Posts by restlesstrucker15

Jason Vaughn482 said:I don't know, I've been relying on benzos and Tylenol for four years now... and this constant, gnawing fear of cancer is just exhausting.
Look, I am intimately familiar with the risks of morphine, Advil, and pretty much everything else on the pharmacy shelf; I will read those side effect warnings a hundred times over if it means getting through the day.

I haven't heard of anyone actually developing cancer from taking pills, regardless of the type.
It is a lottery, unfortunately; you either face it or you don't.
On the other hand, certain other illnesses are directly linked to extreme stress, which makes taking these medications a much better option in those cases.
Furthermore, if a drug truly had a specific negative impact on your health, your doctor would be sending you for regular blood work to monitor it. From what I can gather, your prescriptions do not fall into that category. While some medications might lower blood pressure—mostly more aggressive ones reported by the Associated Press—your psychiatrist is the one who manages all of that for you.
Please, truly, try not to worry. Every time I go in for a physical, my internists ask me what medications I am currently taking. They never seem concerned about antidepressants or similar drugs; they simply want to confirm whether they were prescribed by my primary care physician or a psychiatrist.

Skickas FR ovaj

wiredskipper45 said:I guess we all have to break from something eventually... 😂

It is true that all medications carry some level of risk, but that doesn't mean they aren't beneficial when needed. 🙂
I would love to see someone try to walk through a severe case of pneumonia without any antibiotics.
Jason Vaughn482, please don't be alarmed by the side effects listed everywhere; they are standard. I could suggest you read the warning label on a simple bottle of Tylenol, though perhaps that isn't necessary either. 😁
In my estimation, things like fast food are actually far more detrimental to one's health than a single dose of a benzodiazepine.

Sent from my

Chloe Hughes6 said:It seems we are once again merely rehashing the information already printed on the medication insert inside the box. We find ourselves waiting for answers to questions that are also readily available on the leaflet and online. Please, just bear with me for a moment.🍿

People have every right to ask what happened to one another and how everyone is holding up; after all, this forum is meant to cover every living soul here.
I am not entirely sure why this bothers you so much. In my view, people generally find more comfort in hearing the voice of a living, breathing person who can confirm they aren't alone, regardless of what some official paperwork might say. I truly believe there is a profound therapeutic value in sharing these experiences with others who are on the same medication. After all, this isn't a specialized forum for pharmacists or medical professionals to debate drug efficacy; it is a space for real people.

Skickas FR

Haha, you're absolutely crazy 😁

Skickas FR

Quote:>

Chloe Hughes6 says: Tolerance means the medication isn't working effectively anymore, or perhaps a dependency has developed—it could even be both. If that sense of emotional numbness is caused by tolerance, it won't just go away on its own. That’s my first point, but I also have a general question. It seems to me that only here in America and throughout the North America do people say they "drink" their pills. In other languages and cultures, at least as far as I know, you "take" them.😂😂

I think you might be overstating things a bit; I have to agree with Rachel. Of course, life is best lived without any medication at all, but it feels like people have become hyper-focused on psychopharmaceuticals lately.

By the way, if we're considered savages for "drinking" our medicine based on your linguistic observation, then Scandinavians are even worse because they say they "eat" their medication. Haha. And honestly, I end up devouring them when I'm over there, because the depression and anxiety can be unbearable—just given the local vibe and mentality. Brrrr.

Skickas FR

fadedbear92 said:Xanax definitely numbs you—honestly, all benzos tend to dull your actual emotions.

Yes, they absolutely dull the senses, which is why people turn to them when the anxiety hits hard.
In my view, someone who doesn't rely on pills might just reach for a shot of bourbon when things get heavy, and that provides a similar kind of numbness.
Antidepressants don't typically cause that specific type of emotional flattening, at least not initially, unless they have sedative properties. It takes some time to distinguish whether the fog you're feeling is a symptom of the illness itself or a side effect of the medication. However, psychiatrists are well aware of this distinction, and the real solution lies in psychotherapy—provided one has the means to pursue it.

