Posts by Jason Vaughn482

restlesstrucker15 said:I am currently taking 15 mg of Eli Lilly. I was on Paxil quite some time ago. Nothing else seems to work for me because depression isn't my primary struggle; it's strictly panic disorder and anxiety. Consequently, anything that attempts to boost my mood—like Prozac or Effexor, for example—just completely wrecks me within an hour. This medication feels manageable; it keeps those terrible panic attacks at bay. While the anxiety still surfaces, it remains tolerable. That is the specific aspect I am working to reduce to a manageable level. I am trying, but there really is no such thing as a magic pill.😢

For me, Prozac actually worked quite well; I appreciate having a bit of an upward lift because otherwise, I feel completely numb. God, last night was an absolute nightmare. I went to bed with 10 mg of Zoloft and 7.5 mg of Eli Lilly, but... I ended up wide awake at 3:30 AM just staring at the ceiling until dawn. Then, at 6:00 AM, I had to take another 5 mg of Zoloft and 7.5 mg of Eli Lilly just to limp my way to 10:30. I absolutely loathe doing that. I think I'll ask my doctor if I can take Prozac in the morning and then this small dose of Eli Lilly at night just to help me sleep. I'm terrified of messing with the dosage on my own since I don't know how they interact. Just like you, I'm not dealing with depression; it's all anxiety, panic, and insomnia. 🙂

zvonx78 said:Making adjustments isn't exactly a walk in the park, especially when you consider that it takes a significant amount of time for a second opinion—or even a new provider—to truly grasp the nuances of your situation. However, I suspect we all eventually reach a point of clarity after the third iteration of trial and error, once we finally discern whether a specific direction is actually leading toward progress or just spinning our wheels. In my estimation, the most effective clinical model would be one where the psychiatrist also provides psychotherapy to everyone currently prescribed medication. Of course, the reality of the American medical system is far more fragmented; not every psychiatrist is trained as a psychotherapist. As for myself, I find I am quite content with my current path, employing a sort of integrative approach that pulls a little bit from every discipline to create a cohesive whole.

Listen, since I’m mostly staying put at home these days, my anxiety regarding sleep hasn't been nearly as paralyzing as it used to be. My approach is somewhat situational; if I feel like I can avoid spiraling into deep thought before hitting the pillow, I might just take 10 mg of Sanofi and call it a night. However, if my mind starts racing uncontrollably, I find that a mere 50 mg of Trazodone is usually enough to pull me under. I'll admit, there is a certain degree of disorientation that lingers until midday, but honestly, I’d much rather deal with a bit of morning fog than resort to heavy-handed doses of hypnotics that fail to provide relief exactly when you need them most. It feels like a necessary trade-off.

My doctor suggested that I attempt a total transition over to Trazodone, provided the morning grogginess doesn't become too overwhelming. If I can manage that, I might just stick exclusively to it during my upcoming vacation. There is a glimmer of hope that my system might eventually adjust to that slight morning sedation—which, frankly, feels like a minor nuisance compared to the absolute sledgehammer effect of Calista or those godforsaken APs.

I truly empathize with the struggles you're facing. Relying on hypnotics is hardly a sustainable solution to such a deep-seated issue. Please, do let me know what happens when you increase your dosage of Calista, and what your doctor’s specific take was on that adjustment. Dealing with chronic sleep deprivation is an absolute nightmare—it’s a relentless, exhausting cycle that can break anyone.

During the daylight hours, I don't touch a single pill; honestly, there isn't even a craving for it. My routine remains strictly limited to my morning antidepressant, yet this relentless insomnia refuses to yield. It has reached a point where I’m forced to wonder if I’ve crossed a line—whether I’ve actually developed a dependency on these tablets, perhaps more significantly than the insomnia itself is a symptom of my underlying disorder. 🤷

Haha, the idea of increasing my dosage hasn't even crossed my mind; in fact, my entire objective is to phase it out completely. It is honestly soul-crushing to spend my days trapped in this perpetual, hazy stupor where I lack the slightest spark of motivation to move, all while the beautiful summer sun is shining outside my window. I’ve already managed to scale my Xanax down to 0.75, so we shall see if that proves to be a viable strategy or just another setback. By the way, which antidepressant are you currently taking in the mornings?

