Posts by Jason Vaughn482

Arthur Vaughn2 said:I was on Prozac too. They were my very first antidepressants and they didn't help me at all—if anything, I felt exactly like you do. I stayed on them for a month or two, then tapered off without any issues and moved on to something else (can't remember the exact name)...

Hmm, thanks for the insight... the side effects aren't exactly catastrophic, but I feel like a shell of myself. I’m constantly drifting in and out of sleep, and while anxiety has always been my primary demon rather than depression, this medication has pushed me straight into a depressive slump. I think I'm going to call it quits on these.

I’ve been on Zoloft for about ten days now at a 25 mg dosage, and if I’m being perfectly honest, I feel significantly worse than I did before I even started this regimen. It’s as though the fog has thickened rather than lifted. What am I supposed to expect when I eventually transition up to 50 mg? At the moment, it feels like I’m sinking deeper into a depressive state; there is absolutely no motivation left in my system, and my only true desire is to remain tucked under the covers all day long... hm, I simply don't know.

Sophia Wright47 said:hey there
can anyone walk me through the actual distinction between hemorrhoids and fissures? And what exactly are anal fistulas and abscesses? I'm honestly lost as to what I'm dealing with here.
All I know is that it hurts like hell when I go, and there's blood on the toilet paper.

The reality is that you could very well be battling both hemorrhoids and a fissure simultaneously, as their symptoms often overlap in a rather deceptive way. Personally, I've been plagued by both, though the fissure is the true culprit lately—it leaves this lingering, stinging burn that persists long after I've finished in the bathroom. You really ought to schedule an appointment with a proctologist; you need a professional diagnosis to stop the guesswork.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Anyone else dealing with zero appetite on Prozac?
For me, after a few months on it, my appetite has just vanished. It’s like I’ve lost the ability to feel hungry. I have to force myself to eat just to stay functional, and sometimes when things get busy, I’ll completely forget to eat all day. My stomach stays empty, yet I’m still buzzing with energy and don't feel any urge to grab food.

I’ve dropped some weight. I’m sitting at about 132 lbs right now, standing 5'11".

My mom is riding my back about it.

But how am I supposed to explain that I physically can't stomach those huge meals?

Would it be a bad idea to take an antidepressant at night alongside Prozac—something that actually stimulates an appetite—just to balance things out?
I'm not even sure if you're allowed to mix antidepressants like that...
for instance, Amyzol.
I remember that one used to really kickstart my appetite.

Maybe the best move is talking to my doctor, but honestly... I'm terrified they'll just pull the plug on the Prozac altogether. It works wonders for everything else, so I don't want to lose that progress. 😢

Maybe try taking Prozac in the morning and a tiny dose of Calixta at night; it might help you sleep or get you to eat, potentially working well together.

I find myself staring at this particular statement, ruminating on its implications, and I cannot help but feel a profound sense of skepticism. It is as if we are being asked to accept a premise that lacks any foundational logic, much like trying to build a skyscraper on shifting desert sands. One must wonder if the sheer audacity of such a claim isn't merely a distraction from the glaring inconsistencies inherent in the argument itself. It feels hollow, an empty vessel echoing with nothing but its own pretension.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’ve been on Seroquel up until now, but my doctor, Sakoman, just prescribed this Quelapin that neither my sister nor my physician has ever even heard of, so now the pharmacy has to special order it. It feels like a bit of a pointless exercise, I suppose... since it's presumably just the same generic medication under a different name.😕
I guess Sakoman probably knows exactly why he chose that specific Pfizer version of Quelapin, though.

It truly is a bizarre situation—to think that Q-pin is just another name for Seroquel. I only ever took it once, and frankly, it nearly leveled me; the potency was absolutely overwhelming. It felt like being hit by a freight train. Meanwhile, I have a close friend who has been consistently taking 150 mg every single night for years, and she claims to be perfectly content with it. It makes you wonder if people just find certain formulations more tolerable, perhaps preferring the specific standards used by American pharmaceutical giants.

electricranger93 said:Hi everyone! I'm new here and was wondering if anyone uses Zoloft? I have a few questions about managing anxiety and how this medication works.

Just getting started myself.

urbanpilot said:Is anyone else here mixing diazepam with Sonalia?

