Posts by Jason Vaughn482

redcrane22 said:John Smith

You can take John Smith for about three weeks at a time, but then you really need to take a break for at least a month, otherwise you'll find it stops working altogether.
Sometimes I'll take two John Smiths in one night, and honestly, there's no shame in that. Plus, when I'm taking a break from them, some Jane Doe works wonders to help me drift off. 😉

How much Jane Doe are you typically taking? For me, even one 25mg pill won't knock me out. Meanwhile, I absolutely have to phase out the John Smith—it's becoming pointless—so I guess the real question is: what should I use instead?

Blazer said:
Good grief, you really have to summon the courage to fundamentally overhaul your entire philosophy regarding medication.
Sanval worked for a little while, but that chapter is firmly closed.
Antipsychotics are intended for psychosis. Do you actually suffer from a psychotic disorder?
Unless you do, a doctor might prescribe a specific antipsychotic in certain scenarios just to facilitate better or more prolonged sleep, but let’s be clear: that isn't a cure.
The actual solution lies in sitting down with your psychiatrist and laying out the core issue—your inability to sleep. They will find a way to assist you.
The moment you are finally rested, everything becomes manageable; your cognitive functions sharpen, your vitality returns, and that crushing fatigue vanishes—that is the crux of the matter.
Once that foundation is laid, you can begin tackling the next hurdle, such as depressive moods. Again, it is the physician who holds the expertise on how to treat depression effectively.
By incorporating antidepressants, you are making incremental progress. Mental health struggles are treated one layer at a time; attempting to fix everything simultaneously is an impossible feat.
I won't go recommending specific drugs to you, as we could easily end up doing more harm than good.
There is a medical professional for that purpose.
In short, all hypnotics—those medications primarily used for relaxation and sedation—can actually exacerbate the initial sleep issues after a certain period of use (rebound insomnia). Furthermore, they trigger withdrawal crises, which in turn intensifies anxiety.
Who told you that?
Nobody.
Amyzol is one of those medications that carries antipsychotic and sedative properties while also acting as an anxiolytic to prevent anxiety.
There are others available, but your best course of action is to consult with your doctor.

I don't have psychosis or depression; it's just GAD and insomnia. I suppose I could try Amyzol—I actually have some at home—but the real question is how I manage to get off Sanval.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Sanval is merely a short-term escape from the immediate exhaustion caused by lack of sleep. In the long run, does it offer any real benefit? No. People often increase their dosage because they hope that initial relief will actually solve the underlying issue. But it won't. There are other medications that function through entirely different mechanisms; they might not knock you out instantly, but they sustain sleep for a longer duration (like Zonadin, for example).
You have to approach this systematically. You must address the sleep first. How can anyone function while perpetually exhausted? If you don't, won't the entire system eventually collapse?
Once your sleep is balanced—and it can be balanced, believe me—only then should you attempt to tackle the root causes of your insomnia.
I suspect it is overwhelming stress that shows no sign of receding; rather, it seems to be intensifying even as the body becomes completely depleted.
Isn't it true that this very same stress induces a tension that remains unnoticed until the body triggers its defense mechanisms—which manifest as anxiety?
Anxiety is the first barrier we encounter. It is the body's protest. When there are a million different reasons for this, and anxiety is left unaddressed, everything slowly begins to transition into depression. One specific kind, at least.
And that is where we face a truly serious problem, one that is incredibly difficult to treat without the appropriate medication, significant lifestyle changes, and psychotherapy.
Realistically, how many times have you actually heard of someone being "cured" of depression?
We can perhaps manage depression with the hope that it won't catch us off guard again tomorrow. That is why medications must be taken exactly as prescribed, even for months after a depressive episode has passed.
Prazine is an antipsychotic, and one must ask: how much is it interfering with your overall medication combination? I assume it makes you sleepy, but that isn't its primary purpose, is it?
For patients dealing with somatic illnesses—usually chronic conditions—that serve as the cause of depression, Prazine is often one of the recommended treatments.