Eric Jackson11 said:If you fall asleep at midnight and wake up around 9 or 10 AM, that's still about nine hours of sleep.
That's plenty of rest...
Why are you so set on that specific 10 PM to 7 AM window? You're still getting those same nine hours of sleep.🤷
The dose she recommended sounds perfectly standard.
Your hesitation seems to be coming from a different place entirely. This type of medication is meant to sedate you and manage cortisol levels, which can spike and cause stress or anxiety when they're too high.
Maybe try Googling "cortisol and bodybuilding" to see how it works...
Why not give that 30 mg a shot? What do you really have to lose...

I'm insisting because that has always been my biological rhythm. It’s summer now, and normally I’d be heading to the beach, but I can't stand being out there at 10 AM when the heat starts becoming unbearable... I used to love going out from 8 AM until noon, but now I just can't seem to shake the grogginess. Honestly, I'm quite skeptical about taking a mountain of pills, especially since I feel like I've been on Mirzaten for far too long without much effect—if I weren't using Sanofi to help me actually sleep, I would have tossed the 15 mg dose aside ages ago. And then there's the weight gain issue; everyone warns that it makes you put on pounds, and I've already seen about 7 or 8 pounds creep on over the last year.

Paul Newman5 said:I'm on Nexium and Reglan—Lilly put me on them immediately. I dealt with the bacteria last year and went through the triple therapy then too. I'll wait until Tuesday, then check back in with Lilly. Without a gastroscopy or a breath test, they won't confirm the bacteria or hand out antibiotics without actual results. Thanks anyway. Just when I thought my anxiety might settle down, a new enemy shows up.

As for me, I’ve been living with H. pylori for years now. I’ve attempted to eradicate it three separate times, yet it remains stubbornly undefeated. Interestingly, my stomach rarely actually aches; instead, it feels more like a vague, lingering nausea centered near the gallbladder area rather than sharp pain, though I do get the occasional pang in the mornings...

restlesstrucker15 said:If you feel up to it, you should find a new doctor. A 15-minute session is absolutely nothing, and the fact that she is preaching sleep hygiene to a patient whose struggle with insomnia she is already well aware of is reason enough to switch. Unfortunately, most psychologists working in the public health system are completely overwhelmed, so they simply don't have the time to provide proper, longer therapy sessions.😢

Well, there are two different people involved here. This psychotherapist is new; I only started seeing her two months ago, but after just a handful of visits, I haven't seen anything resembling actual psychotherapy. Then there’s the other one, the one I see for follow-ups. She’s known me for years—honestly, the only one who ever has—and yet she keeps pushing that Mirzaten on me... at this point, I think I'm just going to give up on both of them.
How is your sleep holding up lately? I'm at my wit's end; I don't even know what else I could possibly take at night, because even Sanval doesn't seem to be doing a damn thing anymore.

Paul Newman5 said:I've been on my prescribed dose of Citram for over three weeks now, and honestly, I think it’s finally starting to kick in. But for the last week, I’ve been dealing with constant stomach pain. I’m a gastroenterologist by trade, and Lilly put me on some meds for it immediately, but they don't seem to be doing much. Is it possible for stomach issues to show up after 2.5 weeks on Citram when everything else settled down at the start? If it were the Citram, wouldn't it have hit me right away instead of waiting until week three?🤷Am I overthinking this, or could Citram actually be the culprit? I really don't want to stop taking it since it's actually working and the other side effects vanished. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Well, anything is entirely possible. I mentioned to you before how wonderful things felt once my initial side effects cleared up, only to suffer a sudden, total system collapse after three months—just like that, overnight. Everything came rushing back: the anxiety, the tingling sensations, the nausea, the insomnia... and I had to stop taking it abruptly. It’s all within the realm of possibility, though it isn't a certainty; perhaps someone with more direct experience with this specific drug can offer a more definitive perspective.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Yes.
Stopping medications that cause dependency all at once can trigger all sorts of psychological issues—not to mention physical ones.
The real issue is that certain drugs actually alter your behavior, your consciousness, even your very personality...
Your tolerance climbs, and suddenly you need higher doses just to feel level.
And that, quite obviously, is where things get dangerous.
It’s an entire cluster of symptoms. This isn't something to play around with.🙄

