Posts by Jason Vaughn482

Kevin Nguyen3 said:It’s a common story, really. Medical narcissism often leads to a completely misguided approach to the actual issue at hand. If there was trauma during childhood, then one needs psychoanalysis—one needs a specialist who actually focuses on that! Otherwise, isn't it just a massive waste of everyone's time?
But you? You aren't to blame for your anxiety. Where on earth did you get that idea?
The topic here is psychopharmaceuticals, yet I seem to have wandered off into the territory of psychotherapy. My apologies, truly. Please accept them.😁

I honestly haven't the slightest clue what triggered the spiral, only that my anxiety took root about four years ago when I was hit with an elevated tumor marker diagnosis. Since that moment, I have lived in a state of constant, paralyzing dread regarding my health. If you want to look at the underlying architecture of this crisis, there isn't just one pillar; it’s a crumbling foundation of losing my job and then facing the devastating loss of my mother. It was a perfect storm of misfortune. Truth be told, I have always possessed a more sensitive temperament than most, but now I find myself relying on Coaxil just to make it through the second day. Tonight, I’m turning to Xanax, and I find myself wondering if anyone here has experience with the heavy, dream-like sleep it induces. I can only hope that the Coaxil finally kicks in and provides some semblance of relief; please, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Does anyone here possess any deeper insight regarding the use of Coaxil? I find myself contemplating its efficacy and would greatly appreciate a more comprehensive perspective from those who might be familiar with its profile.

fadedbear92 said:Yeah, that's how it works in therapy, but she shouldn't have cut you off after only 15 minutes. Did she even give you any feedback on what you were saying?

Well, yes—she actually posed this question to me, asking who I thought was responsible for my current anxiety. I offered the candid opinion that it likely stems from myself, to which she responded with some vague notion that everything traces back to one's childhood... and just like that, the conversation hit a dead end. In my estimation, we should have delved deeper, but it’s always the same pattern: these sessions are incredibly brief. Once, she spent two entire sessions lecturing me on sleep hygiene—as if I haven't mastered the basics of a good night's rest, thank Quincy—and then simply said goodbye.
So, what am I expected to do when I show up? Am I supposed to just wander in and start rambling about whatever random thought crosses my mind or whatever minor grievance is bothering me that day?
I did see a psychotherapist once for a short stint—he's currently answering queries on WebMD—and he always took the initiative to steer the dialogue, which felt productive enough. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up with the costs, so I had to walk away.

fadedbear92 said:Jason Vaughn482, are you from Chicago? There was a thread somewhere with recommendations for psychiatrists—actual doctors who provide real, quality therapy covered by insurance.
We really should comb through the old posts.
I have this vague memory of someone at a clinic over near Michigan Avenue—don't quote me on that, I'm not 100% sure.

Those 15-minute sessions are basically just check-ins. I spent seven years dealing with my grandmother's care at a clinic in downtown Seattle—we went every two weeks, then once a month, then once every two months, maybe once every three.
If you add it all up, it probably totals maybe a year or two of so-called "therapy" where the whole thing just starts with: "So, anything new?" followed by "Why don't you try this?" or "Why don't you try that?"🙄

Unfortunately, I am not.😢
They label it psychotherapy, but I see one doctor for medical check-ups and another specifically for therapy. I was with the second one yesterday, and I actually spend more time with her—sometimes even thirty minutes... but this second one (today) is strictly for the psychological side. I felt so triumphant when I finally managed to secure an appointment with her, but since May 1st, it’s been the same repetitive loop. Today, she practically said, "Go ahead, tell me everything" the moment I sat down, but I was feeling so low that I simply didn't know where to begin. When I hesitated, she just remarked, "Well, you did come to a psychiatrist, didn't you?" I told her, "Please, ask me something, because I honestly don't know what to talk about." She then started questioning me as if I were discussing my mother. Just as I finally began to open up after ten minutes or so, she cuts me off and says, "Alright, we'll see you in fifteen days..." and it goes on like that constantly, though sometimes it's been once a month.
She is a lovely, pleasant woman, but what is the point? To me, it feels like a complete waste of time...
Whatever, maybe I'll go a few more times, but I'm starting to think it's futile. I see other patients being rushed out just as quickly; even when the waiting room is empty, she never keeps me longer.
And so I continue to struggle with anxiety for four years now. I'm quite sensitive to medication, so we'll see how things progress with the Coaxil... if I can even stomach taking it. Even considering that Xanax and Ambien aren't exactly a small amount of medication to have been taking for four years straight.

