Psychotropic medication discussion thread

quietwalker5 said:What is the actual difference between taking it at night versus in the morning? Why choose one over the other?

I want your transition back to the routine to be as smooth as possible.

Thanks, 🙂

The whole thing comes down to the fact that if you take it in the evening, those antidepressants can sometimes act like a shot of espresso for your brain, making it nearly impossible to catch any sleep, whereas taking it in the morning usually makes that issue a lot less of a headache...

Jason Vaughn482 said:Well, I dislike them because of the side effects; I believe I read somewhere that they are among the most difficult medications to deal with, though I think Buspar might be one of the easier ones... it's prescribed for anxiety...
I've been taking Xanax for four years now, and personally, I find it superior to Ativan, but then again, everyone reacts differently. I don't fear Xanax, and it works significantly better for my anxiety, especially since I've tried Ativan before... As far as tolerance goes with Xanax, I haven't developed any; recently, I've actually halved my dose, so now I take maybe two or three at 0.25, whereas before I was taking three 0.50 doses... When I start feeling better, I simply scale back without any trouble, though I can't say for certain what it would be like to stop entirely....
And why does it scare you more than Ativan?

Well, look, first of all, they prescribed me Ativan during my pregnancy to manage contractions, so I don't have any fear regarding that specific medication, you see... everything else... I've done far too much reading, which I realize now was probably a mistake. You know exactly what those warnings say about weaning yourself off Xanax...
Are you only taking that one, or...? I was reading up on the side effects of certain antidepressants, and it seems to me there are even more listed there than there are for Eglonyl. I'm not sure. Even today, I didn't quite have the nerve to take anything.
And please, tell me, since you've tried both Ativan and Xanax, what is the actual difference?

James Fowler3 said:Yes, I am planning on starting psychotherapy, but since summer vacations last until September, I have to wait... though my therapist did suggest I double-check my thyroid levels first, because it seems strange that after being stable for such a long stretch without any intervention, everything has suddenly spiraled again.
I didn't actually ask him why; he mostly just told me it was for my stomach, advised me to take it and get outside as much as possible, and insisted that nothing bad could happen to me. I mentioned to him that the physical symptoms are what bother me the most, so perhaps that is why he specifically prescribed Eglonyl... I haven't asked about next steps yet, he just told me to come back for a follow-up in two weeks.
I also struggle with the fact that I'm so sensitive to medication. For instance, even a small dose of Xanax can leave me drowsy for the entire day. I can't help but wonder how I'll fare with this... 🤷

You should definitely check those thyroid levels as soon as possible. Mental health and thyroid function are deeply interconnected; I have certainly experienced that connection firsthand.
Eglonyl is a different class of medication altogether and operates on a different mechanism. It will likely make you drowsy, at least during the initial period. In lower doses, it acts somewhat like an antidepressant, whereas higher doses function more like an antipsychotic. It is commonly used in conjunction with Xanax for OCD or severe panic attacks. If I were in your position, I would suggest taking things very slowly and prioritizing self-care. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and looking after yourself.🙂
A friend of mine reacts so strongly to Ativan that she is forced to lie down, and afterward, she becomes quite short-tempered and prone to irritability. Everything is highly individual. Since they prescribed it during your pregnancy, its purpose is to relax the muscles. This should also help mitigate some of the physical symptoms of anxiety and ease the pain.
Please ask your psychiatrist every single question you have, especially while you are struggling with that nagging uncertainty about whether you should even be taking this. They ought to explain everything clearly to you. These two medications serve different purposes. Xanax works more rapidly and intensely than Ativan, but it also wears off faster and leaves your system more quickly. That is why it is utilized for treating acute panic episodes—timing is everything.
Have you tried journaling your thoughts? When I cannot access therapy, writing things down helps me relax. I describe my symptoms to myself, analyze the underlying causes, and brainstorm potential solutions. Perhaps finding a similar outlet might help you as well?

Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?

quietwalker5 said:Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?

I am actually feeling it right now.
It definitely happens. It tends to be a bit more pronounced if you are dealing with anxiety issues or if you have just recently started your antidepressant regimen.

Ethan Cruz4 said:You should definitely check those thyroid levels as soon as possible. Mental health and thyroid function are deeply interconnected; I have certainly experienced that connection firsthand.
Eglonyl is a different class of medication altogether and operates on a different mechanism. It will likely make you drowsy, at least during the initial period. In lower doses, it acts somewhat like an antidepressant, whereas higher doses function more like an antipsychotic. It is commonly used in conjunction with Xanax for OCD or severe panic attacks. If I were in your position, I would suggest taking things very slowly and prioritizing self-care. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and looking after yourself.🙂
A friend of mine reacts so strongly to Ativan that she is forced to lie down, and afterward, she becomes quite short-tempered and prone to irritability. Everything is highly individual. Since they prescribed it during your pregnancy, its purpose is to relax the muscles. This should also help mitigate some of the physical symptoms of anxiety and ease the pain.
Please ask your psychiatrist every single question you have, especially while you are struggling with that nagging uncertainty about whether you should even be taking this. They ought to explain everything clearly to you. These two medications serve different purposes. Xanax works more rapidly and intensely than Ativan, but it also wears off faster and leaves your system more quickly. That is why it is utilized for treating acute panic episodes—timing is everything.
Have you tried journaling your thoughts? When I cannot access therapy, writing things down helps me relax. I describe my symptoms to myself, analyze the underlying causes, and brainstorm potential solutions. Perhaps finding a similar outlet might help you as well?

I had my thyroid levels checked during my pregnancy, and they weren't quite right—hypothyroidism, I believe... After the pregnancy ended, they ran the tests again and everything seemed to return to a normal state. I had ultrasounds done, and while everything looks clear, they tell me it is completely harmless... They referred me to have my antibodies tested, but the lab lacked the necessary reagents, and since private testing was prohibitively expensive, I simply left it alone.
What haunts me most is that I had managed to fight my way through the anxiety, only to have the panic attacks return with such sudden, terrible intensity... I wake up with a knot in my stomach, praying to Bog and everyone I hold dear that I won't be left alone. The physical symptoms are absolutely exhausting; even now, as I type this, I am trembling all over and my heart is racing... and I had been in such a lovely mood just moments ago.
And as for what is truly bothering me... well, that is the essence of it. My entire world seems to revolve around this now, affecting every single facet of my existence... I want to actually live my life, not merely endure it. 😢

quietwalker5 said:Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?

My therapist was pretty blunt about it—told me straight up not to touch caffeine while on my meds, so now I'm strictly a decaf person.

I'm actually on Fevarin, which is notorious for not playing nice with caffeine.

A quote from a site: Mixing caffeine and Luvox can be intensely unpleasant. Your one cup of joe will suddenly become like five cups, and the effects will last six times as long.

quietwalker5 said:Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?

Honestly, coffee is naturally going to trigger that jittery, restless feeling, but it feels like it can be way more intense—almost amplified—when you've got antidepressants in your system.

Is it possible that my psych meds are causing memory gaps?
Sometimes I feel like I’m losing chunks of my day... just blanking out completely.

Here is what I'm currently taking:
Azolar 30mg, Leponex 150mg, Xanax 1.5mg, Fluzepam 50mg

Eric Mitchell55 said:Is it possible that my psych meds are causing memory gaps?
Sometimes I feel like I’m losing chunks of my day... just blanking out completely.

Here is what I'm currently taking:
Azolar 30mg, Leponex 150mg, Xanax 1.5mg, Fluzepam 50mg

Look, I am one hundred percent certain that Xanax (and Fluzepam too) can cause total blackouts, and I’d venture to guess that antipsychotics aren't exactly doing you any favors regarding cognitive clarity either. It's scary stuff, believe me, I've been there. 😬
You really ought to bring this up at your next check-up if these lapses become more frequent or severe.

