Posts by restlesstrucker15

It might also be worth looking into some psychotherapy at the beginning, provided you can secure an appointment or manage the costs.

Skickas FR

Gregory Fox53 said:Hey everyone,

I'm pretty new to this thread, so I guess I'll just give a quick rundown of where I'm at:
I was on Zoloft for about three years to deal with depression and anxiety, and then my doctor decided it was finally time to try tapering off, which took about three months. I took my last dose of Zoloft at the end of November, and things actually seemed fine for maybe two weeks or so.

But after that, I started feeling those low moods creeping back in—just general lethargy and this mild anxiety that feels more like restlessness. Since things weren't really improving, my doctor put me back on 50mg of Zoloft daily, plus some Xanax (0.25mg twice a day). I've been back on the Zoloft for three weeks now, and I think I started feeling my spark come back and my mood lift a few days ago. The restlessness disappeared about two days after I started the Xanax, though my doctor wants me to stay on it for a little while longer until the Zoloft fully kicks in.

The thing is, for the last two weeks, I've been feeling incredibly exhausted, sleepy, and just totally drained of energy. I actually went to get blood work done about a week ago, and everything—iron levels, all the usual stuff you'd check for these symptoms—came back totally normal. It seems like this all started right around the same time I began taking the Xanax.

Is it possible that being tired all day, feeling drowsy, or having that "weak muscle" sensation could be side effects from the Xanax?
I mean, I've always been a bit of a hypochondriac, so I’m already spiraling and trying to imagine every possible illness that starts out with these kinds of symptoms. 😁

Thanks in advance to everyone for any insight you can share. 🙂

Welcome aboard. 🙂

It is my belief that while certain symptoms may resurface upon discontinuation, one generally finds a much swifter path to recovery once they are gone. 🙂

Let me reassure you right away: based on those symptoms, you aren't facing anything life-threatening. Personally, I suspect this isn't actually being triggered by the Xanax; it feels much more like a manifestation of your underlying anxiety and depression. This will pass. 🙂 How many more weeks on Zoloft will it take before these symptoms finally subside? 🙂 Stay brave.

Skickas FR

Paul Newman5 said:Anyone else dealing with weight gain from Sulpiride? I brought this up at my clinic in Chicago and nobody believed me. I gained 18 pounds in just a few weeks. Now, my doctor at the Mayo Clinic just rewrote my prescription for it, specifically highlighting the weight gain and lactation risks. He really emphasized the weight part.
Took it this morning. Nothing yet. Usually, though, the first couple of days with a new med are pure anxiety. I start panicking and then I swear I feel every single side effect, even the ones they don't list in the manual.😁

I haven't🙂
But I suspect that might only apply to people taking much higher doses as their primary medication for different diagnoses, specifically anything exceeding 200mg.
That's great that you aren't having any side effects 🙂 man

Skickas FR

Brandon Lopez6 said:I tried Eglonyl once and honestly, it wasn't anything special. My issues were pretty mild back then compared to now, and I wasn't nearly as anxious, yet that stuff couldn't even fix the little bit of anxiety I did have.

It just goes to show how much everyone's experience varies. My doctor typically prescribes it for two or three weeks a year whenever I hit a major crisis point. After that, he puts me on Sulpiride at either 25 or 50 mg. For me, it creates this sensation where nothing can really get under my skin, yet I don't feel drugged or out of it. As far as side effects go, the only thing I've noticed is a complete loss of libido. It certainly helps manage my anxiety, though I do find that it tends to dull some of my other positive emotions as well. Still, it isn't anything too catastrophic.

Jeremy Clark23 said:Thanks for the reply—I actually read it a while ago but totally blanked on responding.

As for me, I’ve been taking it for two weeks now and haven't hit any of those side effects mentioned. I mean, maybe I'm a little sleepier than usual (which could just be how it interacts with my Valium), but it isn't messing with my day-to-day at all. My doctor prescribed this mainly to help me get past the guilt—that's just one way to put it—stemming from my relapse with alcohol, and to dial down the restlessness, or the anxiety. I'll give it another week or two since it hasn't touched the anxiety yet. I have an appointment at the clinic tomorrow, so I'll bring up the whole aspartame concern with them.

