Posts by restlesstiger49

I won't be able to get an appointment until the 9th, once my shrink gets back from vacation. I’ve been thinking about trying Effexor again, though it made me nauseous for a solid two weeks when I took it before. On the plus side, it actually helped dial down my anxiety about three years ago—but being the "genius" that I am, I quit cold turkey, which left me stuck in a week of total derealization. Honestly, the whole thing terrifies me... life is just exhausting sometimes. Anyway, I'm going to try to track down a regular psychiatrist—someone focused more on supportive therapy—to see if we can finally get things sorted out. Living like this isn't sustainable.
I feel terrible venting here on the forum, but I really don't have anywhere else to turn... 😢

Ethan Cruz4, thanks for the heads-up regarding Fevarin. If what you said is true, then yesterday was a perfect example of it hitting me. I felt completely drained all day, just feeling absolutely miserable mentally.

fadedbear92 said:If things haven't improved in a month, it’s unlikely they will after that—you either need to bump up the dose or switch antidepressants entirely. You definitely need to have a real talk with your doctor.

I'm honestly at a loss for what might actually work anymore. It's just frustrating as hell...🙂
The only thought that brings me any peace is death...

Hey everyone, is it actually possible for anxiety to kick in after being on Paxil for a few weeks? It feels like it's starting to mess with my head again lately... 😢 Or could this just be because of all the emotional stress I've been dealing with recently?

fadedbear92 said:It's definitely the second one. An antidepressant isn't going to magically strip away your anxiety or any other emotion—they don't numb you out like benzos do. Think of an AD as more of a "tailwind" that gives you the actual WILL and STRENGTH to function better. If you need to take the edge off the anxiety quickly, you could always try some Xanax.

Man, I took some Xanax XR today and ended up sleeping through the entire damn day. On top of that, a fellow member mentioned in the previous post:

But that’s exactly why you take an antidepressant—so you aren't constantly relying on Xanax just to function.

Yeah, I’m a little confused here. I really don't want to be popping anxiolytics every single day. For crying out loud, after four weeks, you'd think the antidepressant would actually start kicking in by now. Either that, or we just keep on experimenting. 🤷 Honestly, I’d rather just be dead. I am completely at my wit's end with everything right now. 🙂

I’m sitting here right now, just nursing a cup of coffee and reading up on fever. It’s funny how much time you can lose when you get sucked into a rabbit hole like this. I can't believe I'm even typing this, but here's the link.:
Quotes:

If you're taking Fevarin, you might want to keep an eye on your coffee habit. It looks like this medication can actually bump up the levels of caffeine circulating in your system. If you’re someone who lives on espresso or heavy energy drinks, you might notice those side effects hitting a bit harder—think shaky hands, heart palpitations, feeling nauseous, or struggling with anxiety and insomnia. I’d suggest dialing back the caffeine intake while you're on this treatment just to stay comfortable.

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?

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?

fadedbear92 said:That really depends on the person—what does "super strong" even mean to you? For me, it’s all about finding the one that actually clicks and helps you get through.
Different antidepressants have worked for me at different points during my depressive episodes.

In principle, yes—it should spark the drive to actually make something of my day. I want to wake up feeling like there's a reason to get moving. For me, the main thing is getting both my serotonin and dopamine levels back up.

Daniel Gomez10 said:Okay, then it's definitely not for sleep issues.😁

Why is it a bad thing to use a side effect for a good purpose?
Well, you were prescribed Faverin for that exact reason—it's an antidepressant with sedative effects, so it kills two birds with one stone.
Though, you could argue whether that's really a side effect or just how the medicine works.

By the way, psychiatric drug classifications have become totally inappropriate.
For instance, antipsychotics don't just work on psychosis; they also help with mood and anxiety.
Even Quetiapine is used off-label for things like severe depressive symptoms.

It depends on the clinic, but you should be able to go in for an emergency follow-up with someone else.
Are you sure they didn't tell you to take 50mg for the first week and then move up to 100mg?
That's pretty standard when starting Faverin.

Faverin is an antidepressant that acts sedatively, similar to Mirtazapine or Trazodone, which is why it's given for depression paired with insomnia.

I don't know, the very term "side effect" carries such a negative weight. Personally, I really like my brain, and if I'm going to have to mess with it using chemicals, I’d much rather use them for their intended purpose.

Daniel Gomez10 said:Okay, then it's definitely not for sleep issues.😁

Why is it a bad thing to use a side effect for a good purpose?
Well, you were prescribed Faverin for that exact reason—it's an antidepressant with sedative effects, so it kills two birds with one stone.
Though, you could argue whether that's really a side effect or just how the medicine works.