Up until now, I’ve been on 50mg of Sonalia once a day, plus Normabest at 5mg three times a day and another 5mg right before bed. Problem is, I haven't managed to get a wink of sleep thanks to the Normabest for over two and a half months. 🙂
I went to the pharmacy to ask if Sanval might work better than the Normabest, and they told me it was perfectly fine to try. Well, I took it for two days and it was the same old story—didn't sleep for even thirty minutes while we were staying at the cabin, though I did spend the night talking nonsense. Poor husband. 🤣

Yesterday, I started diazepam—7.5mg at bedtime and then some during the day as needed—while still keeping up with the Sonalia in the mornings. And finally, I actually slept. 🙂

My doctor mentioned that Normabest and diazepam are basically the same thing chemically; she just switched me to diazepam so I could split the dose to hit 7.5mg instead of taking 10mg of Normabest.

The first night went smoothly. We'll see how it holds up.
If you've dealt with this specific combo, let me know.

I'm not familiar with what Sonalia is, and personally, I don't have much experience with diazepam. I remember once taking Valium and a 5mg Normabel together, which actually worked for me, but I don't have them anymore and I'm not sure if my GP will prescribe them since I already have Xanax, even though that doesn't help me sleep at all.

restlesstrucker15 said:I am not entirely sure if you are afraid of taking Halcion or Zoloft. Honestly, there is no reason to fear either. As for Zoloft, I don't believe it will cause you any trouble, and you certainly shouldn't be nervous about the Halcion. If Sanval didn't affect you, then the Halcion won't either—especially since you are only taking half a dose.

Man, last night was an absolute train wreck... I ended up taking half my Ambien and just tossed and turned in bed for two hours straight. Eventually, around midnight, I swallowed 15 mg of Calixte and somehow drifted off, but I spent the entire night waking up, and today has been a total fog... I actually sleep better without the Valium. And don't even get me started on whether I should try Benadryl for sleep tonight; it's meant for allergies, anyway, and apparently, local pharmacies have been claiming they haven't had it in stock for three years. So, it's back to Valium tonight... lately, the insomnia and the whole chaotic mess of managing these pills are becoming a much bigger headache than the actual anxiety itself.😠

Jason Garcia2 said:Wait, you haven't even started yet??? Talk about a betrayal. 🙂

No, it isn't some grand act of betrayal; I actually started on day one, but I had to pause because I resumed taking Mirzaten last night—which, as we know, acts like a heavy curtain dropping over my consciousness—and I was paralyzed by the uncertainty of whether mixing the two was safe. However, after a consultation with my doctor today, she assured me that combining them is perfectly fine, provided I don't rely on the Mirzaten as an emergency fix but rather take it daily, though I ultimately decided to stick to just Prozac during the day and save the Valium for the evening... and well, here I am, having wandered through the door a moment ago and already swallowed a third of my Prozac dose even though it’s been three hours since my scheduled time... so, I'm continuing this dialogue with you... tell me, how is your sleep holding up? And which combination seems to offer you the most reliable rest?

restlesstrucker15 said:Since you haven't started the medication yet, it is possible that Zoloft won't exacerbate your insomnia; I don't believe that is its primary side effect. Personally, I take a full dose of Halcion, though its effectiveness has diminished somewhat since I began using it a year and a half ago. However, I do manage to sleep through the night without feeling groggy the next morning, which means I am nowhere near as heavily sedated as Calixta. My advice is to take it right before you get into bed. If your doctor prescribes it, I suggest starting with half a pill. There is a 7.5 mg dose available in the US, whereas we only have access to the 15 mg version here. I was prescribed it after speaking with my provider at Sanval, and it has been quite effective.
Half a pill should suffice for you. If it does not, then try the full dose.

I cannot recall specifically who asked whether it is better to use Xanax, Ativan, or Normabest for sleep. In my opinion, whoever can fall asleep on just 10 mg of Normabest is incredibly lucky. That would be ideal. While psychiatrists generally prefer prescribing hypnotics over anxiolytics for insomnia, they likely have valid reasons for doing so. However, as we are all aware, hypnotics tend to create a greater risk of dependency than anxiolytics, or so I would argue.

Now, regarding another matter. As you may have gathered from my previous posts, you might also be prescribed a low dose of an antipsychotic (such as Prazina, Zyprexa, or Seroquel) to assist with sleep. In my experience, however, those medications affect me even more severely than Calixta describes. I tend to be somewhat wary of antipsychotics. That said, my doctor suggested that a low-dose antipsychotic for sleep is preferable to taking two doses of Halcion. Such is the dilemma.

Good luck with the Halcion, and please let me know how it works out for you. It isn't expensive, usually around $8.25.

