Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Lamictal is coming out
"THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS
Lamictal (lamotrigine) belongs to a class of medications known as anticonvulsants—drugs used to manage epilepsy (seizures). It’s also utilized for treating bipolar disorder.

Lamictal is indicated for:
- monotherapy for treating and preventing various types of epilepsy in adults and children over 12 years old
- combination therapy alongside other anticonvulsants for treating and preventing various seizure types in adults and children over 2 years old
- preventing significant mood shifts—specifically preventing depressive episodes—in adults over 18 who live with bipolar disorder.

http://healthline.com/medications/lamotrigine

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/labeling/...-11-02-613.pdf

So, yeah—it's pretty clear this is one of those mood stabilizers too.😉

Yeah, though in practice it’s generally turned out to be a better anticonvulsant, while being way less effective when it comes to mood stabilization.

fadedbear92 said:Lamictal is coming out
"THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS
Lamictal (lamotrigine) belongs to a class of medications known as anticonvulsants—drugs used to manage epilepsy (seizures). It’s also utilized for treating bipolar disorder.

Lamictal is indicated for:
- monotherapy for treating and preventing various types of epilepsy in adults and children over 12 years old
- combination therapy alongside other anticonvulsants for treating and preventing various seizure types in adults and children over 2 years old
- preventing significant mood shifts—specifically preventing depressive episodes—in adults over 18 who live with bipolar disorder.

http://healthline.com/medications/lamotrigine

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/labeling/...-11-02-613.pdf

So, yeah—it's pretty clear this is one of those mood stabilizers too.😉

I guess that’s why they prescribed it to me.

I don't have epilepsy or bipolar disorder, but I deal with this inexplicable rage that leads to frequent outbursts.

It doesn't feel like it's doing anything yet, but I haven't even reached half my prescribed dose.

copperheron18 said:I suspect you're still in that adjustment phase with the Paxil, which explains why you're feeling this way. I went through a similar stretch at the start where the side effects were intense; I actually posted about it on this forum once—everything from a restless, internal jitteriness to suicidal ideation. For me, the nausea lasted the longest, and even now, it hits me out of nowhere; it really doesn't sit well with my stomach. But all those other issues eventually cleared up, and looking back, the worst of it was actually quite brief.
Then again, we're all built differently, so side effects and adjustment periods vary from person to person—hopefully, there's some comfort in knowing I made it through.
To be honest, I don't know how you'll manage studying for an exam in this state; my first two weeks were pure mental chaos and brain fog. It was nearly impossible to focus on anything, even the simplest tasks, but perhaps you'll pull through—fingers crossed for you!
Lamictal and Lamictal contain the active ingredient lamotrigine, so they are chemically identical; it's simply a matter of different manufacturers.

Man.😢
This is my final exam and I'm up against a hard deadline.

Did your head finally clear up and did your concentration get any better?
If so, when did that happen?

Angela Reyes4 said:I guess that’s why they prescribed it to me.

I don't have epilepsy or bipolar disorder, but I deal with this inexplicable rage that leads to frequent outbursts.

It doesn't feel like it's doing anything yet, but I haven't even reached half my prescribed dose.

Oh, you definitely are.😉

Angela Reyes4 said:Man.😢
This is my final exam and I'm up against a hard deadline.

Did your head finally clear up and did your concentration get any better?
If so, when did that happen?

Yes, I'm doing fine now.
The only issue is that I am incredibly drowsy; however, once I catch up on sleep, I'm an absolute powerhouse 😁
—cheerful, focused, articulate, relaxed, and calm—but only if I manage at least 10 hours of rest beforehand (like today, for instance 😛)
Otherwise, I’m just yawning incessantly and counting the minutes until I can hit the sack. But then again, you're clearly at university, so your situation is different; you have the luxury of sleeping whenever. I'm working, so it becomes a bit of a struggle when I'm yawning every two seconds; my coworkers are starting to give me strange looks because of it.🙄

copperheron18 said:Yes, I'm doing fine now.
The only issue is that I am incredibly drowsy; however, once I catch up on sleep, I'm an absolute powerhouse 😁
—cheerful, focused, articulate, relaxed, and calm—but only if I manage at least 10 hours of rest beforehand (like today, for instance 😛)
Otherwise, I’m just yawning incessantly and counting the minutes until I can hit the sack. But then again, you're clearly at university, so your situation is different; you have the luxury of sleeping whenever. I'm working, so it becomes a bit of a struggle when I'm yawning every two seconds; my coworkers are starting to give me strange looks because of it.🙄

Well, thanks for the comfort. 🙂

I have a baby at home, so between the housework and this upcoming exam hanging over my head, I don't really get much downtime.
But before I started taking Fever, I used to at least get some solid sleep between the baby's feedings and felt refreshed during the day.
Now, I'm tired all the time, I wake up constantly during the night, and I feel completely "wooden" during the day.

