Psychotropic medication discussion thread

I’ve been digging through so much info online and honestly, it feels like you can find an answer for everything and absolutely nothing all at once. 🙂

Heading to my doctor now, just wondering if they'll stick me back on my old meds or try something totally different. I'm not exactly jumping for joy either way ☕, but I'm seriously hoping they'll at least give me some kind of treatment plan—otherwise, this PMS is going to drive me straight to the edge. 🙂

So my shrink decided to swap out my Sulpirid 200 for some Olanzapine the other day. To me, it feels like eating styrofoam... she claims it’ll help with the sleepiness, which is her excuse for switching things up because I can't catch a wink of sleep lately.
Then there's this clueless doctor who only prescribed me one single box of Ambien and Xanax, and seriously, man, for someone like me, that's basically just breakfast or dinner.
I really need to go file a formal complaint. Looking at the calendar, it's only been five days so far. I'm going to head in and lodge my grievance on January 21st.
It's enough to drive you absolutely insane...

Matthew White4 said:So my shrink decided to swap out my Sulpirid 200 for some Olanzapine the other day. To me, it feels like eating styrofoam... she claims it’ll help with the sleepiness, which is her excuse for switching things up because I can't catch a wink of sleep lately.
Then there's this clueless doctor who only prescribed me one single box of Ambien and Xanax, and seriously, man, for someone like me, that's basically just breakfast or dinner.
I really need to go file a formal complaint. Looking at the calendar, it's only been five days so far. I'm going to head in and lodge my grievance on January 21st.
It's enough to drive you absolutely insane...

I feel for you. My doctor gave me the 5 mg Ambien, but I didn't want to look like some kind of junkie, so I wasn't going to rush back there over it. I got it on Friday, and as of today, I haven't even touched it... Not to mention, I'm supposed to take it during the day for anxiety as well as for sleeping, yet they only gave me one pill a day. What are they thinking?? I can hardly believe it, but last night I took eight of those 5 mg Ambien pills, fell asleep at midnight, and then woke up at 3 AM. But it wasn't like waking up normally; it felt like someone had dumped ice water over me. I simply don't know what to do anymore🤷 I think I'll start keeping a sleep diary to bring to her, just so she can see exactly how it looks and how much I am actually sleeping... both with and without the meds🥳 and I'm waiting to hear back from that specialist once they return from the sleep clinic, because I truly believe something is seriously wrong with me if a heavy hypnotic like that can't even keep me asleep...

Look, sorry if I’m coming on a bit strong here, but I really need some help!
Which calming pills can I actually pick up over the counter? Besides valerian root🙄?
Thanks in advance.....

Chris Cruz8 said:Look, sorry if I’m coming on a bit strong here, but I really need some help!
Which calming pills can I actually pick up over the counter? Besides valerian root🙄?
Thanks in advance.....

Honestly, you're stuck with herbal stuff—things like Persen, valerian, whatever. There isn't anything else without a prescription, unfortunately!

shadowbear9 said:I feel for you. My doctor gave me the 5 mg Ambien, but I didn't want to look like some kind of junkie, so I wasn't going to rush back there over it. I got it on Friday, and as of today, I haven't even touched it... Not to mention, I'm supposed to take it during the day for anxiety as well as for sleeping, yet they only gave me one pill a day. What are they thinking?? I can hardly believe it, but last night I took eight of those 5 mg Ambien pills, fell asleep at midnight, and then woke up at 3 AM. But it wasn't like waking up normally; it felt like someone had dumped ice water over me. I simply don't know what to do anymore🤷 I think I'll start keeping a sleep diary to bring to her, just so she can see exactly how it looks and how much I am actually sleeping... both with and without the meds🥳 and I'm waiting to hear back from that specialist once they return from the sleep clinic, because I truly believe something is seriously wrong with me if a heavy hypnotic like that can't even keep me asleep...

Seriously, what are they thinking?! Last time I saw my doctor, I practically had to fight her just to get two 30-count boxes of 10 mg Ambien and two packs of 0.5 mg Ativan, and now she thinks she’s gonna "cure" me with this? I used to be able to knock out in two hours on 2-4 Ambien, 3-4 Ativan, 2 Xanax SR, and 2 Tramadol—bam, asleep. Done. What next, should I just ask to be admitted to the hospital so I can stay on pure morphine?
I'm definitely going to go talk to my psychiatrist earlier than planned.

