Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Paul Newman5 said:I'm on Coaxial. Day 12 for me. Not sure what to tell you. It totally sedates me; my legs feel like cooked carrots, if that makes sense. Muscle sensation is weird. Honestly, it’s a bit better than when I first started, but the anxiety and nerves hit harder than the depression itself. It just seems to knock me straight into bed. There should be others on the forum who've used it, so maybe someone else will chime in. How are you feeling so far? Any side effects? What's your daily dose? And is it anxiety too, or just the depression?

Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry for the delay in responding, I'm pretty new to this forum and it took me forever to actually find the thread... I'm definitely feeling the side effects too. I'm constantly sleepy, dizzy, just feeling heavy and foggy, plus I've lost my appetite and am dealing with constipation. My psychiatrist told me all that should clear up after about a week. What I really want to know is if this stuff actually helps with motivation. Right now, I’m just staring at the wall, and even when I *want* to get something done, it takes me like three hours just to physically move. Apparently, it's "just" depression, though maybe there's some anxiety mixed in there too—who knows. All I know is I'm in a really bad way right now.

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry for the delay in responding, I'm pretty new to this forum and it took me forever to actually find the thread... I'm definitely feeling the side effects too. I'm constantly sleepy, dizzy, just feeling heavy and foggy, plus I've lost my appetite and am dealing with constipation. My psychiatrist told me all that should clear up after about a week. What I really want to know is if this stuff actually helps with motivation. Right now, I’m just staring at the wall, and even when I *want* to get something done, it takes me like three hours just to physically move. Apparently, it's "just" depression, though maybe there's some anxiety mixed in there too—who knows. All I know is I'm in a really bad way right now.

My headaches and stomach issues cleared up in a few days, but the muscle fatigue—that heavy feeling in my legs—is still there on day 13. I'll stick with it for another week then decide. As for the motivation part, I can't really say because I haven't had those specific episodes. I'm more on the nervous, anxious side (like being terrified of going to work and getting fired), so I don't have the "lying in bed" problem. Life forces me to move. I am slower, though. I push things off or skip them—like how I usually do a deep clean of the house in the spring, but now I just do the bare minimum to stay functional. Some days it's hard to get up, but you just do what you have to do. Who are you living with? Is there anyone there to help? It's way too early to tell if the meds will work.

Matthew White4 said:I’m actually functional in the mornings; I live for my coffee ritual, those 45-60 minutes are basically sacred to me.
But then this anxiety bullshit starts creeping in during the afternoon... just hits me out of nowhere.
That's been the pattern for the last few years—it's nothing compared to how things used to be, when it was a constant, 24/7/365 nightmare
Maybe it's because I started taking my AD in the morning, who knows...

That last nasty depressive episode totally wrecked me back in January; it was pure hell for days on end, and absolutely nothing seemed to touch it.

Imagine that. Honestly, I envy your afternoon anxiety.🤣If I could get everything done in the morning and just deal with it in the afternoon while I'm stuck at home, it would be easier to handle.😂Does it still hit you like that even on the antidepressants? Or is it just occasional? For me—like what Jason Vaughn482 goes through—it's the morning. Butterflies in my stomach. Even then, coffee doesn't sit right; even a little bit makes me more jittery than I already am. Then I take my Coaxil at 6 AM and just toss and turn until 7:30 before getting up. Of course, when I actually have to work, it’s a struggle because I need to be there by 8. Lucky for me, I don't have to go in every day.

Paul Newman5 said:But seriously. Are you on any antidepressants? I can't keep track of everything, I forget, and I actually want to know how you feel in the morning and how long it lingers. Just curious.

I deal with hereditary depression and anxiety, so I'm on meds for life. Plus, my insomnia is brutal.
So, here's my cocktail: an antidepressant like Prozac, a stabilizer like Xanax, and an antipsychotic like Seroquel for sleep—which I sometimes even take during the day if the anxiety hits too hard.
And honestly? Right now, I have absolutely zero motivation.

fadedbear92 said:I deal with hereditary depression and anxiety, so I'm on meds for life. Plus, my insomnia is brutal.
So, here's my cocktail: an antidepressant like Prozac, a stabilizer like Xanax, and an antipsychotic like Seroquel for sleep—which I sometimes even take during the day if the anxiety hits too hard.
And honestly? Right now, I have absolutely zero motivation.

