Posts by restlesstrucker15

Maria Price3 said:😲

God, give me that Clonazepam needs to be outlawed by federal law at this point. Honestly, I’d love to sue the doctor who put me on it. It didn't take long at all to go from half a pill to five, just because I got addicted to that weird sensation where it feels like my blood is turning into water. But once I realized where that road leads, I quit—though I still have one tucked away in a bottle, and there isn't a day goes by where I don't find myself holding it. I think about that damn Clonazepam several times every single day; I can't even believe it, considering it's been over a month since my last dose. At the end of the day, the drug is total garbage, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone if there's any other option out there.

Why are you so against Clonazepam? Please elaborate a bit. I personally haven't heard that it is as bad regarding withdrawal as Xanax is. I took it for a very short period at 0.5 mg based on a neurologist's advice for a different non-psychiatric issue, but it didn't work (she told me higher doses wouldn't help either), and I admit I wasn't even particularly anxious at the time. Still, I am glad I stopped because I realized it is actually a very effective medication for anxiety, provided it is used 🙂
I ask because I wonder about the poor people who have to take it for epilepsy, including children, often in much higher doses. How are they supposed to manage?

See you later

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...

Well done, 🙂
I seem to have forgotten—which clinic are you seeing for your treatment?

Skickas FR

Brenda Lee9 said:Can I take 400mg Ibuprofen while I'm on Zoloft?

You can take Ibuprofen, Voltaren, or even Ketorolac, but I wouldn't recommend using opioid painkillers that contain tramadol.

shadowbear9 said:I went to see my doctor today to check if she’d approved my coverage, and she told me straight up that she can't just prescribe those depression meds under my Medicare plan without a psychiatrist first providing a formal diagnosis. I guess I have to go through all that extra paperwork now. However, she was actually quite helpful and gave me a private prescription instead, so I'll be picking up some 25 mg Loquen for about $23 🙄. Honestly, though, I suppose anything is better than nothing at this point.

That’s such a shame 😢
Still, let me know how much it ends up costing; I’d guess it’s somewhere around $100.

Skickas FR

Kevin Bailey2 said:How am I getting prescribed Seroquel for borderline personality disorder?

It could potentially be categorized under psychotic disorders. If anyone is interested in the technical specifics, you can look up the drug formulary on the Medicare website; the guidelines are laid out clearly in their database. For Quetiapine/Seroquel specifically, this is what it states, and it's exactly what pops up for a primary care physician when they select the medication:

Indicated solely for schizophrenia and patients with psychotic disorders, including refractory cases or those who cannot tolerate standard treatments, provided there is a recommendation from a psychiatric specialist.

That being said, as many have pointed out, this medication—much like many others—is frequently used off-label for various other indications, but Medicare will only provide coverage for the specific uses listed here.

shadowbear9 said:So, my Quetiapine finally arrived. Is that actually a longer name than Q-pin? 😕 Anyway, I’m officially set for a while, whether this stuff actually works or not. There are 60 tablets per box, and I have four boxes, which means 240 tablets total—basically enough for 240 nights. Just wonderful. 😁

Please, let me know how you slept.

Skickas FR

ironrider11 said:..there was a massive 92 percent jump, and back in 2013 alone
over 53 million prescriptions were written for this kind of med..

money, money, money
has to be "funny"
in the rich man's world
money, money, money
always sunny
in the rich man's world

related article: even the penguins are on antidepressants

I agree that there is an over-prescription issue because psychotherapy is quite expensive. However, a conscientious psychiatrist will prescribe medication rather than just therapy if someone is truly struggling—specifically when things escalate into physical symptoms of anxiety, such as being unable to get out of bed for weeks, experiencing suicidal ideation, or feeling like you're suffocating. For everything else, a primary care physician might prescribe a bit of Xanax for standard stress. Furthermore, mental health is still heavily stigmatized here in the States, so I suspect most people won't even visit a specialist or mention it to their GP until they are facing those severe symptoms, unfortunately.
So, this 92 percent surge doesn't come as a surprise for the United Kingdom, given that people there aren't looked down upon for admitting they are in therapy.
The increase is happening here in America too, but I believe it is justified; there are people who would genuinely end their lives due to the crushing weight of credit card debt and loans.