How is everyone doing? I actually ended up seeing my psychiatrist yesterday, mostly because things have taken a real turn for the worse. I felt like I absolutely had to go, which is unusual for me since I typically skip my check-ups unless it's been about six months or so. 😁
The moment I stepped into her office, she managed to pinpoint three specific things that have spiraled lately: I'm tense, anxious, and just generally on edge.

What I’m really wondering about here... is whether anyone else in this group is taking two different ADs at the same time?
See, I’m currently on Effexor, and my doctor mentioned I’m at the maximum dosage. Then she asked me... which AD she should add to the mix, which caught me a bit off guard since I'm already on one of the stronger ones out there. 🙄 She suggested Zoloft, noting that it has shown great results, and from what I've read online, it seems to be a highly regarded option too.
She also added Zeldox 40 mg 2 x. o Zeldox to the plan. I'm actually quite familiar with Zeldox because I've used it before; though, back then, I was on those heavy 80mg doses that could probably knock out an elephant. One doctor once told me that Zeldox is excellent once it actually kicks in—usually after a few weeks—and that it's somewhat similar to Zyprexa, except for the fact that you might actually lose weight on Zeldox, whereas Zyprexa can make you gain 50 pounds.

So, I guess I'm just curious if anyone else is balancing two ADs simultaneously? Doesn't that seem... a bit much? ☕

Kenneth Scott41 said:How is everyone doing? I actually ended up seeing my psychiatrist yesterday, mostly because things have taken a real turn for the worse. I felt like I absolutely had to go, which is unusual for me since I typically skip my check-ups unless it's been about six months or so. 😁
The moment I stepped into her office, she managed to pinpoint three specific things that have spiraled lately: I'm tense, anxious, and just generally on edge.

What I’m really wondering about here... is whether anyone else in this group is taking two different ADs at the same time?
See, I’m currently on Effexor, and my doctor mentioned I’m at the maximum dosage. Then she asked me... which AD she should add to the mix, which caught me a bit off guard since I'm already on one of the stronger ones out there. 🙄 She suggested Zoloft, noting that it has shown great results, and from what I've read online, it seems to be a highly regarded option too.
She also added Zeldox 40 mg 2 x. o Zeldox to the plan. I'm actually quite familiar with Zeldox because I've used it before; though, back then, I was on those heavy 80mg doses that could probably knock out an elephant. One doctor once told me that Zeldox is excellent once it actually kicks in—usually after a few weeks—and that it's somewhat similar to Zyprexa, except for the fact that you might actually lose weight on Zeldox, whereas Zyprexa can make you gain 50 pounds.

So, I guess I'm just curious if anyone else is balancing two ADs simultaneously? Doesn't that seem... a bit much? ☕

It isn't. It is entirely possible to combine even three antidepressants at once. At one point, I was taking both Lexapro and Effexor, though I found the Effexor made me feel jittery, as I don't respond well to medications that target norepinephrine receptors.
Rest assured, what you are taking is not too much.🙂

Matthew White4 said:So my shrink decided to swap out my Sulpirid 200 for some Olanzapine the other day. To me, it feels like eating styrofoam... she claims it’ll help with the sleepiness, which is her excuse for switching things up because I can't catch a wink of sleep lately.
Then there's this clueless doctor who only prescribed me one single box of Ambien and Xanax, and seriously, man, for someone like me, that's basically just breakfast or dinner.
I really need to go file a formal complaint. Looking at the calendar, it's only been five days so far. I'm going to head in and lodge my grievance on January 21st.
It's enough to drive you absolutely insane...

So, how is that Olanzapine actually affecting your sleep?
That’s essentially just Vaira or Zyprexa.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I just picked up my Zoloft today, and right as I was about to ask about the side effects, I realized I start my regimen tomorrow.

HONEY, Vega, sorry I haven't been on here in forever! You're probably already taking the Zoloft by now, and honestly, I really hope you're doing alright and that it's helping. So, get this—my doctor told me just the other day that it’s finally time to taper me off the Zoloft, and oh my god, I have been waiting for this moment. I feel amazing. Psychotherapy helped a ton, and my PSYCHIC has been absolutely FANTASTIC lately... so it's not just about the pills, there's a lot more to it, and progress with your PSYCHIC depends on so much stuff... good luck, sweetie... fingers crossed for you!

shadowbear9 said:I feel for you. My doctor gave me the 5 mg Ambien, but I didn't want to look like some kind of junkie, so I wasn't going to rush back there over it. I got it on Friday, and as of today, I haven't even touched it... Not to mention, I'm supposed to take it during the day for anxiety as well as for sleeping, yet they only gave me one pill a day. What are they thinking?? I can hardly believe it, but last night I took eight of those 5 mg Ambien pills, fell asleep at midnight, and then woke up at 3 AM. But it wasn't like waking up normally; it felt like someone had dumped ice water over me. I simply don't know what to do anymore🤷 I think I'll start keeping a sleep diary to bring to her, just so she can see exactly how it looks and how much I am actually sleeping... both with and without the meds🥳 and I'm waiting to hear back from that specialist once they return from the sleep clinic, because I truly believe something is seriously wrong with me if a heavy hypnotic like that can't even keep me asleep...

