Posts by Jason Vaughn482

I decided to give Praxiten a shot instead of my usual Xelox for just a single day, but honestly, it felt like a total wash. It seems to me that Xelox is significantly more effective; perhaps it’s just my own perception, but I find myself feeling much calmer within a mere ten minutes of taking Xelox, and the effects tend to linger quite beautifully... I was originally considering Praxiten in hopes of improving my sleep quality, but what on earth am I supposed to do if these two can't be taken together?

Please migrate over to the small support group thread on Chatopic; it's a space where people actually offer one another genuine comfort and exchange their lived experiences.

Robin Gonzalez3 said:So, here’s the deal—I’ve been dealing with OCD since back in 2007 or 2008, I can't quite recall the exact year. But honestly? The last two years have been a total train wreck. My OCD symptoms have mostly chilled out, but now I’m stuck in this manic-depressive loop. It feels like I’m hitting manic depression with psychosis, but my doctor is dragging her feet because she thinks I’m too young for that specific diagnosis... you know how it is, they don't want to rush things. Right now, my cocktail consists of Zyprexa 25mg in the morning, then another 50mg at night, Xanax 0.25mg twice a day, and 20mg of Elice in the morning... My memory is pretty shot, I have zero patience for anything, and the mania hits me like a freight train. I’ll blow through every cent I have in a heartbeat, and then—boom—the depression crashes down. It’s just a constant cycle, mania, depression, mania, depression... over and over. I end up doing stuff I’d never dream of doing otherwise, and when the depression kicks in, I realize what an idiot I was, but when I'm manic? Everything feels perfect. Nothing is wrong. I flip-flop on my opinions in a split second—whether it's about people or myself. And the panic attacks? They hit me out of nowhere; I can literally feel my heart pounding like it’s about to explode out of my chest. I smoke like a chimney and I drink way too much—to the point where I'm basically killing myself with alcohol, and I'm only 18. I know, I know—everyone is going to jump down my throat about being irresponsible and mixing meds with booze, but believe me, it’s stronger than me. I want to change it so bad, but I just can't. I really can't! I don't have anyone to actually talk to about this, so I figured I'd come to this forum to find some kind of solace. I spend most of my life pretending to be someone I'm not, just being a huge hypocrite... I don't know, I want to change, but I feel stuck... I’m writing this right now with a relatively clear head, but tomorrow? Tomorrow I'll probably read this and have a completely different take. I'll think I'm stronger than all this, and I'll probably just laugh at everything I wrote here... I hurt people constantly—people I don't actually want to hurt—but the thing is, I rarely even feel guilty about it... I've cycled through so many medications by now: Haldol, Prazin, Elice, Cipralex, Faverin, Depakine Chrono, Zyprexa, Valium, Xanax, Normabel, Sanval, etc... I’m at a loss, I don't know what else to do. This isn't sustainable... I'm basically destroying myself. I have suicidal thoughts quite often, though I know deep down I won't actually go through with it... If there's any professional out there who actually understands this stuff, please, give me some advice... WHAT DO I DO? I go to the psychiatrist, they talk to me for ten minutes, hand me a prescription, and say goodbye... I don't have the cash for a private specialist, and I just feel like I'm drowning... Help!

Oh, heavens... please, for starters, try not to mix alcohol with such a heavy cocktail of medication, especially when you are only eighteen... I understand that seeing a private specialist is financially out of reach, but perhaps you could use your insurance to find someone who will actually take the time to deal with your case properly. What city are you in? I am not certain if anyone else can offer more than a psychiatrist, though perhaps your family at home could help... I don't fully grasp your specific diagnosis since I struggle with anxiety, but my heart aches to see someone so young suffering like this. Perhaps you should try switching doctors. For instance, I live in Cleveland; I can't afford private psychotherapy, but I do have a psychiatrist who keeps me in her office for thirty to forty-five minutes. She truly knows my history, and I can even call or text her if a crisis strikes... I only see her for check-ups once every two months. I honestly don't know what else I could tell you...🤷