It’s past noon, so I’m doing okay. Felt a bit more upbeat and lively the last couple of days, but mornings are rough... just pure irritability and nerves. No family history of this stuff that I know of; my grandparents all passed from cancer, though my grandma had some similar issues during menopause. My doctor thinks mine might be linked to that, but who knows. Not sure what Effexor is, never heard of it, but I know the rest. Luckily, a little Lexapro helps me sleep. I'm rarely listless, mostly just pissed off. Anxiety and the jitters are what really get to me.

Paul Newman5 said:It’s past noon, so I’m doing okay. Felt a bit more upbeat and lively the last couple of days, but mornings are rough... just pure irritability and nerves. No family history of this stuff that I know of; my grandparents all passed from cancer, though my grandma had some similar issues during menopause. My doctor thinks mine might be linked to that, but who knows. Not sure what Effexor is, never heard of it, but I know the rest. Luckily, a little Lexapro helps me sleep. I'm rarely listless, mostly just pissed off. Anxiety and the jitters are what really get to me.

Edronax is an antidepressant that hits the norepinephrine, so it can be quite stimulating.
I just shot a text to my doctor to let her know how I'm feeling, so now I'm just waiting to hear back.😕

Something weird happened today. I’ve been taking one Coaxil at 1 AM for about 13 days now, and up until this point, I was always saying how much it sedates me and helps with anxiety. Not this morning. Even though my legs felt heavy, I decided to bump it up to 2, just like my psychiatrist suggested. I took it before lunch, and by 2 PM, I was hit with this sudden restlessness—like I was being jolted awake. I couldn't settle down, so I had to take 0.5 mg of Ativan and 3 mg of Lexapro. But this wasn't that "good" kind of energy; it was pure nerves and heightened anxiety. Everyone talks about this stuff being mild and calming, but for me, moving to 2 feels more like taking Xanax, just slightly less intense. Then the diarrhea hit... just great. Is it possible one pill is fine but a higher dose does this? Or am I just so high-strung that any antidepressant sends me spiraling? If anyone has an explanation or has dealt with this, let me know. It’s strange. I was actually bragging yesterday about having a good afternoon—went shopping, did some ironing—but today this hit me and left me useless. The Ativan and Lexapro eventually leveled me out, but that surge of nervousness is definitely not what an anxiolytic Coaxil is supposed to do.

Paul Newman5 said:Something weird happened today. I’ve been taking one Coaxil at 1 AM for about 13 days now, and up until this point, I was always saying how much it sedates me and helps with anxiety. Not this morning. Even though my legs felt heavy, I decided to bump it up to 2, just like my psychiatrist suggested. I took it before lunch, and by 2 PM, I was hit with this sudden restlessness—like I was being jolted awake. I couldn't settle down, so I had to take 0.5 mg of Ativan and 3 mg of Lexapro. But this wasn't that "good" kind of energy; it was pure nerves and heightened anxiety. Everyone talks about this stuff being mild and calming, but for me, moving to 2 feels more like taking Xanax, just slightly less intense. Then the diarrhea hit... just great. Is it possible one pill is fine but a higher dose does this? Or am I just so high-strung that any antidepressant sends me spiraling? If anyone has an explanation or has dealt with this, let me know. It’s strange. I was actually bragging yesterday about having a good afternoon—went shopping, did some ironing—but today this hit me and left me useless. The Ativan and Lexapro eventually leveled me out, but that surge of nervousness is definitely not what an anxiolytic Coaxil is supposed to do.

You switched to 2 pills way too fast. Usually, you'd increase by a quarter tablet every 3 or 4 days; I'm guessing your body just reacted poorly because you doubled the dose so abruptly.

fadedbear92 said:You switched to 2 pills way too fast. Usually, you'd increase by a quarter tablet every 3 or 4 days; I'm guessing your body just reacted poorly because you doubled the dose so abruptly.