Hmm, Ambien... after my heart surgery a few months back, nothing could get me to sleep... (check my old posts for the details) but anyway. I took Ambien for three days and, I kid you not, it felt like I had downed 100 liters of coffee. I literally grabbed two boxes, took them to my doctor, and told her, "This stuff is pure garbage," excuse my language... Honestly? If you want to sleep, my advice is meditation, watching what you eat, and long walks... it actually works...

Timothy Wood38 said:Honestly, enough with the constant bashing of Xanax and similar medications. These are incredibly effective drugs that serve a vital purpose in medicine when used correctly. They aren't some "street drugs" or whatever labels you want to throw at them. Take Ativan, for instance—it belongs to the same class, and it isn't inherently better or worse; it just has its own specific niche. For example, Xanax is far superior for managing panic attacks and acute anxiety compared to almost any other benzodiazepine on the market, which is why it’s consistently the first line of defense for that diagnosis. The issue isn't the quality of the medication itself; it's how people choose to use it. Telling someone to go looking for Ativan instead of Xanax or Valium is just plain wrong. Please, just stop. You aren't doctors.

Ugh, I am definitely not buying what you're selling. No medication is "healthy," period. Every single one comes with side effects. I know from firsthand experience—I've had to deal with heart meds my entire life, and honestly, they've been a mixed bag at best. I've tried everything: Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Ambien, Valium... (not all at once, obviously). Nothing worked. I was still a nervous, irritable, depressed wreck... basically losing my mind. Eventually, I just tossed the pills and switched to herbal supplements. That's what our "brilliant" doctors kept pushing on me back when I was only 20... and I was swallowing those things like candy for about 4 years until I realized they didn't have a clue what was actually happening to me. My real issues were my heart and an aortic aneurysm, so all those drugs they kept pumping into me were total garbage. That's just my experience... so yeah, I stay as far away from them as humanly possible.

Edward Long4 said:Ugh, I am definitely not buying what you're selling. No medication is "healthy," period. Every single one comes with side effects. I know from firsthand experience—I've had to deal with heart meds my entire life, and honestly, they've been a mixed bag at best. I've tried everything: Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Ambien, Valium... (not all at once, obviously). Nothing worked. I was still a nervous, irritable, depressed wreck... basically losing my mind. Eventually, I just tossed the pills and switched to herbal supplements. That's what our "brilliant" doctors kept pushing on me back when I was only 20... and I was swallowing those things like candy for about 4 years until I realized they didn't have a clue what was actually happening to me. My real issues were my heart and an aortic aneurysm, so all those drugs they kept pumping into me were total garbage. That's just my experience... so yeah, I stay as far away from them as humanly possible.

Mary was taking medication for kidney issues. Those drugs didn't resolve her symptoms. Later, she discovered that her condition wasn't renal, but actually cardiac. Mary concluded that the medications she was taking were ineffective.
Do you see the flaw in that logic? 😁

Anthony Lopez8 said:Mary was taking medication for kidney issues. Those drugs didn't resolve her symptoms. Later, she discovered that her condition wasn't renal, but actually cardiac. Mary concluded that the medications she was taking were ineffective.
Do you see the flaw in that logic? 😁

No, I meant more like... they aren't exactly "healthy" or great drugs, regardless of what the labels claim...

redranger2 said:So, how is that Olanzapine actually affecting your sleep?
That’s essentially just Vaira or Zyprexa.

redranger2, babe, where have you been hiding?! It feels like forever! Welcome back to the party... How’ve you been holding up?

Honestly, taking this Olanzapine feels like I’m just chewing on a scrap of paper... there's zero noticeable effect, nothing at all. Like, absolutely zilch. What do you guys think—should I just hang tight and wait it out, or should I head straight to my psychiatrist first thing Monday morning...?

