Posts by Kevin Nguyen3

Donna Torres5 said:Has anyone else noticed their memory taking a hit since starting their medication? Mine has completely vanished; I’ve got the memory of a goldfish, kind of like how Dora acts in those Nemo cartoons. I can’t even recall what happened last week, let alone last year—it feels like there are massive tectonic gaps in my head! Could this be a side effect from the AD-ov or the AP?

Well, my dear Dora😁... yes, it absolutely can. And it might stick with you for a long time.
But listen, there are ways to work on it—ways to sharpen that memory or at least manage it better. You could try mnemonics or other mental tricks. Just go racing off to Google and you'll find plenty of info.
And don't you dare forget what I just told you now.😍

rowdyhawk152 said:I'm dealing with OCD, anxiety, and insomnia.

I've been on Zoloft for a few days now (starting at 0.25 mg in the morning, planning to bump it up to 0.5 mg after a week) along with some Xanax. My doctor prescribed 0.25 mg for both morning and night, but I've only been taking the morning dose because I don't want to get hooked—plus, it’s pretty much the only time I actually need it to get through my shift.

The Xanax definitely takes the edge off, but honestly, I feel kind of sluggish and depressed. I can't tell if it's just my crappy work environment and lack of sleep, or if the meds themselves are doing this to me.

Whenever I try to go to bed early, I end up waking up way too soon and just lying there wide awake. My only real option is to pop a pill to fall back asleep, but then the effect wears off before my workday is even over.

So, I decided to start mixing Sanval (5 mg) and Xanax (0.25 mg). I'll take them in whatever combo works—one at night and one during work, or vice versa—because Sanval actually works better for me when I'm awake anyway. It keeps me relaxed and in a much better mood than the Xanax does.

What are the odds I'll end up addicted if I keep this up? And is it worth going back to my psychiatrist to see if they can switch me to a different combo?

Your psychiatrist really should have explained that a cocktail like that isn't going to provide any lasting relief.
The medications aren't "bad," per se, but you're merely treating the symptoms rather than addressing the actual root causes. Isn't that the fundamental issue?
If a depressive mood is what's actually being diagnosed, then these specific meds lose their utility. It’s time to look into AD-ov options.
So, yes—going back to the psychiatrist absolutely makes sense.

Gary Diaz3 said:I've been taking Rivotril for a little while now. From what I understand, it’s categorized as an anti-epileptic, but in my case, my doctor prescribed it specifically to help with anxiety and calming down. I'm currently on a 0.5 mg dose. Does anyone know if that's considered a low dose? I see people mentioning they take 2 mg of other types of anti-anxiety meds, so I'm wondering if that's roughly equivalent to four times my dose, or does it just depend entirely on the specific medication? Pharmacology was never really my thing, so I'm a bit lost here.

No, there is absolutely no such thing as a universal equivalence between different medications. The actual chemical composition and how the drug interacts with your body determines what your doctor prescribes; what everyone else is popping is completely irrelevant to your situation.
Clonazepam isn't a bad option, so just stick to exactly what your physician ordered. You shouldn't attempt to increase the dose on your own, but neither should you try to taper off by yourself, because then the entire course of treatment becomes pointless! If changes are actually necessary, your doctor is right there to handle those adjustments properly.

Scott Miller4 said:Do you really think I have any other take on depression?

No. Quite the opposite! I actually found that post quite compelling, which is precisely why I felt it was necessary to point out that one should occasionally reflect upon what you wrote there.😉

Scott Miller4 said:That’s all great, really. We’ve all had those moments of feeling a bit discouraged here and there..
But depression is a whole different animal. When that hits, you don't even have the motivation to care about having a goal in the first place.

The whole idea of finding true purpose might fit better under spirituality or something, but I guess I'm just glad to hear someone finally found their way. 🙂

It’s a mantra one should probably repeat daily.
Depression is an actual illness—a medical disorder that can be treated.