Don't worry too much, 🙂 you're definitely going to feel sleepier because of the diazepam, and you really shouldn't stay on Sanval for too long—only until the crisis passes if you can't sleep.
If you can manage to sleep, that's great; maybe they'll just leave you on the diazepam for the anxiety or something more targeted for the relapse you mentioned.
Just ask your doctors everything that's bothering you regarding the treatment; some of them aren't very communicative, and they seem to forget that we don't actually know how these things work.
Stay strong and let us know how it goes.

Skickas FR

steeleagle23 said:What you're saying makes sense, but my point is that the warnings for this medication have been updated several times specifically because of those side effects.
It honestly feels like the drug was released onto the market without being tested thoroughly enough, which is why they had to go back and revise the instructions later on. My real concern is whether all doctors actually stay up to date with these changing guidelines, or if they just keep prescribing it out of habit—especially since patients usually don't complain much (because, let's face it, they trust their doctor implicitly), and doctors don't really have a reason to change things up unless someone actually speaks up about an issue.
So, what am I getting at here?
I guess I'm just saying that even doctors make mistakes. And while we should definitely trust them, it’s never a bad idea to do a little digging and look into things from other sources yourself.

It’s true, the instructions were updated. I haven't read them in their entirety, but I had to laugh when I saw some of the examples listed under retrograde amnesia—things like cooking meals, making phone calls, or even having sexual encounters with no memory of it the next day.
I've personally dealt with the first two issues, mostly because I didn't head straight to bed the first few times I took it.
But I think we all realize here that one must 🙂

Skickas FR

I am currently observing that the discussions regarding the efficacy of these specific medications seem to be shifting quite rapidly. It is important to approach these topics with a certain level of gravity, as we are discussing matters of significant personal health. I have noticed several users attempting to simplify complex physiological responses, which I find somewhat concerning. One must remain diligent when monitoring any changes in one's own chemistry. restlesstrucker15 says:
Honestly, just move on and find someone else. This one is completely out of her mind.🙂

You have a point there. I suppose I’ll just wait and see how she reacts when this comes up again. It honestly seems like she’s struggling because I happen to be dealing with an illness that requires a specialist's touch, yet she feels pressured by the fact that she can't provide those answers herself. She gets overwhelmed trying to interpret MRI results and things of that nature, and it clearly gets under her skin.

My apologies if I drifted off there; I wanted to share an observation regarding how certain general practitioners tend to prescribe antidepressants. It seems some doctors will hand them out based solely on anecdotal evidence—essentially because they’ve seen it work for one patient—without ever consulting a psychiatrist. In my own experience, I haven't had any issues with my specific medication, nor have I lodged a complaint against my psychiatrist, though finding a decent one in this country can be an absolute nightmare, to say the least.

Skickas FR

shadowfox75 said:They certainly are. I am doing better than when I first started, though I am still fighting the good fight. ;-)

Patience is a virtue, and if they are finally thinning out, that's what matters most.🙂 🙂It's progress.

Skickas FR

I suppose I might not end up being her type either. At the end of the day, what matters most is how she perceives me, but this whole situation—if you'll excuse my bluntness—feels like an unnecessary ordeal.

I truly hope your list of supervisors has thinned out lately. 🙂

Skickas FR

Should I switch my primary care physician?

She’s honestly lost her mind. She contradicts every single specialist's report I bring in. One day she'll try to dismiss a psychiatrist's evaluation—even though I've been seeing my mental health provider for years—and then she starts acting like a psychiatrist herself, interrogating me about why I take every specific medication.
Right, Sanval, I know the feeling; you can't get any sleep.
She suggests Xanax as needed, but when I ask for her reasoning, she just gives these vague conclusions. Like, "maybe you don't have panic attacks," or "I should check your kidneys," which makes zero sense. I'll just tell her she's right even when she isn't just to end the conversation.
Then there's Elicea—she actually suggested I switch to Velafax. When I asked why, she just said, "well, young people take it and they're happy with it."
I was floored. I spend an hour with my actual psychiatrist, who knows my history inside and out, yet here she is. I told her there's no way I'm taking Velafax because I couldn't handle those heavy side effects.