I am attempting to taper off my Xanax very gradually because reading all this stuff absolutely terrifies me. I started at 1.5 mg daily; right now I’m hovering at 1 mg, occasionally hitting 1.25 mg. So far, it seems manageable, but I have no idea what the road ahead holds—yesterday I even managed to drop down to just 0.75 mg.
Today was infuriating. My psychotherapist completely lost my patience, though frankly, I don't get much out of therapy anyway. I sit there for twenty minutes and she starts lecturing me on sleep hygiene for the second time. Look, I know everything there is to know about sleep hygiene, but knowing doesn't make it work. I want to fall asleep by 10 PM and wake up at 7 AM, but I can't drift off before midnight, even with 10 mg of Ambien, and then I struggle to actually function until 9 or 10 in the morning. Instead, I find myself wide awake around 5 AM, just tossing and turning. To top it off, she suggested I ramp up my Mirtazapine to 30 mg, thinking that might help, but I don't dare take more than 15 mg since it hasn't done a single thing for my anxiety. It feels pointless to just dose up solely for the sake of passing out. Besides, even last night, combining 10 mg of Ambien with Mirtazapine didn't result in any decent sleep...

unknown:

The sheer granularity of measurement—this obsession with the milligram—is enough to make one question the very foundations of modern pharmacology. We exist in this strange, clinical reality where our entire sense of stability, our very ability to function within the gears of society, hinges upon such an infinitesimal fraction of a gram. It is a heavy burden to carry, isn't it? To realize that the thin line between a productive afternoon and a total psychological collapse is measured out in tiny, white specks that most people couldn't even see without a magnifying glass. One minute you are navigating the complexities of life, and the next, you are desperately recalibrating your existence based on whether you took a slightly larger or smaller dose of your prescribed regimen. It’s a delicate, almost absurd dance with chemistry. As if I haven't heard this all before. It’s the same old song, isn't it? A repetitive cycle of predictable patterns that people mistake for profound insight. Honestly, listening to these arguments feels like watching a rerun of a low-budget sitcom where the punchlines were stale even during the first season. You sit there, waiting for a shred of originality or a moment of genuine nuance, only to be met with the same tired rhetoric that’s been circling the drain for years. It’s exhausting, really—this constant need to repackage the obvious as if it were some groundbreaking revelation. One would think that after all this time, we might have evolved past such rudimentary observations, but apparently, we are all just content to tread water in the same shallow pool of thought. I have been staying consistent with my Effexor regimen, and I must say, it has been incredibly effective in stabilizing my baseline. On top of that, my doctor introduced me to Seroquel, which has proven to be an exceptionally potent tool in my recovery toolkit—truly a remarkable medication. However, there is one persistent, rather vexing side effect that seems to follow me everywhere: I am perpetually, insatiably hungry. It feels as though my appetite has been dialed up to an unnatural level, leaving me in a constant state of searching for the next meal.😁 The most vital detail to establish is that my primary regimen consists of Xanax—formerly known under the old branding—which has now transitioned to a daily dosage of 30mg of Normabel. I find myself compelled to reiterate my conviction regarding this matter: Diazepam truly is an exceptional option, standing in stark contrast to Alprazolam, which I am convinced acts as nothing short of a corrosive agent upon one's cognitive faculties.

Xanax destroys the brain while Normabrel saves it? Oh, give me a break. Honestly, I feel like I could read anything on this forum at this point. It’s an endless, exhausting cycle where one person tears another down only to be torn down themselves immediately after. I’ve already slogged through 170 pages of these discussions, and it all just circles back to the same repetitive arguments. And yet, despite all this intense debate, I haven't read a single success story about someone actually being cured. The reality is much bleaker: all these medications are essentially wrecking our neurological wiring, but if we can't function without them, we're stuck taking them. You people act like there's a magic bullet, but you start praising Normabrel like it's some kind of miracle cure, and frankly, it does absolutely nothing for me. It felt as though I hadn't even swallowed a pill at all. After struggling with it for just a few days, I gave up on it entirely. Please, stop suggesting what works for you as if it’s gospel; these drugs don't affect everyone in the same way, and pretending otherwise is just plain foolish.

Has anyone here actually ventured into the territory of COAXILOM? I’ve been scouring every corner of the internet and various medical forums, and I’ve reached the distinct impression that this particular option is quite effective for managing anxiety without piling on a mountain of side effects. My only hesitation—and it’s a nagging one—is the fact that you have to supplement it with $16... if anyone out there has navigated this specific regimen, please, do reach out and share your experience.