How long did it take for you to start feeling like yourself again?

Angela Reyes4 said:Well, thanks for the comfort. 🙂

I have a baby at home, so between the housework and this upcoming exam hanging over my head, I don't really get much downtime.
But before I started taking Fever, I used to at least get some solid sleep between the baby's feedings and felt refreshed during the day.
Now, I'm tired all the time, I wake up constantly during the night, and I feel completely "wooden" during the day.

How long did it take for you to start feeling like yourself again?

Oof, I honestly can't say for sure. I just remember that about two weeks ago, I was too out of it to even feel safe behind the wheel of a car. Now, I'm doing much better. Maybe it was about two weeks? I can't pinpoint the exact moment things stabilized, but it happened.
Keep in mind, I'm also taking Xanax, so that’s helped me regulate the sleep I managed to get once I started Prozac (which wasn't great to begin with).
The only thing is the nausea. I still get hit with it—at least once a day, I get these waves of intense nausea and weakness. It passes within thirty minutes or so, thank God, but it’s something new. It definitely started once I began this medication.

copperheron18, thanks for the heads up.

I’ve just hit my third week on this medication regimen.
I was prescribed Prozac for OCD, along with Lamictal to deal with the constant rage that comes with my depressive episodes.

As far as the Prozac goes, it isn't doing much for the OCD specifically, though it does leave me feeling so numb and lethargic that I lack the energy to even act on my compulsions (so, I suppose that counts as "help" in a way)😁.
The Lamictal hasn't done a thing for me; I am still perpetually filled with anger.

Perhaps it is simply too early to tell.🤷

Angela Reyes4 said:copperheron18, thanks for the heads up.

I’ve just hit my third week on this medication regimen.
I was prescribed Prozac for OCD, along with Lamictal to deal with the constant rage that comes with my depressive episodes.

As far as the Prozac goes, it isn't doing much for the OCD specifically, though it does leave me feeling so numb and lethargic that I lack the energy to even act on my compulsions (so, I suppose that counts as "help" in a way)😁.
The Lamictal hasn't done a thing for me; I am still perpetually filled with anger.

Perhaps it is simply too early to tell.🤷

That constant anger is killing me too. I feel like a rubber band stretched to the breaking point, always terrified I'm about to have a total breakdown. For me, Paxil was perfect—took it for five weeks, nerves were gone, but man, it just deadened me. It caused these muscle spasms so bad I sometimes couldn't even feel my legs. Not like a normal cramp, more like they didn't belong to me. Had to quit. On the plus side, sleep was great and no nausea or appetite changes, but those muscle issues were brutal. Do you take anything like Ativan or Xanax when the nerves hit?

Ugh, here I go again... So, I finally made the switch from Seroxat over to Prozac. I tried to be all responsible and did a slow taper—half Seroxat and half Prozac for a bit, which seemed totally fine. But now? I’ve been on nothing but Prozac for 18 days and everything is just... off. The anxiety is hitting me hard, my heart is literally skipping beats like it's trying to escape my chest, and I have zero motivation. Just total lethargy. Is this some kind of side effect from the Prozac? I’ve been popping 5 mg of Ativan every now and then to cope, but honestly, I'm terrified I'm going to build up a tolerance. It basically just numbs me out for a second before reality hits again...😢

Paul Newman5 said:That constant anger is killing me too. I feel like a rubber band stretched to the breaking point, always terrified I'm about to have a total breakdown. For me, Paxil was perfect—took it for five weeks, nerves were gone, but man, it just deadened me. It caused these muscle spasms so bad I sometimes couldn't even feel my legs. Not like a normal cramp, more like they didn't belong to me. Had to quit. On the plus side, sleep was great and no nausea or appetite changes, but those muscle issues were brutal. Do you take anything like Ativan or Xanax when the nerves hit?

I don't take any of those.

I don't really get "nervous."
At least, not in the kind of situational way that makes you reach for a sedative.
I am just perpetually filled with rage—sometimes bordering on pure hatred.
My psychiatrist mentioned that a minority of people react to depression this way.
Even my OCD meds aren't doing much to help.

So, for now, I'm just on Prozac and Lamictal, and I still have about two or three years of psychotherapy ahead of me.

