Psychotropic medication discussion thread

shadowfox75 said:Just show up, please :-P

sent from hell

As if we'd just show up... hehe...
It'd be way better if you came here instead hehe

Hey there

Jason Vaughn482 said:So, you're suggesting people just make up stories to excuse their habit of swallowing everything in sight? Honestly, looking at that list of yours, my head starts spinning... anyone would be out cold after a cocktail like that. Personally, I've been taking Ambien at 10 mg for four years and it does the trick, though if I can't drift off because my anxiety is spiking, I prefer having some Calixt at 15 mg—or even half a dose—to help me fall asleep quickly. At the end of the day, I can't sleep without a pill, likely because I haven't managed to resolve the underlying issue, which is my anxiety. I desperately want to find that one perfect medication that would allow me to sleep soundly without needing xanax, though I know some people still rely on benzos even while taking antidepressants. The truth is, coming off certain antidepressants is incredibly difficult; I've read plenty about how brutal it is to taper off something like Paxil... so I don't think you're entirely correct in your assessment.

Wait, you've seriously been taking Ambien for four years? I don't have any personal experience with it, but from what I've read, the instructions say you shouldn't use it for more than two weeks at a time. Apparently, one of the side effects is that it can actually mess up your sleep patterns if you use it for too long...

shadowfox75 said:Thanks so much. This really means a lot to me. Coffee is on me next time. ;-)

sent from hell

thanks☕😍

steeleagle23 said:Wait, you've seriously been taking Ambien for four years? I don't have any personal experience with it, but from what I've read, the instructions say you shouldn't use it for more than two weeks at a time. Apparently, one of the side effects is that it can actually mess up your sleep patterns if you use it for too long...

Well, I suppose if a doctor writes it in as "as needed," then it isn't strictly bound by a specific timeframe, right? As long as one doesn't overdo it, I assume.
But of course, one of those side effects is... insomnia.

Bluzara said:
Sometimes, if a doctor writes a prescription for "as needed," there isn't a strict schedule you have to follow—you just need to make sure you aren't overdoing it.
Of course, one of the side effects is... insomnia.

What you're saying makes sense, but my point is that the warnings for this medication have been updated several times specifically because of those side effects.
It honestly feels like the drug was released onto the market without being tested thoroughly enough, which is why they had to go back and revise the instructions later on. My real concern is whether all doctors actually stay up to date with these changing guidelines, or if they just keep prescribing it out of habit—especially since patients usually don't complain much (because, let's face it, they trust their doctor implicitly), and doctors don't really have a reason to change things up unless someone actually speaks up about an issue.
So, what am I getting at here?
I guess I'm just saying that even doctors make mistakes. And while we should definitely trust them, it’s never a bad idea to do a little digging and look into things from other sources yourself.

steeleagle23 said:What you're saying makes sense, but my point is that the warnings for this medication have been updated several times specifically because of those side effects.
It honestly feels like the drug was released onto the market without being tested thoroughly enough, which is why they had to go back and revise the instructions later on. My real concern is whether all doctors actually stay up to date with these changing guidelines, or if they just keep prescribing it out of habit—especially since patients usually don't complain much (because, let's face it, they trust their doctor implicitly), and doctors don't really have a reason to change things up unless someone actually speaks up about an issue.
So, what am I getting at here?
I guess I'm just saying that even doctors make mistakes. And while we should definitely trust them, it’s never a bad idea to do a little digging and look into things from other sources yourself.

You hit the nail on the head. These side effects? They just keep piling up. Most of them come from actual patients reporting very specific reactions, though I suspect there are countless others out there who don't report anything at all.
And honestly, isn't that where the real trouble starts?
It’s true—so many doctors just prescribe certain meds out of sheer habit. Some will just write "general anxiety disorder" on a script, you know, just to play it safe so they won't get blamed later for a misdiagnosis.
Look, there is a certain group of people for whom Sanval practically doesn't work anymore, yet they still find themselves unable to drift off to sleep without it. It's a cycle.
Should we dismiss the placebo effect? Never. We shouldn't discard it as a tool for relief.
But the reality is this: taking this for longer than maybe three to five weeks? It just doesn't make sense.
All those other benzodiazepine-based drugs are essentially the same as Sanval, or at least incredibly similar, so the exact same logic applies to them too.

When it comes to side effects, they’re constantly being reviewed and updated. It’s worth noting that during clinical trials for most medications, the maximum duration is usually just a year—and honestly, even that is quite rare. Most of the time, we're looking at two to three months, maybe six if we're lucky. From a purely business standpoint, it just doesn't make financial sense for big pharma companies to spend the capital required to test long-term safety and efficacy on humans over an extended period.