As of today, I’m starting a regimen of Coaxil paired with Xanax to help me actually get some sleep. Though, if I’m being honest, the effect feels identical to taking Sanval—it just costs a hell of a lot more, so I suspect I’ll eventually just revert to the Sanval once I’ve burned through these first 14 Xanax pills, unless they somehow manage to hit differently. Beyond the medication, I also decided to pull the plug on seeing my psychotherapist. Over the last six months, I showed up maybe six or seven times, and each session lasted a measly ten to twenty minutes. I was under the impression that I’d be getting a full hour of undivided attention every single week; instead, she’d see me twice a month, if we were lucky, for fifteen minutes at most. Just when I finally start to open up and dive into what’s actually going on with me, she cuts me off with a "Right, well, see you in two weeks." It’s absolutely absurd. That’s the reality of trying to use state-funded therapy through insurance; if you don't have a job or the extra cash to pay out of pocket, you’re essentially left with nothing but a handful of pills and the instruction to just white-knuckle your way through life.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Four antidepressants isn't much at all (I've only tried three myself and none of them worked 😳). It's not like you've cycled through forty. You made a good point about her not being the only option, so seriously, think about switching doctors if this one is trying to send you to some damn hospital just because of anxiety and depression. I was in the absolute worst phase of my OCD, to the point where I would've eaten literal garbage or jumped off a building if someone promised me I'd feel better. My doctor told me I wasn't "hospital material," even though I could barely function. Washing dishes felt like a massive daily achievement, and afterward, I felt like I'd run five marathons. Looking at everything you manage to get done in a day, I don't get why she'd suggest a hospital. It makes zero sense.
Give Velafax more time 🙂.

Yeah, take that vacation 🤣. Get lost in the chains 😬.

They push the hospital option on us, often triggered by that very first depressive episode, and at that point, it's really up to us whether we accept their assessment or fight it...

Jack Johnson47 said:So, it’s day four of me messing around with this combo—Ozempic, Nurtec, and Prasilax... man, what a ride. That very first night when I knocked back the Nurtec and the Prasilax? I was absolutely wiped out. Like, straight to dreamland, super heavy sleeper, totally out of it... though, waking up for my shift the next morning was a bit of a struggle, let me tell you.
But honestly, that was just the first time! Since then, I haven't had any trouble drifting off, even if I am still tossing and turning a couple of times throughout the night. As far as side effects go, the one thing I’m positive about is how insanely dry my mouth gets—it's constant. And, uh, twice now my heart has been doing this crazy racing thing... I can't tell if that's actually a reaction to the meds or if I'm just totally stressing myself out over nothing 🤷

That dry mouth from the Prazina is a real nuisance, much like those heart palpitations you mentioned; I went through a similar stretch where I was prescribed 25 mg to help with sleep, and just like you described, I crashed hard the first night only to struggle with restless sleep and feeling generally subpar the following morning. It stands to reason that a higher dosage might be necessary to stabilize things, but personally, I decided to pull the plug on the Prazina altogether... honestly, Calixta AD remains my most reliable option, though strictly and exclusively for getting some shut-eye.

ironrider11 said:Moditen?
I don't see this being particularly profitable... especially after reading through the side effects [since I'm already dealing with tremors and neurological issues...] combined with some half-baked, five-minute assessment from an absolutely clueless psychiatrist regarding switching my dose from an antidepressant [like Cipralex or Remeron] to antipsychotics... definitely doesn't exactly spark a "desire to experiment." Is there actually a name for the phobia of taking meds? Like, a genuine fear of starting them? If there is... I've definitely got it....

I hadn't heard it described that way, but I can tell you that I also harbor a massive, overwhelming fear of psychotropic drugs. It's why I cling so desperately to my Xanax and Sanval; in my mind, I view them as nothing less than drugs themselves. I’ll hold onto them until someone can offer me a viable alternative, but what good is an alternative when they only ever suggest antipsychotics? And frankly, those are the last things I want to touch.