I've been taking Empty over the last few days, maybe just a couple of pills in total, along with one 25 mg Ambien. I'm torn on whether to continue if a single dose isn't doing the trick, yet I wouldn't want to increase it further. I'd also love to stop the Ambien, but what else am I supposed to take to actually fall asleep? Is an antipsychotic my only remaining option?

Paul Newman5 said:Look, I'm taking it. I can't go anywhere without my Helix; the little box stays with me.😂I take it every single day, three 0.5mg doses. As for the AD, we'll see if it ever works. Honestly, I feel like I'm getting worse the longer I stay on this stuff. The first week was fine, but this week is driving me insane. Nausea and headaches the last couple of days, and today the anxiety is just peaking. I've basically locked myself inside because I have no idea how I'll react once the AD finally hits. So I just thought, why not just stick to the Helix until it does? I'm exhausted from all the trial and error. Feeling pretty on edge today.

That describes my exact situation; I eventually cut everything else out and stayed strictly on Xanax for about four years... a brief stint on Prozac and some Mirzaten, though those were barely even therapeutic doses, more like half-measures...
In all those years, I never once increased my Xanax dosage. Now, you hear people claiming their meds stop working entirely; for instance, Sanval doesn't touch my symptoms anymore, yet 0.5 mg of Xanax consistently settles my nerves within fifteen minutes—I take that three times daily. However, I have recently begun the process of tapering down... and now, I find myself wondering just how successful this endeavor will actually be.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:I used to wonder sometimes... how is it possible that a single pill knocks me out cold, while a friend lying right next to me can take three times that dose and stay wide awake?
It’s simply because I didn't have the same condition he did.
For him, the medication worked exactly the way it was supposed to, whereas for me, it didn't.
If we are taking AD-ov when we don't actually have depression, haven't we essentially done nothing but complicate our body's natural functions? In fact, it might even be counterproductive.
Where dopamine levels are already normal, why would we want to force more transmission and increase concentration, potentially causing massive damage? And all for what—the result we were hoping for? It just isn't there.
If you are dealing with an anxious temperament, then only anxiolytics (and certain AD-ov) can truly help. Everything else? It’s useless.
Now, we know there are various subtypes of anxiety. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD... you know the drill.
In short, the medications used to treat anxiety disorders include benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs, or the more modernly known tricyclic AD-ov.
Then there are also natural remedies to fight against anxiety—like chamomile or valerian—plus aromatherapy through essential oils, and finally, B and C vitamin complexes, magnesium, and zinc.
So, the choices are many... but a perfect cure? It doesn't exist.
Since we are discussing medication here, I should only mention that psychotherapy is also an excellent form of treatment.🙂

So, you're saying Prozac would be effective for anxiety? Yes, I quickly realized that Mirzaten doesn't touch my anxiety, though it does help me sleep. What do you do when insomnia hits? You take whatever provides relief.

Chris Kim7 said:Yeah, during the day. As for the antidepressant thing, I only mentioned that so people reading this would know what I meant, though according to the literature, this AD might actually have some anti-anxiety properties too, so maybe that's part of it...

I struggle more with anxiety myself, that's my main issue, but the constant insomnia eventually drags me down into depression...

I don't even know anymore, maybe it's better if I stop overanalyzing everything and just follow whatever my psychiatrist tells me, because when I obsessively research every little detail, I just end up making my own anxiety worse by being so skeptical...

Well, it might actually work for you; medication is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. For me, it helps with sleep, but when it comes to anxiety, it does absolutely nothing—not to mention the weight gain and that heavy, lethargic feeling that lingers all day. Still, I cling to that half dose because, frankly, I can't function without sleep. Last night was a nightmare: I took 10 mg of Sanval along with half a dose of both mirta and Prazina at 25 mg, and even then, I spent three agonizing hours tossing and turning before finally drifting off, only to be jolted awake at 5 AM. It was brutal. Not every night is quite that catastrophic, but the reality is that Sanval just isn't cutting it anymore.

Chris Kim7 said:Yeah, I remember stumbling upon some random corner of the internet saying that lowering your dose of California won't actually fix the drowsiness, but it might totally tank the antidepressant effects too...