Not sure about that. My psychiatrist pushed the 2x1 routine immediately, but I stuck to just one pill for nearly two weeks. Everyone says Cox Communications is weak, and some people even take three. One isn't doing much for me. I have an appointment at the clinic tomorrow, then I’ll probably follow up with my doctor again. I might try two more tomorrow; if it stays the same, maybe it's too much, maybe one is enough, or maybe you're right and this stuff just doesn't work for me. Any thoughts? If anyone actually knows something useful, let me know.

That’s wild... they had me on a 3x1 regimen from day one, and I followed it to the letter like a good little patient.

Honestly, I never really dealt with those mild antidepressant vibes; my doctor used to just drop heavy doses on me right out of the gate.

The only time I actually tried an antidepressant was when I took Zoloft for the first time ever. My body absolutely lost its mind—I went from sobbing uncontrollably to full-on hysteria, plus the dizziness, the stomach issues, the whole nine yards...

Everything else was pretty chill, nothing negative happened, except for Calixta... that stuff absolutely wiped me out.

Paul Newman5, you definitely need to hash this out with your psychiatrist...

Matthew White4 said:That’s wild... they had me on a 3x1 regimen from day one, and I followed it to the letter like a good little patient.

Honestly, I never really dealt with those mild antidepressant vibes; my doctor used to just drop heavy doses on me right out of the gate.

The only time I actually tried an antidepressant was when I took Zoloft for the first time ever. My body absolutely lost its mind—I went from sobbing uncontrollably to full-on hysteria, plus the dizziness, the stomach issues, the whole nine yards...

Everything else was pretty chill, nothing negative happened, except for Calixta... that stuff absolutely wiped me out.

Paul Newman5, you definitely need to hash this out with your psychiatrist...

I got the 2x1 deal right away too, but knowing myself, I stuck to just one at first. As for the anxiety, if that’s what you’re feeling, it usually hits during those first few days. Both Cipralex and Lexapro had me seeing red by day three, but this? Being sedated for two weeks and then suddenly ramping things up by increasing the dose doesn't seem right. Besides, the Cox Communications pill is so tiny I don't see how you could even split it in half. I've searched everywhere online about how this stuff works—longitudinal, transverse, whatever—and nowhere does it mention causing nervousness. This is typically used to calm people down, like folks dealing with addiction issues, and it actually did the opposite for me. I'll try it tomorrow and see. I don't have a psychiatrist at the moment anyway.😂Not going back to my old doctor because we had a falling out in December. I ditched her last prescription and switched over to Cox Communications. I have the option to see someone at Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but during the phone call, the psychiatrist told me to take it for at least three weeks before checking in to see if it’s working or if I need an in-person visit. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow, but this was unexpected. Most antidepressants mention restlessness as a side effect, but apparently not with Cox Communications. I'm a weird one. Is it possible—asking everyone here since you've all been through it and some people stay on these for years—that because I'm anxious or high-strung rather than depressed, all these meds just make me too wired? Maybe I need the Associated Press, but my old shrink wouldn't listen and just insisted on doing things her way. Just... stuck. 😕Either I start living like Joe Biden, get drunk, and just stop caring about anything.🤣

Paul Newman5 said:I got the 2x1 deal right away too, but knowing myself, I stuck to just one at first. As for the anxiety, if that’s what you’re feeling, it usually hits during those first few days. Both Cipralex and Lexapro had me seeing red by day three, but this? Being sedated for two weeks and then suddenly ramping things up by increasing the dose doesn't seem right. Besides, the Cox Communications pill is so tiny I don't see how you could even split it in half. I've searched everywhere online about how this stuff works—longitudinal, transverse, whatever—and nowhere does it mention causing nervousness. This is typically used to calm people down, like folks dealing with addiction issues, and it actually did the opposite for me. I'll try it tomorrow and see. I don't have a psychiatrist at the moment anyway.😂Not going back to my old doctor because we had a falling out in December. I ditched her last prescription and switched over to Cox Communications. I have the option to see someone at Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but during the phone call, the psychiatrist told me to take it for at least three weeks before checking in to see if it’s working or if I need an in-person visit. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow, but this was unexpected. Most antidepressants mention restlessness as a side effect, but apparently not with Cox Communications. I'm a weird one. Is it possible—asking everyone here since you've all been through it and some people stay on these for years—that because I'm anxious or high-strung rather than depressed, all these meds just make me too wired? Maybe I need the Associated Press, but my old shrink wouldn't listen and just insisted on doing things her way. Just... stuck. 😕Either I start living like Joe Biden, get drunk, and just stop caring about anything.🤣