I find myself staring at the screen, contemplating the sheer absurdity of this digital landscape, much like one might watch a slow-motion train wreck on a desolate stretch of Nebraska highway. There is an exhausting quality to the endless stream of noise we are forced to endure, isn't there? It feels as though we are all just drifting through a fog of trivialities, grasping at straws in an attempt to find something—anything—of substance. One begins to wonder if anyone is actually listening, or if we are simply shouting into a vast, uncaring void, much like a lone sailor lost somewhere off the coast of Maine, signaling to a horizon that offers nothing but salt and silence. kaže:
I feel quite awkward even bringing this up here, but I find myself compelled to ask. 🙈Honestly, I’ve been scrolling through this entire thread in reverse order, and if I’m being completely truthful, a sense of genuine panic is starting to set in.
To put it bluntly, I have been trapped in a relentless, exhausting cycle of gastrointestinal warfare for the last three days—a period of existence that felt less like living and more like a constant, desperate race to the nearest bathroom. It was nothing short of a marathon of misery; I was looking at upwards of thirty bouts of diarrhea every single day. It’s the kind of physical ordeal that leaves you feeling utterly hollowed out and depleted, though, if I dare to hope, I believe I may have finally emerged from the eye of this storm and reclaimed some semblance of normalcy. 🙂 And then, quite suddenly, an external one surfaced. 🤔 Is it truly possible that this is my new permanent reality—that I’m destined to face these setbacks with such relentless frequency from here on out? Or am I merely caught in a temporary storm before the skies clear again? 🤷
And besides, I’m also dealing with this. I find myself wondering what sort of topical ointment you’ve settled upon, and more importantly, when exactly we can expect you to return to some semblance of a functional baseline.

I have to say, I find this particular cream to be absolutely superlative!

George Allen71 said:Look, Jason... personally, after two years on Helex, I ended up switching over to Paxil. It worked out okay. I'm still taking my AD and a stabilizer, but those are different stories. Paxil doesn't exactly make anxiety vanish into thin air... though I don't really struggle with it much myself. It’s great for helping you wind down and get some sleep, though. To me, it feels a lot milder than Helex, which works fine for me. Nowadays, I only take it when I really need to, and sometimes I can go a whole week without needing a dose.

I'm actually quite curious about that stabilizer. People on these forums seem to mention Xanax constantly, but I’ve never actually tried it myself. What is its primary function, really? Does it knock you out? And do you find yourself needing something specific to help you fall asleep, or is that not an issue for you?

redtiger35 said:Honestly, I just steer clear of that whole scene because it’s really not my thing. We all know Prozac had plenty of its fair share of "work in progress" issues back in the day. I actually heard about that book *Coincidence: Death*, and thank God it’s selling just as well as those meds are. 😁

Honestly, I believe there is a profound amount of truth to be found in that sentiment... I spent nearly a year on Mirzaten, and looking back, I feel a deep sense of regret; I couldn't discern any real improvement in my condition whatsoever, save for the fact that I slept soundly. That sleep was my sole motivation for staying on it. I'm certainly no expert when it comes to selecting insomnia treatments; I can't stand the stuff they sell at CVS, yet without some form of assistance, I'm completely lost—so now I find myself taking 10 mg every single night just to function.

George Allen71 said:Look, Jason... personally, after two years on Helex, I ended up switching over to Paxil. It worked out okay. I'm still taking my AD and a stabilizer, but those are different stories. Paxil doesn't exactly make anxiety vanish into thin air... though I don't really struggle with it much myself. It’s great for helping you wind down and get some sleep, though. To me, it feels a lot milder than Helex, which works fine for me. Nowadays, I only take it when I really need to, and sometimes I can go a whole week without needing a dose.