Are we talking about daytime lethargy? Because honestly, what's the point of worrying about losing an antidepressant effect that was never even there to begin with? It’s all a bit moot for me—I’m dealing with anxiety rather than depression, and frankly, this stuff hasn't done a thing for it.

restlesstrucker15 said:Calisthenics hit me just as hard on the second day; it was a disaster. Today, I'm relying on something for insomnia. I just wanted to let everyone struggling with sleeplessness—who are also feeling completely wiped out by Calisthenics or some antipsychotic—know that there is another option. It is highly individual, but Trazodone has been a lifesaver for me. I feel a bit groggy in the afternoons, but it isn't nearly as bad as the effects from Calisthenics, Q-tips, or similar drugs. I don't take it every night; sometimes I just have to struggle through the night. This medication used to be manufactured locally here under a different name before they stopped production, and since my psychiatrist was at a loss regarding my insomnia, he wrote me a prescription to order it from abroad to try. Trazodone is an older antidepressant, but in lower doses, it is used for sleep. I believe it is available in Mexico and Canada, though perhaps in an extended-release form. Regardless, I am eagerly looking forward to the day I can sleep normally without any assistance, if that's even possible, because I remember what it felt like to wake up without chemicals in my system. But for now, this is the reality, as hypnotics no longer work for me.

As for Calisthenics, my doctor told me the daytime sedation should wear off within five to seven days, but it didn't for me, so we discontinued it. Using antipsychotics made things even worse.
The specialists at the Sleep Foundation haven't found a better pharmacological solution either; they mentioned that some people experience heavy daytime sedation from antidepressants and antipsychotics due to their specific metabolism. I am also scheduled for a scan in September, just as a precaution, if anyone is interested—though the wait time is about seven or eight months.

So, how does that process actually work, and what is the experience like? Can you travel from another city for it? I'm battling insomnia too, and I spend my entire day feeling utterly exhausted from either Valium or Calisthenics.

Chris Kim7 said:Honestly, I’m feeling pretty discouraged right now...

So, the night before last, I took my first dose of Remeron instead of Calixt (alongside my usual 1 mg of Clonazepam) and, surprisingly enough, it was just the Remeron that actually knocked me out... it really sedated me. I felt totally groggy and wiped all day, but I just figured those were the side effects, and honestly, I was just happy to finally get some sleep.

Then I took it again last night and—nothing. I waited an hour and a half and eventually had to take some Valium. I ended up waking up after maybe five or six hours.

How does that even work? It puts me out the first night, then fails the second? And today, I don't even feel as drugged as I did yesterday; I actually managed to get out of bed relatively easily.

Does this stuff need time to build up to help with sleep, or is it supposed to hit immediately?

How long before bed are you guys actually taking it?

Please, if you're on this stuff, let me know what your experience has been like... insomnia is my biggest struggle here.

I suppose I should speak from firsthand experience... I take it exclusively for insomnia, but I find it baffling that you couldn't sleep the second night. For a long time, I could sleep quite soundly on it alone, though after a while, I found myself needing Valium as well. I take half of a 15 mg dose, so if I don't drift off using 10 mg of Valium following 7.5 mg of Calix, I'm stuck. My intention is to phase this out entirely because I spend my whole day feeling lethargic and worn down, and I suspect that's the drug's doing rather than it actually addressing my anxiety.

Chris Kim7 said:I'm just lost, totally lost... I'm grasping at straws here...

But is your insomnia actually any better now, like has it let up at all? Could you not sleep at all without Sanval if you were only taking Calixta? Just one more question and then I'll leave you alone: how long did it take from when you started Mirzaten before you noticed your sleep was improving...