Skickas FR

Michael Hill2 said:Total 😉sensationalism.

We already have antidepressants that hit multiple neurotransmitters, like Velafax 🙂

Yes, stating the obvious. Given how much we all differ as individuals, if we weren't, everyone would just be on Valtrex—everyone with the same diagnosis could just live in a perfectly peaceful USA.

Does anyone know why certain medications are discontinued here in the States, yet remain available in places like Canada or Mexico? I am not suggesting they are being pulled due to safety concerns—if we can even ignore the inherent risks of any pill. For instance, take the anxiolytic Ansilam, or the antidepressants Anafranil and Devidon.
In my view, while I don't personally require them, they had specific indications, and it seems counterproductive to limit the options available to psychiatrists. Furthermore, there is a constant influx of new generics which feels unnecessary, considering the price difference is negligible.
I ask because, excuse my bluntness, people would swallow anything if they thought it would make them feel better. This applies to all ailments, including our own struggles that are so difficult to overcome.

Skickas FR

shadowbear9 said:I was having a conversation with my psychiatrist this morning about how I simply cannot tolerate Quetiapine—it’s just not working for me. And then, out of nowhere, I run into some guy on the street around 10:00 PM who starts giving me unsolicited advice. He tells me I should just call my other psychiatrist, explain the situation, and apparently, she'll just hand it over if they happen to have some extra in their donations pile. Honestly, I guess people really do think they know everything, don't they? It's absolutely ridiculous.
Of course, they didn't have it in stock. She actually had the nerve to tell me I should go back and consult with the psychiatrist who originally prescribed it... Honestly, I’m going to try talking things through during my psychotherapy session tomorrow, but if she still refuses to cooperate, I might just have to tell her exactly where she can shove it. I can find ways to get my medication elsewhere if I have to. My mother is completely schizophrenic, so I suppose I’m "lucky" to be in this situation; she sent me a whole box of Quetiapine, which is the exact same thing as Seroquel. For some reason, she hasn't been taking them herself. Since she takes 100 mg and I’m only prescribed 25 mg, I’ll be set for at least two months. Problem solved. She can just give them to me whenever she needs to; there was a time when I used to take them from her since she wasn't using them anyway. I really just hope the nightmares stop soon. I haven't slept without any medication for three nights now, and the dreams are absolutely horrific. I wake up drenched in sweat, shaking... it’s a total disaster. All of this is happening simply because she wouldn't approve my treatment plan because she claimed I was asking for it too early. 🙄 I only have enough Zoloft left to last me about a week. I’m really hoping they actually follow through and give me my Normabel or amyzol tomorrow; otherwise, I might just lose my mind and snap at everyone before I run out.

Persuade her.
Just check if your mom's supply is the extended-release version or not.

Sending strength

restlesstiger49 said:I don't think so. Quetiapine is actually the active ingredient in Q-pin. 🤷

One time I took 25mg. Within thirty minutes, I was absolutely floored. And yeah, I dealt with those exact same side effects you mentioned. It took me half the day just to feel human again. For me, that dose works best for anxiety if I take it during the day, though thankfully I've never taken it then because I would've passed out at my desk.

Join The Club, maybe try cutting the dose in half.

Skickas FR

shadowbear9 said:

I suppose I should probably address this situation before things get any more out of hand. It seems like there’s been some unnecessary noise lately, and frankly, I find the whole thing quite aggravating. I don't want to sound like I'm overreacting—maybe I am—but it feels like certain people just can't seem to follow basic logic or maintain a shred of decorum. It’s honestly exhausting. I might be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that if we don't get a handle on this immediately, we're all going to end up dealing with even more chaos. It's just ridiculous. kaže:
Right. So, what exactly did they tell you to take for the insomnia? How much Amyzol are we talking about? Is it just the Amyzol on its own, or are you supposed to be taking it with something else?

