Posts by Jason Vaughn482

shadowbear9 said:I have a question for those of you who attend regular follow-up appointments: what is the actual process like? What do you even talk about—or do you even talk at all? DO THEY ACTUALLY LISTEN to your concerns and try to be helpful, or what???

In my experience, I've seen three different doctors, and they basically just glance at my lab results and say, "I'll write you a prescription." Like, they just print out something for Zoloft or Ambien and call it a day. Not long ago, I actually mentioned feeling suicidal, and the doctor just laughed at me... honestly. Now, I've permanently stuck with the psychiatrist who worked with me back when I was fifteen. When they ask how I'm doing, I tell them straight up: "Terribly. I don't feel any effect from the Zoloft at all, and I'm still having depressive episodes." But it feels like they just don't care; it's just "next patient, please" and move on. So, I'm curious to know how things work for the rest of you.

It's the same story here... and that is precisely why I am considering a change. For three years now, my doctor hasn't even bothered to adjust my Calixta because they claim it's working fine. Sure, it helps me sleep, but what about the crippling anxiety? It's like they're ignoring half the equation.

Michael Hill2 said:Just take it when you hit the pillow, close your eyes, and you'll be out.🙂
My advice? Honestly, even a quarter might be too much for you.🙂

It really is a case-by-case situation, isn't it? For me, even 7.5 mg feels insufficient; I practically need to pair it with something like Ambien just to get some peace. In the beginning, I could drift off within twenty minutes flat, but nowadays, I find myself having to take it two full hours before I even attempt to sleep...

Quentin:

It appears we have reached a point of complete communicative breakdown, where even the most basic attempt at expression dissolves into a nonsensical fragment. To witness such a linguistic void is to stare directly into the abyss of modern discourse—a hollow, echoing nothingness that offers neither substance nor direction. One might compare it to a radio frequency tuned strictly to white noise, or perhaps a blank page staring back at you with an almost mocking indifference. It is a singular, isolated syllable drifting in a vacuum, devoid of context, purpose, or even the dignity of a coherent thought. Truly, we are witnessing the entropy of language in real-time. As if anyone actually expected anything different from this predictable cycle of disappointment. It’s almost poetic, isn't it? We sit here, waiting for some semblance of logic or progress, only to be met with the same old patterns that have been playing out since the dawn of time. It’s like watching a rerun of a show you already hated, except this time, the production budget is even lower and the acting is significantly more wooden. One would think that after all these iterations, we might have learned something, but clearly, we are destined to keep tripping over the same hurdles, over and over again, like a clumsy amateur in a high-stakes game where the rules change every time you start to get comfortable. Precisely. One must understand that Sanval is strictly an instrument for initiating the descent into slumber; it is quite ineffective at actually maintaining the continuity of sleep once you’ve arrived there. Honestly, what would we even do without our meds? Without them, we’d all just be stumbling around like extras from a zombie flick, completely sleep-deprived and totally out of it.😍

It’s quite the opposite in my experience; I take Melatonin, yet sleep remains an elusive ghost, sometimes leaving me tossing and turning for hours on end. But once I finally succumb to exhaustion, it’s like being pulled under by a heavy tide—I can't seem to claw my way back to consciousness, often drifting off for a solid eight or nine hours without any hope of waking up.

Aside from those moments when the seizures take hold—those stretches where sleep becomes an impossible luxury or I find myself jolted awake in the dead of night—it’s manageable. Thank God, those episodes don't strike with much frequency.

hollowcrane95 said:Wait, didn't someone mention earlier in the thread that they've started prescribing Q-pin for anxiety and depression now too?

I recall my own ordeal back when I was dealing with that diagnostic mess at the ER; the attending physician insisted that they wouldn't even touch a prescription for Seroquel unless there were clear psychotic elements present alongside the depression. Even though I flatly refused to accept those terms, the note stayed burned into my electronic medical record forever. Once that was settled, she eventually pivoted back to my actual diagnosis—an anxiety disorder.

Michael Hill2 said:Jason Vaughn482, why didn't you mention you were starting Feosol?

Didn't sit well with you?