Look, sorry, but you can't really handle it that way. There's a reason Cox Communications—sorry, the medication—is prescribed at 1x3 times a day; it's because the half-life is relatively short. To get a steady, effective concentration in your plasma, the standard recommendation is taking it three times daily. If you keep sticking to just one or two pills a day, you'll probably never actually feel any improvement, or it'll take forever. On the other hand, you absolutely cannot compare this to other SSRIs like Zoloft, Lexapro, or Prozac. They work in a completely different, almost contradictory way. This drug is unique and stands in its own lane. Its efficacy is proven, but only when taken as recommended—usually 3x1 daily or more. What you're doing is just counterproductive. Talk to a psychiatrist and good luck.

Timothy Wood38 said:Look, sorry, but you can't really handle it that way. There's a reason Cox Communications—sorry, the medication—is prescribed at 1x3 times a day; it's because the half-life is relatively short. To get a steady, effective concentration in your plasma, the standard recommendation is taking it three times daily. If you keep sticking to just one or two pills a day, you'll probably never actually feel any improvement, or it'll take forever. On the other hand, you absolutely cannot compare this to other SSRIs like Zoloft, Lexapro, or Prozac. They work in a completely different, almost contradictory way. This drug is unique and stands in its own lane. Its efficacy is proven, but only when taken as recommended—usually 3x1 daily or more. What you're doing is just counterproductive. Talk to a psychiatrist and good luck.

Sorry, but my doctor actually told me 2x1. And I was just talking about how contradictory it is. It shouldn't act like Lexapro, but that's exactly what happened this afternoon... it jolted me so much I had to take more anti-anxiety meds. Surprising, since all the literature says it shouldn't do that. I'm just surprised. And again, if my doctor said two a day, why would I take three? You're just repeating what's already confusing me. Something is happening that shouldn't be happening with Cox Communications. It kept me calm for 13 days, then once I bumped it to two, it made me restless just like Lexapro used to. That's what I'm writing about, not the dosage. I tried sticking to exactly what my psychiatrist prescribed starting today, but the restlessness was too much. That's why I'm asking the forum.

Paul Newman5 said:Sorry, but my doctor actually told me 2x1. And I was just talking about how contradictory it is. It shouldn't act like Lexapro, but that's exactly what happened this afternoon... it jolted me so much I had to take more anti-anxiety meds. Surprising, since all the literature says it shouldn't do that. I'm just surprised. And again, if my doctor said two a day, why would I take three? You're just repeating what's already confusing me. Something is happening that shouldn't be happening with Cox Communications. It kept me calm for 13 days, then once I bumped it to two, it made me restless just like Lexapro used to. That's what I'm writing about, not the dosage. I tried sticking to exactly what my psychiatrist prescribed starting today, but the restlessness was too much. That's why I'm asking the forum.

Rejica made a fair point, and Timothy Wood38 is correct regarding the mechanism of action for Cox Communications—it functions quite differently from other antidepressants.
I suspect you're reacting to the jump to two tablets. Perhaps try taking one at your usual time and then just half a tablet in the afternoon, giving your system—specifically your brain—enough time to adjust to the chemistry being introduced.

Paul Newman5 said:Sorry, but my doctor actually told me 2x1. And I was just talking about how contradictory it is. It shouldn't act like Lexapro, but that's exactly what happened this afternoon... it jolted me so much I had to take more anti-anxiety meds. Surprising, since all the literature says it shouldn't do that. I'm just surprised. And again, if my doctor said two a day, why would I take three? You're just repeating what's already confusing me. Something is happening that shouldn't be happening with Cox Communications. It kept me calm for 13 days, then once I bumped it to two, it made me restless just like Lexapro used to. That's what I'm writing about, not the dosage. I tried sticking to exactly what my psychiatrist prescribed starting today, but the restlessness was too much. That's why I'm asking the forum.