Chris Kim7 said:Prozac was actually the first antidepressant they put me on after years of struggling, but finding the right treatment took forever, and it was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my physical symptoms were actually psychological...
The worst side effects came from that one, mostly intense nausea, restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia, and that lasted for quite a while, over a month...
It eventually kicked in and things were fine for a bit, but I soon found myself reaching for Ambien and Xanax again before bed...
Then another crisis hit, so I switched over to Cymbalta...

It's tough to nail down the right therapy when depression and anxiety symptoms overlap so much...

I'll stick it out and see how Calixta goes. For now, I'm sleeping, but the nightmares are worrying, including the ones from last night... I'm exhausted during the day and my appetite spikes at night. It might just be PMS, but I suspect it's the Calixta... I guess I'll just try it, see what happens, and decide. Maybe I'll bump the dose to 7.5 mg, maybe that'll help the dreams, or maybe it'll make them worse...

Maybe ask your psychiatrist about combining antidepressants—something in the morning to lift your mood and lower anxiety, and something sedating at night?

Or have them switch up the Xanax, since you might have built up a tolerance after all these years...

Just throwing ideas out there, you've probably already thought through every possible combination, but who knows, something might work...

EDIT (again): If you haven't been on Calixta for five days yet, did you feel any different: less tired, fewer nightmares, or less hungry?...

Yes, I have contemplated combining antidepressants, but the process is bizarre; my doctor suggested Wellbutrin, but I turned it down, so she reverted back to the Trintellix... as for the Xanax, it still seems to work for me—I never exceed 1.5 mg—but even then, it doesn't actually address the underlying illness, it just acts as a temporary bandage for the immediate panic or fear...
Nothing changed during those five days; the exhaustion remains, and I'm still eating late at night... I took another 7.5 mg last night, but this morning is a carbon copy of the previous days... waking up is a struggle, the anxiety is heavy, and sometimes I even deal with stomach pains...

Chris Kim7 said:Everything is relative! Just grab some sunscreen, find some shade, and get in the water! You don't have to bake in the sun. That time spent swimming will actually do you good, it's not like you'll be exposed to UV rays forever...

Staying cooped up inside and being miserable is doing you way more harm. Forget about the clock, just head straight to the ocean right after your coffee... 🙂

EDIT: When was the last time you took Calixta?

I think I had a five-day window where I tried taking Prozac—something I’d used once before and felt fine on—but since those initial side effects can be so jarring, I just don't have the stomach for it; I tend to be quite particular when it comes to medication... I was on Mirzaten Q tabs for about a year, but it didn't sit right with me because of the aspartame, though by then I had already realized the issue. Calixta feels almost identical in its effect, which is problematic because even while taking an antidepressant, I am still relying on Xanax three times a day; clearly, it isn't doing the job, or if it is, I certainly don't feel it. It seems to me this specific antidepressant is designed for depression rather than anxiety. You'll see for yourself after the fifteen-day mark, but the weight gain is also a major concern, and that is something I simply cannot afford.

Kenneth Scott41 said:@Jason Vaughn482

I’m really sorry to hear you’re feeling so utterly drained, to the point where even basic things like taking a shower feel impossible. I’ve definitely been in that same dark place before. There were times when I couldn't bring myself to eat, let alone get out of bed—I’d just drift in and out of sleep until noon or even 1:00 PM. It seems like almost everyone in this community deals with anxiety, and honestly, there are countless people out there dealing with massive amounts of stress at their jobs who don't even realize they're struggling.
As for me, I struggle quite often with that sense of being trapped, mostly because so many of these medications come with side effects like a crushed libido. And then there's Prazine-Praznina... man, that old reliable antipsychotic... 🤣
anyone who has actually dealt with it or tried it usually gives the exact same response: Prazine-Praznina! 😂 It just leaves you feeling completely hollowed out inside. I think most of us have avoided it for that very reason; it can absolutely break you, especially if you're on a 100mg dose. Personally, I wouldn't touch it again. I guess there are just far better, more modern options available these days.

haha, how could you think I lack the will to shower? I manage to do that every single morning without fail. My struggle isn't with hygiene; it's that I lack the momentum to head down to the beach. By the time I finally drag myself up and finish my coffee, it's already 11 AM, and that window of opportunity seems to have slammed shut... even though I’d love nothing more than to be by the coast. I’m holding onto hope that I can make it happen, since there's still plenty of the month left... I've been taking 25 mg of Prazine-Praznina along with Sanval for the last ten days, but it hasn't been anything transformative regarding my sleep, and I still wake up feeling utterly exhausted.