Coma. And then they act surprised when we show up dealing with all these wild sensations and side effects. Honestly, if it weren't for this forum and the internet, I’d probably think I was dying.

sent from hell

Should I switch my primary care physician?

She’s honestly lost her mind. She contradicts every single specialist's report I bring in. One day she'll try to dismiss a psychiatrist's evaluation—even though I've been seeing my mental health provider for years—and then she starts acting like a psychiatrist herself, interrogating me about why I take every specific medication.
Right, Sanval, I know the feeling; you can't get any sleep.
She suggests Xanax as needed, but when I ask for her reasoning, she just gives these vague conclusions. Like, "maybe you don't have panic attacks," or "I should check your kidneys," which makes zero sense. I'll just tell her she's right even when she isn't just to end the conversation.
Then there's Elicea—she actually suggested I switch to Velafax. When I asked why, she just said, "well, young people take it and they're happy with it."
I was floored. I spend an hour with my actual psychiatrist, who knows my history inside and out, yet here she is. I told her there's no way I'm taking Velafax because I couldn't handle those heavy side effects.

Should I change doctors? She constantly threatens me with more "follow-up exams," and she disputes almost every finding from my specialists. The only time she actually conceded was regarding a neurosurgeon's report; everything else she ignores.
If I were you, I'd say she's just frustrated. Next time, I'm going to push back and demand she puts it in writing that she refuses to follow the recommendations provided by my other doctors.

Skickas FR

Honestly, I wouldn't trade my own doctor for anything in the world. She’s a true professional, an incredible diagnostician, and above all, a genuinely kind human being. She always checks in on how I'm doing and cares about my daily progress. But if she were yours, I wouldn't be staying in her care for very long.

I suppose I might not end up being her type either. At the end of the day, what matters most is how she perceives me, but this whole situation—if you'll excuse my bluntness—feels like an unnecessary ordeal.

I truly hope your list of supervisors has thinned out lately. 🙂

Skickas FR

They certainly are. I am doing better than when I first started, though I am still fighting the good fight. ;-)

restlesstrucker15 said:Should I switch my primary care physician?

She’s honestly lost her mind. She contradicts every single specialist's report I bring in. One day she'll try to dismiss a psychiatrist's evaluation—even though I've been seeing my mental health provider for years—and then she starts acting like a psychiatrist herself, interrogating me about why I take every specific medication.
Right, Sanval, I know the feeling; you can't get any sleep.
She suggests Xanax as needed, but when I ask for her reasoning, she just gives these vague conclusions. Like, "maybe you don't have panic attacks," or "I should check your kidneys," which makes zero sense. I'll just tell her she's right even when she isn't just to end the conversation.
Then there's Elicea—she actually suggested I switch to Velafax. When I asked why, she just said, "well, young people take it and they're happy with it."
I was floored. I spend an hour with my actual psychiatrist, who knows my history inside and out, yet here she is. I told her there's no way I'm taking Velafax because I couldn't handle those heavy side effects.

Should I change doctors? She constantly threatens me with more "follow-up exams," and she disputes almost every finding from my specialists. The only time she actually conceded was regarding a neurosurgeon's report; everything else she ignores.
If I were you, I'd say she's just frustrated. Next time, I'm going to push back and demand she puts it in writing that she refuses to follow the recommendations provided by my other doctors.

Skickas FR

Man, just find someone else and call it a day. This one is straight-up crazy.🙂

shadowfox75 said:They certainly are. I am doing better than when I first started, though I am still fighting the good fight. ;-)

Patience is a virtue, and if they are finally thinning out, that's what matters most.🙂 🙂It's progress.

Skickas FR

I am currently observing that the discussions regarding the efficacy of these specific medications seem to be shifting quite rapidly. It is important to approach these topics with a certain level of gravity, as we are discussing matters of significant personal health. I have noticed several users attempting to simplify complex physiological responses, which I find somewhat concerning. One must remain diligent when monitoring any changes in one's own chemistry. restlesstrucker15 says:
Honestly, just move on and find someone else. This one is completely out of her mind.🙂

You have a point there. I suppose I’ll just wait and see how she reacts when this comes up again. It honestly seems like she’s struggling because I happen to be dealing with an illness that requires a specialist's touch, yet she feels pressured by the fact that she can't provide those answers herself. She gets overwhelmed trying to interpret MRI results and things of that nature, and it clearly gets under her skin.

My apologies if I drifted off there; I wanted to share an observation regarding how certain general practitioners tend to prescribe antidepressants. It seems some doctors will hand them out based solely on anecdotal evidence—essentially because they’ve seen it work for one patient—without ever consulting a psychiatrist. In my own experience, I haven't had any issues with my specific medication, nor have I lodged a complaint against my psychiatrist, though finding a decent one in this country can be an absolute nightmare, to say the least.