James Fowler3 said:Well, look, first of all, they prescribed me Ativan during my pregnancy to manage contractions, so I don't have any fear regarding that specific medication, you see... everything else... I've done far too much reading, which I realize now was probably a mistake. You know exactly what those warnings say about weaning yourself off Xanax...
Are you only taking that one, or...? I was reading up on the side effects of certain antidepressants, and it seems to me there are even more listed there than there are for Eglonyl. I'm not sure. Even today, I didn't quite have the nerve to take anything.
And please, tell me, since you've tried both Ativan and Xanax, what is the actual difference?

Well, for me, the distinction is clear: Valium doesn't touch my anxiety or panic attacks, whereas Xanax kicks in after just twenty minutes... though, of course, everyone reacts differently. If I had found myself needing to escalate my dosage, I certainly would have looked into switching to something else entirely; for now, I stay within a range of 1.5 mg at most, or as low as two 0.25 mg doses...
I also take Melatonin because my insomnia is quite severe, along with an antidepressant in the evening—it used to be Lexapro, but for the last few days, I've been on something else...

Rough situation...

Michael Hill2 said:My therapist was pretty blunt about it—told me straight up not to touch caffeine while on my meds, so now I'm strictly a decaf person.

I'm actually on Fevarin, which is notorious for not playing nice with caffeine.

A quote from a site: Mixing caffeine and Luvox can be intensely unpleasant. Your one cup of joe will suddenly become like five cups, and the effects will last six times as long.

That is helpful information. Thanks.

Brandon Murphy5 said:Honestly, coffee is naturally going to trigger that jittery, restless feeling, but it feels like it can be way more intense—almost amplified—when you've got antidepressants in your system.

That is true. I felt it firsthand. I hope you're doing alright and that things are going according to plan now.

Michelle Kelly4 said:Rough situation...

This too shall pass...

I felt it too, so I switched to decaf, but now I'm noticing even the decaf messes with me

Michael Hill2 said:My therapist was pretty blunt about it—told me straight up not to touch caffeine while on my meds, so now I'm strictly a decaf person.

I'm actually on Fevarin, which is notorious for not playing nice with caffeine.

A quote from a site: Mixing caffeine and Luvox can be intensely unpleasant. Your one cup of joe will suddenly become like five cups, and the effects will last six times as long.

Hmm, I’m on Prozac too. And I love my coffee... it looks like I might have to give it up, then. 🙂
Better hope the meds kick in soon enough!

Michael Hill2 said:My therapist was pretty blunt about it—told me straight up not to touch caffeine while on my meds, so now I'm strictly a decaf person.

I'm actually on Fevarin, which is notorious for not playing nice with caffeine.

A quote from a site: Mixing caffeine and Luvox can be intensely unpleasant. Your one cup of joe will suddenly become like five cups, and the effects will last six times as long.

What does that actually mean? Does it just amplify the caffeine? For instance, I get hit with this incredible exhaustion the second I walk through the door after work. I sleep fine at night, though—could this combination of Prozac and caffeine be the culprit?

Caffeine doesn't actually have anything to do with ADHD
The real issue is just that caffeine can trigger irritability, jitters, or tension— but if you haven't had trouble with it before, the medication shouldn't change that either . In fact, anxiolytics might even help dial that down
As long as everything is kept in moderation—we aren't talking about chugging liters of coffee or high-caffeine energy drinks here
.

Honestly, I was worried right away because I started feeling this restless sensation, like my hands were shaking or something... even though I'm drinking decaf.

How on earth is that supposed to be "fun"? I’ve been on Prozac for four weeks now and haven't felt a single thing. Then, I happen to miss my dose this afternoon—well, I forgot to take it last night—and suddenly I'm dealing with nausea and this weird ringing in my head... What kind of joke is that?