Big kitty!🙂

Edward Long4 said:No, I meant more like... they aren't exactly "healthy" or great drugs, regardless of what the labels claim...

Look, I think we can all agree that every single medication carries some level of side effects on the body. But from what I can gather, blackx wasn't even claiming these drugs were "healthy"; he was simply pointing out that they are actually effective when used precisely for their intended purpose. 😉

Anthony Lopez8 said:Look, I think we can all agree that every single medication carries some level of side effects on the body. But from what I can gather, blackx wasn't even claiming these drugs were "healthy"; he was simply pointing out that they are actually effective when used precisely for their intended purpose. 😉

Ugh, you’re being such a jerk... 😂 totally taking things out of context here. My point is, no medication is ever truly "healthy," not even if it were some miracle cure from an old folks' home... honestly. I don't know how much you actually know about this stuff—I haven't checked your profile or your other threads yet—but the facts and the stats don't lie: doctors and Psychics (shoutout to the good ones, obviously) hand out these meds, and let me tell you, they take a toll. It sucks, but that's just the reality. Like I said before, the more effective they are, the more damage they do. 🙂

Matthew White4 said:redranger2, babe, where have you been hiding?! It feels like forever! Welcome back to the party... How’ve you been holding up?

Honestly, taking this Olanzapine feels like I’m just chewing on a scrap of paper... there's zero noticeable effect, nothing at all. Like, absolutely zilch. What do you guys think—should I just hang tight and wait it out, or should I head straight to my psychiatrist first thing Monday morning...?

Big kitty!🙂

Honey, I'm here and I'm doing fine, though I have certainly endured a hellish stretch with
my nerves. Fortunately, I managed to pull through once again.😁

How much Olanzapine are you taking?
I suggest you wait a little while, as there is a distinct possibility your psychiatrist will simply increase your dosage. Don't go
making any adjustments on your own.
It would be ideal if the Olanzapine or perhaps another antipsychotic could assist with your insomnia,
because those standard sleeping pills are notoriously hard on the nervous system. My psychiatrist would never
permit me to take Sanvale or anything similar, and there is certainly a reason for that.

Edward Long4 said:Ugh, you’re being such a jerk... 😂 totally taking things out of context here. My point is, no medication is ever truly "healthy," not even if it were some miracle cure from an old folks' home... honestly. I don't know how much you actually know about this stuff—I haven't checked your profile or your other threads yet—but the facts and the stats don't lie: doctors and Psychics (shoutout to the good ones, obviously) hand out these meds, and let me tell you, they take a toll. It sucks, but that's just the reality. Like I said before, the more effective they are, the more damage they do. 🙂

It was actually quite the opposite—I commented on your post specifically because of the context you provided (you were responding to blacx and disagreeing with them, only to then bring up those points). I walked away with the impression that you were trying to suggest these medications aren't effective—or, as you put it, that they're "crap"—simply because they didn't work for you personally. I cannot agree with that logic, as I believe anxiolytics and sedatives are definitively among the most effective psychiatric medications available; after all, they fulfill their exact intended purpose.

Yes, we are all aware that medications aren't exactly "healthy" for the body, but most of us will still reach for an Advil when a headache strikes. The reasoning is likely simple: the perceived health risk is far less significant than the unnecessary suffering we would endure if we chose to forgo the medicine.

Regarding the physicians, I mostly agree with you there—if a psychiatrist prescribes a medication that you don't actually need, or if you actually require something entirely different, then it seems obvious that the failure lies with the doctor, not the drug itself. 🙂

Matthew White4 said:Seriously, what are they thinking?! Last time I saw my doctor, I practically had to fight her just to get two 30-count boxes of 10 mg Ambien and two packs of 0.5 mg Ativan, and now she thinks she’s gonna "cure" me with this? I used to be able to knock out in two hours on 2-4 Ambien, 3-4 Ativan, 2 Xanax SR, and 2 Tramadol—bam, asleep. Done. What next, should I just ask to be admitted to the hospital so I can stay on pure morphine?
I'm definitely going to go talk to my psychiatrist earlier than planned.

Well, they aren't actually allowed to dispense them like that, especially Sanvale—two whole boxes at once. They monitor everything, and I know that for a fact because these are treated more like controlled substances, so the oversight is much stricter. My doctor does give me two boxes of Helex, but it's strictly scheduled for every two months down to the day, just so I don't have to come back too often. But even then, I still need my Sanvale every month. She used to give me two boxes before, but now she claims she isn't permitted to anymore...