Skickas FR

restlesstrucker15 said:

I am currently observing that the discussions regarding the efficacy of these specific medications seem to be shifting quite rapidly. It is important to approach these topics with a certain level of gravity, as we are discussing matters of significant personal health. I have noticed several users attempting to simplify complex physiological responses, which I find somewhat concerning. One must remain diligent when monitoring any changes in one's own chemistry. restlesstrucker15 says:
Honestly, just move on and find someone else. This one is completely out of her mind.🙂

You have a point there. I suppose I’ll just wait and see how she reacts when this comes up again. It honestly seems like she’s struggling because I happen to be dealing with an illness that requires a specialist's touch, yet she feels pressured by the fact that she can't provide those answers herself. She gets overwhelmed trying to interpret MRI results and things of that nature, and it clearly gets under her skin.

My apologies if I drifted off there; I wanted to share an observation regarding how certain general practitioners tend to prescribe antidepressants. It seems some doctors will hand them out based solely on anecdotal evidence—essentially because they’ve seen it work for one patient—without ever consulting a psychiatrist. In my own experience, I haven't had any issues with my specific medication, nor have I lodged a complaint against my psychiatrist, though finding a decent one in this country can be an absolute nightmare, to say the least.

Skickas FR

It sounds like you ran straight into someone with a massive ego and huge gaps in their medical knowledge—run from her like a devil from a holy site!😛 for goodness sake!🙂

steeleagle23 said:What you're saying makes sense, but my point is that the warnings for this medication have been updated several times specifically because of those side effects.
It honestly feels like the drug was released onto the market without being tested thoroughly enough, which is why they had to go back and revise the instructions later on. My real concern is whether all doctors actually stay up to date with these changing guidelines, or if they just keep prescribing it out of habit—especially since patients usually don't complain much (because, let's face it, they trust their doctor implicitly), and doctors don't really have a reason to change things up unless someone actually speaks up about an issue.
So, what am I getting at here?
I guess I'm just saying that even doctors make mistakes. And while we should definitely trust them, it’s never a bad idea to do a little digging and look into things from other sources yourself.

It’s true, the instructions were updated. I haven't read them in their entirety, but I had to laugh when I saw some of the examples listed under retrograde amnesia—things like cooking meals, making phone calls, or even having sexual encounters with no memory of it the next day.
I've personally dealt with the first two issues, mostly because I didn't head straight to bed the first few times I took it.
But I think we all realize here that one must 🙂

Skickas FR

Jason Vaughn482 said:I took it for about a year, though looking back, I really regret that because it contains aspartame; eventually, I made the switch over to Calixta—which is actually the exact same medication—and it works wonders for my sleep. That’s why I stick with it to this day. As far as anxiety goes, it does next to nothing for me; if you ask me, it seems much more geared toward treating depression...

Thanks for the reply—I actually read it a while ago but totally blanked on responding.

As for me, I’ve been taking it for two weeks now and haven't hit any of those side effects mentioned. I mean, maybe I'm a little sleepier than usual (which could just be how it interacts with my Valium), but it isn't messing with my day-to-day at all. My doctor prescribed this mainly to help me get past the guilt—that's just one way to put it—stemming from my relapse with alcohol, and to dial down the restlessness, or the anxiety. I'll give it another week or two since it hasn't touched the anxiety yet. I have an appointment at the clinic tomorrow, so I'll bring up the whole aspartame concern with them.

Jeremy Clark23 said:Thanks for the reply—I actually read it a while ago but totally blanked on responding.

As for me, I’ve been taking it for two weeks now and haven't hit any of those side effects mentioned. I mean, maybe I'm a little sleepier than usual (which could just be how it interacts with my Valium), but it isn't messing with my day-to-day at all. My doctor prescribed this mainly to help me get past the guilt—that's just one way to put it—stemming from my relapse with alcohol, and to dial down the restlessness, or the anxiety. I'll give it another week or two since it hasn't touched the anxiety yet. I have an appointment at the clinic tomorrow, so I'll bring up the whole aspartame concern with them.

Don't worry too much, 🙂 you're definitely going to feel sleepier because of the diazepam, and you really shouldn't stay on Sanval for too long—only until the crisis passes if you can't sleep.
If you can manage to sleep, that's great; maybe they'll just leave you on the diazepam for the anxiety or something more targeted for the relapse you mentioned.
Just ask your doctors everything that's bothering you regarding the treatment; some of them aren't very communicative, and they seem to forget that we don't actually know how these things work.
Stay strong and let us know how it goes.

Skickas FR