I was taking Celexa, but once I found out I was pregnant about 12 days ago, I just stopped cold turkey.
My psychiatrist is suggesting St. John's Wort, maybe one Xanax a day.
The thing is, I feel like absolute crap. On top of the vomiting and dizziness, I'm starting to deal with this weird derealization feeling and even some panic attacks.
Look, I'm obviously not looking for a prescription from anyone here—I know this forum is just for swapping stories and getting some support (leave the medical stuff to the doctors), but does anyone have any actual experience or thoughts on using St. John's Wort while pregnant?
Thanks. 🙂
As a man, I can't speak from firsthand experience, but several women close to me have dealt with similar struggles during pregnancy. While antidepressants aren't typically the first line of defense, you have to find a balance so you don't lose your mind. I would strongly suggest consulting either your OB-GYN or a mental health professional before making any decisions. That said, I believe there are certain medications, like Normabel, that are considered safe for pregnant women. I’m just not sure about the specific dosage or how frequently it should be taken. I am telling you, if that herbal remedy doesn't do the trick, then we're truly out of options.
Jason Vaughn482 said:I didn't quite follow that part about the "green light" followed by "not in a million years"? And you still haven't actually answered my question regarding the mixing itself—are we talking about combining them within the same night, or taking one thing and then following it up with Sanval later on? I never actually asked for clarification on that specific timing.
My apologies... She was very clear that you should absolutely never mix different sleep aids in a single night or consume them all at once. As for the green light, she mentioned that it’s less problematic if I have a beer in the evening, say five or six hours before I take my Ambien. It isn't exactly ideal, but it certainly isn't as dangerous as trying to combine different prescription hypnotics. Furthermore, much like a general practitioner might advise, she suggested that it is beneficial to rotate your sleep medication periodically—perhaps switching every month or so. However, she did note that simply rotating them isn't a permanent cure for chronic insomnia.😢
Jason Vaughn482, switching between them occasionally can be helpful, though you definitely shouldn't mix them at the same time. In my case, I ended up taking half a dose of Dalmane along with some Sanval, which resulted in me getting strictly prohibited from doing so. From my perspective, though, it felt incredible. But, oh boy, big mistake.
Aaron Garcia5 said:I started taking Eli Lilly yesterday. My doctor actually prescribed me Celexa, but somehow I ended up with this instead—honestly, I didn't quite catch why from my physician... Naturally, I’m looking for some insight. What should I be watching out for? Is weight gain really an issue, or what kind of side effects am I looking at? Does this actually help with anxiety? If anyone feels like sharing, I'd appreciate it...
It varies from person to person. For me, things have been fine—I haven't experienced any side effects, not even regarding my libido, and my appetite remains normal. I do feel just a little bit weak, though. Overall, however, it’s okay. She didn't give you the Lexapro because that's the brand-name version, which runs about three times more expensive than what Eli Lilly puts out. Plus, she would have ended up overpaying by at least fifty bucks.$20. Don't let that worry you too much. Eli Lilly makes the exact same medication, and frankly, I've never heard anyone claim there was any noticeable difference between taking Lexapro and the version from Eli Lilly. Stay strong. 🙂 Don't feel obligated to follow every single instruction to the letter; it can occasionally lead to some discomfort, which is a fairly common side effect. As for everything else, I'd suggest posting your concerns on the forum or simply consulting with your doctor. There's really no need to panic right away. I am certain that I will end up gaining more weight than she does.
Jason Vaughn482 said:Why is it unsafe to combine Sanval and Cerner? To be perfectly honest, I find myself in a similar predicament, as I am currently prescribed both, though I make a point of never taking them simultaneously. Instead, I stagger them—perhaps I'll take the Sanval for about fifteen days, then switch over to the Cerner for a period, or sometimes even shorter intervals. Is that actually alright?
From what I understand, every psychiatrist I've encountered advises against mixing hypnotics. It's considered a major red flag. My doctor wouldn't even consider it under any circumstances. She mentioned that if I have a single beer in the evening—and not just any beer—followed by Sanval, that’s a hard no. She actually said she'd rather see someone deal with a hangover than make a habit of mixing alcohol with a hypnotic.
Goodness, please go see a psychiatrist; you have me genuinely concerned. Looking back at our conversation, I really think you shouldn't be mixing Cerson and Sanval. I am actually reaching out to the community here for some advice. If getting an appointment with a doctor isn't an option right now, I would personally rather taper off the Seroquel and just stick with Sanval if necessary, because this current combination feels a bit overwhelming.
I’m sorry, I didn't realize what kind of combination you were putting together... Ugh, I get it. But please, don't let your psychiatrist isolate you from the reality of this; maybe ask about doubling the dose or something similar. I'm honestly a little nervous that mixing these might end up causing you harm.