Chris Kim7 said:Yeah, I caught that you're anxious, and I see why you're tapering off Calixta, I just wanted to mention it might be time to switch to a different antidepressant with a sedative effect.

It’s possible your fatigue is coming from the underlying disorder itself. I doubt it's the Sanval making you tired. It could be the Calixta, but if you're still wiped out without it (like if it's been at least 2 days since your last dose), then the anxiety is probably the culprit... because constant worrying and fear just drains everything out of you.

When I saw the list of side effects for Amyzol, I was terrified, but not nearly as desperate as I was from the insomnia 🙂 If it had said I'd grow a third arm or a leg or an ear, I would've taken it anyway. And honestly, it ended up being the only antidepressant that didn't mess with me 😁 Aside from gaining 3 lbs, but I lost that later (which might not even have been the meds, I tend to put on weight during this time of year regardless).
I think I started on 10 mg, but that wasn't cutting it so I bumped it up to around 30 mg. I was taking Klonopin with it too.
I was actually pretty happy with it for a good while, maybe it'll work for you too.

I'm sorry you're feeling so miserable and down, most of us here get it.

Have you thought about psychotherapy?

If you don't mind me asking, did Calixta give you nightmares for a long time?
I'm still reeling from how well I slept last night 😢

I actually started psychotherapy, but I’m far from satisfied because the sessions only last fifteen minutes, 🙄
that's news to me... and they only happen every two or three weeks... I've gone three times now, and it has been utterly pointless.
Yes, it is quite possible that I am exhausted from the core illness itself, as I spend a vast amount of energy obsessing over whether or not I am actually sick. It's partially justified, given that I've had an elevated tumor marker for four years now, which has kept me anxious ever since, though I suppose I always had a tendency toward it anyway. But who can say for certain? The nightmares are a frequent occurrence, and as for whether they stem from the Calixta, I will let you know if they finally cease. I've only been off it for a short while, and I might even go back on it just so I can finally get some decent sleep.

Chris Kim7 said:Are you still feeling that exhaustion even without the Calixta?

You really ought to sit down with your psychiatrist and discuss the possibility of combining Klonopin and Amyzol; there was a period in my life when that specific pairing felt like a lifeline. It might offer you similar relief, as it certainly helped manage both my anxiety and depression—I struggle with an anxiety-depressive disorder that originally manifested as pure anxiety before spiraling into reactive depression.

It breaks my heart to see us wrestling with this insomnia; those who haven't endured it simply cannot grasp the sheer weight of it.
The most useless advice I ever receive is the sort that suggests, "Well, just take a nap in the afternoon," or "Try to tire yourself out during the day," as if our entire existence were merely a matter of adjusting a circadian rhythm or physical fatigue!
I'm just venting a little here; I know everyone means well, but sometimes the well-meaning comments can be incredibly grating.

Have these nightmares been haunting you for a long time?

I am certainly no medical expert, but I suspect you might be doing more harm than good by fluctuating with the Calixta—skipping doses or tapering off inconsistently. Since it is an antidepressant, it generally requires either steady, continuous use or a complete withdrawal; otherwise, you're essentially just playing games with your brain chemistry.

I am truly rooting for you to find the right therapeutic balance soon, because this constant struggle is nothing short of torture.

No, I had been taking it consistently for a year before I dropped down to 7.5 mg just to have any hope of falling asleep... I've always dealt with anxiety, specifically leaning toward hypochondria, and I have this irrational, overwhelming fear of getting sick.
In truth, I feel perpetually exhausted and lethargic, and this relentless heat isn't helping at all; it makes me miserable because I desperately want to go swimming, but I lack the strength. By the time I actually muster the energy to move, it’s already too late for the beach, and by the afternoon, the heat is so oppressive that nothing moves. I don't know... my GP prescribed Amyzol and I have it sitting here at home, but I am dreading the side effects listed, especially the constipation, which is something I already struggle with... how much did you typically take? I have the 10 mg tablets; is that considered a high dose for nighttime?
And regarding your question about the Calixta, I haven't actually been taking it for a few days now; instead, I've switched to Prazine-Praznina, though I'm not fond of that either. I just don't know... I wake up feeling utterly spent, as if I've been digging trenches all night instead of sleeping.