As for that constipation issue with the Ambien, you could probably fix that easily with some decent magnesium—maybe magnesium citrate or magnesium gluconate. That way you could give the Ambien another shot alongside the magnesium. Just don't bother with that cheap effervescent magnesium junk you find at CVS or something. 😉

Oh man, it absolutely did not agree with me. I honestly can't tell if it was just bad luck or the drug itself, but I felt utterly wretched all week; I was incredibly restless, couldn't even catch a wink of sleep, and my stomach was in knots. I have no idea how that happened since I was only taking 50 mg... so I went back to Calixta. I actually wanted to try Devon because of the insomnia and anxiety combo, but I can't get a steady supply of it—a friend of mine visiting from Switzerland gave me a single box of 100 tablets at 50 mg (I did check with my psychiatrist first, of course).
Please, tell me exactly which dosage I should buy; the constipation is becoming unbearable, and I'd rather not admit how many laxatives I'm currently relying on...

Benjamin Robinson3 said:I heard that if you stop taking an antidepressant and switch to a new one, it takes another four weeks for the new one to actually kick in. But what if you just missed a dose or two? Does that count as stopping?
It's regarding Calixta 45 mg.

Look, missing a couple of days of Lexapro isn't going to wreck your progress, but I wasn't quite sure what you meant—are you actually planning to switch to something else, or just asking about the missed doses?

Brandon Lopez6 said:I get that pills hit everyone differently, but man, I really wasn't expecting such polar opposite results.
Jason Vaughn482, I know you deal with much heavier insomnia than I do, so if you're saying something actually knocks you out, I totally believe you. My experience has just been the complete opposite.

I feel like this whole thread is kind of losing its point for me—personally, anyway—since it's obvious my experience doesn't really apply to most of you.

Not at all; you mentioned yourself that Amyzol works wonders for anxiety, and I've heard similar things from others. My primary struggle is actually falling asleep—which is what my doctor always asks about—but once I finally drift off, I sleep for ages. As for the pills, what can you say? Our bodies are all wired differently; one thing works for one person and fails for another. It’s just how it goes. That stuff, whether it's Helex or Xanax, is often treated like a heavy temptation for most, but it hasn't been that way for me. While I do take them, I don't find myself craving higher doses... in fact, I've even managed to cut my intake in half now.
I genuinely enjoy coming to this forum; I find the shared experiences regarding various medications and the nuances of anxiety symptoms absolutely fascinating.

restlesstrucker15 said:Taylor Swift, you're loaded with pills. I’m not criticizing you; on one hand, I’m glad you finally found a regimen that works, but on the other, I’m almost envious that you're still functioning despite all that. If you don't mind me asking, what is your diagnosis? With the Lamal and Q-pin, there must be some psychotic elements involved.

I actually have an old box of Calixta and Q-pin sitting at my house. I tell my doctor that whenever I lose touch with reality, I take them to sleep. You might think I'm lying, but two nights ago I took 7.5 Calixta and it took me two and a half days to fully come to.
I was already called in for an appointment at that sleep clinic over in Seattle, but I didn't go. Honestly, I was afraid the doctor there would disappoint me; my psychiatrist knows him, and she was hoping he might be more insightful regarding sleep issues than she was, but it turned out to be nothing. Just keep taking those (Elicea in the morning, and Pfizer for years at night).
Even John Doe didn't work for me; I’ll talk to my doctor about perhaps giving it another shot.
By the way, I was in contact with my former psychiatrist, and she mentioned that if she were treating me, she would put me on Elicea along with Seroxat, and perhaps Prazine or Ziprex for sleep.

Why prescribe two nearly identical antidepressants? I didn't follow through with that. Aside from Prazine, I tried it and tossed it.

Maybe try Ambien for sleep? I have so many questions...
Or perhaps some intense relaxation exercise before bed, and then let the Pfizer do its job.

I know I'm being tedious, but what can I do.

