Psychotropic medication discussion thread

fadedbear92 said:So does that mean you're healthy and haven't been diagnosed? Wait, why the Vair then? What's actually going on with you?

I suppose I'd say I'm depressed, with some bipolar tendencies thrown in. My diagnosis is F40.1, or something close to that—I can't quite recall the exact code right now. But depression is definitely the core issue, even though I deal with these sudden mood swings that my psychiatrist either misses or seems to overlook... though I don't have OCD. It might be bipolar disorder mixed with depression... something along those lines. That's why I'm on Vair and Elicea-ad. On top of that, I've been taking Diazepam 10 mg, but I was thinking it might be wise to switch things up rather than sticking strictly to Diazepam or moving to something like Xanax. I really don't want to develop a dependency on Diazepam, so I thought maybe rotating through different benzos might help prevent getting hooked on just one. What do you think? I tried Misar SR, and honestly, those SR tablets with the gradual release seem much better than the ones that hit you all at once, don't they?

Larry Lewis said:What do you mean, a 2.5 milligram dose? Either take the full 10 mg like a normal patient or don't bother at all.🙂Just kidding... mostly.

I’ll throw back 5 mg every once in a while, but honestly, it doesn't do much for me.

I've been on Cipralex for about five days now, and the side effect I'm dealing with is a complete and total loss of appetite. I'm just sitting here hoping this phase passes in a few days so I can actually start feeling like myself again.

velvetsailor26 said:I've been on Cipralex for about five days now, and the side effect I'm dealing with is a complete and total loss of appetite. I'm just sitting here hoping this phase passes in a few days so I can actually start feeling like myself again.

It’s funny how everyone reacts differently—some people feel the shift after a week, whereas for me, it felt like I was waiting almost three months for anything to actually kick in.
I really don't want to rain on your parade, but just stay the course and don't give up on it yet.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I suppose I'd say I'm depressed, with some bipolar tendencies thrown in. My diagnosis is F40.1, or something close to that—I can't quite recall the exact code right now. But depression is definitely the core issue, even though I deal with these sudden mood swings that my psychiatrist either misses or seems to overlook... though I don't have OCD. It might be bipolar disorder mixed with depression... something along those lines. That's why I'm on Vair and Elicea-ad. On top of that, I've been taking Diazepam 10 mg, but I was thinking it might be wise to switch things up rather than sticking strictly to Diazepam or moving to something like Xanax. I really don't want to develop a dependency on Diazepam, so I thought maybe rotating through different benzos might help prevent getting hooked on just one. What do you think? I tried Misar SR, and honestly, those SR tablets with the gradual release seem much better than the ones that hit you all at once, don't they?

Look, I was practically addicted to Xanax for nearly 14 years. We eventually switched to the SR (slow release) version, but honestly, that's just a total gimmick. My advice? Toss it all in the trash and move to Normabloc. It wasn't until then that I realized just how much stronger Xanax actually is compared to the milder stuff. These newer ones feel like candy by comparison, but I finally managed to kick my Xanax habit because of them. My doctor even told me that Xanax burns out your brain receptors even faster—so, if you can manage it, please try not to switch over to Xanax.

Larry Lewis said:Hey, I’ve got a question—not just for you, but for anyone else out there who unfortunately ended up with a diagnosis and is stuck on meds. When you’re actually doing "well"—I mean when there aren't any episodes, outbursts, or those other nasty bits—do you truly feel okay? Or can you still sense the "ghost" of the illness lingering inside? For me, personally, I haven't been in a severe state for a while now, but I just can't seem to hit that sweet spot of stability. It’s exhausting. I’ll be fine for maybe two hours in the morning, then my entire afternoon is total garbage, then I'm okay again in the evening, only to have everything go to hell right before bed. I’m talking about that deep, internal sensation. I find myself wondering if that healthy, steady feeling I had before all this started is gone forever—because these mood swings have been dragging on for ages, and despite my doctors constantly tweaking my treatment to try and fix it, nothing works. Because when I say I'm "doing well," I just mean the psychosis has cleared up... but the rest of it...

That's a heavy one. Let me take a moment to gather my thoughts so I can give you a proper answer.

velvetsailor26 said:I’ll throw back 5 mg every once in a while, but honestly, it doesn't do much for me.

I’m currently sitting at 20mg and, frankly, it isn't even working the way it should—it's just... fine, I guess? The only real perk of this medication is that you don't have to worry about when the sleep will actually hit; you just swallow it and drift off into a dream world that, quite frankly, has become more exhausting than actual reality—I'm constantly stuck in these bizarre, nonsensical fever dreams.

I think I’ll have to tell my doctor that I need to get back on antidepressants—either I'm completely losing my temper over nothing or I'm drowning in sadness, and the only time I feel remotely human again is late at night.

amberdriver85 said:It’s funny how everyone reacts differently—some people feel the shift after a week, whereas for me, it felt like I was waiting almost three months for anything to actually kick in.
I really don't want to rain on your parade, but just stay the course and don't give up on it yet.

So, what's your reason for taking it?
For me, it's social anxiety.

Larry Lewis said:I’m currently sitting at 20mg and, frankly, it isn't even working the way it should—it's just... fine, I guess? The only real perk of this medication is that you don't have to worry about when the sleep will actually hit; you just swallow it and drift off into a dream world that, quite frankly, has become more exhausting than actual reality—I'm constantly stuck in these bizarre, nonsensical fever dreams.