Honestly, I try to avoid psychiatric drugs whenever possible.
I barely even started taking what I was prescribed.
My mother was on Xanax for years, and a friend of mine used Ativan... I've witnessed people trying to quit those, and it is never a pretty sight.

Now, my doctor tells me that the medications I'm currently taking aren't addictive.
But at this point, who can really say for sure?🤷

Angela Reyes4 said:copperheron18, thanks for the heads up.

I’ve just hit my third week on this medication regimen.
I was prescribed Prozac for OCD, along with Lamictal to deal with the constant rage that comes with my depressive episodes.

As far as the Prozac goes, it isn't doing much for the OCD specifically, though it does leave me feeling so numb and lethargic that I lack the energy to even act on my compulsions (so, I suppose that counts as "help" in a way)😁.
The Lamictal hasn't done a thing for me; I am still perpetually filled with anger.

Perhaps it is simply too early to tell.🤷

It’s definitely too soon. In my experience, you need at least one or two months to gauge the actual effectiveness—or lack thereof. I'm only four weeks in myself.
Just yesterday I was boasting about feeling fantastic, yet today I find myself sinking back into a low spot.😢
I take Prozac for anxiety and depression, and for me, it truly provides a sense of calm. I started dealing with these irrational fears that were completely paralyzing my daily life; I was constantly tense and anxious, unable to function normally. That tension was unbearable. Prozac definitely takes the edge off, so you hit the nail on the head regarding that feeling of being "dulled." It makes me significantly calmer; it really is built for soothing that agitation.

copperheron18 said:It’s definitely too soon. In my experience, you need at least one or two months to gauge the actual effectiveness—or lack thereof. I'm only four weeks in myself.
Just yesterday I was boasting about feeling fantastic, yet today I find myself sinking back into a low spot.😢
I take Prozac for anxiety and depression, and for me, it truly provides a sense of calm. I started dealing with these irrational fears that were completely paralyzing my daily life; I was constantly tense and anxious, unable to function normally. That tension was unbearable. Prozac definitely takes the edge off, so you hit the nail on the head regarding that feeling of being "dulled." It makes me significantly calmer; it really is built for soothing that agitation.

How do you handle that numbness or brain fog at work, or even at home when you actually have stuff to do? For me, Coaxil was great for calming down, but I could barely walk through the office or even cook a meal at home. I just felt completely checked out from work.
And I wouldn't agree that you have to stick with an antidepressant for months if it's not working for you. Both my first and second psychiatrists told me you can tolerate side effects for maybe 2-3 weeks, but if they don't pass, you should switch to something else—unless Prozac isn't doing anything at all, which I doubt. I personally know someone who had nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for only about ten days on Prozac, and after that, they were fine—getting up, studying, exercising. It helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. This idea that you shouldn't suffer for two months is something I've heard from others here on the forum whose doctors said the same. Just my own layman's observations, though. Who knows if I'm right.

Paul Newman5 said:How do you handle that numbness or brain fog at work, or even at home when you actually have stuff to do? For me, Coaxil was great for calming down, but I could barely walk through the office or even cook a meal at home. I just felt completely checked out from work.
And I wouldn't agree that you have to stick with an antidepressant for months if it's not working for you. Both my first and second psychiatrists told me you can tolerate side effects for maybe 2-3 weeks, but if they don't pass, you should switch to something else—unless Prozac isn't doing anything at all, which I doubt. I personally know someone who had nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for only about ten days on Prozac, and after that, they were fine—getting up, studying, exercising. It helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. This idea that you shouldn't suffer for two months is something I've heard from others here on the forum whose doctors said the same. Just my own layman's observations, though. Who knows if I'm right.

Well, I’m not quite that numb every single day. I tend to force myself to get moving, to tackle what needs to be done—it's essentially a matter of sheer willpower to push myself forward 😁. Since my job involves interacting with people, that actually helps redirect my focus and keeps my mind active. I don't really have a choice in the matter, though I occasionally feel the urge to just lose it a little.

Of course, if you're experiencing nasty side effects without seeing any actual improvement, you shouldn't force yourself to stay on an antidepressant that doesn't suit you. I am merely suggesting that if someone hasn't felt a definitive improvement after three weeks, it's not the end of the world—it just clearly means more time is needed.
For instance, as I mentioned before, I still deal with some nausea, but it’s nothing unbearable and passes quickly. Generally speaking, I feel much better and can function far more effectively since starting Prozac, so I won't quit just because of occasional nausea; the benefits are worth it. Specifically regarding restlessness, anxiety, irrational fears, terrible nerve issues in my gut, tension, insomnia, abdominal pain, and cramping—all those awful things I've been battling lately—I felt an improvement almost immediately upon starting. That makes the nausea a minor concern.
Sometimes, I actually find a sense of relief in feeling a bit dull or sleepy. When I remember how constantly tense and cramped up I was until recently, this state feels like a mercy.