Larry Lewis said:I don't quite follow the logic here. Ever since I switched to the XR version of Seroquel, I've felt much better. My doctor bumped me up by another 100mg at night and everything was fine. Then, during a bit of a crisis, she added another 100mg in the morning—which completely wiped me out—so I dropped back down to 50mg, but even that is triggering these absolutely horrific episodes.
I think I'll try 25mg in the morning next; if I still feel totally unsettled, I might just stop taking the morning dose altogether.

It truly just drains the very will to live right out of you.

EDIT: Those two medications are essentially the exact same thing.

No, actually... based on what I've seen from others, Q-pin is much easier to tolerate. In my own experience, Q-pin is like chamomile tea compared to Seroquel.
So many people have switched from Ser to some other AP and finally found relief.
Does Seroquel even make sense unless you're dealing with schizophrenia? That's the only time. Otherwise, it doesn't knock you out quite as hard, so you can actually function during the day.

Jonathan Ramirez5 said:When you drop a line like "there isn't another way," it sounds so incredibly final.
There is *always* another way, even if it means adding more layers to what you're already doing...
Look, I wouldn't claim to be an expert on the definition of "severe, deep depression"—even though I've read plenty about it and the various medical perspectives (because there's always a debate, right?)—and I'm not even sure I've lived through it myself. But I figure the fallout from similar levels of intensity would be much the same, depending on how a person is wired.
I can definitely say there was a period in my life where I wasn't "well"—I'm not sure what diagnosis a doctor would have slapped on me since I never gave them the full story—but even during that mess, whether it was depression or something else entirely, there was still an ego, a will, and a desire... and a whole lot more.
And honestly? I had to relearn how to direct that ego, that will, that desire... it wasn't easy. I won't pretend I'm perfectly healthy now, but I have this way of thinking about thinking... it's like you step back, look at yourself as if you were a stranger, and analyze everything. You take those principles that hold true for everyone else and reflect them back onto yourself. If I expect certain things from others, I expect them from myself too. And if I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and know that my actions actually match my words, then I make it happen. Anything else is just making excuses...
Then again, like that one famous guy once said, there used to be times when saying "I won't" or "I can't" landed you in prison or a psych ward. Maybe that's the crack in the door—that moment where a total transformation actually becomes possible because...

Honestly? Your post is just... useless. It's disjointed, it's unnecessary, and frankly, it lacks substance. You should have tried to be more concise.
So, what are these "other ways" to treat severe depression?
Please, tell me—I am dying to hear them. Just tell me.
Since you won't answer—because let's face it, there is no answer—that will be my proof (though I already know) that you never actually suffered from depression at all.
Perhaps you were just unsuccessfully trying to convince yourself that you were terribly ill, but it's simply not true.
Depression cannot—and I mean this once and for all—cannot be cured by thoughts, willpower, desire, or any other such nonsense.
What are these additional methods for treating depression?
How can you even claim you were sick if there was no clinical diagnosis?
Did you just decide for yourself?
Alright, now, be polite and just answer these specific questions. And please, be constructive—no guessing games or baseless assumptions.
We can actually start a real discussion if you show some actual interest.

Larry Lewis said:Does anyone else here take Seroquel in the morning—and I mean regardless of the dosage? My doctor put me on 100mg during the AM hours, but even just a measly 50mg sends me into this... well, I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's an inexplicable state that lingers for hours. It’s like this overwhelming wave of intense anxiety paired with a sort of mild psychosis—not that I'm losing it entirely, mind you—but more of a total inability to think straight or just this profound, heavy mental fog.