So, if it’s weaker than Helex and doesn't actually tackle the anxiety—which is my primary concern—I'm not sure what the point is, though perhaps it could serve as a decent alternative to Ambien for sleep. I suppose I'll give it a shot. Tell me, how does Zoloft sit with you? I had to quit mine after just twenty days... the mere thought of being tethered to all these pills fills me with dread.

Good grief, I’m running behind schedule; I only just finished listening to this, and frankly, I’ve always maintained a rather healthy skepticism regarding pharmaceuticals, but now... well, I'm left wondering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSMEORioNaw

granitepilot13 said:God, the amount of garbage I've shoved down my throat... 🙂🙂🙂 I've tried all of them and I totally disagree with you. My experience with every single one was different. For me, Klonopin was way more effective than the lorazepam stuff, which is why I stuck with it the longest. 15mg. Lorazepam worked best for me too, but I only took it for a super short time. It relaxes everything—even your muscles. I was on Xanax for maybe 6 months, 0.5mg three times a day. It was great for the first two months. After that? Total nightmare. I started struggling with that dose, had to bump it up, and once I realized the devil was playing games with me again, I switched to Diazepam, which I stayed on way longer than the Xanax. Diazepam was a huge mistake. If I had to rank them by strength, it’d be: Diazepam, Ativan, Bromazepam, Demetrin, Xanax, Klonopin, then Lorazepam.
But hey, everyone's body is different.

So, you're suggesting Praxiten might be a viable option for me after grinding through three years of Xanax? That was actually the exact path I was considering taking.

restlesstrucker15 said:Look, the reality is that Diazepam, when taken in a standard dose, is the least intrusive and least harmful option available; it's even frequently prescribed to pregnant women, so that covers your Diazepam, Ativan, or Valium options.

Klonopin/Oxazepam is even gentler than Valium, though its effects tend to linger a bit longer. If it doesn't knock you out completely, it might actually be your best bet. In fact, it's arguably the safest among them since it's commonly used for elderly patients.

Lorazepam is generally considered the harshest, but if Diazepam isn't providing enough relief, you don't have many choices left—perhaps Bromazepam (Lexapro).

However, if you need to halt a severe panic attack quickly, the most effective options are Xanax, Xanax, or Valium (I would suggest taking those only specifically when an attack strikes).

If you are simply feeling restless or anxious, it's better to take 5 mg of Valium; it should be fine, though it won't be sufficient if you are dealing with full-blown panic attacks.

By the way, regarding the list you mentioned, half of those aren't even widely available on the market anymore. You really have what I just listed: Diazepam (Ativan, Diazepam, Valium), Bromazepam (Lexapro, Lexapro, Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), Oxazepam (Oxazepam and Klonopin), and the heavy hitters for panic attacks, which are Xanax, Xanax, and Valium—though those shouldn't be used daily unless you are adjusting to an AD during that first month.

I honestly can't seem to settle on any AD; I recently gave Zoloft a shot, but after ten days, I threw in the towel. Now I'm just relying on Xanax. I’d give anything to not have to deal with this at all, but Zoloft made me feel significantly worse during that ten-day window.

Melissa Cooper7 said:"Relatively" is the keyword there. My dose was tapered super slowly—all the way down to half a 0.25mg pill once a week, and honestly? I barely even noticed. I actually forgot to take it sometimes. But yeah, getting off it took me two whole years. Oh, and one time they were out of Xanax at my clinic, so they gave me Helex instead. It did absolutely nothing for me, even though they claim it's the exact same thing.