Chris Kim7 said:Talked to my psychiatrist and she switched me from Zoloft 10mg over to Calvin. She actually agreed with what you guys were saying about the extended release on the old one, so you were right all along...

I've been on the Calvin for the last four nights and I'm honestly just relieved I finally slept (taking 15 mg alongside 1 mg of Clonazepam). I feel pretty wiped out in the morning and sluggish during the day, but I'm not stressing too much yet, assuming it's just a temporary side effect. Had some moderate headaches too, but those cleared up. My appetite is definitely up at night.

The dreams, though... they're really starting to worry me. They are so vivid, intense, and depressing. Last night was a total nightmare—dreams about losing people close to me—and it woke me up at 5:30 AM. I managed to drift back off somehow, but the dreaming just wouldn't stop.

Can someone please tell me if this is just part of the adjustment period, or does anyone else on Calvin deal with these awful dreams continuously? These visions are so heavy they leave me shaken for the rest of the day... :-(

So, counting the Zoloft 10mg, I've been on new antidepressants for a week now (was on Agomelatine before that).

And yeah, my anxiety feels a bit more intense during the day.

I experienced the exact same phenomenon—nightmares and a persistent exhaustion that lingers throughout the daylight hours. I even found myself waking up in the middle of the night to eat (though I can't discern if that stems from sleepwalking or the Calixt itself); fortunately, that particular habit has ceased for a few days now. I am undecided whether I will return to it, but given the quality of my sleep, the emptiness is hard to stomach... regardless, I will reiterate that for my anxiety, 15 mg at night simply wasn't sufficient... I continue to struggle significantly with the actual process of falling asleep.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Zonadin and John Smith are supposed to be identical medications. Yet, when I take John Smith, I can't even begin to think about sleeping, but with Zonadin, I drift right off.
How is that even possible?
There is clearly something wrong with this supposed "equality." I have read the instructions cover to cover, down to the tiniest detail, and I see absolutely no difference listed. Is it that tartrate thing? Something about the chemistry must be tripping me up...
Don't make life harder than it needs to be; why wouldn't you just have an honest, direct conversation with your doctor?
Getting quality sleep is the absolute first step if you ever hope to have the strength to take the next step.☕

Good God, Kevin, of course I talk to my doctor—she’s the one prescribing everything in the first place, but she isn't holding a magic wand. This specific one doesn't help, and I'm not ready to touch antipsychotics yet; sure, they're technically classified that way, but I'm not going to start popping multiple different ones. As for those two being the same, if one works for you and the other doesn't, I suspect it’s all in the mind. It’s like when someone claims Ativan works wonders while Xanax does nothing at all, or vice versa; to me, they feel indistinguishable. Honestly, I just stick with Xanax because the pill is much easier to split in half, whereas the other one just crumbles into dust. Beyond that, the effects are identical—it's the same deal with Prozac or any other similar option...

John Smith

Kevin Nguyen3 said:John Smith

N/A, did I misread that? Hypnotics. My apologies for the unnecessary explanation.
Zonadin. 10 mg in the evening before bed. Just because I take it doesn't mean you should. Talk to your doctor first.
..and..
Ambien primarily provides sedative (calming) and hypnotic (sleep-inducing) effects, while also acting as an anticonvulsant (preventing or stopping seizures) and a muscle relaxant (reducing muscle tension).
We use Ambien for:
* short-term treatment of severe, debilitating insomnia.
That was a copy-paste.
Both are effective. I haven't personally taken Ambien, but based on what others say, it works quite well.
Have your doctor explain the mechanism of action to you.

Zonadin is essentially the same thing as John Smith... I really don't want to touch Ambien. Jane Doe at 25 mg just isn't cutting it for me; tonight I took one plus 10 mg of John Smith, so maybe it's better to steer clear, or perhaps try two and see how it goes... Calixta, hmm, 7.5 mg alongside John Smith seems fine, but honestly, I’d ditch the John Smith entirely; it's all getting too complicated.