I really wouldn't recommend taking it that way. Taking Abilify in the morning is something you only do under strict medical supervision, like if you were staying at a hospital.
Why?
Because you could end up feeling like a total vegetable all day long.
Outside of a clinical setting, you’re going to be a zombie, and you simply can't afford to let that happen.
100 mg is no joke... go ahead, try it. Nothing bad will happen, and then you'll see exactly what I mean.
Since you'll be sleeping through most of the day anyway... well, you won't have anything left to write about.😁

urbanskipper4 said:Hmm, yeah, I'm 45 pounds overweight. "Corpulant" is such a nice way for you to put it; I'd just say I'm fat.
I love bread, pastries, cookies... That's what really does me in.

Oh, and there are still more meds I've been on:

Paxil, Zoloft, Eglonyl, Dogmatil, all mixed in with the ones mentioned earlier.
Now that I think about it, I could probably make a career out of testing drug side effects, since pretty much everything sticks to me.

Your liver isn't going to be happy about that, unfortunately. In any case, one really ought to aim to lower the dosage of these meds as much as possible while still maintaining the same effect. Is that always easy to achieve? No, certainly not. But when people are experimenting this much, shouldn't they at least try to taper down where they can?
When a person is healthy, obsessing over weight feels like a perfectly normal thing to do, but once you fall ill, priorities shift, don't they?
Being overweight isn't some abnormal or ugly thing; it's just a matter of accepting that for some people, other problems simply take precedence.

urbanskipper4 said:Yeah, sure, maybe the pill isn't "fattening" per se, but it triggers those cravings. For me, it hits like crazy—I get this insane hunger and get so jittery that I absolutely *have* to eat, it's awful. How the hell are you supposed to stick to a diet like that?

Ugh, I honestly don't know. Diet culture has become such a total nightmare for women in this country, hasn't it? People are constantly hunting for the next "miracle" pill or supplement just to shed a few ounces.
It really comes down to how we define obesity and when a diet is actually necessary. If someone is carrying significant extra weight, the only way is to go slow over a long period. You need those little breaks to let your body adjust to its new baseline before starting again.
That's the only sustainable way; anything else is just a roller coaster of crashing and rebounding.
Man, you listed quite a laundry list of medications there.
But remember, you always have a choice. You shouldn't just blindly swallow whatever a psychiatrist prescribes if it doesn't sit right with you—don't just let them dictate your life.
Surely we still have enough freedom in America to make our own decisions, right?
As for the hunger, I personally think it’s more of a habit than actual physical starvation. In my book, there's no excuse for eating after 6 or 7 PM; snacking around midnight is practically a crime!
If things get intense and the anxiety kicks in, try reaching for some fruit or vegetables instead. It doesn't have to be a massive sandwich loaded with pounds of deli meat and heaps of cheese.
Just by cutting out late dinners, you'll eventually start seeing results.
You can always explain all these side effects to your doctor; it's just that in the heat of the moment, it rarely occurs to us to bring up those specific details.

Austin Nelson2 said:The struggle for self-actualization. The fight just to stay afloat.
It’s a battle when you feel like the whole world is stacked against you—fighting your own ego when it refuses to let you grow, battling misconceptions, depression, or anxiety... but it isn't all combat. Finding moments to relax or simply enjoy life is just as vital as the daily grind.
Then, occasionally, someone crosses your path—someone who somehow manages to motivate you and give you that necessary push during the fray.
They might just be a stranger passing by, yet they are the ones you remember most vividly.

Reading all that sounds lovely enough on the "healthy" side of the forum. But here? This place is nothing more than a pipe dream.
Dealing with depression requires a combination of psychotherapy and medication. There is no other way, so let's not delude ourselves with these fantasies.
Anyone who has actually been trapped in the depths of severe depression knows perfectly well that a fight like that is lost before it even begins.
When you're actually healthy, then maybe we can sit around and talk about ego, character, willpower, desire, and that whole cluster of similar concepts.