By the way, psychiatric drug classifications have become totally inappropriate.
For instance, antipsychotics don't just work on psychosis; they also help with mood and anxiety.
Even Quetiapine is used off-label for things like severe depressive symptoms.

It depends on the clinic, but you should be able to go in for an emergency follow-up with someone else.
Are you sure they didn't tell you to take 50mg for the first week and then move up to 100mg?
That's pretty standard when starting Faverin.

Faverin is an antidepressant that acts sedatively, similar to Mirtazapine or Trazodone, which is why it's given for depression paired with insomnia.

No, nothing was mentioned about increasing the dose. My therapist just said, "Let's try 50mg and see how it goes". I was supposed to have a session in a week and a half—maybe we would have adjusted the dosage then—but I was told he’s unavailable and taking his vacation, so I should check back in September. I am absolutely not going to play chemist with my meds on my own. I'll try to find another provider for a check-up.

Daniel Gomez10 said:Okay, then it's definitely not for sleep issues.😁

Why is it a bad thing to use a side effect for a good purpose?
Well, you were prescribed Faverin for that exact reason—it's an antidepressant with sedative effects, so it kills two birds with one stone.
Though, you could argue whether that's really a side effect or just how the medicine works.

By the way, psychiatric drug classifications have become totally inappropriate.
For instance, antipsychotics don't just work on psychosis; they also help with mood and anxiety.
Even Quetiapine is used off-label for things like severe depressive symptoms.

It depends on the clinic, but you should be able to go in for an emergency follow-up with someone else.
Are you sure they didn't tell you to take 50mg for the first week and then move up to 100mg?
That's pretty standard when starting Faverin.

Faverin is an antidepressant that acts sedatively, similar to Mirtazapine or Trazodone, which is why it's given for depression paired with insomnia.

True, because of that sedative effect, I was actually advised to take it at night.

fadedbear92 said:Fevarin acts as an anxiolytic, so it actually helps dial down that anxiety. Maybe you should look into switching up your med

Fair point. I actually told my therapist straight up that the anxiety is killing me, so I guess that’s part of the problem. It isn't even classic depression; it's more like I'm just miserable being alive at all. I laid it all out for the therapist, and honestly, who could possibly say anything smart or helpful after hearing that? At this stage, I feel like I can only rely on medication. Since you clearly know your stuff when it comes to pharmaceuticals, which antidepressant would you say is the heavy hitter? Thnx!

I have to say, after taking those antipsychotics—which were primarily prescribed just to help me sleep—I felt absolutely dizzy the next morning. Not to mention how completely listless and unmotivated I felt for the rest of the day. I made sure to bring this up with my doctor, but they just turned around and handed me the exact same type of medication again. I honestly don't get it...🤷 As for the Faverin, they told me it would help with sleep, which is why they’re putting me on it.

I haven't seen any posts from tihonsee lately. As requested:
When it comes to Q-pin, a 25mg dose is honestly tiny. At that level, the medication acts quite selectively on the H1 receptors, which means its primary effect is basically just knocking you out.
At that specific dosage, it's typically prescribed to help with insomnia. I'm assuming that’s exactly why your doctor put you on it.
Let’s be clear: not all antipsychotics are created equal.

But let’s be clear: psychotherapy is really the backbone of the whole treatment plan.

I just got handed a prescription for Q-pin with instructions to take it in the morning, so I’m highly skeptical about using it for insomnia. Look, I realize not all antipsychotics act the same way, but I’ve had enough bad experiences with these types of drugs that I'm really hesitant to just keep swallowing them. It’s honestly tragic how people are prescribed medications only to have their side effects "treated" by even more medication. I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and when I was dealing with insomnia previously, I was given Fevarin—so why on earth am I being prescribed an antipsychotic now? I’m definitely going to bring this up at my next session.

tihonsee Asks:
You can always request a second opinion from another doctor within the same medical group.

That’s actually a great idea. Since I can't schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist until September, I was wondering if it's possible to just check in with another doctor at the same clinic. I've been on 50mg of Fevarin for three weeks now, and if we decide I need to bump up the dosage, could I just have a quick follow-up with one of their associates instead of waiting? Just a brief consultation to see where things stand.

fadedbear92 said:How long have you been on Fevarin? If you just started, it might make you drowsy since it's in that anxiolytic class of antidepressants. It took about two weeks for my body to adjust before the sleepiness finally wore off.

I've been on it for three weeks now. I take it at night specifically because I struggle with falling asleep, though honestly, I don't even feel like it's sedating me.

Daniel Gomez10 said:Did you ask him?