Kevin Nguyen3

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Antipsychotics—APs—exist to treat psychotic symptoms. Or various disorders. Depending on their chemical makeup, most APs also have a sedative effect.
The primary purpose of APs is treating all types of schizophrenia.
However, they can be used for certain non-psychotic disorders too, though usually only for short periods.
There are people out there taking 600 mg of Seroquel every single day and they still can't sleep!
It clearly works the opposite way for you, so you don't need them.
And there is absolutely no talk of getting rid of Amylase. It is a very specific medication, and there aren't many others with those exact properties.
Jane Doe is an AP used mostly for treating psychosis associated with certain somatic illnesses.
But then again, anyone would take it if they had to.
Lexapro is strictly for schizophrenia. When nothing else works, you turn to Lexapro. It’s a heavy, dangerous AP.
Goodness, you have tried just about everything, haven't you?
Looking back at my own experience... hmm... I'm actually surprised you're still standing at all.
Seroquel is the kind of drug that doesn't forgive and it certainly doesn't forget... the side effects are quite frequent and quite dangerous.
I don't know what your diagnosis is, but I highly doubt any doctor would ever prescribe such a massive pile of medications.☕

Well, she didn't get that entire mountain of medication all at once; she listed everything she has tried in the past. Many people here experiment with different options until they find something that actually works for them. From what I gather, she is only taking Prozac and 25 mg of Seroquel, which doesn't strike me as being particularly terrible, and besides, she mentioned hypnotics, not antipsychotics...
But nobody seems to want to tell me what might work for sleep if it isn't John Smith. I initially thought Jane Doe might be a good substitute, but now I'm feeling pretty skeptical.

John Smith

Kevin Bailey2 said:I honestly don't get why hypnotics even exist. No offense meant to anyone. I've been on them, and I just don't see the point. They're dangerous. You start hallucinating. And calling what you do under their influence "sleep" is a joke—it’s more like some weird lucid state where you eventually "wake up" feeling completely trashed. Honestly, you'd be better off spending the night digging in your backyard.

When it comes to fixing my insomnia, the winners were definitely Amylase (an AD with sedative effects... though I think they might be pulling it from the market? Or maybe I'm wrong) and Seroquel (an antipsychotic with sedative properties). Under those, you sleep like a baby—and I mean actually sleeping, deep enough that anything further would basically be a coma.😁

Jane Doe doesn't work for me at all. Not sure why.
Lexapro... way too strong. It'll have you shitting yourself in your sleep because of how intense it is, even on tiny doses.
Zyprexa... meh. Just Jane Doe and nothingness.
Prospera... ugh... similar to John Smith. Total crap. It causes this bizarre physical discomfort... like, you can't get comfortable no matter what, every single position feels wrong. It's the strangest kind of restlessness I've ever felt from any pill.

At night, I take 25mg of Seroquel (minimum dose)... but man... my blood pressure is already low (it's down to 90/50 now... used to hover around 110)... and I have to admit, getting out of bed in the morning is a struggle. I handle it with straight black coffee, followed by an electrolyte drink with Prozac (that helps boost it), a multivitamin (like a Centrum Energy with Q10), and definitely a B complex. My nails used to be soft as a newborn's, but now they grow like crazy; people actually ask if I have fake gel nails because they're so tough. If I'm feeling really, really hungover, I'll just slam some pure B12—the stuff athletes use for energy, containing about 4000% of your daily requirement.

I stopped taking Rivotril during the day on my own. Usually, it's prescribed at 3x2mg daily. Now, I only take it in the evening when I don't have any plans. Same goes for the Seroquel—I take it right before hitting the sack.

Hmm, so Jane Doe doesn't work for you? I don't know, I'm no expert, but I agree regarding John Smith... how much Amylase were you taking, was it also 25 mg?

redcrane22 said:I’ve been on them since I was 25. The yellow ones, right?
Taking two usually does the trick for me. Honestly, if you've been on John Smith for a long time, it’s hardly any surprise when they stop hitting the mark like they used to.

So, you're asking about taking two doses—but I have to wonder, how exactly are you managing the morning after? What does that wake-up process feel like for you, and how much actual sleep are you managed to squeeze out of the night? Furthermore, how long have you been stuck on this regimen of Jane Doe?