Posts by fadedbear92

ironpanther said:I need some insight from people here—specifically those who have been navigating this for a while. I’ve been on Seroxat for four years now (started at 20 mg, currently up to 30 mg), but I’m being forced to switch antidepressants. My diagnosis is anxiety-depressive disorder... unfortunately, after four relatively successful years of treatment, the symptoms are creeping back in. It feels like my system just hit a plateau. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with similar experiences. Based on what my psychiatrist said, the issue might be that Seroxat is often considered the gold standard for this specific disorder, which makes switching tricky.

Thanks in advance to everyone...

Seroxat is mostly used for OCD.
If things are getting worse, you either need to swap out the antidepressant entirely or bump up your current dose. I’ve actually had two relapses myself when we tried switching medications. Definitely reach out to your psychiatrist—are you seeing a therapist too?

Kenneth Scott41 said:Thanks, though it seems my depression is just hitting harder, or maybe I'm just a particularly difficult case since I can't find any sense in anything, nor do I have much will left... but I suppose that doesn't matter right now. I truly do wish you all the best in feeling better.👍

See, I actually doubt my mother has OCD—one minute she's perfectly happy and giving me a hug, then ten minutes later, she's a completely different person. She gets incredibly agitated, almost like she's lost her mind, turning on people with the intensity of a dictator.
I'm not sure if that qualifies as OCD... but the way her moods shift so drastically is certainly strange.

bipolar disorder

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Actually, I am curious about the typical duration. I've been on it for a month now and haven't felt any improvement yet. I'm not sure if it's because it's not the right fit for me, or if it just hasn't kicked in yet...

It might be time to switch things up. Based on the latest clinical guidelines, you should give it about two weeks; if there's still no shift, it's time to try something else.

urbanskipper4 said:Are you actually doing alright? Why all this whining?
I'm fine today, sure, but who knows about tomorrow? Today I'm good, tomorrow I might not be, etc.

Not really, things are pretty rough...

Kenneth Scott41 said:Honestly, I don't know about all of you, but whenever it hits me that I’m looking at a minimum two-year stretch on these ADs, I just lose it. Every single morning I wake up feeling just as miserable and pathetic as the day before, and I struggle to even imagine myself existing two years down the line. 👎

I mean, if someone like me—someone who’s already been through the psychiatric ward and now feels this overwhelming urge to go back there again (even though I know deep down I just want to be home)—is feeling this way, then I really don't know what my ??!! is anymore. 🤷

It could be worse... though, let's be real, it definitely could.😢

urbanskipper4 said:Why does the idea of taking meds bother you so much? They're literally there to help us. You've only been on them for three weeks? Sometimes it takes a full three months before you actually feel the real impact. 🙂
You just gotta have patience. If one doesn't work for you, you switch to another. 🙂
I've been on mine for eight years, so what? I'm still here. And I'm alive! 🙂I spent three weeks in the psych unit once. I used to cry whenever they let me out for the weekend because I didn't want to leave. Then I'd head back from the weekend to the hospital and cry because I didn't want to go back in. Dammit, most people deal with that exact same cycle.
I totally get where you're coming from. Don't worry, it'll be fine. A dreamer said on the forum: "Everything has its beginning and its end."
I actually believe that's true. Sounds optimistic, right?
Honestly, all this bullshit needs to stop for everyone.

And it will 🙄.

urbanskipper4 said:Hey, looks like your inbox is totally slammed—you aren't even taking new messages. Anyway, there’s a ton going on, but honestly, health comes first, right? So, is she actually a psychoanalyst?
And how do you actually know if it’s successfully treating OCD? Did someone just tell you it works?

is, she🤷

urbanskipper4 said:Thanks for having my back. It’s tough, seriously. My kid is trying his best to help me out, giving me advice and everything, but man, it's easy to say "don't worry," "move on," or "just forget the past." Like, oh sure, I'll just wear dirty clothes and stop showering, maybe nothing will happen then, right? Then he tells me I don't even need medication. If that's the case, what's the point of Big Pharma making them at all? I know he means well—he actually listens to me—but he just doesn't get how brutal this fight really is.
Anyway, I really need to find a therapist or something because I'm stuck. I've been spinning my wheels in the exact same spot for 9 years now. Honestly, things have actually gotten worse lately. I'm on a different prescription now, so we'll see how that goes, I guess.???

urbanskipper4, if you're up for it, shoot me a DM—my doctor is incredible at treating OCD.👍

here:

http://www.promente.biz/index.php?op...=40&Itemid=270

urbanskipper4 said:Thanks, and I really hope things get better for you every single day too.
Paxil helped me a little bit, but only for a short while. I was on it for about a year and a half, then spent the next seven years on Anafranil. That one actually held steady for a long time when they had me on a combo with other meds.
Then my whole system just... collapsed. It stopped working entirely.
Man, I'd give anything to just stop taking all this junk. I'm so sick of it all. My head is just a total mess right now.
Best,