Paul Thompson3 said:I was going to post this in Philosophy, but since everyone in the psych group seems to share the common denominator of being "totally screwed," I figured I'd drop it here instead.
Life is a struggle—blah, blah, blah... But what happens when that struggle doesn't actually have a goal worth fighting for? When you’ve just been spinning your wheels for ages, staring at a wall, knowing full well nothing is ever going to change? You get those little bursts of ego, thinking you've made it, only to crash back down again—just an endless cycle of highs and lows against a backdrop of absolute, impenetrable nothingness. There's no safe harbor, no handhold, nothing actually worth living for.
Is this the headspace most people find themselves in right before they decide to end it all?

No.
It all depends on how you define your objective.
If you set the bar impossibly high, then every single step forward feels like a failure. But if you approach life with realistic expectations based on your actual circumstances and conditions, then every little situation can be a source of joy. It really comes down to understanding two different contexts.
Look at it from this perspective: regardless of how life unfolds—whether it follows your predictable script or takes its own chaotic path—every tiny, mundane detail that makes up a life can offer you a reward in the form of happiness.
That is the realization suicidal individuals often reach.
The real question is, what exactly do you consider to be worth living for?!
Of course, everyone's perspective is subjective, so writing extensively about it is essentially pointless.
Try writing down what you have, what you lack, what you want, and what is actually achievable. Be objective about it, and I think you'll find life becomes a bit more cheerful, more fulfilling, and filled with fewer disappointments.
Right now, you're suffering from tunnel vision and can't see past your own nose—no offense intended. Life is so much more than a constant rat race for cash and some fantasies that have very little to do with reality.

Chris Howard3 said:Thanks so much for the input. I think I’ll head off now and take my 10 mg dose—then I'll try spacing it out to every four days, then five, and see how that goes. I’ve heard you aren't supposed to just quit cold turkey, and while my gut is telling me to just stop since the dosage is technically low, even at this level, I’m dealing with this intense pressure in my head that makes me feel absolutely terrible.

Try cutting the dose in half. Just take half of what you've been taking for a while. Nothing catastrophic is going to happen; you're simply putting half the amount of active ingredients into your system.
Once your body adjusts to that lower amount after a bit, start spacing out the doses—maybe every other day... then every third day, and so on.
When those symptoms finally stop bothering you, you can just stop entirely.

@emma88

With any medication—and especially with an AP—there’s always this looming possibility that certain side effects will kick in, or maybe they just linger.
When we group everything under one big umbrella, we're basically just trying to figure out how to take a pill while minimizing the fallout, all while ensuring the drug actually does what it's supposed to do in the first place.
I’ve cycled through Vera, Alexander, and several others, and honestly? Every single one brought its own unique set of issues.
I’m still dealing with some side effects right now, but they aren't stopping me from living my life normally.
I think the best approach is to just make peace with it as long as you can maintain a semblance of a normal existence. Isn't constantly hunting for new medications or trying things we haven't touched before just making our future more complicated?
Of course, there is a valid reason to switch if the current medication is causing so many side effects that the damage outweighs the benefits. A drug shouldn't be doing more harm to the body than the actual illness itself!
As for the weight gain issue... I believe I've mentioned this somewhere before, but I'm not convinced that any specific medication is the sole culprit behind the scale going up. In my view, it’s more about lifestyle and mindset than the pills themselves. They might mess with your metabolism enough to trigger cravings or a sudden urge for sweets, but ultimately, the responsibility falls on us to try and exercise some self-control.

Chris Howard3 said:I’ll start by apologizing—I’m not entirely sure if I’ve landed in the right sub, but I could really use some perspective and advice here. For the last eight months, I’ve been on 10 mg of Citalopram, though for the past three months, I’ve actually been tapering myself down to 10 mg every other day. My psychiatrist gave me the green light to stop the medication entirely, but now I’m second-guessing everything: Is it actually safe to just quit cold turkey, or am I being reckless? I’m currently on my third day without any medication, and honestly? I feel incredibly strange. There’s this constant pressure in my head, a general sense of confusion... is this just what "weaning off" feels like, or should I have been more gradual—maybe stretching it out to every fourth or fifth day instead? Any insight would be appreciated.

