Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Are you guys actually certain that antipsychotics aren't addictive?

Specifically... Seroquel.

At first, 25 milligrams at night felt way too heavy—I’d wake up feeling totally groggy—but things leveled out pretty quickly.

Lately, I haven't even been taking it every single night, though I usually take it right before bed. It helps me sleep great. The morning fog is completely gone now.

But last night, I tried going without it and it was a total disaster... I was stuck in this weird half-sleep state all night, tossing and turning, and when morning came, I could barely drag myself out of bed because I was so wiped out.
I mean... it's not like anything extreme is happening. I don't have withdrawal symptoms today... I feel normal enough... but I'm terrified I won't be able to get any decent sleep without the Seroquel.

Man, this Effexor... wow. I had some seriously intense dreams while I was on this stuff. Like, nothing short of wild. It felt like being on pure drugs, I'm telling you. The dreams were so vivid—you actually feel them, see colors popping everywhere... honestly, it was tripping. lol.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Are you guys actually certain that antipsychotics aren't addictive?

Specifically... Seroquel.

At first, 25 milligrams at night felt way too heavy—I’d wake up feeling totally groggy—but things leveled out pretty quickly.

Lately, I haven't even been taking it every single night, though I usually take it right before bed. It helps me sleep great. The morning fog is completely gone now.

But last night, I tried going without it and it was a total disaster... I was stuck in this weird half-sleep state all night, tossing and turning, and when morning came, I could barely drag myself out of bed because I was so wiped out.
I mean... it's not like anything extreme is happening. I don't have withdrawal symptoms today... I feel normal enough... but I'm terrified I won't be able to get any decent sleep without the Seroquel.

All I know is that whenever I've had to switch from one antipsychotic to another, there hasn't been a single hiccup. I've cycled through maybe five or six different ones over the years of my treatment.

Larry Lewis said:All I know is that whenever I've had to switch from one antipsychotic to another, there hasn't been a single hiccup. I've cycled through maybe five or six different ones over the years of my treatment.

There's a massive difference between switching meds and just quitting them altogether.

Kevin Bailey2 said:There's a massive difference between switching meds and just quitting them altogether.

Look, I get what you're saying—really, I do—but I was just trying to pass along whatever little bits of intel I could manage to scrape together for you.

Moditen?
I don't see this being particularly profitable... especially after reading through the side effects [since I'm already dealing with tremors and neurological issues...] combined with some half-baked, five-minute assessment from an absolutely clueless psychiatrist regarding switching my dose from an antidepressant [like Cipralex or Remeron] to antipsychotics... definitely doesn't exactly spark a "desire to experiment." Is there actually a name for the phobia of taking meds? Like, a genuine fear of starting them? If there is... I've definitely got it....

ironrider11 said:Moditen?
I don't see this being particularly profitable... especially after reading through the side effects [since I'm already dealing with tremors and neurological issues...] combined with some half-baked, five-minute assessment from an absolutely clueless psychiatrist regarding switching my dose from an antidepressant [like Cipralex or Remeron] to antipsychotics... definitely doesn't exactly spark a "desire to experiment." Is there actually a name for the phobia of taking meds? Like, a genuine fear of starting them? If there is... I've definitely got it....

I hadn't heard it described that way, but I can tell you that I also harbor a massive, overwhelming fear of psychotropic drugs. It's why I cling so desperately to my Xanax and Sanval; in my mind, I view them as nothing less than drugs themselves. I’ll hold onto them until someone can offer me a viable alternative, but what good is an alternative when they only ever suggest antipsychotics? And frankly, those are the last things I want to touch.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I hadn't heard it described that way, but I can tell you that I also harbor a massive, overwhelming fear of psychotropic drugs. It's why I cling so desperately to my Xanax and Sanval; in my mind, I view them as nothing less than drugs themselves. I’ll hold onto them until someone can offer me a viable alternative, but what good is an alternative when they only ever suggest antipsychotics? And frankly, those are the last things I want to touch.

It’s not just about the psych meds. It’s any kind of chemical hitting my system... honestly, I could probably write a decent horror story out of it. Something brain-related... just because... Nobody... There’s no time... even if they paid me for every single referral... I don't have more than five shallow minutes to spare... Once I'm out of the hospital... then maybe... eventually...

Side effects from Moditen...

Too often...
Extrapyramidal symptoms—we're talking weird muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors, restlessness, or even those rapid, jerky eye movements... You can usually get ahead of that stuff or dial it back by taking an anti-parkinsonian. But if you start seeing rhythmic, involuntary movements in your tongue, face, mouth, lips, or limbs, that could be signs of something more serious called tardive dyskinesia. If that happens, stop the meds immediately and call your doctor or pharmacist right away...
Not as often...
Gynecomastia in guys... some patients on similar meds have dealt with galactorrhea—basically milk coming out of the nipples—plus irregular periods or missing them entirely. You also get libido issues, ED, headaches, blurry vision, a slight drop in blood pressure, stuff like nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and constipation...
Rarely...
Blood disorders where things get out of whack—like having way too many or way too few platelets, white cells, or red blood cells... plus that constant drowsiness and lethargy, basically feeling like you're stuck in a deep sleep...
Fever, muscle stiffness, low blood pressure, being unable to move or just feeling totally paralyzed, extreme apathy, even a coma... those could be signs of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. If that happens, stop taking the meds immediately and get to your doctor or hit up the nearest ER right now. Also watch out for restlessness, vision issues like blurry lenses, heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation, T wave stuff), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation), jaundice—that yellowing of the skin or eyes—skin pigmentation changes, light sensitivity, rashes, trouble peeing or losing bladder control, and high cholesterol... stay sharp.
Pretty damn rare...
Watch out for allergic reactions—we're talking rashes, trouble swallowing or breathing, or if your lips, face, throat, or tongue start swelling up... You might also deal with joint pain, swollen joints, getting way too sensitive to sunlight, mouth sores, hair loss, anxiety, fever, night sweats, stomach aches, chest pains, or feeling short of breath. This stuff can also happen because your immune system is acting up or due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other issues include sexual dysfunction, brain fog, or just having a hard time thinking clearly. You could see abnormal liver tests, swelling in your feet and legs, or blood work that shows your immune system is out of whack, like having high antinuclear antibodies...

It’s also pretty great... when you mention your diagnosis—even though they haven't even bothered to ask what it actually is yet—just as part of the problem... and then the doctor doesn't even follow up to ask what meds you're currently on. Just total silence...
Just curious about the interactions... regarding what he’s got you on for therapy...

ironrider11 said:It’s not just about the psych meds. It’s any kind of chemical hitting my system... honestly, I could probably write a decent horror story out of it. Something brain-related... just because... Nobody... There’s no time... even if they paid me for every single referral... I don't have more than five shallow minutes to spare... Once I'm out of the hospital... then maybe... eventually...

Side effects from Moditen...

Too often...
Extrapyramidal symptoms—we're talking weird muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors, restlessness, or even those rapid, jerky eye movements... You can usually get ahead of that stuff or dial it back by taking an anti-parkinsonian. But if you start seeing rhythmic, involuntary movements in your tongue, face, mouth, lips, or limbs, that could be signs of something more serious called tardive dyskinesia. If that happens, stop the meds immediately and call your doctor or pharmacist right away...
Not as often...
Gynecomastia in guys... some patients on similar meds have dealt with galactorrhea—basically milk coming out of the nipples—plus irregular periods or missing them entirely. You also get libido issues, ED, headaches, blurry vision, a slight drop in blood pressure, stuff like nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and constipation...
Rarely...
Blood disorders where things get out of whack—like having way too many or way too few platelets, white cells, or red blood cells... plus that constant drowsiness and lethargy, basically feeling like you're stuck in a deep sleep...
Fever, muscle stiffness, low blood pressure, being unable to move or just feeling totally paralyzed, extreme apathy, even a coma... those could be signs of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. If that happens, stop taking the meds immediately and get to your doctor or hit up the nearest ER right now. Also watch out for restlessness, vision issues like blurry lenses, heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation, T wave stuff), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation), jaundice—that yellowing of the skin or eyes—skin pigmentation changes, light sensitivity, rashes, trouble peeing or losing bladder control, and high cholesterol... stay sharp.
Pretty damn rare...
Watch out for allergic reactions—we're talking rashes, trouble swallowing or breathing, or if your lips, face, throat, or tongue start swelling up... You might also deal with joint pain, swollen joints, getting way too sensitive to sunlight, mouth sores, hair loss, anxiety, fever, night sweats, stomach aches, chest pains, or feeling short of breath. This stuff can also happen because your immune system is acting up or due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other issues include sexual dysfunction, brain fog, or just having a hard time thinking clearly. You could see abnormal liver tests, swelling in your feet and legs, or blood work that shows your immune system is out of whack, like having high antinuclear antibodies...

It’s also pretty great... when you mention your diagnosis—even though they haven't even bothered to ask what it actually is yet—just as part of the problem... and then the doctor doesn't even follow up to ask what meds you're currently on. Just total silence...
Just curious about the interactions... regarding what he’s got you on for therapy...

So, which one of those charlatans were you seeing? And seriously, your avatar is creepy again.😲

fadedbear92 said:So, which one of those charlatans were you seeing? And seriously, your avatar is creepy again.😲

At some... what's the word... "local community clinic contractor"... worker... whatever...
I don't have the cash to be trekking out to some big-shot hospital system. Seriously... better if I just keep my mouth shut. 😠
Creepy? Nah. It's just my third eye looking at all this scary stuff online... 🙄

I usually take Seroquel 25mg at night. For a while, it was strong enough to carry me through the next day, but I guess my body just got used to it. Now, the anxiety is back to messing with me during the day.

Things like Lexapro or various herbal supplements? Forget about them. They’re useless to me. I've been there.

I take Klonopin as a stabilizer, but it doesn't actually touch my anxiety—it helps with other stuff instead.

I figured out that Seroquel (an antipsychotic) is actually pretty heavy-duty against anxiety, so I started taking it on my own during the day when I felt totally overwhelmed for no reason. And honestly? It worked.

Now I'm stuck wondering if I should even tell my psychiatrist... that I basically discovered this trick myself... 😁
If I explain this to her, is she going to bump me up to 2x25mg?

I'm curious about what people think regarding a daily dose of 1.5 mg of Klonopin. To me, it feels like it might be a bit on the low side.

Gary Diaz3 said:I'm curious about what people think regarding a daily dose of 1.5 mg of Klonopin. To me, it feels like it might be a bit on the low side.

How are you taking it? You doing three half-milligram doses or what?

Kevin Bailey2 said:How are you taking it? You doing three half-milligram doses or what?

Yeah, I take 0.5 mg three times a day.

Gary Diaz3 said:Yeah, I take 0.5 mg three times a day.

I don't know. I was just talking to someone recently who deals with some pretty rough neurological issues from a car accident. You have to focus really hard just to follow what he’s saying, and his movements remind me of Parkinson’s. That’s how we ended up talking about Klonopin.
He told me he takes one milligram a day.
And here I am, with zero neurological issues, taking 6 milligrams a day just because my psychiatrist suggested it. The guy couldn't believe it.

Now I'm sitting here wondering... damn... how much am I actually taking...

How long have you been on it? Why do you feel like it isn't enough? How does it even work for you—or how did it work back when you felt like you had "enough"?
Maybe it's just not the right med for you. Maybe you need something else entirely.

Kevin Bailey2 said:I don't know. I was just talking to someone recently who deals with some pretty rough neurological issues from a car accident. You have to focus really hard just to follow what he’s saying, and his movements remind me of Parkinson’s. That’s how we ended up talking about Klonopin.
He told me he takes one milligram a day.
And here I am, with zero neurological issues, taking 6 milligrams a day just because my psychiatrist suggested it. The guy couldn't believe it.

Now I'm sitting here wondering... damn... how much am I actually taking...

How long have you been on it? Why do you feel like it isn't enough? How does it even work for you—or how did it work back when you felt like you had "enough"?
Maybe it's just not the right med for you. Maybe you need something else entirely.

I've been taking it for four years now. To be fair, it’s the first and only anxiolytic I’ve used, if you don't count a very brief stint with Xanax. Under normal circumstances, when life is relatively calm, this dosage is perfectly sufficient for me. There were even a few times when I ran out unexpectedly, and it didn't cause any major issues. However, on days when I'm feeling particularly jittery or overwhelmed, it feels like this dose just doesn't cut it.

Gary Diaz3 said:I've been taking it for four years now. To be fair, it’s the first and only anxiolytic I’ve used, if you don't count a very brief stint with Xanax. Under normal circumstances, when life is relatively calm, this dosage is perfectly sufficient for me. There were even a few times when I ran out unexpectedly, and it didn't cause any major issues. However, on days when I'm feeling particularly jittery or overwhelmed, it feels like this dose just doesn't cut it.

On those high-anxiety days, even 8 milligrams isn't going to cut it.

Can you just walk into a pharmacy and pick up Rivotril to help stabilize your mood? I know you can get Xanax if you show them your medical history, but what about Zoloft? Can that be prescribed based on your records too? thanks

I’ve honestly never heard anyone suggest that you should take medication based solely on your medical history without current guidance.

It used to be possible back in the day—though I think there was some rule about it not being more than a week old—but honestly, I have no clue how the system works these days.