You could always request a second opinion at the same clinic, or just go see someone at a completely different hospital.

What dose of Q-pin are you on exactly?

With Fevarin, you usually won't feel much for about 3-4 weeks if it's for depression, and maybe even 5-6 weeks if it's for anxiety.

I didn't ask. I realized too late, once I had already picked up the prescription, what specific type it was—and frankly, I was too hesitant to even swallow it because of some pretty bad past experiences dealing with psychotic episodes. The dose is 25mg. As for the Fevarin, I'm hoping for some kind of improvement, though given my F60.3 diagnosis, I suspect there isn't a single medication out there that's actually going to improve a patient's quality of life, if you ask me.

Daniel Gomez10 said:Dealing with severe anxiety, deep depression, heavy insomnia, PTSD, or addiction issues can be really tough. Just hanging in there.

What did they tell you? Why the Q-pin?
If that medication isn't sitting right with you, just make sure to mention it at your next checkup.

I have a feeling it might work by hitting the metabolism through those M3 receptors.
Honestly, there’s still so much we don't know about this stuff. Plus, everyone reacts to medication so differently, so you really can't say anything for certain.
At the end of the day, you just can't beat eating clean and getting some exercise in. It always helps. 🙂

I wasn't given any heads-up. Honestly, I think Michael Hill2 was right when he suggested that doctors prescribe Q-pin just to keep patients from hanging themselves from the rafters while they're off on vacation. My therapist actually took his leave and vanished. They told me to check back in this September, which is a total joke. You get handed these meds and nobody even bothers to ask if they’re actually working for you. They just head out for their summer break and leave you to suffer through it all alone.

fadedbear92 Asks:
It really all comes down to whatever dosage my doctor decides to prescribe.
I take my Q-pin three times a day every morning to help manage my anxiety. 25 mg.
How much did they prescribe you? Are you actually taking it, and what’s the dosage? I’m on Edronax myself, which keeps me wide awake—honestly, that's exactly what I need it for.

I’m taking a little bit of Fevarin right now, though honestly, I have no clue if it's actually doing anything for me. It’s just been added to the long list of medications I’ve tried that turned out to be a total wash.

Daniel Gomez10 said:It's just because doctors often use that med off-label for other things too.

Well, those "other uses" actually interest me. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being handed nothing but heavy sedatives just so my therapist can have some peace and quiet. I've dealt with antipsychotics before, and let me tell you, one single pill used to leave me feeling absolutely trashed for two whole days. Now I see that Q-pin is meant for sleep, yet they're handing it to me for a morning shift? It feels like someone is playing games here...

I’m honestly a bit stumped—why on earth would I be prescribed Seroquel if I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder? Any thoughts or ideas?

I started taking it yesterday, and I’m really hoping it doesn't leave me feeling totally wiped out in the morning—I have to be sharp for work. As for the dosage, my therapist set it this way for now, though there might be an increase down the road. I'll just follow the instructions provided. Anyway, thanks everyone for the input.

I have a question for anyone who has used Fevarin in the past or is currently using it. Does anyone experience issues when getting out of bed in the morning—specifically things like dizziness or feeling lightheaded? For context, I take a 50mg dose in the evening.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Realistically, if you think you know more than your doctor, you can always just buy stuff on the street. Why even bother seeing someone you don't trust?

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I know better than a professional. And it’s not that I lack trust. I'm sorry if my previous posts gave off that impression. As I mentioned before, I just feel that because antidepressants affect everyone so differently, it's necessary to trial various medications within that class. I assume a shrink might not immediately know which specific drug would work best next. It's also my mistake for overlooking his clinical experience and the statistical data. Plus, I'll admit I was writing while a bit worked up.

I have one question: in a situation like this (after taking an antidepressant for a month and a half), does the protocol usually involve increasing the dose or switching to a different medication altogether?

Thanks!

Brandon Lopez6 said:Solid take.

Personally, I wouldn't mix meds and booze, especially this early on.

It’s just an impression at this point. I could very well be off base. Look, all I really want is to improve, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions to get things right...

fadedbear92 said:You mentioned somewhere else that you were taking it for anxiety.
I was on Paxil back in the day—it's a specific SSRI that also works as an anti-anxiety med. During that first week, I was basically a zombie, sleeping through everything, but once my body adjusted, it was fine. I am just confused about one thing, though—do you think you could just walk into a doctor's office with a wad of cash and tell them exactly which prescription you want?😕

Why not? At the end of the day, it’s all about trial and error. Honestly, he isn't exactly a genius when it comes to this stuff—certainly not any smarter than I am.