Paul Newman5 said:How do you handle that numbness or brain fog at work, or even at home when you actually have stuff to do? For me, Coaxil was great for calming down, but I could barely walk through the office or even cook a meal at home. I just felt completely checked out from work.
And I wouldn't agree that you have to stick with an antidepressant for months if it's not working for you. Both my first and second psychiatrists told me you can tolerate side effects for maybe 2-3 weeks, but if they don't pass, you should switch to something else—unless Prozac isn't doing anything at all, which I doubt. I personally know someone who had nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for only about ten days on Prozac, and after that, they were fine—getting up, studying, exercising. It helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. This idea that you shouldn't suffer for two months is something I've heard from others here on the forum whose doctors said the same. Just my own layman's observations, though. Who knows if I'm right.

Are you seeing a psychiatrist privately or through your insurance?

I’m using my insurance.
I received my diagnosis at the end of April and started the medication shortly after.
My next appointment isn't until July.
I guess I just have to be patient until then.🤷

The only time you'd switch is if Prozac isn't helping at all, though I doubt that's the case. I personally know someone who dealt with nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for about 10 days after starting Prozac, but after that, they were back to normal—getting up, going to college, playing sports—and it helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. Regarding what I wrote earlier about not needing to suffer for two months, I've heard similar things from other people on this forum whose doctors said the same thing. This is just my layman's understanding, though, so I don't know if I'm right.

My doctor told me it takes time for the full effect to kick in and for the body to actually show how the meds are impacting it.
On top of that, I haven't even reached half of my target dose for Lamictal yet.

I didn't ask her exactly how much time it would take.

Since I have finals coming up, I specifically asked her not to put me on anything that causes brain fog.
She assured me that the pills I was given wouldn't make me feel numb; if anything, she said I might feel more "alive" and have more energy.

Right now, I still feel exhausted, but that's most likely due to poor sleep.🤷
As for why I'm sleeping so badly, I have no idea.
Regarding my OCD, I feel like it's helping somewhat.
I have fewer compulsions, which is great.

But man, this fatigue is killing me.

Angela Reyes4 said:Are you seeing a psychiatrist privately or through your insurance?

I’m using my insurance.
I received my diagnosis at the end of April and started the medication shortly after.
My next appointment isn't until July.
I guess I just have to be patient until then.🤷

The only time you'd switch is if Prozac isn't helping at all, though I doubt that's the case. I personally know someone who dealt with nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for about 10 days after starting Prozac, but after that, they were back to normal—getting up, going to college, playing sports—and it helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. Regarding what I wrote earlier about not needing to suffer for two months, I've heard similar things from other people on this forum whose doctors said the same thing. This is just my layman's understanding, though, so I don't know if I'm right.

My doctor told me it takes time for the full effect to kick in and for the body to actually show how the meds are impacting it.
On top of that, I haven't even reached half of my target dose for Lamictal yet.

I didn't ask her exactly how much time it would take.

Since I have finals coming up, I specifically asked her not to put me on anything that causes brain fog.
She assured me that the pills I was given wouldn't make me feel numb; if anything, she said I might feel more "alive" and have more energy.

Right now, I still feel exhausted, but that's most likely due to poor sleep.🤷
As for why I'm sleeping so badly, I have no idea.
Regarding my OCD, I feel like it's helping somewhat.
I have fewer compulsions, which is great.

But man, this fatigue is killing me.

The first one was private, but this current one is through the clinic. Still, she gave me her cell number to call in two weeks if side effects don't settle down (right now I'm off everything, waiting for my doctor to get back from vacation tomorrow so she can write a new prescription). I was given Ludiomil, but if I start gaining weight like crazy, I have no intention of staying on it for months. Same thing happened to me with Coaxil... nerves were fine, tapering off the anxiety meds went okay, sleep and appetite seemed normal, but my legs were giving out from muscle weakness. My doctor told me to stop after the fourth week. They explained that depression doesn't resolve in just 2-3 weeks, but the side effects shouldn't persist. I'm not a doctor though, so I'm just repeating what my doctors and some people on here have said.