Thanks 🙂 and good luck finding the right antidepressant. 😉

If I were in your shoes, I honestly wouldn't touch that Quincy tablet because of the aspartame content; besides, Calixta is essentially the same thing anyway. I'm not sure what dosage they handed you, but I started on 15 mg and have since tapered down to half that. Back when I was hitting a total breaking point, sleep was an impossibility, and once I took that, it worked almost instantly—that first night, I slept like a newborn. However, as time drags on, I find myself needing Sanval to supplement it. My current routine is to take Sanval first, and if I haven't drifted off within an hour, I'll take half a dose of Calixta to finally knock myself out. Even then, I wake up feeling utterly drained and wiped out, though I can't tell if that exhaustion stems from the medication cocktail or if it's just the heavy weight of chronic anxiety itself. Don't worry about bothering me; please, ask whatever you need.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:🙂
It’s better if I give you a reality check now rather than you rushing blindly into something. At least you asked, so that's fine.
Mirzaten increases the transport of certain hormones in the brain, whereas Q increases the concentration of those same hormones.
But, really, it doesn't matter.
My apologies, I didn't catch your earlier post.😉

So, does this mean I should consider tapering off Calixti? Even at a mere 7.5 mg? I’ve been on it for quite some time now, yet it feels like it hasn't touched my anxiety at all; in fact, I wake up every single morning feeling utterly drained, exhausted, and as though I haven't slept a wink.

Chris Kim7 said:Thanks so much for getting back to me! I’m probably going to pick up some Prozac Q today and give it a shot... though I’m still second-guessing myself, but these insomnia issues are just getting worse and worse...
Was aspartame an issue for you because it's unhealthy as an artificial sweetener, or was it something else? I mean, does it actually interfere with how that antidepressant works for sleep?

Maybe Serzone really is good, but right now it isn't doing anything for ME, which doesn't mean it won't work for you or anyone else, so don't rule it out just yet! Yeah, I had my liver tests done and everything came back fine, so there's no reason to worry about that, since if any liver issues do pop up, they clear right up once you stop taking Serzone. And Serzone can be taken alongside $33, otherwise it's 300.

For me, the anxiety is mostly tied to the insomnia, just that constant fear that I won't be able to fall asleep, and then I end up wide awake and reaching for the Lamictal and stuff...

Sorry for nitpicking, but did you deal with insomnia before starting Prozac? How long did it take for it to subside? Does the hangover effect wear off during the day?

And you didn't deal with any nausea, diarrhea, or anything like that?

Thanks!

Yes, I've been dealing with insomnia and I'm constantly relying on Sanval to get through it. As for the aspartame, it’s simply not good for you under any circumstances—given its supposed links to cancer, I decided to switch to Calixta instead, though I only made that move after a year (once it finally clicked for me), and frankly, both drugs have the exact same sedative effect. My insomnia hasn't actually vanished; if I don't take one of these medications, sleep becomes an impossibility. As for Valdoxan, there is absolutely no way I'm willing to try it; I am incredibly cautious when it comes to pharmaceuticals. The only thing I'm unsure of is whether Calixta will help with anxiety, because personally, it didn't touch my anxiety at all.

Chris Kim7 said:How long did it take for Mirzaten to actually kick in for your sleep? And did you deal with any side effects, and if so, how long did they hang around...

I spent an entire year on that 15 mg version, and frankly, it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety; however, when it comes to sleep, it’s quite effective. My only real issue was that heavy, hungover feeling in the morning. Once I realized it contained aspartame, I started hunting for the standard Calixta that doesn't have it, and now I’ve cut my dose in half—just 7.5 mg—which I take at night alongside Lamictal. It kicks in almost immediately to help me drift off. I haven't dealt with many side effects, though I did put on about six pounds; I can't tell if that's from the Lamictal or the Calixta, but I find myself waking up in the middle of the night craving food, which is incredibly frustrating. As I mentioned, it’s useless for anxiety. My doctor suggested Serzone a few days ago, but I turned it down instantly because she mentioned I’d need to monitor my liver enzymes. Did you have to go through those tests? Honestly, I’m relieved to hear you say it isn't working for anxiety either. I am still on a desperate search for an antidepressant that actually does its job; for the time being, I'm just relying on Xanax.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Calixta isn't meant for anxiety. It's strictly for depression. And you really shouldn't—well, it isn't recommended—to take it alongside Normabell, though I haven't run into any issues with that so far.
It also intensifies the effects of Sanval, though in a slightly different way.
And I'm not quite sure what "Portal" refers to.😕

I see you've added more details since your last post...
Seroquel comes with so many side effects; why on earth would you consider taking that?
At the end of the day, you really must consult with your doctor.
Starting Sanval up again doesn't make any sense, nor does it actually help with sleepiness. It acts as a sort of "gateway" to sleep. It only works right when you intend to pass out; it won't work otherwise.