I think I’ll have to tell my doctor that I need to get back on antidepressants—either I'm completely losing my temper over nothing or I'm drowning in sadness, and the only time I feel remotely human again is late at night.

I’m pretty sure if you jump straight to 20 mg, you’ll be out for the count, because even a tiny 2.5 mg dose used to absolutely floor me back in the day—though I guess my tolerance has finally caught up with me.

velvetsailor26 said:I’m pretty sure if you jump straight to 20 mg, you’ll be out for the count, because even a tiny 2.5 mg dose used to absolutely floor me back in the day—though I guess my tolerance has finally caught up with me.

Look, 20mg? That's a heavy-duty dose—it's practically meant for someone dealing with full-blown schizophrenia, much like my own situation.🙂Have you noticed any weight gain from it yet? Because, goodness, I’ve packed on 26 pounds since I started taking Zyprexa... it’s been an absolute disaster.

Larry Lewis said:Look, 20mg? That's a heavy-duty dose—it's practically meant for someone dealing with full-blown schizophrenia, much like my own situation.🙂Have you noticed any weight gain from it yet? Because, goodness, I’ve packed on 26 pounds since I started taking Zyprexa... it’s been an absolute disaster.

I haven't...
Sometimes I almost wish I actually had schizophrenia, if it meant I could finally stop living in this constant state of fear—that deep-seated dread of just losing my mind entirely.
So, where do you work?

velvetsailor26 said:I haven't...
Sometimes I almost wish I actually had schizophrenia, if it meant I could finally stop living in this constant state of fear—that deep-seated dread of just losing my mind entirely.
So, where do you work?

I haven't held a job in quite some time.
But look, don't let it get to you too much—I dealt with my own share of terrors, and frankly, those fears tend to evaporate once you've been hospitalized—like I was back in 2008—so believe me when I say I understand exactly where you're coming from.

What about you? Are you employed?

The absolute lowest point for me—the moment everything just fell apart—was when my manager at the office had the nerve to ask me point-blank if I had any "mental issues." It absolutely crushed me. I tried so desperately to mask it, to play the part of the functioning professional, but it was useless; it showed on my face, and of course, the entire office found out eventually... it was pathetic.

Nowadays, people don't suspect a thing. I know folks I've never even mentioned my condition to, yet they have no idea. Meanwhile, the little schizophrenic inside me is just sitting there, laughing at the irony. Hahah.

I spend my entire day interacting with people, even though I struggle with pretty intense social anxiety; I actually love what I do, but the thought of showing up for my shift makes me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

velvetsailor26 said:I spend my entire day interacting with people, even though I struggle with pretty intense social anxiety; I actually love what I do, but the thought of showing up for my shift makes me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

Yes... quite an awkward predicament. Tell me, how does this anxiety actually manifest for you? Is it specific types of people that trigger it, certain scenarios—maybe high-pressure meetings or small talk—or is it just the concept of social interaction in general that weighs on you?🤷

It’s not that I’m afraid of everyone, just certain people, but my confidence has basically bottomed out because I spend all my time watching others tackle the very things that terrify me without even breaking a sweat.
I can't focus on anything else anymore; it’s the only thing playing on loop in my head, and nothing else seems to matter. I can't find any sense of joy or satisfaction in anything I do.

velvetsailor26 said:It’s not that I’m afraid of everyone, just certain people, but my confidence has basically bottomed out because I spend all my time watching others tackle the very things that terrify me without even breaking a sweat.
I can't focus on anything else anymore; it’s the only thing playing on loop in my head, and nothing else seems to matter. I can't find any sense of joy or satisfaction in anything I do.

I hear you—I really, truly do. When I first got sick, word got around, and suddenly, my entire circle of friends just... vanished. They stopped calling, stopped inviting me out. I’d end up sitting alone at a local diner, just staring from across the room at my old group of friends while they laughed and had the time of their lives. That’s how I developed this massive inferiority complex; it felt so wrong seeing them all working, partying, grabbing drinks together, while I was rendered completely incapable of doing any of that because of my health.

I know it’s not the exact same situation, but the feeling—the core of it—is identical to what you're going through.

p.s. Because of being cast aside like that, I struggled immensely with making new friends and just navigating social connections in general for a long time.

I always forget to ask my doctor—how much does taking two or three different medications every single day for over a year actually impact the liver? I really don't want to wreck it 😢

Michael Reed45 said:I always forget to ask my doctor—how much does taking two or three different medications every single day for over a year actually impact the liver? I really don't want to wreck it 😢

Honestly, I haven't a clue. I once asked my physician about the long-term damage from all this medication, and she just brushed it off, saying it wouldn't do much harm... so now, here we are.

Larry Lewis said:Honestly, I haven't a clue. I once asked my physician about the long-term damage from all this medication, and she just brushed it off, saying it wouldn't do much harm... so now, here we are.

Look, they aren't harmful... provided you aren't on them long-term. In the short term, they're actually helpful. But my doctors practically loaded me up with six different pills for some condition I can barely remember. Now I only take two—one for my condition and one for anxiety. The rest? No way. It’s too much, and honestly, the idea of all those drugs interacting scares me.

They absolutely tore me a new one—left me looking like a total wreck, honestly.🙂