Send it to you

That's interesting, but did you actually manage to get any rest from those 7.5 mg of Calixta? I've been taking it for three years now with occasional breaks. If I take 15 mg—which is rare—I feel completely drugged, but with 7.5 mg combined with 10 mg of Sanofi, it's not quite like that; I just sleep for a long time. I go to bed at midnight, struggle to fall asleep until about 1 AM, and then sleep until 10 AM. Once I've had my coffee, I'm fine... I wish I could ditch both Calixta and Sanofi and just fall asleep with something like Paxil like I used to, but it's just not possible... so here I am, relying on that duo for years. At least I'm glad I've significantly cut back on Xanax; I can manage 0.25 mg twice a day without any trouble, and I didn't even realize how much less I needed. I was taking 1.5 mg a day for three years... I tried Prazin too, but 25 mg didn't really knock me out and I didn't care for it... who knows, maybe something like Amantila Relax would work? haha
Oh, yeah, I used to take Ambien once in a while and I’d sleep like a log. I've had a box sitting at home for a year now; the expiration date is approaching soon. I deal with constipation, so I'm hesitant to take it because of that, though they say it's good for anxiety too.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:There isn't some magical, exact line where things start to climb or drop off, you know?
The doctor meant well, really—trying to make sure you weren't a total wreck during the day. But honestly, it looks like this Effexor XR just isn't clicking with your system.
You can try to play games with the timing and move it around all you want, but...

If you ask me—and hey, I'm nobody—it's just too high a dose!
I am genuinely curious to see what they decide to change...☕

I realized after reading this that a 50 mg dose of Calixte isn't exactly nothing... I'm on 45 mg myself, and even then, my doctor thought I was being dramatic about it.

Actually, there is no such thing as 50 mg of Calixte; she's taking Luxet.

quietwalker5 said:The 50mg dosage is typically used for depression. I have an appointment with my primary care physician tomorrow to discuss next steps... thank you for the concern.

The most difficult part is this intense physical weakness... it hits during periods of nervousness or anxiety... along with full-body tremors and shaking hands...

I deal with that constant sense of bodily weakness myself; whenever I find myself heading to the Emergency Room, it's usually because of that exact sensation—it always manifests as a heavy physical blow... though for me, it isn't the tremors, but rather this crushing, agonizing exhaustion and weakness, coupled with splitting headaches...

restlesstrucker15 said:The three of us are never going to get a decent night's sleep, are we?😁

Don't give me any lip; once I finally drift off, I am out for the count for at least ten hours straight. Whether I’m taking Sanval or about a cup and a half of Cerson, the result is always the same. Honestly, until we start dealing with the issues surrounding AP, things seem relatively manageable. The real headache isn't staying asleep—it's actually getting my brain to shut down in the first place—but even then, once I'm under, it feels like I’m sleeping far too much.
By the way, she’s already sliced her Xanax dosage in half, though if she could just kick the habit entirely, she’d be thrilled. Right now, she’s hovering at 0.25 mg twice a day—sometimes even a third dose—which is quite the leap considering she was pulling 1.5 mg daily for four years straight. Good grief, I am crossing my fingers that this transition stays steady. Just as I'm rooting for her to pull through this, I'm holding you to that promise of helping me with my insomnia, much like I'm counting on you regarding my upcoming surgery.

It appears that my recent foray into using Devidon was somewhat misguided, as I find myself drifting back toward my baseline state once again.

shadowbear9 said:Can some professional out there explain why nothing seems to touch me besides Sanval? I’ve tried Cerson, absolutely nothing. A higher dose of Prozac? Nothing. A stronger dose of Xanax? Zip. I don't get any sleepiness at all, let alone that blissful, deep sleep I'm looking for... Also, what exactly is the point of taking Eglonyl and Prazosin? Because, honestly, they're a total nightmare unless you plan on attending a zombie festival the next morning. And finally, is it actually a smart move to swap Mirzaten for Amyzol? Right now, thanks to the current meds, I look like I'm in my third trimester.
Thanks