Chloe Hughes6 said:Fantastic. It seems whenever I speak my mind like this, I end up getting warnings about being banned! But let me be clear: this is simply my personal perspective. In my opinion, psychiatry in America is largely nothing more than charlatanism and quackery. Honestly, I struggle to understand why psychiatrists even need a medical degree. Just the other day, I sat down and counted exactly 22 different psychotropic drugs they've cycled through me—and that’s an understatement. All of this happened in just three and a half years! My official diagnosis is depression. So, who is actually the one losing their grip here? Interestingly, none of my psychiatrists ever bothered to tell me to get blood work done to monitor my liver function; that was actually my wonderful primary care physician who took the initiative, while the psychiatrist didn't ask a single question about it. And the best example of their approach? When I asked what the next steps should be regarding psychotherapy or medication, the psychiatrist's response was simply, "I don't know, you tell me." So, I gave them my input, and that is exactly how things have proceeded. There you have it!😕

Well, I find myself in complete agreement with you; it seems utterly nonsensical that they need a full medical degree. As for the blood tests, nobody hands you a referral unless you explicitly demand one—I had to ask once myself before she finally gave it to me. You’ve given me something to think about, though; I suppose I should ask again, even if I don't take much, or so I tell myself. It's mostly just xanax and sleep aids, which is why I try to steer clear of heavier antipsychotics, though I am well aware that even what I'm currently taking isn't entirely harmless. I just need some way to actually fall asleep.

fadedbear92 said:Good grief, at this rate, they might as well just finish us all off. What's the point of paying for supplemental insurance if we end up having to cover everything ourselves anyway? This is absolutely insane—honestly, the whole system needs to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch.

👍 That is precisely my point; I find myself saying the same thing constantly. It feels like several times a day, I'm being pushed to the very edge of my sanity, and now they want to pull the rug out from under my medical care? Fine, let them. If they're going to deny me treatment after everything, then so be it...

rowdyhawk152 said:I took a spoonful of Ashwagandha this morning and man, it was like a miracle. Anxiety? Gone. I was smiling, energized, focused... absolutely incredible. I'm still on Zoloft for my OCD, but I don't need the Xanax or Sanval anymore.

Took the Ashwagandha before bed last night and fell asleep way easier. Sure, I woke up at 5 AM again—got about 7 hours of sleep—but that's probably because it wore off after 7 hours... either way, the quality of sleep was way better.

Where can you pick that up around here, and what's the damage to my wallet?

Larry Lewis said:I’ll have a word with my buddy to see how much he actually knows about the situation and what his options are.

Look, I live with schizophrenia—it's my reality—and the last thing on my mind is playing nice or bribing some clerk with expensive cocktails like certain other people might do. She has a job to do, and frankly, she ought to do it with a bit of integrity.

He absolutely has to prescribe you something. I have spent countless hours obsessively researching these various pharmaceutical shifts, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is this: don't settle for the premium brands just because they have fancy packaging. You need to push for the most affordable generics available. Honestly, I am just praying my doctor doesn't start giving me grief about it; if he tries to lecture me on why I shouldn't be cutting corners on costs, I am not walking out of that exam room until we reach an understanding.

Larry Lewis said:I called my primary care physician today to get a refill on my Seroquel 300 XR—which I’ve been taking for quite some time now—and she basically tells me I've been on it too long and that the medication is just too expensive, so she refuses to write the prescription. She didn't even bother suggesting a generic alternative; she just flat-out refused. I have a specialist's recommendation for this specific medication, and I've been using it consistently for about two years without issue, yet suddenly, there's this wall being put up.

I am well aware that there have been recent shifts in the American healthcare landscape, but I find it hard to swallow the idea that a GP can simply deny a prescribed medication without even offering a generic option. It feels less like medical necessity and more like a blunt refusal.

Has anyone else encountered this kind of runaround? Is this becoming a common hurdle?

I had a feeling things were going to get complicated; I could feel the anxiety creeping in immediately. It seems like they won't even hand over a basic referral, especially for those of us whom they treat as if we're just "making up our symptoms."...
But listen, she was obligated to offer an alternative. You really ought to go back there and insist that she prescribes something comparable.

Arthur Vaughn2 said:I get that addiction is a real risk, but I often find myself in situations where absolutely nothing else can calm me down. I’ve tried taking two Lexapros a couple of times when I didn't have any Normabagel on hand, and it worked, but I’m not sure how smart that is...

And I know all too well that Normabagel can stop working, too. That’s exactly what happened with the Meyer I was on before. I started at 0.25, moved to 0.5, then went to 1mg. Then it was one, two, three pills... and suddenly, it just stopped calming me down. It stopped working entirely. So, my psychiatrist just switched me straight to Normabagel at 10mg...