I have some at home, but I've been hesitant to even swallow the half-dose because I can't get past the side effects listed in the warnings—specifically those reported cases of cardiac arrest and heart failure... I tried Prazina for a short stint, but it was hit or miss at best. Then there was a period where I took 10 mg of Sanval along with a 5 mg Normabest, and that felt alright enough..

restlesstrucker15 said:You will have to ask your doctor, but personally, I don't think they clash. In my case, I was prescribed Calixta Elicei for insomnia. However, I found myself unable to function properly throughout the entire day. Now, just to test things out, I was given half of a 25 mg Qitapin, but I still can't seem to pull myself together during the day. I'm seeing my doctor soon, so I'll let you know what we decide regarding the insomnia. Currently, I've gone back to Halcion and it's okay. It's just unfortunate because these hypnotics cause dependency; I don't mean it's bad that a person gets used to them, but it's bad that they become less effective over time. Just tell your doctor everything, and she will adjust your therapy accordingly. It is also possible that you might experience insomnia until your body adjusts to the Zoloft, at which point you can finally address the insomnia that is bothering you now. Don't worry, most psychiatrists know exactly which medications can be combined.

I haven't even started the Zoloft yet, and I'm already struggling with insomnia... I can only imagine what happens once I actually begin. I have Mirzaten sitting here at home, but it's absolutely killing me because I feel like a zombie all day; I can't stand it. How much Nembutol do you usually take—is it half a pill or a full one—to actually get a full night's rest?

Justin Rogers5 said:But how much sleep are you actually getting? Like, how many hours? Honestly, if you're on 20 mg and only getting 3 or 4 hours, that's not enough. I was cleaning the house until 4 AM last night, took 10 mg right before bed, and slept until 7. Then at 7, I popped 25 mg of Xanax and drifted off again.🤷Thank God I work afternoon shifts. Woke up feeling totally wired, with this weird tension and tremors in my stomach.😲

Ah, that Sanval... let me tell you, I spent a long time perfectly fine on just 5 mg and sleeping like a baby. Then I bumped it up to 10, and for the last two weeks or so, sleep has become an absolute stranger to me—yet the idea of increasing the dose is utterly terrifying. So, I’ve started reaching for Calixta in the evenings again. It breaks my heart a little because waking up feels like dragging myself through sludge, and frankly, it doesn't even touch my anxiety, but damn if it doesn't knock me out; I'm out like a light within fifteen minutes. I have a doctor's appointment this Friday and I'm at a complete loss for words; I haven't even really started the Zoloft yet—well, just for one day—because I'm paralyzed by the uncertainty of whether I can even take both at the same time...😕

Justin Rogers5 said:Yeah, I agree. A doctor should be deciding this, not me.😕I get the feeling he picked up on how much I don't trust doctors in his field, so now he's just testing me. Not exactly inspiring confidence.☕

Which doctor at the Mayo Clinic are we talking about here? Honestly, they all seem to follow the exact same script—just cranking the dosage up to sixteen like it’s some universal rule. I’ve lost all faith in the whole system, so I just end up cutting everything they prescribe in half, or sometimes I don't even bother taking them at all. I simply don't have that level of trust in these medications.

Hannah Foster6 said:So I'm sitting here sipping on some coffee... but it got me thinking, does anyone know which antidepressants won't make you put on a bunch of weight?

Check out Prozac; in my experience, it actually helped me shed some weight.

Some people swear by Zoloft, too, but I won't be able to give you a definitive verdict on that one until I've been on it for about a month.

Anthony Lopez8 said:That’s a question I’d love to have answered myself. Every time I read a news report about someone—usually by complete accident—dying from mixing benzos and booze, I find myself wondering how on earth they manage to pull that off.
During one particular suicidal episode, I washed down two entire bottles of Xanax with a bottle of vodka, and the only outcome was waking up two days later face-down in my own vomit. 😕 🤷 😂

Well, you certainly went overboard there, didn't you? Honestly, though, I suspect those people who actually succumb to it were taking something much more potent—likely some other heavy drug. Personally, I wouldn't dream of touching a drop of alcohol while on medication... I used to be able to knock back a few beers a day without a second thought, but that's out of the question now. For the last three years, I've been on 0.5mg of Xanax three times a day plus 10mg of Sominex, and if I'm being honest, I feel perpetually numb, as if I'm constantly being sedated, and it feels like far too much.

Kenneth Scott41 said:By the way, I guess you ever wonder what actually takes out those famous rock stars? Some succumb to pure stimulants, sure, and others to various combinations, but more often than not, it seems to be a cocktail of morphine-based painkillers mixed with far too much Xanax and alcohol.