I totally believe you when you say you're fed up. Hang in there and reach out—you can always hit me up via DM.👍

urbanskipper4 said:Short answer? Four months with Dr. Gruden. The guy basically told me to stop listening to him because I'm just too damn stubborn. I drove him crazy, haha. 🙂Well, guess I'll just drive another psychiatrist insane then, hehehe. 🙂I just don't vibe with him as a person, and his whole style is off.
Plus, psychoanalysis isn't even that effective for OCD. CBT is supposed to be better, but even that didn't do much for me. I'm just a lost cause, dammit. :P
I've got an appointment with Dr. plećka this Tuesday. He's my last shot at something working. I'll let you know how it goes.
Anyway, I skipped my Faverin today because it makes me feel absolutely nauseous. I can't stand it, though maybe I should have at least taken a quarter of it. I made a bad call, and now I'm stuck dealing with a massive crying spell tonight. Then I ended up binge-eating like crazy because of the nausea and that empty feeling. I get these horrible hunger attacks, even though I usually eat like a bird. Probably just missing my dose.
I can already tell I'll be on a diet once the holidays are over.
Took some Xanax and I'm calmer now, but my head still hurts like hell.
Been a total wreck all day. Just slept and slept through the entire afternoon.
Honestly, Prozac felt like it worked best for me. I probably just needed to taper the dose down and maybe take something like Tegretol to stabilize the whole up & down bullshit.
The Faverin has me feeling so incredibly down I can't even deal. Ugh, gross.
I am so miserable!

Faverin can definitely lower your mood; it has an anxiolytic effect, so it clearly doesn't suit you. My doctor prescribes Paxil for OCD, and most people I know dealing with this take that. Hm. Anyway, I really wish you luck—you've been through so much. Hang in there.😠

urbanskipper4 said:Oh, yeah, and I took Zoloft. Not for long.
I tried cognitive behavioral therapy a while back, but honestly, it didn't do squat for me. Tried bioenergy, hypnosis—nothing helps. Absolutely nothing. Even went to psychoanalysis, which was just pathetic.
Not going back there ever again.
Nothing works.
Basically, I'm just drugging my way through it.
I am never touching Faverin again. It made me feel even worse. I've literally just been lying here sleeping since Friday.
My body just straight up cannot handle it.

How long were you in psychoanalysis for? I'm going into my 8th year now, and it's working wonders for me.

urbanskipper4 said:God, I've tried everything! Seroxat and Zyprexa plus Ativan whenever I needed it.
seroxat and Risperdal
seroxat and Anafranil
Anafranil and Zoloft
then some epilepsy meds, only lasted three days because they made me puke, ugh.
Serdolect (just three days), terrible experience, gross, nausea.
Anafranil and Solian
Prozac was great, but damn, it made me hypomanic—just random laughing fits and hyperactivity. Then occasional crashes into depression. But honestly, it suited me best; I felt most like myself and ready to fight back on it.
And now it's Faverin + Xanax as needed, fuuuuuuugh.

All in all, I've been through the ringer. Tried what worked and what didn't.
Been on meds for 8 years.

The meds hold me steady for a few years and then they just stop working. There were some I refused to touch because the side effects sucked. Like, Zyprexa makes you ravenous and you gain weight like crazy, and it didn't even help much. And Risperdal left me feeling totally wiped out, stiff, and barely able to function.
My doctor isn't private, she works at the community clinic.

Hey, Happy Easter.
Hopefully things get better.
I'm such an idiot. I've been taking 50 mg of Faverin for three days instead of the 100 mg dose.
That's why I feel sick and my head is absolutely SPLITTING.

Are you at least doing psychotherapy? I hope they aren't just hitting you with chemicals, even if those are important too. And here I thought it was just me...😲😲😲

Anafranil—lasted only one day, I was scared shitless
Ludiomil—felt somewhat psychotic? So they switched me to IV fast
Vaira—an antipsychotic during a rough gap phase, but it gave me a nasty tremor, so they pulled it quickly
I'm on Tegretol, a stabilizer
took Lamictal before this
regular Xanax, then extended-release Xanax, then tapering off with Norval, now Lorazepam, ...

Kenneth Scott41 said:For me, Lexapro is definitely the gold standard. It really works, and honestly, I don't even seem to notice any side effects... if that's even possible.🙂

I personally could only stick with Lexapro for three weeks—I felt constantly buzzed, almost like I was half-drunk—so my doctor had to take me off it. Such a nightmare experience. Brrrr. But hey, it just goes to show that everyone reacts to these meds differently.

urbanskipper4 said:I've only been on it for two days, and honestly, I’ve fallen into such a deep depression I can’t even describe it. I’m just totally sinking and I have zero motivation for anything. My follow-up appointment isn't for another eight days. I guess I just have to tough it out. But my obsessions? They've actually gotten way worse. Ugh, it feels disgusting. It feels like no medication is ever going to work; I'm starting to lose hope.
I've already tried pretty much every SSRI out there.