Strange, isn't it? It makes you wonder if the whole battle is just happening inside our own heads. Personally, I'm taking about 3 to 4 grams of Xanax, though I recently switched over to Helex simply because it's more budget-friendly, and frankly, I can't tell a single bit of difference; to me, they are identical. I've never gone above three 0.5mg tablets, but lately, I've been trying to settle into a routine of just two, though some days are more unpredictable than others.

fadedbear92 said:The current lineup of anxiolytics includes:
benzodiazepines (diazepam, oxazepam, medazepam, bromazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam)

carbamates (meprobamate)

azaspironedione (buspirone)

I was reading online that people have had pretty good experiences with diazepam🤷

http://www.mayoclinic.org/anxiety-medications...html

And what about this lorazepam—is it really considered the most harmful of the bunch? Or are they all essentially cut from the same cloth? I am honestly itching to try something else, perhaps something a bit more subtle than Xanax, so I’ll be checking in with my psychiatrist during our next appointment in a few days.🤷
I took normabel for a brief stint, but frankly, it felt like nothing at all; completely ineffective.

I am reaching out to see if anyone can recommend an anxiolytic that won't absolutely fry my brain cells. Currently, I’ve been relying on Xanax at a dosage of about 1 to 1.5 mg daily for several years now, and frankly, I’m looking to transition to something else—something that doesn't feel like it's scorching my cognitive functions every time I take it.

Chloe Hughes6 said:Helix... hmm. People say it works well, and I took it myself for a short stint, but a pharmacist once warned me it's one of those major "brain burners." Isn't it fascinating how people struggling with mental health issues take offense even when you suggest they bear at least some responsibility for their situation? A psychiatrist will tell you the exact same thing. Now, I am certainly not claiming that patients invent their illnesses or are entirely to blame, but I am stating the fact that individuals often share partial responsibility. For instance, if someone suffers a breakdown due to workplace bullying and ends up in a psychiatric ward, could the reason they reached such a breaking point be that they didn't know how to stand up to the bully? In that case, aren't they partially responsible for the outcome? Do you see what I mean now?

But honestly, which medication *isn't* a brain-fryer? Every single day, someone is claiming that a different drug is the most dangerous one on the market.🤔

Susan Edwards8 said:Honestly, I was freaking out about taking Eglonyla because of the whole blood clot thing—since I’m dealing with varicose veins and all that mess—but my head kept telling me that even people with clotting issues end up taking it 🤷. I mean, let's be real, every single medication comes with its own set of side effects... For me, it totally messed with my hormones; I ended up with milk production issues, my cycle went completely haywire, and my breasts got larger 🙄. But hey, it does a killer job at calming me down. My doctor actually mentioned that if I'm having a full-blown panic attack, I could take Eglonyla along with Normabel. Haven't tried that combo yet, though.

Well, you certainly laid out enough side effects there to ensure it stays far away from my medicine cabinet☕.

Brandon Lopez6 said:* In gastroenterology, it's considered a potent and selective central-acting antiemetic, targeting the bulbar centers, the reticular formation, and the hypothalamic nuclei. *

- I was only doing a quarter of a pill a day and didn't deal with any side effects at all.
What's making you so nervous about it? 🤔

Haha, honestly, I don't know; I have this general, pervasive anxiety regarding side effects... the literature mentions everything from potential strokes to the risk of blood clots, and frankly, it’s just an overwhelming litany of warnings. It reminds me of my experience with Zoloft; I wasn't ready to dive in headfirst, so I started on a half-dose, but the sensation was utterly bizarre—actually felt worse than being off it entirely.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Regarding that whole stomach issue thing—I actually ended up on Eglonyl for my own gut problems. If I remember correctly, the instructions specifically mentioned it helps with gastro issues (it’s an antidepressant too, though I heard about this one woman who was prescribed it just for migraines). For me, it worked wonders on my stomach!