What was your peak dosage with Misar, and more importantly, how did you navigate the exit strategy? I’ve been relying on Xanax for a few years now, and while it still manages to do the job, I’m haunted by the thought of how grueling the eventual withdrawal might be. Currently, I’m hovering between 1 to 1.5 mg daily, depending on how hard the panic or anxiety hits. I try to start other things and quit them quickly, and while I recognize that AD meds are the superior long-term play, I honestly don't know if I have the stomach to endure those brutal adjustment periods again.

restlesstrucker15 said:Hi there!

Has anyone here dealt with this before? Menon, who is a doctor, was the one who suggested it. She mentioned she’d give it some more thought once she sees what the situation looks like regarding insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs for the medication.

One provider tried to suggest it to me once, but I turned it down immediately. I mean, it’s an anti-epileptic, and let's face it, those things aren't exactly cheap when you're footing the bill...

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Ugh, I honestly don't know. Diet culture has become such a total nightmare for women in this country, hasn't it? People are constantly hunting for the next "miracle" pill or supplement just to shed a few ounces.
It really comes down to how we define obesity and when a diet is actually necessary. If someone is carrying significant extra weight, the only way is to go slow over a long period. You need those little breaks to let your body adjust to its new baseline before starting again.
That's the only sustainable way; anything else is just a roller coaster of crashing and rebounding.
Man, you listed quite a laundry list of medications there.
But remember, you always have a choice. You shouldn't just blindly swallow whatever a psychiatrist prescribes if it doesn't sit right with you—don't just let them dictate your life.
Surely we still have enough freedom in America to make our own decisions, right?
As for the hunger, I personally think it’s more of a habit than actual physical starvation. In my book, there's no excuse for eating after 6 or 7 PM; snacking around midnight is practically a crime!
If things get intense and the anxiety kicks in, try reaching for some fruit or vegetables instead. It doesn't have to be a massive sandwich loaded with pounds of deli meat and heaps of cheese.
Just by cutting out late dinners, you'll eventually start seeing results.
You can always explain all these side effects to your doctor; it's just that in the heat of the moment, it rarely occurs to us to bring up those specific details.

Eating in the middle of the night is a sin, I agree, but I find myself doing it every single night because I’m convinced it helps me sleep... every single night... thank God I haven't become obese, but I have definitely gained weight; I'm at about 136 pounds now when I used to be 130... Calixta certainly had her part to play in that too.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, Zane isn't exactly a household name. It's probably just because there's only one single distributor authorized to put the drug on the market here in the US—General Mills—and also because it's arguably a bit less potent than Sanval, though that really varies from person to person. Even my doctor had no clue about Zane until I brought it up myself. I suppose it just doesn't get prescribed much; most doctors tend to stick with the more well-known Sanval. It comes in packs of either 5mg x 14 or 10mg x 14 capsules. Personally, I take 2x10 mg before bed on an empty stomach. In my book, Zane is the safest bet because you can be reasonably sure that after at least five hours of sleep, you won't have much medication left in your system—meaning you could, say, drive a car without any issues. Now, Prazin is generally considered a "heavier" drug than Sanval since it's an antipsychotic, but whether it's "better" for sleep is entirely subjective. For instance, 300 mg of Prazin didn't even touch me, whereas for someone else, 25 mg might knock them right out.

Thanks for the insight; that's precisely why I'm trying to steer clear of Prazin. Sanval does the trick for me at 10 mg—sometimes it hits easier, sometimes harder—but having used it for a few years now, the habit is starting to weigh on me. Still, what choice do I have when sleep remains elusive? Once I finally drift off, at least I can get some rest.

