Posts by Kevin Nguyen3

fadedbear92 said:watch how this unfolds; just try your best to avoid ending up where I am
Quinn:

I was thinking about starting melatonin again to help with sleep, but I'm honestly a bit paranoid about the serotonin levels... 😢 If it doesn't work alongside this, then what's even the point? edit: little bluebird, Ambien just doesn't do anything for me anymore. Maybe it'll start working again after a long enough break, but right now, it's useless.

That could be because of the Wellbutrin—I'm crossing my fingers you don't end up dealing with the same crap I did; I've seriously cursed Wellbutrin.

Why is that?

I've been on it for ages—75 mg—and I haven't run into any major issues. In fact, if I'm being honest, I actually feel better while taking it... I mean, I don't feel like a brand-new person, but... well, you know how it is.

restlesstiger49 said:How on earth is that supposed to be "fun"? I’ve been on Prozac for four weeks now and haven't felt a single thing. Then, I happen to miss my dose this afternoon—well, I forgot to take it last night—and suddenly I'm dealing with nausea and this weird ringing in my head... What kind of joke is that?

Your subjective feeling that nothing is happening is clearly mistaken.
It has started working, but regardless of how you feel right now, progress doesn't happen overnight.

As for dosages—there is really no point in even debating it. For some people, even Andrew is too much, while others aren't bothered at all by even the strongest antipsychotics out there..

That ringing in your ears is just a standard side effect of suddenly stopping; the vomiting, the headaches, the muscle weakness... there is a whole laundry list of them.

Talk about a sick joke!😁

Eric Mitchell55 said:Let's all head over to Brooklyn.

We'll just be sitting around some bench... honestly, nobody's even going to look our way.🤣

Well, there’s always going to be some debate regarding weight gain and certain antidepressants. But if you ask me? I don't believe the medication itself is the culprit behind the scale moving up. Rather, isn't it more likely that the weight change is just a byproduct of shifts happening within the brain? We end up gaining—or losing—weight because our subconscious habits shift, leading us to either overeat or eat poorly.
The drugs themselves aren't capable of making someone gain or lose weight on their own.
I mean, if you were swallowing 18 pounds of pills, sure, that would explain something! But at the dosages we are actually prescribed? It’s simply impossible.
Certain antipsychotics can trigger intense cravings for sweets or salty snacks, and people just start devouring everything in sight—just like I do, for instance, with ice cream. 🙂
I have been on various antidepressants for nearly twenty years now—some of them have been around practically forever and aren't even on the market anymore—and yet, my weight has remained relatively stable throughout the whole ordeal.
Ultimately, the variable is us, isn't it? It’s about our own behavior, not the medicine.

Is anyone else absolutely losing it over Fodor? Honestly, we need some kind of universal handbook defining what counts as "likable" or not, because if we’re going by those standards, I don't meet the criteria for being charming on any level whatsoever.
And you know what? That’s actually my favorite part about it.
I’ve always just looked... well, let's say intense. Grumpy, sour, bitter, dark, moody—take your pick.
And look... those who know me, know. Those who don't? Well, screw 'em.
There was a time, a long time ago, when I actually cared that I came off as unapproachable and totally uncool, but now? I couldn't care less. Truly. Zero cares given.🤷

Kevin Bailey2 said:If you were dealing with serious heart issues, would walking to a specialist in a bigger city even be an issue for you?

There are millions of drugs on the market. A patient just needs to work with their doctor to find the right fit—the one that actually works for them. You have to remember that everyone is different; no two bodies react to the same medication in the exact same way.
For instance, a friend of mine put on 65 pounds while on Seroquel.
Me? On Seroquel, I was still 20 pounds underweight for my height.

Of course I'm not taking something that causes massive weight gain. Here’s why:
1. There's no reason to. There's always another psych med out there that could help without causing pathological weight gain as a side effect.
2. What's the point of treating depression if I end up developing diabetes?

I don't think I'm being arrogant. I'm just weighing the consequences. I look at the pros and cons of a drug versus the illness before I swallow anything.
At the end of the day, this is my life and my health we're talking about. It's not like I'm picking out floor tiles for my living room.