Skickas fr

They switched me over to Amyzol instead of my usual Mirzaten, and I have quite literally gained weight like a pig. I mean, I put on nearly 20 pounds in just twenty days. My psychologist actually had the nerve to suggest that this was the goal—that it would stop me from gaining any more weight—and claimed he personally prefers prescribing Mirzaten for insomnia. Okay, fine, maybe he thinks he knows best, but I can't even fit into half of my wardrobe anymore. So, absolutely not.

To combat my insomnia, I’m currently taking a combination of Normabel (in doses of 5, 5, and 10), Sanval at 10, and amyzol. I did mention that I’ve been feeling pretty on edge lately—which isn't exactly an exaggeration—so I take the Normabel in the evening. My doctor gave me a stern warning regarding the amyzol; he insisted that I absolutely must not exceed one tablet. Apparently, it’s an older antidepressant that is incredibly effective, but he warned that if I were to take two or three at once like I have been doing, I would essentially be poisoning myself. I guess, truthfully, there is something quite tempting about taking more. When you're desperate to just knock yourself out and crash immediately rather than sitting there waiting for a single pill to kick in, the idea of a higher dose feels almost logical. I honestly don't know if anyone would even notice the difference, but if the risk is actual toxicity, I suppose I should listen to him. Though, I must admit, if I ever find myself spiraling into a truly suicidal headspace, I might just swallow all thirty at once and call it a day. It was certainly helpful of him to point out how easy that would be. 🤣

So, it’s Sanval plus amyzol for the insomnia, and now there's this whole messy situation regarding Quetiapine. I suppose he probably assumed I was taking it alongside both the Sanval and amyzol, too. I guess we'll just have to see what happens on Monday.

That’s how it stands. I'm glad you aren't poisoning yourself. To be honest, I highly doubt anyone would take Sanval, amozole, and Quetiapine all at once in the evening; even without being a medical expert, I've never heard of such a combination, and it sounds like something could go terribly wrong. Make sure to ask him directly on Monday.

Best regards,

shadowbear9 said:Thank you so much for the advice. I'll be seeing my psychiatrist this Monday with my results, and if she refuses, I'll see if she can contact the other doctor or take some kind of action. Last time, it was listed as severe depression without psychosis, though they somehow changed it to moderate-severe yesterday... but I suppose the main thing is that it specifies NO PSYCHOSIS.

Oh, right. What did he suggest you take for the insomnia? How much Amy Adams are you using? Is it just that, or are you taking it alongside something else?

Skickas fr

shadowbear9 said:Thank you so much for the advice. I'll be seeing my psychiatrist this Monday with my results, and if she refuses, I'll see if she can contact the other doctor or take some kind of action. Last time, it was listed as severe depression without psychosis, though they somehow changed it to moderate-severe yesterday... but I suppose the main thing is that it specifies NO PSYCHOSIS.

Yes, go ahead and do that. There is absolutely no way your doctor would write an incorrect diagnosis just because of a medication; besides, the VA and the healthcare system aren't exactly known for being easy to deal with anyway.

Skickas fr

shadowbear9 said:Who even do you go to for a private prescription? Because if it is $33, I'd rather do that than stay so sleep-deprived that I end up crashing my car into a pole or falling off a subway platform because I can barely keep my eyes open... I mean, I could seriously get hurt one day. My concentration just bottoms out and I lose all awareness of what's happening around me—I almost got hit by a car the other day because of it. I'm dying to know who would take the blame if I actually ended up in the hospital because of this... 🙄

If your current doctor won't provide one, you could ask your psychiatrist for a private prescription and explain that they aren't covering it through insurance. You might also ask if, in their experience, a primary care physician would prescribe it if psychotic symptoms aren't present. If so, find a GP who isn't afraid of dealing with insurance companies. However, I suggest first asking your specialist for a private script to see if the medication actually works for you before you start arguing with your GP or looking for a new provider.
In my own case, my doctor refused to prescribe Cymbalta because my diagnosis didn't explicitly state Major Depressive Disorder—which technically isn't the case, as I explained that my symptoms stem from neuropathic pain. She told me, "I understand, but we need to list it as MDD because insurance won't cover it for neuropathic pain." Eventually, my psychiatrist wouldn't change the official diagnosis, so she just gave me a couple of boxes herself since she had samples on hand. Honestly, you can just scour the insurance company's drug formulary spreadsheets online; they usually include guidelines for which conditions justify coverage.