It is just like any other antidepressant—you have to taper off slowly. You absolutely cannot go cold turkey. In certain cases, stopping abruptly can actually be dangerous.
The side effects you're describing are quite common if someone stops suddenly; however, if you follow a gradual tapering process, those symptoms are either non-existent or very rare.
Do a little reading on discontinuation syndrome. It will make everything much clearer for you.

urbanskipper4 said:Hey unknown!
I seriously need to get off this Seroquel. I’m counting down the days until my next check-up, just praying my doctor finally agrees to taper me off. Fingers crossed.

Here’s the damage so far:-weight gain-I’ve been snacking constantly all day, and honestly, the anxiety gets so bad I find myself raiding the fridge at 4 AM.
-tardive dyskinesia-my muscles won't stop twitching; my arms and legs just jerk uncontrollably sometimes.
-congested nose-it never goes away.
-pins and needles-this weird sensation where it feels like someone is poking my skin with needles, usually just for a second at a time.
-insanely low blood pressure
-dry mouth and shortness of breath
-swollen joints and fingers

Look, I could probably deal with most of this crap, but the weight gain is where I draw the line. I put on 13 pounds in just a month, and I wasn't even overweight before this. My appetite is out of control—honestly, it’s even worse than when I was on Zyprexa. I don't get how my doctor could look me in the face and claim this stuff doesn't cause weight gain or sugar cravings when that is literally what's happening to me. I feel like she totally lied to me.

Do you happen to know if unknown causes weight gain? Because that was the first thing she tried to put me on.
Later,

You certainly have quite the list of side effects.
Seroquel has a terrible reputation for exactly those reasons. It might be effective for schizophrenia, but for anything else? Not so much.
I am not sure what your physician will suggest, but I am currently taking an unknown and I am satisfied with it. I actually took Seroquel myself once and managed to drop 40 pounds in 60 days.🙂It seems everyone reacts differently, doesn't it?
Loquex is also a good option. That is just my subjective opinion, of course.☕
As for Ludiomil, I don't know for certain regarding the weight gain, but from what I have heard from others... yes, apparently it does.😢
I took that antidepressant for a very short period and it just didn't sit right with me.🤷

Timothy Wood38 said:

Bluzara says
I’ve quit.🙂
It’s better to just let people decide for themselves—let them read the same things I did. Sure, there are official guidelines, but...
What’s even the point of reading if you aren't going to actually absorb it or take it to heart?
If I’ve messed something up here, please, tell me. I genuinely get the feeling that my information might be off base sometimes.
In our neck of the woods, Sanval is usually the first thing doctors suggest, though sometimes they offer Zonadin instead. Since they’re essentially doing the same job (not literally, obviously), the difference is more about the psychological aspect than any actual physiological shift.
Zan is rarely, if ever, even on the table.
And what does "if taken correctly" actually entail?
Walk me through it, please.
The recommendation is usually not to use it for longer than two weeks (!!!), and if there's no progress, go back to the psychiatrist—so, in that context, I’m wondering what specifically I asked.
How long have you been on Zan?
Please, look up that list of medications that shouldn't be mixed with Zan when you have a moment.
There are a ton.
Zan is primarily prescribed for folks who have allergies to certain ingredients found in other benzodiazepine-based drugs (like Sanval and its ilk...).
As for the whole "more favorable side effect profile" argument... I won't even go there. It's such an individual experience that trying to write about it feels like a total waste of breath.☕

A doctor determines the proper way to take a medication. When setting up a pharmacotherapy plan, there are several benchmarks to hit: selecting the right drug, the correct dosage, the right route of administration, timing, the circumstances under which it's taken, and so on. Regardless, Zan (zaleplon) has proven to be a safer option than Sanval (zolpidem). There is plenty of research out there supporting this. I believe the FDA recently released some report regarding zolpidem and its side effects.