I remember sitting in the clinic once, practically begging for a lobotomy or even electroconvulsive therapy😁, but the doctor just laughed it off, telling me she would treat me with standard therapy because there is no "easy way out"🙂

FedEx

Jason Vaughn482 said:Has anyone here actually encountered or perhaps even experimented with this antidepressant, Devidon?
http://lijekovi-lijecenje.blogspot.c...razodonum.html

That medication isn't even on the market anymore. I used to take it, actually after coordinating specifically with my psychiatrist in Germany. It worked wonders for sleep, though I personally found it left me feeling far too lethargic the following day—though admittedly, not quite as wiped out as when I was on Callista or Q-tips. Then again, everyone reacts differently to these things. It is quite effective for anxiety, too. I would suggest asking a mental health professional for their clinical opinion, but as far as I know, you can't find it in America anymore.

Skickas fr

Jason Vaughn482 said:

Paul Newman5 As if I haven't heard this tired old song before. It’s the same predictable melody playing on a loop, isn't it? One would think that after all these years of watching the same patterns repeat themselves like a broken record in a dusty corner of a roadside diner, we might have learned something. But no, here we go again, wading through the same thick sludge of rhetoric that seems to define our modern discourse. It’s almost impressive, in a deeply exhausting sort of way, how consistently we manage to circle the drain of the same outdated arguments without ever actually making any forward momentum. It feels less like a conversation and more like a slow descent into a repetitive, soul-crushing cycle of nothingness.
Since I’m also prone to those late-night scavenging expeditions, I might just find myself drifting toward some pancakes. You aren't exactly close by, but let's be honest—when it comes to a stack of pancakes, any distance is worth the trek. I don't go that far for them personally, but I certainly find myself demolishing a box of cookies in much the exact same fashion.🤣

I’ve only ever attempted that recipe once, really—just a one-off experiment. But if there is any silver lining to my lack of culinary prowess, it’s that I refuse to keep a stash of sweets in the pantry. I strictly buy only what I intend to consume that very day, because frankly, nothing sweet ever survives the night in my house; it simply vanishes. And here is the most absurd part of the whole saga: I can barely make a decent pancake to save my life. They usually turn out to be quite a disappointment, yet somehow, against all odds, the ones I made tonight were absolutely flawless. 😁
It appears I am not alone in this nocturnal culinary struggle; there are clearly others among us who find themselves scavenging the kitchen long after the rest of the country has drifted into sleep.

Yes, I also wake up to eat, and I have been doing so for the past 15 years, long before I was ever prescribed any medication. My sister does the same thing, though she seems to have much more self-control than I do.
Because of this habit, if guests happen to drop by unexpectedly, I have nothing to offer them; I strictly purchase food for my consumption on that particular day.
There was one time I was so desperate I ended up eating a bowl of plain green salad for dinner. 😁
I am certain this falls under the umbrella of an anxiety disorder, though certain medications seem to exacerbate the issue.
I have attempted to bake pancakes a few times myself; perhaps there is something special in the recipe after all. 😁

Skickas FR

restlesstiger49 said:Honestly, I just gave up on that medication. Those side effects made me feel like I wasn't even human anymore.

I am hopeful that things will turn out better with the next option.🙂

Skickas FR

Larry Barnes10 said:Can you describe how Lexapro/Ellie worked for you? I've been taking it for a little over two months and maybe feel a tiny bit of a difference, but nothing major. Does increasing the dose ever help since I'm at 10mg now and the instructions say it can go up to 20mg (I have depression/anxiety)?

I can 🙂
I actually started taking it after I unilaterally decided to stop taking Prozac. At the time, I felt fine, but then a few months later, everything fell apart and things became even worse than before.
When I initially started this medication, it took about three weeks before I noticed any effect, specifically regarding a reduction in panic attacks. When combined with psychotherapy, those attacks became very infrequent within two months. My anxiety gradually decreased over a period of about three months, though I should emphasize that pills alone aren't a total cure; I still deal with significant anxiety today. As for the depressive symptoms, I cannot say for certain. After about two months, my psychiatrist increased my dosage to 15mg, and eventually to 20mg for a period of time. Currently, I fluctuate between 10mg and 15mg, as my doctor adjusts it every few months.
Everyone reacts differently, of course, but my advice would be to consider increasing the dose if you aren't experiencing side effects. Once you bump up the dosage, you should see results within about two weeks because the medication is already established in your system. In my experience, psychiatrists generally prefer to increase a current dose rather than switching you to a completely different antidepressant, provided there aren't severe side effects.
I suggest asking your doctor if an increase is an option. If you don't see significant improvement after three months on the higher dose, they will likely switch you to something else. If your depression is particularly severe, they might prescribe something more potent.
Ultimately, my suggestion is to try for a higher dose first to avoid the process of adjusting to an entirely new antidepressant.