Best regards,

fadedbear92 said:With older medications, sometimes doctors will prescribe things even for non-psychotic patients—like for anxiety or insomnia. For instance, a Q-pin might be available for that, whereas maybe this specific Quetiapine just isn't on the approved list.🤷

You're right, they definitely do prescribe them. However, Medicare doesn't recognize that specific indication and refuses to cover it under those circumstances. You might have a great primary care physician who is willing to write the prescription regardless, but most doctors won't. If you look at the official Medicare formulary, it explicitly states the conditions under which each drug is covered.

Talk soon

hollowcrane95 said:Is anyone else completely free from those morning-after side effects from Quetiapine? I feel like I’m walking around in a total fog for half the day.

I was feeling that way until yesterday, though they tell you it eventually passes. For most people, it does, but it hasn't for me yet. You'll get used to it eventually. Maybe check in with Rejoflajt; she takes hers specifically for sleep.

Skickas fr

shadowbear9 said:So, I went to my appointment. They cut me off my Abilify because of the side effects, lowered my Ativan 😠 and kept rambling on about how Amyzol is one of the better antidepressants, then they prescribed Quetiapine. I was actually happy—I thought, finally, a combo strong enough to help me sleep. But then I go to see my primary care physician, and she refuses to give me the Quetiapine! She keeps repeating that I don't have psychosis, so what am I supposed to say? It’s ridiculous. If she doesn't write it after the next checkup, 🙂 I might actually consider finding a new doctor. Honestly, who cares? I guess I’m supposed to listen to a GP instead of a specialist, but she's just obsessing over insurance regulations... 🙂 Or maybe I’ll just have a massive nervous breakdown right in front of them so they can see what actual psychosis looks like when they're messing with me. I bet their kids never even slept through the night.

Well, it's good news about the Amyzol; I'm glad to hear that. As for the Quetiapine, it really isn't possible to get that covered by insurance unless you have a psychotic diagnosis on file. If she gets audited, she'll face a fine. Even my psychiatrist told me straight up that I wouldn't be able to get it through my standard prescription. Back then, she just gave me a single box herself, but you know my history with those things. I would offer you mine, but it's expired. And I know it isn't cheap. Look at it this way: try purchasing it out-of-pocket through a private clinic. If it works for you, a good night's sleep is worth the cost. You could ask at a local pharmacy; I believe it goes for about $33.

Skickas fr

jadehawk8 said:Exactly! I'm on day 6 of the antidepressant now and honestly, no side effects at all. For now, I just take the Xanax and Citalon together and I'm fine. I just hope I start feeling better soon.

It's good news regarding those side effects; they shouldn't be coming back. 🙂 Just keep moving forward. 🙂

Skickas FR

shadowbear9 said:I’ve actually started increasing my own dosage on my own terms because I noticed it helps me sleep; it basically knocks me out so I can finally get some decent rest. I usually take three or four, and sometimes I even crush them up so they kick in faster—which, frankly, seems fine to me. I have no idea what my psychiatrist is going to say about it tomorrow, but honestly, I don't care. My priority is SLEEPING so I can actually function like a normal human being during the day instead of feeling like a total zombie. I think I read somewhere in a medical book that a 75 mg dose is permissible—which would be three tablets—so I guess I am pushing it slightly, but I have this deep-seated fear of insomnia. Sometimes I end up mixing Amaryl, Sanval, and Normabel just to make sure I don't wake up in the middle of the night...

Man, please be careful with mixing those medications, and definitely let us know what your therapist says; we're all waiting for an update.
I'm glad you're finally getting some sleep, but you should really ask your doctor which combination is the safest to use.

Skickas FR

Jason Vaughn482 said: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.

Well, 7.5 mg sounds a bit underwhelming to me.
I am sure you will figure something else out eventually.🙂

Skickas FR