I am well aware of that. I have actually been reading through various accounts—admittedly rather negative ones—along with research coming out of Canada because they banned the prescription of Zane (or at least their equivalent version of the same drug, assuming nothing has changed in the formula). Honestly? It didn't leave me with much of a positive impression.
But then again, isn't that just how all medical treatments work? A medication might work wonders for one person while causing harm to another.
And yes, when you get into the weeds regarding administration protocols, things certainly become more complicated, but perhaps that is a conversation for another time.🙄

Timothy Wood38 said:Please, stop spreading misinformation. I'm only quoting this specific post of yours, but there were others too. Zan has a much shorter half-life than Sanval, so your claim that it should keep someone asleep longer is completely contradictory. Zan is used to induce sleep. It actually has a more favorable side effect profile than Sanval. There’s a much lower chance of morning grogginess or parasomnia. If used correctly, it’s a perfectly safe medication, especially since it leaves your system so quickly.

I have stopped.🙂
The best approach is simply to give people a choice, so they can read for themselves what I have read. Sure, there are instructions, but...
What is even the point of reading if one refuses to accept or comprehend the information?
If I have erred somewhere, I would be deeply grateful if you would point it out to me, because I have gathered the impression that I am generally providing incorrect information.
Here in the States, Sanval is typically the first-line treatment, though sometimes Zonadin is prescribed instead. Since these drugs are essentially serving the same purpose (not literally, of course), the effect is more psychological than a physical change.
Zan is rarely, if ever, offered.
And what, precisely, does "if taken correctly" entail?
Please, describe it to me.
Given that it is strongly recommended for no longer than two weeks (!!!)—and if no improvement is seen, one should contact their psychiatrist again—in that context, I am curious about what I asked you.
How long have you been taking Zan?
Please, take a moment to read about the massive list of medications that are not recommended to be taken in combination with Zan.
A whole mountain of them.
Zan is primarily prescribed to those who are allergic to certain ingredients found in other benzodiazepine-based medications (like Sanval and similar...).
As for a "more favorable side-effect profile," I won't even go there; such things are so incredibly individual that writing about it feels like a total waste of time.☕

Karen Garcia6 said:You’re totally misreading the situation... this isn't some deep dive into self-confidence, self-awareness, or being too chicken to speak your mind...

For instance: Person A and Person B are just talking, right? Then Person A says something, and Person B completely disagrees. Instead of debating it, everything just goes dead quiet and the conversation hits a wall. j

So, I guess my question for you guys is... where do you actually draw the line when it comes to dealing with someone who just refuses to respect your perspective?

Fine! Just swap out the roles—reassign the actors, you know?—and simply remove yourself from the equation entirely.
The fundamental solution to the problem remains exactly the same, doesn't it?☕

And there is quite clearly a specific reason why your opinion isn't carrying the weight you seem to think it should.
If you aren't consistent with the stances you take, then well, it’s just simple math.
If you don't actually mean what you say, it’s the same old story. You might have an opinion, sure, but nobody is going to take it seriously. When opinions exist just for the sake of existing—without any practical purpose or real-world utility—they tend to get ignored.
So, there are more facts to consider here.
If you're truly trying to tackle a problem like this, you need to start with your own convictions. Re-evaluate them. Are they built on a foundation of facts that are easily verifiable and undeniably true?
That is the only way you can truly stand behind yourself, and behind everything you say.
Otherwise, you're just spinning your wheels. You attempt to engage in a debate without even being certain what your ultimate goal is. Is it to prove you're right—which might not even be the truth—or to prove that your "objective" view actually has some substance?
But, there is another side to this that you simply must consider, because let's face it, we are rarely right about everything. There is always something new to learn, whether we end up being correct or not.
True confidence comes from verified knowledge. If it doesn't, then we're just fooling ourselves with a lack of confidence, which eventually poisons the well of our communication in general.