Posts by Jason Vaughn482

Brandon Lopez6 said:It’s not exactly insomnia, but my sleep quality is clearly trashed, so I’m wondering if there’s a way to fix this with meds.
Basically, I’m getting at least 8 hours of shut-eye a night (not even counting those afternoon naps I take way too often), yet I wake up feeling absolutely exhausted every single morning. It doesn't matter if I slept 8 to 10 hours or just 4—it’s always the same story. I can’t shake the fog, and waking up feels impossible. Honestly, I’m so over it; I have to set a million alarms just to have a fighting chance at actually getting out of bed on time.

We share so many similarities... I need at least eight hours of shut-eye myself... but regardless of how much I sleep, I wake up feeling completely drained and find it nearly impossible to stir myself awake... I'm not quite sure what advice I could offer you, though, because I take Ambien and half a glass of wine, so perhaps that's just leaving me feeling drugged and heavy in the morning while I struggle to drift off at night.

redpilot37 said:My psychiatrist recommended I try Trintellix. It’s taken at night and works by targeting melatonin receptors... it’s covered $35 under my insurance plan, which is great. Everything sounds perfect except for one thing: elevated liver enzymes are a pretty common side effect 😲 so I'll have to do constant blood work to monitor my liver levels—at three, six, twelve, twenty-four months, and then just whenever they feel like it. It's making me a little nervous. Anyone have any experience with this?

My doctor pitched the exact same thing to me, but the moment she mentioned the requirement for perpetual liver function monitoring, I shut the whole idea down immediately. There was just no way. Even though I already keep an eye on my levels regularly, I couldn't bring myself to take that extra risk; I have my own specific reasons for passing on it. For me, the typical side effects usually manifest as anxiety and tremors, but when you start talking about potential liver complications, it becomes a much heavier weight to carry.

shadowbear9 said:I suppose there isn't really anything to be afraid of... we actually had a psychiatrist give a presentation during one of our meetings regarding these specific side effects mentioned in the paperwork. She argued that you should never even read them before starting a medication because you'll likely just end up autosuggesting that you're experiencing them. Instead, you should probably just take the medication for about ten days first. In my case, I think it mentions needing blood work monitoring for Coaxil too, but my doctor didn't seem particularly concerned about it...

Wellbutrin is widely considered the mildest antidepressant out there, typically presenting the fewest side effects.

hiddeneagle98 said:I usually only take it when things get messy... mostly just to blunt the edge of whatever fallout happens afterward.

But whenever I actually feel the need, I’ll end up dropping 1 to 1.5mg of Xanax all at once. To be honest, if I take 0.5mg, it's like it never even happened—I don't feel a thing. It honestly blows my mind that I could have built up this kind of tolerance. I mean, I can't imagine having consumed more than maybe three bottles of Xanax in my entire life, yet it feels like I've been hitting that level of resistance since the very first pill I ever took. :/

It’s fascinating, isn't it? How wildly differently our bodies react to the same substances. Personally, I've burned through countless bottles over these last four years, yet as I mentioned before, a 0.5mg dose still leaves me feeling completely relaxed... but hey, what can you do? Everyone has their own way of coping, their own specific ritual. At the end of the day, we're all just stuck in this cycle of pill dependency...

It just dawned on me that I’ve only taken a measly 0.25 mg of Xanax today, and that was all first thing this morning... I honestly find it hard to wrap my head around. For four years straight, I was consistently taking 0.5 mg three times a day. Then, over these last few months, I gradually tapered down to 0.25 mg three times daily, and yet here I am today, having only managed a single dose. It appears that, contrary to what one might expect, I haven't developed any sort of tolerance to the medication, nor have I felt any physical symptoms of tapering my dosage. Of course, I am under no illusions; I know that if a crisis were to strike, I would likely find myself increasing the amount again, even though I have never—and I mean never—exceeded 1.5 mg, even during my absolute darkest moments.

Benjamin Robinson3 said:The drowsiness from Calixta will wear off. Just give him a month or two.

As for me, I've been feeling like a walking zombie from this stuff for three years straight... even at just 7.5 mg...

jadehawk8 said:Komaa, I slept through the entire afternoon and I still feel exhausted. WTF?! I really don't want this to become my new normal. ;( What's going to happen when I switch over to the full dose of 😵
in five days?

Once you bump up to 15 mg, that heavy, dragging exhaustion is only going to intensify; as for the jump to 30 mg, I couldn't tell you from experience since I've never taken it.

Brandon Lopez6 said:I used to drink too (wasn't really on any pills back then), and honestly, getting pretty trashed is a totally different vibe than taking Helex. When I was drinking, I was down for anything—dancing, singing, just messing around... now, I take Helex and I just sit here in front of my laptop reading forums. With Helex, I can do normal stuff just like anyone else who isn't medicated, it's just that without it, I find it hard to stay calm.