Angela Reyes4 said:Are you seeing a psychiatrist privately or through your insurance?

I’m using my insurance.
I received my diagnosis at the end of April and started the medication shortly after.
My next appointment isn't until July.
I guess I just have to be patient until then.🤷

The only time you'd switch is if Prozac isn't helping at all, though I doubt that's the case. I personally know someone who dealt with nausea and extreme fatigue or sleepiness for about 10 days after starting Prozac, but after that, they were back to normal—getting up, going to college, playing sports—and it helped them immensely with anxiety and those irrational fears we deal with. Regarding what I wrote earlier about not needing to suffer for two months, I've heard similar things from other people on this forum whose doctors said the same thing. This is just my layman's understanding, though, so I don't know if I'm right.

My doctor told me it takes time for the full effect to kick in and for the body to actually show how the meds are impacting it.
On top of that, I haven't even reached half of my target dose for Lamictal yet.

I didn't ask her exactly how much time it would take.

Since I have finals coming up, I specifically asked her not to put me on anything that causes brain fog.
She assured me that the pills I was given wouldn't make me feel numb; if anything, she said I might feel more "alive" and have more energy.

Right now, I still feel exhausted, but that's most likely due to poor sleep.🤷
As for why I'm sleeping so badly, I have no idea.
Regarding my OCD, I feel like it's helping somewhat.
I have fewer compulsions, which is great.

But man, this fatigue is killing me.

Exactly.

I’m still feeling pretty exhausted right now, though that's probably mostly due to my terrible sleep schedule.🤷
As for why I can't sleep—honestly, who knows?

How long have you been on Prozac and what's your dosage? For me, I was sleeping all day for the first two weeks, but then my body finally adjusted.

It seems to be helping with my OCD somewhat.
The compulsions aren't hitting me nearly as hard, which is a huge relief.

: top:

Good grief, you wouldn't believe the day I've had. I was on a bit of a trek today—about a two-hour drive—and decided to take some Dramamine beforehand because, frankly, long trips always make me feel physically wretched. It never even crossed my mind to consider how that might interact with my current medication. The result? I was essentially a zombie. It felt as though I hadn't slept in three days straight; I couldn't even stay upright, let alone focus on anything, despite having actually slept quite well the night before.
It was incredibly awkward, too, being around the people we were visiting. Luckily, since I have a little one, I could just play it off by saying we all had a rough night of sleep. Even so, once the afternoon rolled around, I managed to catch a quick 90-minute nap with the kid, which finally helped me feel a bit more human.
Honestly, if I had known, there was no way I would have taken it. It only hit me after the fact, but then I checked the fine print on the Dramamine packaging, and sure enough, it explicitly mentions that it can cause these kinds of effects when combined with certain other drugs.

copperheron18 said:Good grief, you wouldn't believe the day I've had. I was on a bit of a trek today—about a two-hour drive—and decided to take some Dramamine beforehand because, frankly, long trips always make me feel physically wretched. It never even crossed my mind to consider how that might interact with my current medication. The result? I was essentially a zombie. It felt as though I hadn't slept in three days straight; I couldn't even stay upright, let alone focus on anything, despite having actually slept quite well the night before.
It was incredibly awkward, too, being around the people we were visiting. Luckily, since I have a little one, I could just play it off by saying we all had a rough night of sleep. Even so, once the afternoon rolled around, I managed to catch a quick 90-minute nap with the kid, which finally helped me feel a bit more human.
Honestly, if I had known, there was no way I would have taken it. It only hit me after the fact, but then I checked the fine print on the Dramamine packaging, and sure enough, it explicitly mentions that it can cause these kinds of effects when combined with certain other drugs.

Thank goodness you're okay!
"...it really comes down to your individual body chemistry and the dosage involved (specifically ethanol and diphenhydramine). Since both components act as central nervous system depressants—meaning they lower blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory volume—you could face extremely severe, permanent brain damage from oxygen deprivation, or even death. Both substances are also incredibly hard on the liver and are highly hepatotoxic so I would strongly advise against mixing them."😲😲😲😲

I just looked it up in the instructions myself, too.

Drug Interactions

Diphenhydramine can enhance the effects of CNS depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, antipsychotics, and opioids. It can also intensify the action of other anticholinergic drugs (used in treatments for prostate hypertrophy, pyloroduodenal obstruction, glaucoma, bronchial asthma, Parkinson's disease, etc.). When used alongside aminoglycoside antibiotics, it may mask early signs of ototoxicity.

http://www.centar-zdravlja.net/proiz...-opreza/#title