It worked for me right away—though, I was incredibly drowsy at first. Since my main issue is anxiety, it really helped level me out.

In the past, I’ve tried everything from Prozac and Zoloft to Effexor and Lexapro—some for a while, some just briefly.

Which ones were you on, and for how long? Why did your doctor switch your meds now—are you dealing with a relapse?
Do you have her cell number so you can give her a call? Is she in private practice?

urbanskipper4 said:I was on Prozac for about a month and a half. To be fair, I actually felt pretty good most of the time, even if it did throw my mood all over the place—one minute I'm up, the next I'm crashing. But overall? It was a decent ride. I finally had some actual energy and felt... I don't know, alive for once. Now my psychiatrist has switched me over to Fevarin. I've been taking 50 mg in the morning for two days just to get used to it.
Honestly, I feel exhausted, miserable, and just so incredibly irritable.
I’ve spiraled straight into a massive depression. I really don't think I can handle this medication. It’s making me feel physically sick, too.
Man, I was doing so well on Prozac. Okay, fine, I’ll admit I was acting a little hypomanic and would snap at people occasionally, but I felt good! I wasn't picking fights with everyone or losing control of myself like usual.
Now I'm just stuck feeling depressed because of this Fevarin. I absolutely hate this stuff.

How long have you been on the Fevarin? It usually takes about two or three weeks for your body to settle in. If more time has passed and you're still feeling this way, your doctor needs to switch your prescription. You aren't obligated to stick with something that doesn't work for you—just be completely honest with your doctor about how you're feeling.

mistyscout2 said:But did you actually tell them they should stop taking that medication just because it didn't sit right with you, or was it specifically because of those bruises (which might not even have anything to do with the drug itself)? I mean, everyone’s body reacts differently to medication since our central nervous systems and overall physiology are all unique. What works wonders for one person might do absolutely nothing for someone else, or could even make them feel pretty terrible. It's the same way we see with psychoactive substances like caffeine or alcohol, don't you think?

Look, I'm fully aware that antidepressants hit everyone differently. However, it seems to me that this specific side effect is pretty nasty for this girl. What could happen? Honestly, it's better if she just calls her psychiatrist—then they can tell her if there's any real reason to panic and that'll be that. We shouldn't be taking medical advice from random people on an internet forum like we're drunkards stumbling through life. Most of us here are laypeople, aren't we? Do you really think someone shouldn't consult their mental health professional? I certainly hope not.☕

mistyscout2 said:Look, I’m definitely not a psychiatrist; I was just genuinely curious about what triggered such a reaction—and I promise there wasn't any hidden subtext or anything behind my question. I'm really just interested in the facts. Honestly, I thought I was being as polite and straightforward as possible, so I'm a little confused by the cynicism.
I've been studying related topics for a few years now, and I guess I'm just naturally inquisitive.

Are you a psychiatrist? If you are, I'd love to hear your take on this. And if you aren't, that's fine too.

well, if I've been battling depression for 15 years, maybe I am one😂 and if you want facts, the fact is I'm not being cynical😉

People like that—until they actually go through it themselves—will always try to stigmatize us. It’s because of folks like them that we have to fight twice as hard. Honestly, it's exhausting. And even then, they still don't give us the respect we deserve. I say don't even bother paying them any mind.

Richard Johnson4 said:I was prescribed Xanax 0.5 mg and Lexapro 50 mg. My therapist suggested starting with these tiny doses—taking 1/4 of a Xanax tablet in the morning, 1/4 at noon, and 1/2 in the evening.
For the Lexapro, the plan was half in the morning and half at night (though for the first two weeks, it's just 1/4 in the morning and 1/4 at night).

But honestly, breaking a pill into four pieces is such a hassle—I can barely even see the lines—and my morning and noon slots basically overlap anyway. So, for the last two days, I've just been taking half a Lexapro and half a Xanax together, both morning and night.
The thing is, I feel absolutely wonderful. It’s this dreamy, hazy, relaxed sensation—sort of like being in a lucid dream (though I haven't started talking to the furniture just yet). Everything feels beautiful and calm. When I step outside, colors seem to shimmer; everything looks different, almost intoxicating, and I even lose my sense of direction a little. It's just pure, incredible peace. And it lasts—it stays with me all day long. It's amazing.

What’s the catch? People take massive amounts of Xanax, yet I'm only on one tablet a day (feels like a placebo, honestly). Even two doses of Normalan barely did anything for me. I highly doubt this is actually the anxiolytic kicking in.
Could this be a side effect of the Lexapro instead? This feeling hits very quickly after I take them both together. Did I mess up by not sticking to those tiny quarter-tablet doses?

Anyone have any thoughts? Truthfully, I don't want this feeling to go away. I have nothing but time, I'm in no rush, colors are shimmering, and I feel blissfully weak, silly, and confused. It's great. 😁

Since I'm still riding this wave and feeling so good, I'm probably just rambling nonsense.

I'm sure druid will have an answer for you.🙄