While those points are certainly valid, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this is primarily an antipsychotic designed to treat schizophrenia; at lower doses, it may act as an antidepressant, but frankly, I find myself hesitant to take it, even after having experimented with it briefly in the past.

fadedbear92 said:Here is a list of medications used to treat insomnia

Hypnotics and Sedatives

flurazepam – Valium
midazolam – Dalmane
nitrazepam – Cerson

Benzodiazepine-related drugs
zolpidem – Sanval

Other hypnotics and sedatives
valerian (approved) – Persen

Anxiolytics

Benzodiazepine derivatives
alprazolam – Helex, Xanax, Xanax SR
bromazepam – Lekotam, Lexaurin, Lexillium
diazepam – Apaurin, Diazepam, Diazepam Desitin, Normabel, Valium
lorazepam – Lorsilan
medazepam – Ansilan
oxazepam – Oxazepam, Praxiten antipsychotic

Antipsychotics

Antiepileptics

http://www.psychiatry.com/MATURANT...ihofarmaci.pdf

It is quite a curious predicament when one finds that Valium and Cerson offer absolutely zero relief, especially considering this was my very first encounter with them; I attempted them for the first time and felt nothing at all—they fail to induce even a hint of sleep. Subsequently, I turned to Sanval; while I previously managed with 5 mg, I have now increased the dose to 10 mg, which allows me to drift off and remain asleep for a considerable duration, yet the experience is utterly ghastly because I find myself waking up in the middle of the night to eat without any conscious recollection of doing so. It is as if I am living a double life in my sleep, and I am desperate to break free from this cycle. Now, I am contemplating whether an Antipsychotic might provide the stability I need, perhaps allowing me to transition away from Xanax toward something else? I recall using it for sleep once, back before I had started any other regimen, where taking just one in the evening sufficed perfectly... at that time, anxiety wasn't an issue, merely a mild bout of insomnia. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention Dormicum, which is a substance I have absolutely no desire to ever experiment with.

Matthew White4 said:My gums felt like absolute nothing—seriously, zero sensation, just total numbness... Like I was chewing on Tic Tacs or something. For sleep, I usually go with either 20mg of Ambien or 30mg of Lunesta. And yeah, obviously I end up inhaling everything in sight every single night, but honestly? I have no clue I’ve even eaten until I start finding crumbs and leftovers everywhere the next morning, haha

See, this is the exact issue that keeps me up at night with anxiety; after I take my Sanval, I seemingly drift into this half-conscious state where I just get up and start raiding the pantry, only to wake up the next morning with absolutely no memory of it or just a heavy, lingering brain fog. Last night, I actually ended up making a whole beef stew... I am truly at a loss for what to do. I have no desire to put on weight, especially since my diet during the day is perfectly normal; if it weren't for these midnight binges, everything would be just fine.

Eric Mitchell55 said:I was on Haldol for quite a while... and honestly, it was a total nightmare. I felt completely disconnected from myself, like I could barely even move. It was just awful.
With Zyprexa, things started off okay, but then the weight gain hit me hard—I put on over 40 pounds once I started taking it. On top of that, I felt totally numb, like all my emotions were just gone. It was this hollow, empty feeling that was really unsettling. Eventually, though, it stopped working for me, and those psychotic episodes started creeping back in.
Then they put me on Risset, and later transitioned me over to Risperdal Const. I’m actually functioning relatively well on that combo now. I still get the occasional bout of psychosis, but whenever things start to spiral, they give me a Risset tablet, and I’m usually back to feeling okay pretty quickly.
Through all of this, I’ve been through the ringer with antidepressants, sedatives, and various other antipsychotics.
Zoloft, Effexor, Faverin, Misar, Helix, Prazin, Akineton, Prozac, Sanval (which used to make me see these weird blobs on the floor and ceiling, so I’d end up jumping at them from my bunk bed)... yeah, I've tried just about everything.
After dealing with all that, I kind of lost sight of myself and my life. Nothing seemed to matter when I was constantly drugged up 24/7 on all that stuff. :\

Right now, my regimen is Prozac, Risperdal Const, Akineton, and Prazin as needed.
I’m really hoping I won't have to be on this for much longer.

Edit: Just to be clear, I mean taking my prescribed therapy, not anything else. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea.

Hmm, I take Sanval too, and it’s no good for me because it triggers those late-night binge eating sessions, but what on earth is one supposed to take just to get some sleep? What are you using for sleep these days?