But in the end, it all boils down to that "maybe another medication might work" scenario, which is so unfortunate. By the time a doctor finally tracks down that alternative, we've been fundamentally changed by the struggle.
We're talking about permanent changes to this or that part of us. And yet, hitting that perfect medication feels impossible.
The truth is, we can be quite timid when it comes to looking a doctor in the eye and saying, "Hey, man, let's please move away from this medication..." instead, we act like ninjas or some kind of phantom, fighting silently.
When you add it all up, you just take the pills and pray to God that things start working... and just like that, years fly by in vain.
Then, boom—everything starts all over again. It isn't easy, and it certainly isn't simple.😢

fadedbear92 said:Of course—low doses can work wonders for anxiety, whereas higher doses are usually more for getting some decent sleep.

That’s the thing, isn't it? It all comes down to knowing where that line is—distinguishing a little bit from a lot. And wouldn't you agree that those higher doses also help keep the psychotic elements at bay?

Justin Rogers5 said:Yeah, but my issue isn't even sleep. It doesn't really touch my insomnia, but it helps with other stuff. I slowly cut my Xanax down to just 25mcg—the lowest dose possible. Sometimes if someone's getting on my nerves or I'm stressed out, I'll take more, but that's becoming less common. That's the main thing. Plus, it actually helps my stomach. If I take it at night, I can finally eat something without my stomach cramping up from anxiety. The label says you can take it in the morning, but I figured I'd check with people who've actually been through it first.😉

My psychiatrist explicitly demanded that I shouldn't take all my medications at once in the evening, insisting I split them between morning and night—something that never even crossed my mind!
Years ago, I was on a regimen where I had to take everything in the morning, and let me tell you, I was about as lively as a potted ficus.
Since then, the moment we start talking, I make it very clear: I am not taking anything in the morning. In fact, I don't even want to discuss the option.
Effexor is a good medication, and Calixta is as well.
If they are going to do their job and pull me out of this depression, then they can certainly do it overnight.☕

Jason Vaughn482 said:I’m not actually taking Valtrex, just the Unknown, but I've been wanting to add Prozac to the mix too. I'll be starting it in the next few days; I was waiting until my appetite finally returned because I had completely lost interest in food (even with the Unknown), but now I feel ready to start the Prozac. I might take the Unknown in a smaller dose at night, or perhaps just take that Q-pin in the evening, though the thought of that medication honestly scares me.

There’s really no reason to be terrified of the Q-pin; it isn't nearly as scary as people make it out to be. 😁
Did your doctor actually suggest that, or are you considering taking it on your own? Well, it doesn't really matter, does it? If you've already made up your mind, then you should definitely start with the lowest possible dose.
I wonder where our friend @rejoflajt is hiding? She really knows her stuff when it comes to managing low doses.
They even come in 25 mg versions, though I personally haven't ever tried them.
How on earth are you even managing to get your hands on these types of medications?😕

Jason Vaughn482 said:You see, my experience with Unknown is quite different; it seems to be losing its efficacy even for sleep. In the beginning, I’d drift off instantly, but after ten days, I find myself needing Ambien just to get any rest. As for the anxiety? It hasn't budged an inch. It’s truly disheartening to have been on this for so long, but if the Ambien isn't cutting it, I feel backed into a corner where I have to increase the Unknown again... honestly, I'm just deeply disappointed.😢
I'll eventually have to pivot to a different medication, but then we run right back into the sleep issue... and on top of everything else, 😢 I wake up feeling utterly drained, exhausted, and riddled with tension. Those butterflies in the stomach—it's just wretched.

I've been taking Unknown at 45 mg and Valtrex at 75 mg for literally years now. For sleep, I also take Q-pin at 300 mg.
With a combination like that, I really don't have any issues with sleeping, provided 5 or 6 hours feels like enough.
Honestly, increasing your antidepressant? I highly doubt that’s going to do anything for your sleep.
In fact, doctors shouldn't even be mixing Unknown and Valtrex because, apparently, those two antidepressants aren't recommended to be taken together.
Any antipsychotic, even in tiny doses, might help you out with the sleep situation. You really ought to discuss that with your doctor.
Of course, you wouldn't even need the anxiolytics anymore.

Chloe Hughes6 said:Some people seem completely lost in this discussion. (I kindly ask the moderators and fellow members to bear with me, as I’m clearly having an off day!) Nevertheless, I can't help but notice a certain pattern of conversation emerging. It usually goes like this: "I take this medication and that supplement; will they interact?"—even though the answer is clearly printed right there on the warning label inside the box! Then, another user chiming in simply says, "Yes, that's exactly what it says," and thus, we have users merely exchanging information that was already provided by the manufacturer. And don't even get me started on these constant questions about weight gain! 🙂 For my part, I have personally tried roughly thirty different psychotropic medications, all of which were prescribed by my doctors (and I am being entirely serious). If anyone has any specific inquiries, please feel free to ask, as my posting style should make it quite evident that I know my stuff.

