much we all lean on each other here. It’s kind of wild, isn't it? You find these tiny pockets of connection in the middle of nowhere, and suddenly you feel a little less alone in the chaos. I don't know, maybe I'm just being overly sentimental today. It’s just something that's been rattling around in my head.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Is weaning off antidepressants actually a nightmare? I mean, once I finally decide to stop taking them, am I going to be dealing with muscle spasms, physical pain, and all that other stuff?

I mean, that’s exactly what I’m getting at, too. It makes me wonder—is my serotonin just going to bottom out? Like, am I looking at some kind of chemical yo-yo effect once this wears off? I guess it's hard to say for sure, but the thought definitely crosses my mind.😕

wanderingcyclist20 said:Is anyone else here taking antidepressants—specifically Zoloft—and dealing with this constant noise? Or rather, more like a non-sound? It’s this weird sensation in my head, almost like when you turn on a TV but there's no audio coming out. Just that static-like presence. Anyone else going through this?😕
It’s like my brain is a TV that someone left on mute. Everything is happening, the picture is there, I can see all the movement, but there's just... nothing. No sound, no clarity, just this weird, silent static playing on loop in my head. I guess that's one way to describe it. 🤷
It’s like this weird sensation... some kind of pressure or tension, I don't even know what to call it exactly. It doesn't really bother me during the day, per se, but once I'm lying there trying to drift off and I start focusing on it? Man, it just drives me a little crazy. I guess that's just how it goes sometimes, right? 🙂

I guess I should probably start by saying that I’m definitely not a doctor or anything like that—just someone sharing what’s been on my mind lately. But honestly, I've been thinking a lot about how much our mental health can be influenced by the little things we do every day, or even just the way we talk about it. It feels like there's such a massive spectrum of experience when it comes to things like anxiety or just feeling "off," and maybe we don't talk enough about the messy middle parts. Anyway, I was reading through some old threads, and it really struck me how much we all lean on each other here. It’s kind of wild, isn't it? You find these tiny pockets of connection in the middle of nowhere, and suddenly you feel a little less alone in the chaos. I don't know, maybe I'm just being overly sentimental today. It’s just something that's been rattling around in my head.

I mean, that’s exactly what I’m getting at, too. It makes me wonder—is my serotonin just going to bottom out? Like, am I looking at some kind of chemical yo-yo effect once this wears off? I guess it's hard to say for sure, but the thought definitely crosses my mind.😕

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngi4Hyzp11k

I was on a 5 mg dose myself—just for a short stretch this past summer—and man, it actually ramped up my anxiety through the roof... definitely talk to your therapist about it; how long have you been on it and what's your current dosage?

fadedbear92 said:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngi4Hyzp11k

I was on a 5 mg dose myself—just for a short stretch this past summer—and man, it actually ramped up my anxiety through the roof... definitely talk to your therapist about it; how long have you been on it and what's your current dosage?

I've been taking 50 mg every morning for about 10 months now. My plan is to stick with it until March, which would bring me right up to the one-year mark. I was originally told I only needed to be on it for six months, but my new psychiatrist suggested we extend the treatment a bit longer.

Hello,

I have a question. Does anyone here have experience taking antidepressants while also choosing to drink? I’ve been on my medication for about two weeks now, and while I feel a slight sense of relief compared to how I felt before, I still find myself reaching for a drink—driven by the same impulse that led me to the meds in the first place, the belief that alcohol will offer some temporary reprieve. However, there are consequences; I am waking up in the middle of the night gripped by panic attacks, sweating, and plagued by nightmares. By the following morning, I am dealing with suicidal ideation, facial tics, hand tremors, and a complete sense of hitting rock bottom.

This has happened about three times now. At the time, I was also having significant issues with my boyfriend, so perhaps there is a connection there, or perhaps it is simply that alcohol and antidepressants are a volatile combination.

I am going through a very dark period right now, and with New Year's Eve tomorrow, I honestly don't know if I'll be able to stay sober...

Thanks in advance.

Anyone have experience with Lexapro?
I’ve been on a half-dose for a few months now, and honestly, I haven’t felt any mental health issues for months. About two weeks ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started taking a half-dose every other day instead... and man, I am paying for it. The headaches, the dizziness, the nausea... it’s brutal. I know, I know, I’m being irresponsible here... but I just can’t face taking a pill every single day anymore, and the thought of actually going to see my psychiatrist makes it even worse...
Does anyone actually know what the proper tapering process looks like?

There you go! Just for you and everyone else—for New Year's, I really hope nobody gets sick, and that a simple little smile is enough to heal all those ailments 🙂
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