Well, those first two weeks of side effects are pretty standard while your body adjusts and the plasma concentration finally stabilizes. Usually, during those first fourteen days, people take an anti-anxiety med or something like Sulpiride as needed just to take the edge off the side effects. If things stay unbearable after that period, the doctor typically switches the prescription entirely. Didn't your doctor mention that? By sticking to just one pill of Cox Communications for thirteen days, you were essentially just stressing your system without achieving anything, because one single dose isn't enough to reach a steady plasma concentration. The reason your doctor prescribed 2x1 is likely because they understand how sensitive your system is, and they'd probably move you up to 3x1 eventually since that's a standard dose. Honestly, you made a mistake by trying to take only one a day thinking it would make the adjustment easier; with Cox Communications, that's actually counterproductive when it comes to managing side effects.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, those first two weeks of side effects are pretty standard while your body adjusts and the plasma concentration finally stabilizes. Usually, during those first fourteen days, people take an anti-anxiety med or something like Sulpiride as needed just to take the edge off the side effects. If things stay unbearable after that period, the doctor typically switches the prescription entirely. Didn't your doctor mention that? By sticking to just one pill of Cox Communications for thirteen days, you were essentially just stressing your system without achieving anything, because one single dose isn't enough to reach a steady plasma concentration. The reason your doctor prescribed 2x1 is likely because they understand how sensitive your system is, and they'd probably move you up to 3x1 eventually since that's a standard dose. Honestly, you made a mistake by trying to take only one a day thinking it would make the adjustment easier; with Cox Communications, that's actually counterproductive when it comes to managing side effects.

Thanks. I get it now. I just didn't expect something that was numbing me yesterday to make me jittery today. That "famous" 14-day window ends tomorrow, so hopefully it gets better. Besides, I can't exactly call my psychiatrist every five minutes to ask questions. Thanks for the input, though—honestly, I regret asking at all.

Paul Newman5 said:Thanks. I get it now. I just didn't expect something that was numbing me yesterday to make me jittery today. That "famous" 14-day window ends tomorrow, so hopefully it gets better. Besides, I can't exactly call my psychiatrist every five minutes to ask questions. Thanks for the input, though—honestly, I regret asking at all.

Your body just had a massive reaction to that double dose.🙂
As for the doctor situation, I totally feel you. Mine didn't even give me a direct number to call, so I was stuck dealing with side effects and wondering "is this actually gonna get better?" all by myself for days. Eventually, I just gave up on the meds entirely—well, I checked with my primary care doc instead, since at least they actually understand how this stuff works.🙂
Hang in there.🙂

Hey

Greetings to blacx!😉

fadedbear92 said:Hey

Greetings to blacx!😉

Right back at ya, 😉

Brandon Lopez6 said:Your body just had a massive reaction to that double dose.🙂
As for the doctor situation, I totally feel you. Mine didn't even give me a direct number to call, so I was stuck dealing with side effects and wondering "is this actually gonna get better?" all by myself for days. Eventually, I just gave up on the meds entirely—well, I checked with my primary care doc instead, since at least they actually understand how this stuff works.🙂
Hang in there.🙂

I messed up the steps here. My psychiatrist prescribed Axon back in December, but we clashed, so I turned to alternative options. Three months later, I went to my GP to get the prescription filled, and he told me to start with just one pill. In the meantime, I called a psychiatrist in New York, and since I'd already started taking the Axon, she told me to take three a day and check in with her. But I didn't ask her how or when; I just acted without thinking, assuming Axon wasn't like other antidepressants. I didn't follow up with my GP either, thinking, "whatever, I'll just take three and let the lady in New York know." That's where the mistake happened. Thanks for the advice, everyone, but with all due respect, blacx (sorry if I spelled that wrong) could have explained it a bit more kindly. I respect his knowledge, but the tone was harsh and it stung. And I'm mad at myself for not asking the New York doctor more questions. I'll try taking two today and see how it goes.