I’ve been on Mirzaten for three years now; I started at 15 mg and eventually tapered down to 7.5 mg. It was prescribed for both anxiety and insomnia, though if I'm being honest, it hasn't done much for the anxiety—it just helps enough with the sleep that I still find myself cutting my dose in half... however, I still have to supplement it with Sanval. Until recently, I had reached the exact same conclusion as you: neither Cerson, Fluzepam, nor Xanax seemed to make a dent in my insomnia, leaving me constantly retreating to Sanval. But then, over the last twenty days, since I was out of Sanval, I started taking 10 mg of Cerson alongside that tiny 7.5 mg dose of Mirzaten, and suddenly, I’m drifting off just as easily as I did with Sanval. Why didn't it work before? Who knows. But I always need that little bit of Mirzaten to tip the scales. As for the side effects, I’ve gained about five or six pounds, but that’s purely because I find myself wandering to the kitchen in the middle of the night to eat. Last night was particularly brutal; I felt this horrific acid reflux that made me think I was going to vomit, though I didn't—it was just miserable. Regarding your question about switching medications, that’s a conversation for a doctor, but word on the street is that Amyzol also carries a significant risk of weight gain. I’m certainly no specialist here; I’m merely sharing my own lived experience.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:And he was absolutely right! Q-pin works wonders as an antipsychotic and won't mess with your glucose levels.
I deal with blood sugar issues myself, yet I'm taking 200 mg without any trouble.

With Q-pin, you’ll be sleeping like a baby...😁

What are your actual numbers looking like? I find myself flirting with the danger zone quite often; my readings occasionally creep past 6.4, and my last lab result sat at 6.6. Most of the time I hover right around 6, which technically falls within the "normal" range, yet it's already signaling that pre-diabetes territory.

restlesstrucker15 said:Yes, panic. When those intense waves of anxiety and panic hit, I rely on my antidepressants and Eglonyl; otherwise, it’s just the AD and Xanax as needed.

I wouldn't say I'm addicted to either Xanax or Ativan, but then again, you take the antidepressants specifically so you don't have to be on Xanax constantly. Unless you only experience a panic attack once a month, in which case it basically functions like a painkiller.

The dosage isn't high, but it's still not something you should be taking every single day for, say, three months straight. It is much better to rely on your antidepressants or Eglonyl instead.

Skickas fr

Three months? Good grief. I've been on this regimen for three years now. Whether I'm taking an antidepressant alongside it or not, Xanax is always there in my toolkit, as is Sanval... unfortunately. As for Trazodone, it just hasn't sat right with me; I don't know, I actually feel more restless after taking it.

redpilot37 said:Finally feeling my libido getting back to baseline. I’ve been on Zoloft for about 30 days now, and man, the beginning was just a total coma... but things are finally returning to normal. It’s not quite what it was before I started the meds, but it's fine enough.🙂
Yesterday, instead of taking my prescribed normabel before bed, I tried some Schizandra (that adaptogen herb) and I was out like a light in seconds.😍
I wasn't too worried about potential interactions... and unlike normabel, you actually wake up feeling rested and refreshed in the morning.

And where on earth do you even find that stuff?

James Fowler3 said:Well, look, first of all, they prescribed me Ativan during my pregnancy to manage contractions, so I don't have any fear regarding that specific medication, you see... everything else... I've done far too much reading, which I realize now was probably a mistake. You know exactly what those warnings say about weaning yourself off Xanax...
Are you only taking that one, or...? I was reading up on the side effects of certain antidepressants, and it seems to me there are even more listed there than there are for Eglonyl. I'm not sure. Even today, I didn't quite have the nerve to take anything.
And please, tell me, since you've tried both Ativan and Xanax, what is the actual difference?

Well, for me, the distinction is clear: Valium doesn't touch my anxiety or panic attacks, whereas Xanax kicks in after just twenty minutes... though, of course, everyone reacts differently. If I had found myself needing to escalate my dosage, I certainly would have looked into switching to something else entirely; for now, I stay within a range of 1.5 mg at most, or as low as two 0.25 mg doses...
I also take Melatonin because my insomnia is quite severe, along with an antidepressant in the evening—it used to be Lexapro, but for the last few days, I've been on something else...

James Fowler3 said:Thank you. To be honest, I am somewhat perplexed as to why my doctor prescribed an AP in the first place, considering my diagnosis is simply an anxiety disorder. I am aware that it is used to treat anxiety and various other conditions, of course, but this is my very first experience with this type of medication... he hasn't even attempted to start me on an antidepressant yet. 🤷
Why is it that you don't like AP?
I have been spending quite a bit of time lately reading about this drug online, and I find it truly difficult to believe how casually some people seem to take it... using it for stomach issues, or just to deal with a bit of stress, or even just taking it occasionally as needed... I just don't know.
Is the process of tapering off it particularly difficult? Is there any chance this will actually cure me, or am I simply stepping into a lifelong cycle of pills with no way out... all of these thoughts are just spinning endlessly in my head...
He also prescribed me Xanax, but since I am generally terrified of side effects, I would much prefer Ativan... I don't feel that same fear toward it.