Timothy Wood38 said:

Bluzara says
I’ve quit.🙂
It’s better to just let people decide for themselves—let them read the same things I did. Sure, there are official guidelines, but...
What’s even the point of reading if you aren't going to actually absorb it or take it to heart?
If I’ve messed something up here, please, tell me. I genuinely get the feeling that my information might be off base sometimes.
In our neck of the woods, Sanval is usually the first thing doctors suggest, though sometimes they offer Zonadin instead. Since they’re essentially doing the same job (not literally, obviously), the difference is more about the psychological aspect than any actual physiological shift.
Zan is rarely, if ever, even on the table.
And what does "if taken correctly" actually entail?
Walk me through it, please.
The recommendation is usually not to use it for longer than two weeks (!!!), and if there's no progress, go back to the psychiatrist—so, in that context, I’m wondering what specifically I asked.
How long have you been on Zan?
Please, look up that list of medications that shouldn't be mixed with Zan when you have a moment.
There are a ton.
Zan is primarily prescribed for folks who have allergies to certain ingredients found in other benzodiazepine-based drugs (like Sanval and its ilk...).
As for the whole "more favorable side effect profile" argument... I won't even go there. It's such an individual experience that trying to write about it feels like a total waste of breath.☕

A doctor determines the proper way to take a medication. When setting up a pharmacotherapy plan, there are several benchmarks to hit: selecting the right drug, the correct dosage, the right route of administration, timing, the circumstances under which it's taken, and so on. Regardless, Zan (zaleplon) has proven to be a safer option than Sanval (zolpidem). There is plenty of research out there supporting this. I believe the FDA recently released some report regarding zolpidem and its side effects.

Fine, then what is actually the least harmful option for sleep? Is Prazosin somehow superior to Zolpidem? And why was I never even offered Eszopiclone; I wasn't even aware such an option existed in the first place.

shadowbear9 said:I guess I’m looking for some actual expertise here—can someone tell me which one of these works faster and hits harder? I’d really prefer to take as little as possible since all these milligram conversions are honestly a bit confusing to me. I have the 0.5 mg dosage and then there's the 15 mg Praxiten. Which one should I be looking at?

In my own experience, Praxiten (15 mg) was absolutely stellar for helping me drift off to sleep. However, if we’re talking about tackling anxiety or those sudden, sharp panic attacks, Misar or xanax are significantly more effective; they just don't possess that same sedative quality for sleep. It really all boils down to what specific symptom you're trying to manage.
(my personal experiences)

Timothy Wood38 said:Please, stop spreading misinformation. I'm only quoting this specific post of yours, but there were others too. Zan has a much shorter half-life than Sanval, so your claim that it should keep someone asleep longer is completely contradictory. Zan is used to induce sleep. It actually has a more favorable side effect profile than Sanval. There’s a much lower chance of morning grogginess or parasomnia. If used correctly, it’s a perfectly safe medication, especially since it leaves your system so quickly.

I have been relying on Ambien for quite some time now, and while I had never heard of Xanax, I find it utterly baffling why my psychiatrist hasn't suggested it. She never offered a change, especially when I explicitly mentioned that Ambien just doesn't hit the same way it used to... and then just recently, I found myself in the Emergency Room at a local hospital trying to get my prescription adjusted, and the doctor there actually asked if I preferred Ambien or Prozac. I told her absolutely not to Prozac... it wasn't until I walked out of the clinic that it finally clicked—I remembered hearing about Xanax, but the thought had slipped my mind in that moment. I would be more than willing to give it a try, but when I approached my own doctor, he simply brushed me off, claiming they were essentially the same thing and refusing to switch me. It seems they are all just profoundly indifferent to our needs.

Nicholas Myers said:I don't see much shifting for family doctors. It feels like the real impact will hit hospital specialists. Now, their diagnostic recommendations will actually be tracked. Up until now, the system just monitored how many referrals a GP issued.

Specialists will have to think twice before ordering unnecessary tests or follow-ups. Every recommendation they make is going on the record now.

As for chronic conditions—think diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or COPD—primary care has always handled them. The standard was to have at least 80% of those patients managed by a family doctor, with only a small fraction seeing specialists. They've been adjusting blood pressure meds or insulin doses for years, and they'll keep doing it.

That’s exactly what they fought for.

For rare or complex cases, they’ll still write the referrals and leave it to the specialists. I don't expect much change there. But there will be a shift for, say, high blood pressure patients who are used to visiting "their" specialist at the hospital every few months—people who know the specialist better than their own family doctor—just to get a "continue current therapy" note or a minor dosage tweak.

In your opinion, how often should someone with high blood pressure actually need to see a specialist? At the end of the day, if someone has been struggling with hypertension for fifteen years, I’d imagine they ought to undergo additional testing, like an ultrasound or something similar... yet most family doctors won't even bother measuring their blood pressure. Most of them, anyway. It seems we're all left having to rely entirely on our own home monitors.