What I mean is, most of them were likely cycling through antidepressants and benzodiazepines—things like Valium or Ativan—all at once.
It feels like everyone here is following a similar script, taking at least one anxiolytic alongside an antidepressant.🙂

The connection just kind of struck me.🙂

But really, how much Xanax is "too much" when you factor in the alcohol?
I'm not entirely following your logic here.

restlesstrucker15 said:I wouldn't call myself a proponent of using antipsychotics for insomnia, yet I often wonder why psychiatrists suggest them—perhaps they view them as a last resort.🤷 Wait, does 25 mg of Quetiapine really cause such intense palpitations in you the following day? I truly hope they approve some newer sleep aids soon; here in the States, there's a version of Valium with extended release—it doesn't go by that specific name, but the formula is identical. That would be a significant improvement.🙂 My only confusion lies in why that blasted Circadin is categorized as a hypnotic; it’s overpriced, and frankly, I don't think it works for anyone. Perhaps it helps those who usually respond well to herbal remedies, where the melatonin actually induces sleep. I find myself quite envious of them.😉

As for me, taking the extended-release version of Sanval... getting to sleep is an uphill battle, a real struggle, but once I finally drift off, I find it nearly impossible to drag myself out of bed before 10 AM, and even then, I’m craving more sleep. I'll wake up around 6 AM, but I just immediately roll over onto my other side... unless I'm going through one of my crises, in which case I either wake up feeling absolutely miserable or I don't sleep at all... thank God that isn't a daily occurrence.

Hannah Foster6 said:So, what's actually causing your insomnia in the first place? And how long before you hit the hay do you usually take the Calixta?

To be perfectly honest, my doctor prescribed that medication to tackle both my insomnia and act as an antidepressant, but looking back, I regret ever starting it. I don't truly struggle with depression, and when it came to managing my anxiety and those paralyzing bouts of fear, it felt like it barely made a dent. Since I still have one box left over, I’ll reach for it on those rare nights when sleep feels completely impossible, but that’s the end of the line; my doctor has transitioned me over to Zoloft, which I haven't even started yet. I find myself in this frustrating limbo where I can't seem to figure out what actually helps me drift off; for now, I've been getting by with Valium, but I'm desperate for some real advice—something effective that isn't a heavy-duty antipsychotic. Though, if I'm being cynical, I suspect such a solution might not even exist.

Hannah Foster6 said:So, what's actually causing your insomnia in the first place? And how long before you hit the hay do you usually take the Calixta?

Why? Honestly, it’s hard to pin down one single cause because everything is inextricably linked to my anxiety. It’s like my brain is running at a hundred miles per hour when I’m trying to settle down; I just can't find that mental off-switch, and my mind starts racing through every little thing imaginable. As for the medication, I usually take the Calixta or the Mirtazapine about half an hour before I plan to sleep. Since they're antidepressants, the exact timing isn't life-or-death, though I generally take them in the evening. Sometimes I drift off in fifteen minutes, and other times it takes a solid hour. The real issue is that when they do work, I end up sleeping far too long, which I absolutely detest—it feels like I’m being dragged out of a deep fog in the morning and can barely function. That’s why I don't rely on them much anymore; they're more of an occasional fix than a daily solution.

wiredmason56 said:Sanval just isn't doing it for me anymore. Or rather, it’s working in all the wrong ways. I was actually sitting here thinking about my next check-up and wondering which reliable hypnotic I should even ask about. When I can't sleep, things get pretty dark—I feel like I'm losing my mind, and the day after is always a complete wash.😠I think I'll ask my doctor about Dormicum. I've heard it's actually effective, so the plan would be to take it and head straight to bed immediately. That way I can avoid that restless, jittery pacing around the house you get from those crappy doses of Sanval.🙄

I find myself in exactly the same predicament; if I don’t manage to get a decent night's sleep, I am essentially a walking ghost the following day. Usually, provided nothing particularly catastrophic has happened to stir my nerves, I can drift off quite easily on 10 mg of Sanval. However, I have a certain distaste for it because it leaves me wandering through a mental fog, much like you described. My doctor actually prescribed some Dormicum—only half a tablet, mind you—but I have absolutely no desire to touch it. It feels like the heavy artillery of sleep aids, and frankly, I have zero interest in developing a dependency on something that powerful. To be honest, I don't even fully grasp its mechanism of action, though I know it's sitting right there in my bedside drawer. As for my other options, I'm left with Fluzepam and Cerson, neither of which seem to do a lick of good for me. Everything else on the list seems to be either antipsychotics or antidepressants. There is one medication, Calixta, that knocks me out cold; I keep a single box tucked away specifically for those desperate nights when sleep feels impossible. I actually took it regularly for about six months, but I eventually had to pull the plug because the weight gain was simply too much to handle.