Honestly, it's the exact same story for me.🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Jason Vaughn482, I think you and I are pretty similar when it comes to Helex and Xanax. I second everything you said.
For me, Helex doesn't cause any kind of euphoria. Honestly, I’ve never actually done drugs, so I can't really compare, but man, isn't a drug supposed to make you feel something? Not just kill off a panic attack? Like, anything. Some special feeling. That urge to take more, stronger, faster? Thinking about how to get more, or feeling amazing right after you take it? My experience with drugs is mostly just stuff I've seen or read about, nothing firsthand, so maybe I'm not the best judge, but I don't get any "special" feeling from Helex other than just feeling okay. Or better yet, feeling normal. I function like everyone else who doesn't have my issues and isn't popping pills. I just feel like I used to feel back when I was healthy.

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I get gripped by this sudden wave of terror and panic, and then I feel this desperate urge to pop a Xanax just to settle my nerves within twenty minutes... and that's the extent of it. Since I haven't dabbled in the drug scene, I can't offer a direct comparison, but I can draw an analogy to alcohol. I remember being able to have a few beers and experiencing actual euphoria—everything felt wonderful, my inhibitions vanished, it was pure bliss, and I even slept soundly. Back then, I wasn't touching any of these types of medications; I was just taking something for blood pressure. I don't drink anymore, but if I compare the two eras of my life, it feels ugly to admit, but I felt significantly better with a couple of beers a day than I do with all this stuff I'm on now. Of course, I'm not planning on returning to the beer, but these meds leave me feeling utterly numb, and frankly, I don't feel well at all—I am perpetually exhausted and drained. Either that, or my doctor just can't seem to get the dosage right. My current insurance authorization has run out, and I'm thinking about switching psychiatrists next year.

jadehawk8 said:I just took two Xanax because I can't get a wink of sleep from the Deprozel; I’m just tossing and turning all night long. Last night, I took half of that 15 mg Calixta, and within thirty minutes, I felt totally buzzed—stumbling around and mumbling. It knocked me out cold, though, and I’m still feeling pretty drowsy today. Will this grogginess ever go away, or am I going to feel drugged every night and all day? Honestly, I feel great otherwise; the meds seem to be working since I don't feel as overwhelmed as I used to.🎉,I’m not crying and everything... there’s some progress, even if it’s small, and it feels amazing!

Personally, I feel like that Calixta leaves me in a state of constant dizziness and lethargy too; ever since I started it, I can never seem to wake up at a decent hour. I’m stuck in this catch-22 where I take it just to get some rest, but then I’m completely useless the following day. For instance, I have an appointment scheduled for a stomach X-ray that can only be done at 8:00 AM, and there is absolutely no way I’m making it there when I'm sleeping through until 10:00

jadehawk8 said:Did you end up staying on it, or what? I'm going to see how I feel tonight.:/

Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue what triggered this collapse. I find it hard to believe it was just the Xanax, considering I take such a negligible dose—it's almost insignificant. Rather, I suspect the cocktail of various medications I've been running has likely sent my blood pressure into a tailspin. To make matters worse, I've been battling a nasty virus, so I've been popping painkillers for the headaches on top of everything else. At this point, the true culprit remains a total mystery to me.

Kevin Bailey2 said:So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you so against antipsychotics?

The truth is, I’m genuinely apprehensive about the side effects. I’m certainly not exactly a spring chicken, and dealing with high blood pressure and cholesterol is already enough of a headache; when you factor in my family history—both my grandmother and great-grandmother passed away from strokes, which is a warning printed on nearly every antipsychotic label—it feels like walking into a minefield. I’ve also read quite a bit about how psychiatric medications can be some of the most taxing and damaging drugs out there. It’s not that I’m categorically refusing them forever, but rather that I’m trying to navigate this moment. Last night was a struggle; I didn't drift off until 3:00 AM because I was gripped by such intense anxiety that my own thoughts simply refused to let me rest. Sometimes sleep comes more easily, but given how things have been lately... well, we shall see.

jadehawk8 said:Around 3 AM—I wake up after maybe an hour or two of sleep feeling just terrible. Everything starts spinning, like I can’t catch my breath, and when I try to sit up, I feel like I’m going to pass out. It really scared me tonight; I tried to get up to go to the bathroom and just got so dizzy. Has anyone else dealt with this on AP? It feels weird that I'm fine during the day, but then this hits me at night. My heart also started racing around 9:30 PM and didn't settle down for an hour. That's the first time I've felt an arrhythmia while taking this medication... I guess I'm just having bad luck with AP😢(((((

Yeah, it sounds like your blood pressure is bottoming out. Last Božic, I actually blacked out right in the middle of the bathroom in the dead of night.

Michael Hill2 said:Man, Xanax.
😍

The absolute best legal drug you can get with a prescription.