What kind of combination are you running? Last night I took a quarter of a Xanax and some Sanval, but it didn't do the trick; I didn't drift off until around 5 or 6 in the morning, which left me feeling like a complete zombie all morning until I finally crashed again around 4 PM. I saw my psychiatrist today, and we decided I’m going to stop taking the Sanval. She explained that there isn't much choice—you can't even get any sleep when you're dealing with physical pain (even two different narcotics don't help), so once they manage that part... On top of everything, I have this intense anxiety about surgeries, anesthesia, and even just having people in the room with me. She mentioned she would reach out to some colleagues over at the Mayo Clinic to have them check in on me, reassuring me that there is always a solution. It’s a relief, honestly; at least I have a little bit of hope with my therapist.
unknown will keep you feeling grounded until you actually sit down with your doctor. Once that happens, she’ll be the one to make the call. Please, don't beat yourself up over stopping your medication; they’re likely going to transition you back to something else while keeping your pregnancy at the forefront of their minds. Let us know what she decides once you've spoken. Hang in there.
I took some Xanax and two sleeping pills about two hours ago, but nothing has kicked in yet. I just found some Lexium 3mg, so I’m going to try that and see if it helps.
shadowbear9 said:It wasn't necessarily too strong; I was on 100mg back then, and now I'm at 300mg. I simply hadn't slept at all for three days straight because I didn't have any medication on hand. Once I finally got my prescription, I kept taking it hoping to pass out, but I couldn't fall asleep at all—instead, I just ended up poisoning myself.
That sounds harrowing. It seems you were essentially dosing yourself blindly in a desperate attempt to find rest. I can certainly empathize with that level of exhaustion, but please, I beg you, do not let that happen again. If you find yourself in that state, it would be much safer to simply head to the ER the following morning. How are you feeling now?
I have found that sometimes I’ll read up on a specific medication, only for my psychiatrist to immediately shut it down, claiming it isn't a good fit for me. They essentially run through my entire medical history and remind me which chemical balances they can and cannot touch. Because of that, I truly believe there is immense value in sticking with one psychiatrist who deeply understands your unique neurochemistry. My doctor once explained it to me this way: if she were to adjust my norepinephrine levels, it might feel less like a stabilizer and more like I had just taken speed. While that might be fine for some people, it isn't for me. Generally speaking, I’d say anything that spikes dopamine and norepinephrine will lift someone out of a depressive state, but if your primary diagnosis is anxiety or panic disorders, I would advise staying far away from those types of stimulants. You really need to provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what side effects you're experiencing with your pills and what kind of emotional state you're actually aiming for. There is a good chance half of your issues could be resolved through psychotherapy, but I am also convinced that an Ad can help with at least 50 percent of the struggle. Can you tell me how you ended up feeling so poisoned by them? It sounds like you might have been prescribed a dose of Seroquel that was simply too heavy for you.
restlesstiger49 said:My doctor actually brought up the idea of checking into one of those places once. I assume they’d just hook you up to all sorts of monitors to track everything while you sleep. 🤷 Anyway, I don't think I'm going to stick with this Velafax. It’s either I can’t fall asleep, or the lack of sleep starts messing with my mental health. Honestly, that makes seven different ADs I've had to cross off my list. Onward we go... I guess the eighth one will be an AD called "Misery."😂 Just don't take it on an empty stomach...🤣
Oh man. I know the feeling; Velafax did the exact same thing to me. You're going to have to find a replacement. On to the eighth one, then. Which ones have you tried so far? Give us a rundown and rank them based on which ones were the worst offenders when it comes to keeping you awake.
Brandon Lopez6 said:I did some quick math on my expenses, and honestly, even if I just made the trip to Chicago once a week, I’d be looking at about $300 a month just in travel costs. But the thing is, I can't even manage that kind of frequency. Dealing with psychiatrists around here is such a headache—they aren't exactly flexible with their schedules, especially the ones covered by insurance. It's all just too much of a logistical nightmare. At this point, I'm mostly stuck doing my own self-reflection and hoping I can snag a day off to see a private specialist every once in a while.
Man, that sounds incredibly difficult. If you can, try to save up enough cash to see someone privately on your own terms.
Now, look... I’m not entirely sure if they can provide that without a psychiatrist's sign-off, but please don't spend all this time waiting around without professional help. Find someone immediately. A general practitioner just isn't equipped to handle cases like ours. Do some digging; at least you shouldn't have to wait nearly as long to see a psychiatrist.
Yes, you can only find those specialized clinics in places like San Diego or near major hubs. You won't have to wait too long for an initial consultation—maybe about a month—but be prepared for a significant delay when it comes to getting the actual sleep study scheduled. Regardless, I highly recommend going. Get a referral from your primary care physician; you'll likely need a recommendation from a psychiatrist as well. You really have nothing to lose by trying. 🙂
I’m seriously considering checking into that Sleep Center because this whole situation is killing me. Honestly, if I’m supposed to work eight hours and sleep twelve, plus throw in two more for eating and showering... what the hell is actually left of my day? 🤣
Thank you, 🙂 haha, the endless cycle of work-home-sleep... it's a nightmare. 😉