Skickas fr

restlesstiger49 said:You know, I'm right there with you in that fear. But honestly, I can't bring myself to give up the search for the right medication. It feels like Lexapro is finally starting to kick in during the afternoons; for the first time in ages, I actually felt like a human being again—you know, like I actually wanted to live and all that. My only issue is that the cost for that feeling is just way too high. It's becoming impossible to sustain. 😢

Hang in there 🙂
People say the nausea from Lexapro can be pretty nasty, but it usually passes.
Try to cling to those moments when you're feeling even slightly better; it might make dealing with the side effects a bit easier to stomach.
Personally, I didn't experience any side effects from Lexapro or Ellie, but I know how brutal they can be—both physically and mentally—because I’ve dealt with them from other meds, so I truly empathize with you. 😢

Ships FR

Jason Vaughn482 said:Hold on a second—are we talking about your psychiatrist or your primary care physician? That distinction has always been a blurry line to me... honestly, I’m increasingly convinced that half these doctors don't even know how to properly assign a diagnosis; they just pick whatever fits their current mood or schedule. Personally, I know exactly what I'm dealing with because I live it every single day. For instance, I don't feel like I'm spiraling into true depression, even though that was on my chart previously. My provider always insisted there was no psychosis involved, and eventually, she realized on her own that my core issue is actually anxiety, so she updated my code to generalized anxiety, even while noting "depression in remission" underneath. If you ask me, the depression was never really the driver; perhaps it was just a byproduct of the anxiety—that heavy, draining sensation you get when you can't do everything you want to do, but it's hardly the clinical depression people imagine.

Look, a diagnosis can be changed; what really matters is what your GP puts in your file. You don't have to hand over those specific results to her if you don't want to.
Under U.S. law, no one can access your medical records without a court order, and even a nurse isn't permitted to go snooping through them.

However, if you happen to find yourself at the same hospital system, once any doctor types in your ID number, all your previous findings will pop up on their screen. But please, don't worry; everyone there is focused on treating the reason you walked through the door—the physical symptoms—and almost everyone will ask what medications you're taking. In my experience, nobody even bats an eye when I mention I'm on an antidepressant; all these professionals are trained to recognize if someone is experiencing psychosis.

Also, let's try not to label people as "crazy." This is something that could happen to any one of us.

On the bright side, it’s actually great that your psychologist works in the same hospital system, so she can advise you on how to handle things if you decide to seek counseling again. I'm sure there's a department head there who could arrange for a third specialist to examine you if needed.

And maybe try a different antidepressant. You just have to grit your teeth through two or three weeks of side effects. It isn't easy, but that's just how the process goes.

Sending love, fr

brighthawk0 said:I pay $100 for a 45-minute session once a week, though in reality, it’s more like two or three times a month because either the doctor isn't available or life just gets in the way.
Yeah, it's a lot of money, but honestly? It's worth every cent to me. I sacrifice quite a bit to make it happen.

Yes, those are the standard rates you see in New York City; nobody finds it easy to swallow, but I find myself in a similar position.

When a plumber charges you a premium just to look at a leaky faucet or a washing machine, we don't typically complain—perhaps because we don't have many "charity" contractors out there anymore. I do not believe they should be working for $17, but in my opinion, they have priced themselves far beyond what is reasonable.

Sent from my iPhone

It’s certainly not inexpensive to seek private care, as some have pointed out, but I believe it is worth the investment if you can afford it—particularly when it comes to psychotherapy. There are also certain advantages to working privately, such as having more flexibility to reach out when things are actually going poorly.
I am not necessarily advocating for a private healthcare system; rather, it is simply unfortunate that the government doesn't hire enough doctors, which would allow the public sector to dedicate much more time to us.
My primary care physician—and please excuse me for bringing this up repeatedly—strictly follows all the official regulations; she limits my visits to a maximum of 15 minutes, whereas a psychologist should really have at least 30.
I once saw a specialist who could barely spare 10 minutes for me.😢

Send FR

fadedbear92 said:Well, it finally happened—I just got the notification that I’m officially registered for anxiety treatment. Voila!😛

That is excellent news. 🙂
In that case, please forgive me 😢 but I was under the impression it was strictly indicated for psychosis; they must have updated the guidelines recently, which is certainly a positive development.
At this point, there really should be no reason for a patient to pay out of pocket or for a primary care physician to refuse a prescription.
It is possible that Darren's psychologist hasn't reviewed the latest updates. In my experience, my doctor would always take a moment to check if coverage had changed before adjusting anything—she actually did that specifically when she looked into Pfizer for me.