Honestly, I’m glad it’s out of my system, but man, I still remember that incredible feeling. 👏

I’ve been sitting here wading through all these comments—some people swear by this, some find that boring, some hate this, some love that... it's the usual endless debate. Personally, I’ve been on xanax for four years now. It doesn't send me into some euphoric high; its sole purpose is to quiet the panic and settle the terror. It isn't a sleeping pill for me. Over these last four years, my dosage has fluctuated quite a bit, ranging from a mere 0.5 mg a day up to a maximum of 1.5 mg. And sure, call it a drug if you want—fine, go ahead—but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking antipsychotics are as harmless as a glass of milk. A 400 mg dose is meant for psychosis, not for catching some Z's, and we really need to be careful, especially with young people who might end up tethered to psychotropic meds for the rest of their lives. At the end of the day, everything mentioned here falls under the umbrella of legal drugs: xanax, Klonopin, antidepressants, antipsychotics... it all just depends on what a specific individual needs. My philosophy is simple: I try my hardest not to overdo it with any of them.

shadowbear9 said:Don't worry, I didn't experience any actual side effects... it’s just that eventually, taking one, two, three, or even four pills isn't enough to actually knock you out. It basically just puts you into this sort of trance state. Then, I'll wake up only to realize I've taken ten of them; I suppose my subconscious was just desperately screaming for sleep while I was hallucinating from exhaustion, so I kept swallowing them until I finally passed out—though even then, it rarely worked. There were times, maybe once in a blue moon, when I actually managed to get some sleep... but those were rare exceptions.
That is exactly why I have decided to take a break from everything my body has become accustomed to...

I suppose I’m hoping I won't end up becoming dependent on Seroquel... does anyone here have actual experience with this? Is it truly as safe as I’m telling myself it is, or am I just being naive for having taken less than two pills?

I'm hardly a reliable source for advice because I have absolutely no desire to touch antipsychotics... but as I've said before, never say never. If I ever reached the stage you're at, I'd probably cave, too, but I still wouldn't feel right about it if the condition for my stability was a complete lie.

Michael Hill2 said:Calixta is a very specific type of antidepressant.
At low doses—anything under 15 mg—it hits the histamine receptors exclusively, which is what knocks you out. Basically, the lower the dose, the stronger the sedative effect.

It was originally developed as an antihistamine, but then they realized that at higher doses, it also messes with serotonin and norepinephrine. Since the antidepressant market is way more profitable, they pivoted, but people still use it off-label for insomnia all the time.

So, it makes sense why 45 mg wasn't working for you; at that level, the impact on histamine is pretty much neutralized by the serotonin and norepinephrine stuff.

I’ve been taking 1/6 of a tablet for about three months now—roughly 2.5 mg—and I sleep like a log. The only catch is Calixta demands its minimum of 7.5 hours of shut-eye; if I get any less than that, I’m a total wreck and a zombie the next day.😉

But hey, whatever works. I haven't slept this well in my entire life over the last three months.😍

Must be nice to be able to sleep like a rock on just 2.5 mg... it just goes to show how much our chemistry varies; some people can't catch a wink even on 10 mg. For instance, I personally require 1 Sanval combined with 7.5 mg of Calista just to function, yet here you are sleeping soundly on a mere 2.5 mg.

shadowbear9 said:Honestly, both I and the Sanval have decided it's time for a long, long break. It’s getting ridiculous because I can take up to ten or fifteen 10 mg pills and still end up waking up after only three hours. I'm heading to my check-up tomorrow morning to get my Quetiapine prescription sorted out for free, so I guess I'll just ride it out until my body finally weans itself off the Sanval...

Wait, did you actually say ten to fifteen pills? 😲 Are you kidding me? Please, for heaven's sake, don't do that. 🤦

shadowbear9 said:I had the exact same experience with Mirzaten. It worked for a few months, helping me sleep, but then eventually it just stopped working altogether... I think I was taking a full pill or maybe a pill and a half, if I remember correctly.

I’m in that exact same boat where even 7.5 mg doesn't touch my insomnia anymore. Now, I have to supplement it with 10 mg of Ambien just to stand a chance at passing out. Once I finally do succumb to sleep, I can usually manage a solid 8 or 9 hours straight, but the initial descent into slumber is a grueling battle; sometimes it happens instantly, but other nights I’m just tossing and turning for two hours waiting for the lights to go out.

shadowbear9 said:Look, I have been struggling since I was fifteen years old. Seriously, I am ready to drink pure ethanol just so I can get some sleep......

I can certainly empathize; insomnia has been my constant companion for ages, though lately, I’ve managed to drift off using Ambien paired with a little bit of Calixta... which is why I mentioned that life is unpredictable. It honestly infuriates me that you have to jump through such ridiculous bureaucratic hoops and deal with faulty medical paperwork just to get access to much-needed medication.

shadowbear9 said:It's 96, plus change... I suppose I'll have to sort this out with my therapist. And if they give me 100, that would be fine since my current dosage feels weak after being on 100mg. Though, based on everything I've read regarding bipolar depression, it seems quite similar to what I'm going through right now—so maybe they won't even need to fake a diagnosis.

In this country, getting your hands on those pills is far too easy; you just roll into any local ER, they slap a label on you for having depression with psychotic features, and just like that, you're cleared. Honestly, under those circumstances, I wouldn't budge—even if my medical history stays logged in their system, I refused to take the meds or even sign the paperwork. They are absolutely pushing that Associated Press stuff on everyone, even though I'm convinced it isn't the right fit for anxiety... but hey, you never know, right? Maybe one day I'll just agree to a schizophrenia diagnosis just to get access to the medication I actually need.