Should I change doctors? She constantly threatens me with more "follow-up exams," and she disputes almost every finding from my specialists. The only time she actually conceded was regarding a neurosurgeon's report; everything else she ignores.
If I were you, I'd say she's just frustrated. Next time, I'm going to push back and demand she puts it in writing that she refuses to follow the recommendations provided by my other doctors.

Skickas FR

ironotter5 said:So, they actually just switched my prescription over to Effexor. Hearing that there's a chance things might get back to a semi-normal state after a couple of months sounds pretty encouraging. 🙂

Well, we shall see how things unfold for you. Personally, I only stayed on FedEx for about two or three weeks because the side effects were too much to handle. You should reach out to others who have used FedEx; even though everyone's experience is unique, most people will tell you that you won't see significant changes within just a month. However, please make sure to mention this to your doctor. There are certain antidepressants that don't cause these specific issues, though of course, it all depends on your specific diagnosis.

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ironotter5 said:I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. It feels way too early to quit the antidepressants cold turkey, but on the flip side, I'm basically just sitting here absorbing this constant, low-level mental fog. I really just came on here to see if anyone else has dealt with this kind of stuff and how you guys managed to navigate it. I did reach out to my doctor for some guidance, so now I'm just playing the waiting game to see how this new prescription works out.

It typically takes about two months for things to settle back down to baseline; that was certainly my experience with both Paxil and Ellie, though with Ellie, the transition felt slightly less intense. Generally speaking, Effexor tends to be the most effective at mitigating those specific issues.
Take it from someone who has been there—it will pass. Unfortunately, there isn't a magic pill to make the adjustment period easier, but if you need anything at all, please feel free to reach out via private message.

Sent via FR

Paul Newman5 said:I know people who’ve been on various benzos for years and they sleep just fine. For me, I was on Calixta with Effexor; took it for a month and quit. I could only afford to take it if someone paid me a massive salary, hired a housekeeper, and let me sleep half the day while walking around like a zombie the rest of the time. But I work, I run a household, I have a life. So I go back to the benzos. They aren't the sin you're making them out to be. Sorry, didn't mean to offend, just stating my piece.

Yes, a zombie, a complete zombie... My psychiatrist told me there isn't much more he can offer; either you live as a zombie or you don't sleep at all. To be clear, I don't take anything during the day except my antidepressant, so you can imagine how I look after my evening regimen of Calixta, Quetiapine, Trittico, or Prazosin, even though I've tried the minimum effective doses. 😁

Skickas fr

Paul Newman5 said:I know people who’ve been on various benzos for years and they sleep just fine. For me, I was on Calixta with Effexor; took it for a month and quit. I could only afford to take it if someone paid me a massive salary, hired a housekeeper, and let me sleep half the day while walking around like a zombie the rest of the time. But I work, I run a household, I have a life. So I go back to the benzos. They aren't the sin you're making them out to be. Sorry, didn't mean to offend, just stating my piece.

I find myself cursing the day I first started using hypnotics for sleep, quite a few years ago now. I never actually had much trouble sleeping, except for those occasional nights when I was traveling or staying in a hotel bed. Back then, I was given them specifically to help me endure panic attacks. Everything would have been fine if I hadn't started taking them more frequently in my own bed, simply because I grew fond of how quickly they knocked me out. Now, it feels like it's too late... I truly have nothing against medication in general, but I have honestly made a mess of things with these hypnotics.
I suppose those who are truly struggling to sleep don't bother coming here to write about it. A friend of mine—someone who has never touched a drop of alcohol in her life—told me she couldn't sleep at all, so she took a 5 mg Normabel from her roommate. She collapsed into bed and slept for twelve hours straight. I was actually quite jealous, but I told her she shouldn't go down that road.😁

Sent fr

Brandon Lopez6 said:If I'm gonna taper off Helix, I feel like I should probably get some Normabale so it isn't such a sharp drop-off (I seriously don't have the patience to cut my dose by a quarter every single week). So, I'm wondering if Normabale actually works well enough for panic attacks and general anxiety. I was thinking about asking my doctor if I could test it out for a couple of days—two days is plenty—just to swap one dose of Helix for Normabale and see how it feels. That's basically it.