Send FR

fadedbear92 said:What do you mean "high and mighty"? I'm just passing along some info—it's up to you whether you actually use it or not.

To clarify, a primary care physician can actually face penalties from Medicare if they prescribe a medication for which there is no established diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that require treatment, yet those specific illnesses aren't included in Medicare's approved list of indications.
I have mentioned this before regarding my own experience with Lyric; both my psychiatrist for anxiety and my neurologist for neuropathic pain prescribed it, but then the doctor told me, "Look, I can't write this prescription for you because the guidelines state it can only be issued if you suffer from epilepsy."
One really needs to check the official drug formulary regarding Quetiapine. If I recall correctly, it is only listed for psychosis. If someone, like Rejica, manages to get it covered by Medicare, they are quite lucky, as it means their GP simply doesn't care what the insurance guidelines say.
As for the criticisms directed at psychiatrists, they are no different from the critiques leveled at any other medical specialists. I was on Sanval for a long time—perhaps it was a mistake on my previous psychiatrist's part—but after trying everything else live and feeling absolutely terrible, she referred me to the Sleep Disorders Center in Sparrow to see if they could devise a better therapy.
When I explained my situation there, they essentially told me there was no third option: it was either stay on Sanval or accept living like a zombie all day.
That said, the doctor there didn't seem particularly invested in my case, though I had only gone there seeking pharmacological advice anyway.

Furthermore, I disagree with the notion that anxiety can be cured without medication; rather, medication can assist in the healing process. These drugs are not prescribed just because we feel a bit uneasy; they are prescribed long-term when you describe physical symptoms to a psychiatrist, which then constitutes a valid indication for tablets.

Skickas fr

shadowbear9 said:I’ve been prescribed a quarter dose in both the morning and the afternoon, but honestly, I sometimes just take the full dose in the afternoon. By the time I actually get up, it’s hardly even morning anymore anyway. I don't really deal with side effects that way; it just relaxes me, makes me feel calmer, and frankly, gives my soul permission to just nap during the day. I don't quite understand why they don't recommend taking it at night, because when I do take it late, it truly settles me down and helps me sleep. Otherwise, I've been stuck in bed non-stop ever since I started this stuff... and I guess it did "improve my appetite" for me.😕

I typically only take it when a severe crisis hits me, which happens about twice a year. During those times, I’ll take it for two or three weeks until I feel stabilized again. By "crisis," I mean those periods where both the physical and psychological symptoms hit me all at once.
To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy it. With Eglonyl, I feel somewhat indifferent toward everything, but it doesn't help me sleep, so I just endure it for a few weeks.
You see, we are all different.
As for that 30mg Calixta, I can't say for sure. However, if they are seeing positive results with other patients, it might be worth trying.

Regarding anxiety, in my experience, Lyrica works well, though it is quite expensive. You should consult your psychiatrist about it. Personally, it also boosts my mood slightly, which I don't need, so I didn't continue with it—besides, I can't sleep while on it. But as far as anxiety goes, nothing else compares.

A. Skickas fr

Jason Vaughn482 said:Has anyone here actually found success using an AP to manage anxiety? I’m starting to weigh my options and consider it... I’m well aware they can be a godsend for sleep, but when it comes to tackling the constant, gnawing dread of anxiety, I’m still largely in the dark.

Yes, small doses of Eglonyl, around 25 or 50 mg,

Sent fr

fadedbear92 said:I've got American supplemental insurance, so I don't pay anything for the Q-pin (either the 25 mg or 100 mg doses)—but apparently, under this new prescription I'm using, it isn't covered.🙂

What exactly do you mean by that? In the US, insurance typically covers all the supplemental charges from the standard formulary, unless you're looking at something that isn't on the covered lists—for instance, medications like Dormicum or Fluzepam.
I have to ask, how is it that you seem to have an answer for everything? Regarding Coaxil, would you say it is generally ineffective? A friend of mine mentioned she isn't feeling any impact from it at all. She has never had a history of alcohol use, but she was prescribed this specifically to manage her primary condition, which, quite frankly, is incredibly depressing to deal with.

Skickas FR

Great, just my luck—it skipped out on me right when I needed it 😁

Skickas FR