Portal is just another way of saying Prozac 🙂. And what do you mean by restarting Sanval? It's hardly a "gateway" to sleep. Personally, I spend ages tossing and turning, which is why I end up taking half a dose of Calixta, but it feels foolish to take it if it isn't even indicated for anxiety. If that's not the case, then what exactly is its purpose? And what on earth is my doctor thinking, pushing this on me?

Kevin Nguyen3 said:I believe I mentioned this somewhere else already—Normabell 5 mg twice a day, Lamal 25 mg, Q-pin 200 mg, Calixta 45 mg, Zonadin 10 mg, and Velafax 75 mg.
Since I deal with recurring PTSD, these specific drugs seem to be doing the job for now.
What does tomorrow hold? Who knows? I sleep normally (no nightmares), though it takes about half an hour in the morning for me to truly feel awake. I haven't noticed any other issues, like digestive problems or anything similar.
I also keep some Nexium on hand just in case for my stomach, though I don't take it regularly. I also take one dose of Plibex once a week.
As for side effects—here is what I've gathered😳sun sensitivity; it only takes about ten minutes for me to literally burn. Occasionally, I get restless legs, and sometimes I deal with headaches (in which case I take Lexapro).
This combination of medications is quite dangerous, really. Would it kill a healthy person? I don't know, but it would certainly cause heart arrhythmias. Therefore, I cannot recommend that anyone takes any medication on their own whim unless a doctor explicitly says otherwise.
My body has somewhat adjusted to them, or rather, I don't feel the impact as intensely because they are performing exactly as they should.

That is an overwhelming amount of medication; honestly, it sounds terrifying to me. You are actually taking Calixta at 45 mg? I can barely fathom that, as I spent an entire year on a mere 15 mg dose and would wake up feeling completely intoxicated every single morning, yet it provided absolutely zero relief for my anxiety. Now, I’ve resorted to cutting that 15 mg pill in half, and when paired with Sanval, it helps me sleep reasonably well. However, I dread the thought of stepping up to 30 mg as my doctor suggested; I simply don't dare. Ideally, I would prefer to settle on 7.5 mg and perhaps take 20 mg of Portal-Prozac in the morning, but I am uncertain if they are compatible. Also, what is your take on Seroquel regarding sleep? I have some sitting here at home; she prescribed 25 mg once, but it did nothing to help me drift off, forcing me back to Sanval, which makes the whole exercise feel utterly pointless.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Yes, I understand exactly what you are trying to convey. And look, the liver will eventually give out; my gallbladder hurts sometimes, I haven't caught a cold in years, my vision has weakened... I view all of this as an inherent part of life, but who knows? Perhaps the medications are to blame. In my case, they certainly are.
It is clear to me that the drugs must be causing certain side effects, but in this specific instance, I know the culprit.
I have spent years wondering, what should I do?!
I don't know; I watch how to remain mentally stable, how to function within society, to stay interested in my surroundings while still sleeping, and not feeling utterly exhausted by the therapy—to be able to wake up in the morning feeling somewhat normal.
How does one compose all of that together?
I have to let something go and make peace with it. That is exactly what I have done. A clear head, more or less, and I pray to God that nothing physical catches up to me, some lasting consequence of it all.
Nothing hurts, and I am content with that; I am not gaining weight, nor am I losing it, I can work normally for part of the day, read with comprehension, remember things, drive, climb five flights of stairs... damn it, I am just happy that I can even do that.
As long as things remain this way, I will take my therapy and stick to the prescribed regimen.
When it is no longer possible to continue like this... I will try again to find some middle ground.
How?
With the help of my physician and sheer patience; there is no other way.