In my own experience, Normabel does absolutely nothing for panic attacks, which is something my therapist confirmed as well.

Skickas FR

Jason Vaughn482 said:So, what happened with your spine?

I actually went through surgery this past summer, so I am currently waiting for a specific nerve to fully recover. That process can take up to a year, and in the meantime, doctors keep prescribing various pills just to manage the numbness in my leg. The issue is that almost all of them are essentially anti-epileptic drugs, since they're used to treat neuropathic pain.😢

FedEx

I find myself unable to sleep. I don't mean to complain, but the medications prescribed for my neurological issues—specifically Neurontin, following my previous use of Lyrica—seem to keep me wide awake. Even 20 mg of Ambien wasn't enough to help.
I am genuinely curious how others taking these drugs manage to get any rest; perhaps they aren't accustomed to hypnotics, or maybe they simply don't experience this specific side effect.
If it had just been a broken finger instead of this neurological damage to my spine... then finding a treatment plan would be much simpler. I almost look forward to facing an illness that doesn't require this endless process of trial and error.😁

FedEx

fadedbear92 said:Look, Zoloft is actual medicine meant to treat you; it isn't some recreational drug you take just to get high all the time!🙄

Yes, Lexapro is the kind of medication that pulls people out of those dark, heavy states. Everyone taking it generally just feels more level—more "normal," if you will—rather than feeling actually high. If someone does experience a sense of euphoria, it’s usually a sign that the medication isn't quite the right fit, and they'll likely need to switch to something else. But that specific sensation of being high isn't what people are actually looking for.
If you truly believe that you need antidepressants, then please, go see a primary care physician or, better yet, a psychiatrist. No one is going to prescribe you medication just to make you feel a little bit more cheerful; that simply isn't how any medical formulary works. 😁 Perhaps it belongs on a different list altogether. :P

Skickas fr

I completely agree with everything you’ve said.
I personally know a few people who managed to stop taking their medication after a while and they're doing just fine. However, those cases are rare and really depend on the specific disorder being treated.
Besides, most people won't even admit they have Xanax sitting at home for emergencies when things get overwhelming.
As for those of us currently on antidepressants, no decent psychiatrist is going to prescribe them if you're dealing with constant work stress or similar life chaos; essentially, many of us end up managing this chronically—we might eventually get off them, or we might not. It's much like how someone with high blood pressure might supplement their medication with a better diet; for us, our "diet" is psychotherapy. The only real struggle is the adjustment period before the body gets used to the medication. If a psychiatrist eventually gives the green light to taper off, then that's great.

Best, fr

I took a few doses of Paxil a long time ago, back when I didn't even understand what it actually was. 🙂 It wasn't particularly unpleasant, though fortunately, I lacked any real knowledge regarding medication at the time.
I noticed there was some discussion about alcohol here. Generally speaking, mixing alcohol with prescription medication isn't a good idea. That said, I occasionally have a drink now and then and everything seems fine; my psychiatrist even told me that a couple of beers wouldn't hurt. I am currently taking Alice, but I suspect if I were taking Samuel, I would be under a strict prohibition against drinking anything at all—which is something I strictly adhere to. As for the Alice, I only started that after several months had passed and my body had finally adjusted to having an antidepressant in its system.
I'm just sharing my experience. I know certain people experience side effects when they drink, yet they aren't even on psychotropic drugs; instead, they mistakenly assume nothing will happen if they have a drink while taking something like Voltaren.
No one has reached out to me regarding experiences with Cymbalta, but we decided to discontinue it because the noradrenergic effects were driving me absolutely crazy—or whatever the technical term for that kind of damage is. 😢

Skickas FR