Well, I dislike them because of the side effects; I believe I read somewhere that they are among the most difficult medications to deal with, though I think Buspar might be one of the easier ones... it's prescribed for anxiety...
I've been taking Xanax for four years now, and personally, I find it superior to Ativan, but then again, everyone reacts differently. I don't fear Xanax, and it works significantly better for my anxiety, especially since I've tried Ativan before... As far as tolerance goes with Xanax, I haven't developed any; recently, I've actually halved my dose, so now I take maybe two or three at 0.25, whereas before I was taking three 0.50 doses... When I start feeling better, I simply scale back without any trouble, though I can't say for certain what it would be like to stop entirely....
And why does it scare you more than Ativan?

James Fowler3 said:I’m not entirely certain if this specific medication has been discussed here before, but I find myself in need of your collective insights...
My neuropsychiatrist recently prescribed Adderall 20 mg to address an anxiety disorder and some rather sudden panic attacks that surfaced after a period of feeling quite stable—I had actually managed to pull myself out of my previous state of anxiety, which mostly manifested as health anxiety, though these recent panic attacks have been far more intense than anything I've faced before. Now, following this abrupt onset that has left such lasting consequences, I feel constantly on edge; I can't even be alone with my children without feeling overwhelmed, and the physical symptoms are simply debilitating... I can see clearly now that I cannot manage this on my own.
Because of the sheer variety of potential side effects, I have always avoided medications quite broadly; there is a genuine fear there. Occasionally, I have used Xanax, and I still take 2 mg when necessary. My mother used to take a similar medication for her stomach issues—specifically a hiatal hernia—so she asked if this was the same thing, and the doctor confirmed it was, and even the woman at the pharmacy suggested it might be for gastric issues as well.
However, as I read through the list of side effects, things like malignant neuroleptic syndrome and even sudden death are mentioned... it is truly frightening. He has prescribed a dosage of 2x20 mg.
Has anyone else ever taken this medication, and what are your thoughts regarding these side effects?

In my experience, that medication was quite effective, though I only stayed on it for a short duration because I have a deep-seated aversion to AP... honestly, I don't believe those extreme side effects can manifest at such a low dosage, given that people often take much higher amounts, sometimes up to 800 mg. I share your intense fear regarding side effects, truly, but perhaps you should give it a shot; it might provide the relief you need without triggering those complications at this dose. It works well for anxiety. I personally started with just one 50 mg dose, and I found it manageable.

restlesstrucker15 said:I only take 15 mg. The 7.5 mg dose doesn't do anything for me. My psychiatrist actually mentioned that I'm a bit of an outlier because the sedative effect lingers so heavily into the next day.
Usually, I take 10 mg of Ambien, but if I realize after two hours that I'm still wide awake, I'll take another one.
Have you ever tried Devon?

Sending it over now

Well, I just took 50 mg, and honestly, there's always this nagging sense of dread whenever I start a new regimen... I haven't taken a break from my Lexapro since forever, and while my doctor insisted a hiatus wasn't necessary, I was still alternating days with Prozac through the pharmacy portal... now I'm just sitting here hoping I actually make it through the night...

restlesstrucker15 said:The 10 mg ones. It's great that your shipment arrived. Yes, go with 50 mg. Personally, I found it more helpful because it knocked me out by noon, whereas with Calixt, I was still feeling wired until about 6 PM.

Skickas fr

So, just how much Calixt were you knocking back to be essentially in a coma all day? Personally, I wake up feeling a bit groggy in the morning, but it wears off eventually. I spent some time on 15 mg before tapering down to 7.5... though at this point, it isn't doing much for my sleep issues anymore, even if I have been using it on and off for three years now. Besides, what actually puts you under better than Devidon?

I mean, if you took 20 mg of Sanval? Good grief.