Well, there's the thing—I don't feel like I'm functioning normally at all. I feel exhausted the moment I pull myself out of bed in the morning, and that fatigue lingers throughout the entire day. I've lost interest in being social, and naturally, none of this is satisfying, yet I am at a loss as to what might actually help... I am far from content with my mental state... so, tell me, what kind of medications are you taking?

Kevin Nguyen3 said:On one hand, you're absolutely right—addressing the primary issue is paramount, but...
What happens when, after we finally manage to stabilize the main illness (regardless of what it actually is), all those tiny, subtle, previously ignored ailments suddenly resurface? They were always there, lurking in the background while we dealt with much larger crises.
Suddenly, those minor issues become the very challenges we feel compelled to solve.
At some point, the depression or the OCD or whatever else fades away... and then, suddenly, you notice your stomach hurts. Or you have digestive issues. Or a headache won't quit. We didn't even register these symptoms before, but now we realize we have to deal with them too.
And isn't that one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle? It’s how we prevent physical ailments from taking root—ailments we couldn't even address while our mental health was the sole priority.🙂

I honestly find myself questioning whether these physical ailments ever truly get resolved. You mentioned treating yourself for twenty years, riding the waves of better and worse phases while remaining tethered to a pill regimen... let's be honest, these medications aren't exactly "health food" for the liver, the heart, or any other vital organ. I recently read that Sanval could potentially lead to cancer or even a stroke. My doctor tried to put me on Valdoxan, but I shut that idea down immediately when she mentioned I’d need to monitor my liver enzymes every three weeks; frankly, the fear regarding my liver health is exactly what triggered this current bout of anxiety in the first place. I took Mirzaten for a year and it did absolutely nothing for me, until I realized it contained aspartame—so I started looking for Calixta instead. Not because it fixes my anxiety, mind you, but because it helps me sleep; I take half of a 15 mg dose alongside 10 mg of Sanval and I'm out. At the end of the day, we are all essentially addicts here, varying only in our dosage, if we accept the premise that these drugs function like narcotics, as someone pointed out the other day. I've been relying on Xanax and Sanval for years now because my doctor is constantly presenting me with a revolving door of new, experimental options—first it was Lyrica, then Mirzaten, then Solian. I haven't touched any of those except for Mirzaten, which at least allowed me to sleep well without side effects, though I did put on a little weight. So, I continue my routine with Xanax—never exceeding 1.5 mg, usually hovering around 1.25 mg—and 10 mg of Sanval; that has been my steady therapy for the last four years. My diagnosis is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but in reality, my entire existence is fueled by health anxiety and the paralyzing fear of falling ill.

redranger2 said:😁
I haven’t personally tried that one, but I have used Mirtazapine, which essentially turned me into...
I spent the entire day absolutely livid, fueled by nothing but pure spite toward a truly malicious individual. I was a complete wreck, just snapping at everyone and picking fights like my life depended on it.
I honestly don't know who I was sitting next to. My psychiatrist didn't even hesitate to separate us immediately.🤣

What exactly is it that you’re reaching for to replace Mirzaten?

redcrane22 said:I’m currently taking 10 mg, but according to my pharmacist, that dose only really stays effective for about two and a half months. So, there's a chance you might have taken yours a bit earlier than that. 😉

I haven't touched them since those recent changes went into effect—just a few days after the fact—mostly because I know we’ve already been going back and forth quite a bit regarding the Concora. But in all seriousness, I am genuinely weighing my options for what to take instead of Sanval; it simply doesn't sit right with me anymore, yet I find myself at a loss for an alternative. Is an AP perhaps the only viable path forward here?

redcrane22 said:For Sanval, the 30-count box is only about $0.07 😉

I actually just stepped out of the drugstore

Anyway, who even said Zoloft makes you lose weight? 🙂
If I could find one more thing to help me shed pounds, especially alongside this other medication that's already causing weight loss as a side effect, I'd be set.

But hey, I'm hanging in there.

Hmm, I was there about ten days ago and picked up two boxes of 30—the 5mg ones—and they didn't charge me a dime. 🤷