That is wonderful! In that case, could you perhaps use your own lived experience to describe how certain medications actually affect a person?

I am particularly curious—have you ever taken Seroquel? And if you have, what was that journey like for you? How did you feel before you started, while you were on it, and once the treatment was over?

shadowbear9 said:I ended up getting prescribed it because I couldn't sleep, and honestly, it’s alright. It did manage to settle my anxiety, which was a relief. I guess for me, though, it caused some pretty annoying nausea and other side effects... it was a bit much, if I'm being truthful.

Regarding our ongoing discussions about using antipsychotics as sleep aids, does anyone have any insight on Quetiapine? I suppose I should ask about potential side effects—specifically, do these drugs actually cause dependency? Furthermore, I guess I’m curious which one is considered the most potent for inducing sleep.

They don't cause addiction.
The core component of those antipsychotics is quetiapine.
I personally take a version of it, and frankly, the medication works wonders.
As for asking which one is "the best" for sleep? That is fundamentally the wrong way to frame the question. I would assume that the "best" one simply depends entirely on the individual taking it, wouldn't you?

Psychiatrists typically reserve antipsychotics as a last resort, used only when all other options have been exhausted and the patient is facing severe insomnia.
In my view, it is completely justified. After all, shouldn't the body be brought back to a functional state first so that further treatment can even begin to work?

I’m honestly not quite sure I grasp the actual objective of this thread.
First off, you’ve made a claim that lacks any sort of baseline or reference point, which makes it impossible for me to offer a meaningful response—against what, exactly?
From an objective standpoint, there simply aren't people like that. Is anyone truly incapable of taking a side? How is that even possible?
Are we talking politically? Emotionally? In terms of social class, specific interest groups, or professional standing...?
Before we go further, please define what you mean by "indecision" or "indeterminacy," because the very title of this topic is far too vague.
We might be able to attribute neutrality to certain government agencies, major institutions, or perhaps high-level political leadership...
Though, one could argue that such a state exists within a person suffering from a mental illness, where their perception of reality is completely detached from objective truth.
But then again, wouldn't one have to bury their nose in medical textbooks to uncover the underlying reasons for behavior rooted in a psychological disorder? In that case, they would likely discover certain patterns or perhaps—better yet—a prototype acting as a paradigm.
In certain psychotic states, one could argue there is a total absence of reaction or response to circumstances, events, or the surrounding environment.
In the real world, we don't possess that kind of freedom—or rather, we aren't permitted that luxury—to exist without having a stance, or a belief.

bluesurfer6 said:Could someone clarify if Circadin just contains 2 mg of melatonin? That’s how I gathered from what I read, anyway. And why on earth would it require a prescription if you can just pick up melatonin over the counter at any drugstore!?

Why do you say "just"?
That amount is actually quite sufficient! It is meant to be taken for a maximum of 13 weeks—anything longer than that isn't recommended.
Pfizer made that call based on current FDA regulations regarding medications.

Amanda Vaughn3 said:The strongest thing out there for sleep is actually Circadin (extended-release melatonin).
Unlike other meds that just stretch out the duration without touching quality or depth, melatonin helps normalize the NREM phase—that's when the body actually recovers.
Pairing Fevarin with Circadin is the best way to drastically boost NREM sleep.

I've looked at polysomnography results from people taking all sorts of stuff—like Sanval—and those drugs just force shallow sleep.
People sleep for long stretches but never feel rested because stages 3 and 4 of NREM are basically non-existent. Melatonin, alone or paired with Fevarin, brings those deep phases (delta sleep, the actual restorative kind) back to baseline. You could potentially use another antidepressant alongside melatonin, but you really shouldn't be slamming benzodiazepines or zolpidem; they just increase quantity, not quality. The Japanese seem to understand better than anyone that five hours of deep, quality sleep beats ten hours of shallow tossing and turning.😉

So, I maintain that Dormicum remains the absolute strongest actual MEDICATION for sleep.
Circadin is such a strange hybrid—part drug, part supplement—it's relatively new to the scene and hasn't been studied nearly enough. (If I recall correctly, it only hit the market last year...)
It’s quite curious, isn't it? