Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Paul Newman5 said:Took Escitalopram in split doses—short term Cipralex first, then two months of Citram this summer. Neither worked for me, and neither caused weight gain. Don't know how it affects others.
By the way, quick question for someone else. I've been on Effexor for 3 weeks now, 37.5mg in the morning. It's working great. Just had some sweating and nausea the first few days, but after two weeks, I feel physically better. Not napping during the day, feeling less irritable and a bit more cheerful. More energetic. But when I have to leave the house, that fear of something happening still hits me, and I get anxiety going to work, even though it's better at home and I need less Helix than before. For those on Effexor long-term, did it actually lower your anxiety? I'm mostly anxious rather than depressed, so I want to know if it helps with that specifically.

Dear, could you tell me how you realized they weren't working for you? Was it because the physical symptoms were too much, or perhaps because there just wasn't any mental progress at all... I've only been on mine for three days, so I really can't say... I had to head to the bank today and, well, my heart was racing and my palms were shaking, but I survived it, and I do feel a little better, which I suspect is thanks to the Helix...

driftingtiger5 said:Dear, could you tell me how you realized they weren't working for you? Was it because the physical symptoms were too much, or perhaps because there just wasn't any mental progress at all... I've only been on mine for three days, so I really can't say... I had to head to the bank today and, well, my heart was racing and my palms were shaking, but I survived it, and I do feel a little better, which I suspect is thanks to the Helix...

How to tell if they don't work? Simple. If after two months there's no change, anxiety is still there, Helix isn't helping, and you're just exhausted and sleeping all afternoon—that's it. I didn't have side effects for two months, but they didn't work either. Three days is way too early to call it. Right now, Helix is doing its job for you. Give it at least two or three months before deciding. Unless the side effects are so brutal you can't take it, then call your doctor sooner.
Psychotherapy? I did CBT privately for five months, an hour or two every week. Didn't help me. But some people here swear by it. If you can afford it, give it a shot with a private therapist. Everyone is different. I've read articles from psychiatrists saying not everyone is cut out for therapy or that it doesn't work for everyone. I saw a psychologist because it was my only option, and nothing happened. Still, worth a try.
How was the alarm this morning? And did you take the Normabel and Prazine?

Jack Johnson47 said:Thanks so much, Paul Newman5, for putting all this work into your post—you really nailed it.
I’m working through the whole weekend anyway, so honestly, it doesn't even matter which day I decide to kick things off. I’ve got a follow-up appointment next week, so I'll probably just play it by ear once I see how things are going...
Oh, and one more thing... psychotherapy... Is that usually part of the deal when you're dealing with these kinds of diagnoses alongside medication? My doctor only mentioned the check-up for now, and I totally (obviously 😁) blanked on asking him a million other questions...

I actually gave you the answer about therapy when I was talking to Marty, so go read that—got my wires crossed on who I was replying to.😍I ended up asking her instead of you, but I'm wondering how many alarms it takes after those empty gaps and normal levels? It's sweltering today, driving me crazy, and between PMS or menopause, I can't tell which one is wrecking me right now.

Paul Newman5 said:I actually gave you the answer about therapy when I was talking to Marty, so go read that—got my wires crossed on who I was replying to.😍I ended up asking her instead of you, but I'm wondering how many alarms it takes after those empty gaps and normal levels? It's sweltering today, driving me crazy, and between PMS or menopause, I can't tell which one is wrecking me right now.

Eh, I figured, no worries. This damn heat is killing me... 😁
The reason I brought up therapy is because it's a total mystery to me—I have zero clue how it actually works or what happens in those sessions—but I honestly feel like it would be pure torture for me since I just hate talking about myself...
I took my pills yesterday—Normabél and Prozac. And man, I can tell you one thing: I slept like a log. 🙏
Waking up was a little harder than usual, though, but I caught the first alarm. 😁
It took me a bit longer to really snap out of it, too... So this morning before work, I took half a Normabél and some Prozac. Work went fine, I guess, except I felt a tiny bit slower and more tired than normal. Then after lunch, I had another half of the Normabél...
Now that I've finally started, I feel a bit better knowing I didn't die or anything. 🤣

Jack Johnson47 said:Eh, I figured, no worries. This damn heat is killing me... 😁
The reason I brought up therapy is because it's a total mystery to me—I have zero clue how it actually works or what happens in those sessions—but I honestly feel like it would be pure torture for me since I just hate talking about myself...
I took my pills yesterday—Normabél and Prozac. And man, I can tell you one thing: I slept like a log. 🙏
Waking up was a little harder than usual, though, but I caught the first alarm. 😁
It took me a bit longer to really snap out of it, too... So this morning before work, I took half a Normabél and some Prozac. Work went fine, I guess, except I felt a tiny bit slower and more tired than normal. Then after lunch, I had another half of the Normabél...
Now that I've finally started, I feel a bit better knowing I didn't die or anything. 🤣

The morning went well, at least. I feel you; I always take meds with fear, especially new ones. Reading those side effect sheets gives me cold sweats.
Psychotherapy wasn't an issue for me. I talked about my problems and was completely open with my psychologist. She even tried hypnosis, but I couldn't make her lessons stick in real life. Back then, I was juggling three jobs along with family and housework; by the time I left her office, the weight of everything would just be waiting for me again. After five months, she actually suggested we stop. Why it didn't work, I don't know. It just didn't. My current psychiatrist hasn't mentioned therapy, but if you can, give it a shot. It's worth trying since people on these forums swear by it. Hopefully, the Xanax settles in for you.

So, I'm gonna hit up my doctor next week and see what his take is on starting psychotherapy...
I mean, I'm really hoping this whole online community thing clicks for me—I’ve been scrolling through this subforum a ton lately, and it seems like so many people end up switching therapists... It makes me wonder, though—if an antidepressant takes maybe two or three weeks to actually kick in, how long does it usually take to figure out if a therapist is "the one," you know? Like, if they actually get you...

Jack Johnson47 said:So, I'm gonna hit up my doctor next week and see what his take is on starting psychotherapy...
I mean, I'm really hoping this whole online community thing clicks for me—I’ve been scrolling through this subforum a ton lately, and it seems like so many people end up switching therapists... It makes me wonder, though—if an antidepressant takes maybe two or three weeks to actually kick in, how long does it usually take to figure out if a therapist is "the one," you know? Like, if they actually get you...

Usually about six to eight weeks.

So, it’s day four of me messing around with this combo—Ozempic, Nurtec, and Prasilax... man, what a ride. That very first night when I knocked back the Nurtec and the Prasilax? I was absolutely wiped out. Like, straight to dreamland, super heavy sleeper, totally out of it... though, waking up for my shift the next morning was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you.
But honestly, that was just the first time! Since then, I haven't had any trouble drifting off, even if I am still tossing and turning a couple of times throughout the night. As far as side effects go, the one thing I’m positive about is how insanely dry my mouth gets—it's constant. And, uh, twice now my heart has been doing this crazy racing thing... I can't tell if that's actually a reaction to the meds or if I'm just totally stressing myself out over nothing 🤷

Jack Johnson47 said:So, it’s day four of me messing around with this combo—Ozempic, Nurtec, and Prasilax... man, what a ride. That very first night when I knocked back the Nurtec and the Prasilax? I was absolutely wiped out. Like, straight to dreamland, super heavy sleeper, totally out of it... though, waking up for my shift the next morning was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you.
But honestly, that was just the first time! Since then, I haven't had any trouble drifting off, even if I am still tossing and turning a couple of times throughout the night. As far as side effects go, the one thing I’m positive about is how insanely dry my mouth gets—it's constant. And, uh, twice now my heart has been doing this crazy racing thing... I can't tell if that's actually a reaction to the meds or if I'm just totally stressing myself out over nothing 🤷

That dry mouth from the Prazina is a real nuisance, much like those heart palpitations you mentioned; I went through a similar stretch where I was prescribed 25 mg to help with sleep, and just like you described, I crashed hard the first night only to struggle with restless sleep and feeling generally subpar the following morning. It stands to reason that a higher dosage might be necessary to stabilize things, but personally, I decided to pull the plug on the Prazina altogether... honestly, Calixta AD remains my most reliable option, though strictly and exclusively for getting some shut-eye.

Almost all psychotropic meds cause dry mouth—it’s just how it goes. I used to sleep like a baby on Prazina, though it seems like I need to bump up my dosage now... maybe check in with your doctor
As for the heart palpitations, I never really dealt with that

Jack Johnson47 said:So, it’s day four of me messing around with this combo—Ozempic, Nurtec, and Prasilax... man, what a ride. That very first night when I knocked back the Nurtec and the Prasilax? I was absolutely wiped out. Like, straight to dreamland, super heavy sleeper, totally out of it... though, waking up for my shift the next morning was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you.
But honestly, that was just the first time! Since then, I haven't had any trouble drifting off, even if I am still tossing and turning a couple of times throughout the night. As far as side effects go, the one thing I’m positive about is how insanely dry my mouth gets—it's constant. And, uh, twice now my heart has been doing this crazy racing thing... I can't tell if that's actually a reaction to the meds or if I'm just totally stressing myself out over nothing 🤷

Antidepressants can cause palpitations. If you're dealing with anxiety, those meds might actually make things feel worse before they start working.
My heart races every single morning. A cardiologist put me on 25mg Ormidol—the lowest dose—after saying my heart was fine and it was likely just anxiety. That was last year when I was bouncing between specialists, not knowing what was actually wrong with me. Now I just take the Ormidol and it's fine. Even my psychiatrist didn't mind me taking it alongside the antidepressant. Any other side effects? How are you holding up? Managing okay at work?

Jack Johnson47 said:So, it’s day four of me messing around with this combo—Ozempic, Nurtec, and Prasilax... man, what a ride. That very first night when I knocked back the Nurtec and the Prasilax? I was absolutely wiped out. Like, straight to dreamland, super heavy sleeper, totally out of it... though, waking up for my shift the next morning was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you.
But honestly, that was just the first time! Since then, I haven't had any trouble drifting off, even if I am still tossing and turning a couple of times throughout the night. As far as side effects go, the one thing I’m positive about is how insanely dry my mouth gets—it's constant. And, uh, twice now my heart has been doing this crazy racing thing... I can't tell if that's actually a reaction to the meds or if I'm just totally stressing myself out over nothing 🤷

With Prozac, the side effects can be pretty unpredictable at first. It’s hard to pin down exactly how they'll hit you.
One minute you might deal with insomnia for a few days, and then suddenly you're feeling drowsy all afternoon. That dry mouth is almost certainly from the Prazina... just keep some gum on you and drink plenty of water.

Side effects and just *imagining* you have them are two very similar things.
Some people won't even look at the warning labels on their meds because they believe in the power of suggestion. They figure if they read about a specific side effect, they'll somehow end up experiencing it. 😁

You're only on day four. I'm not sure how your doctor has you taking the Normabel... is it just at night?
Usually, doctors prescribe anxiolytics at the start of treatment to help smooth out the transition—basically, you take them as needed. So, if your heart starts racing, you take the Normabel or Xanax, or whatever else you were prescribed, to calm things down.

I’m currently taking Normabel (2 mg)—half in the morning, half in the afternoon, and then one or two before bed. Last night, I took two plus some Prazina right before hitting the sack, and honestly? I drifted off pretty easily and only woke up once during the night. But man... this morning felt like I’d been run over by a freight train. I didn't even hear my first alarm—or maybe I just smashed it in my sleep without realizing—but getting out of bed on the second alarm was a total struggle.
So far today, I haven't really hit any major side effects, and work has been mostly fine... though I was acting a bit clumsy and ended up causing about fifty bucks worth of damage 😁 but luckily my boss is an absolute saint and smoothed everything over, so I don't have to worry about fixing the mess myself.
I'm still undecided about tonight... I think I might scale back to just 1 Normabel and the Prazina because I seriously cannot deal with waking up feeling like a zombie again..

As for all that stuff about autogenic training, meditation, and autosuggestion... I don't know... I just don't think I'm built that way. I'm skeptical, sure, but the bigger issue is that it feels like it requires so much time and practice, and I'm just not cut out for that kind of discipline. My focus is so shot lately that I can barely get through a long post on this forum, let alone sit there focusing on my breathing while my mind wanders everywhere else. Maybe once the meds kick in and things level out, I'll be able to actually concentrate 🤷

Jack Johnson47 said:I’m currently taking Normabel (2 mg)—half in the morning, half in the afternoon, and then one or two before bed. Last night, I took two plus some Prazina right before hitting the sack, and honestly? I drifted off pretty easily and only woke up once during the night. But man... this morning felt like I’d been run over by a freight train. I didn't even hear my first alarm—or maybe I just smashed it in my sleep without realizing—but getting out of bed on the second alarm was a total struggle.
So far today, I haven't really hit any major side effects, and work has been mostly fine... though I was acting a bit clumsy and ended up causing about fifty bucks worth of damage 😁 but luckily my boss is an absolute saint and smoothed everything over, so I don't have to worry about fixing the mess myself.
I'm still undecided about tonight... I think I might scale back to just 1 Normabel and the Prazina because I seriously cannot deal with waking up feeling like a zombie again..

As for all that stuff about autogenic training, meditation, and autosuggestion... I don't know... I just don't think I'm built that way. I'm skeptical, sure, but the bigger issue is that it feels like it requires so much time and practice, and I'm just not cut out for that kind of discipline. My focus is so shot lately that I can barely get through a long post on this forum, let alone sit there focusing on my breathing while my mind wanders everywhere else. Maybe once the meds kick in and things level out, I'll be able to actually concentrate 🤷

How does your anxiety show up? For me, I hate leaving the house. When I head to work, I'm always terrified something will happen—that I'll collapse, lose control, or get fired. I don't even like going downtown unless I absolutely have to. Are you able to get through your tasks at work? So far I am, but I'm constantly living in fear that one day I won't be able to.

Paul Newman5 said:How does your anxiety show up? For me, I hate leaving the house. When I head to work, I'm always terrified something will happen—that I'll collapse, lose control, or get fired. I don't even like going downtown unless I absolutely have to. Are you able to get through your tasks at work? So far I am, but I'm constantly living in fear that one day I won't be able to.

Man, I went through this absolutely brutal stretch where I lost seven people close to me in just a few months—including my dad, who was my rock. That's when the sleep issues started. Then came a super stressful divorce, and to top it all off, I was actually a victim of an armed robbery. Now, I'm basically scared of everything... being around strangers is so uncomfortable, and even simple errands like going to Chase, the post office, or the library feel impossible. It just leads to me putting everything off... I constantly end up asking my mom to handle stuff for me because I'm so insecure and I just spiral into despair so easily. Honestly, I've had so many panic attacks that I've kind of learned how to manage them myself now...
Work isn't too bad since everything is familiar—the environment, the people—and I get along great with my coworkers, though it's a pretty small team. The only real issue is my concentration and memory... I'll start one thing, jump to another, and then totally lose track of what I was supposed to be doing in the first place...

Jack Johnson47 said:Man, I went through this absolutely brutal stretch where I lost seven people close to me in just a few months—including my dad, who was my rock. That's when the sleep issues started. Then came a super stressful divorce, and to top it all off, I was actually a victim of an armed robbery. Now, I'm basically scared of everything... being around strangers is so uncomfortable, and even simple errands like going to Chase, the post office, or the library feel impossible. It just leads to me putting everything off... I constantly end up asking my mom to handle stuff for me because I'm so insecure and I just spiral into despair so easily. Honestly, I've had so many panic attacks that I've kind of learned how to manage them myself now...
Work isn't too bad since everything is familiar—the environment, the people—and I get along great with my coworkers, though it's a pretty small team. The only real issue is my concentration and memory... I'll start one thing, jump to another, and then totally lose track of what I was supposed to be doing in the first place...

For me, work is the worst part. Nobody there does anything to hurt me, and I'm lucky enough to split my time between working from home and the office, so I'm mostly home anyway. But when I have to go in, it's pure mental chaos. I'm terrified someone will find out I'm on antidepressants, or that my anxiety will spike so hard—like I'm literally crawling out of my skin—that I'll end up in the hospital and lose my job. In this town, at my age, you don't just find another job. I hate leaving the house; afternoons are okay, but mornings are a nightmare. My family has taken over almost all my outside responsibilities, though I still struggle with anxiety at home too. My concentration and memory haven't failed me much at work, but I'm not half the homemaker I used to be. I'm not cooking, cleaning, or ironing much, even when I know I should.

Jack Johnson47 said:Man, I went through this absolutely brutal stretch where I lost seven people close to me in just a few months—including my dad, who was my rock. That's when the sleep issues started. Then came a super stressful divorce, and to top it all off, I was actually a victim of an armed robbery. Now, I'm basically scared of everything... being around strangers is so uncomfortable, and even simple errands like going to Chase, the post office, or the library feel impossible. It just leads to me putting everything off... I constantly end up asking my mom to handle stuff for me because I'm so insecure and I just spiral into despair so easily. Honestly, I've had so many panic attacks that I've kind of learned how to manage them myself now...
Work isn't too bad since everything is familiar—the environment, the people—and I get along great with my coworkers, though it's a pretty small team. The only real issue is my concentration and memory... I'll start one thing, jump to another, and then totally lose track of what I was supposed to be doing in the first place...

That sounds absolutely horrific—when did all of that happen to you????!!!!

fadedbear92 said:That sounds absolutely horrific—when did all of that happen to you????!!!!

It was a few years back... Yeah, yeah, I know, I really should've reached out for help way sooner, but honestly? I just thought I could handle it all on my own...

Anyway, getting back to what we were actually talking about...
Can blurry vision be a side effect?
And like, staring blankly at one spot without even blinking?

Jack Johnson47 said:It was a few years back... Yeah, yeah, I know, I really should've reached out for help way sooner, but honestly? I just thought I could handle it all on my own...

Anyway, getting back to what we were actually talking about...
Can blurry vision be a side effect?
And like, staring blankly at one spot without even blinking?

Honey, everything you’ve been through sounds like pure triggers. Every single one of those things likely warranted a visit to a psychiatric ward or trauma counseling... because let's be real, those are genuine life traumas. But like most people... you probably thought you could white-knuckle it until things finally boiled over. Honestly, admitting you need help is actually a great thing... that's exactly why professional support exists in the first place.
Now, regarding side effects... dizziness... personally, I dealt with that from some SSRIs, but never once from Prozac... blurred vision... in my experience, I've had dullness in my gaze and trouble concentrating, and I've even hit heavy sedation, but that was strictly from antipsychotics.
Like I mentioned before... I think today might just be a bad day where the most common side effect of antidepressants kicks in, which is an increase in panic during the initial stages of treatment. Using Prazina for Xanax. But just keep monitoring it... for me, in the end, I couldn't sleep with anything except Ambien... that stuff they usually give you right before anesthesia... but now... I managed to taper off it in two weeks and I'm sleeping great... the key is finding your own sense of peace... not surrendering to thoughts that trigger emotional escalations... anyway, use Prazina while you need it to maintain your sleep cycle and rhythm... but otherwise... if they aren't absolutely necessary, I'm not a fan of antipsychotics... I truly believe that if a person has enough strength... if there isn't psychosis involved... you can manage with antidepressants and anxiolytics alone.. personally, I refuse to take antipsychotics... and I actually managed to convince my psychiatrist that I was right... I successfully tapered off Ambien and Lamictal after a few years... refused Seroquel... and stayed on just Prozac and Xanax... and today he told me how impressed he is with me and my progress. I'm facing a serious situation right now... waiting on some tests for a tumor... but I'm hanging in there... sometimes I really wonder just how strong I actually am, being able to work and function through all of this... I have to give myself credit...

So, I’ve got a question. I’ve been on 37.5mg of Velafax once a day for 28 days now. For the first two weeks, side effects were basically nonexistent—maybe some slight nausea, sweating, or dry mouth, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then, during week three, things actually started looking up. I stopped napping all day, found myself humming along to the radio, and realized I hadn't reached for my Xanax in a while. It felt good. But then, after just a few days, everything crashed back to zero. The morning sweats are back, I'm taking more Xanax during the day, and that old fatigue and sadness have returned.
To be fair, this dip happened right when my PMS and period hit. It's hard to tell if one caused the other or if they just collided.
What do you guys think? Does this mean the meds aren't working, or is this kind of roller coaster normal during the first few weeks? 🤷
I know I need to talk to my psychiatrist, but any advice from here would be appreciated right about now.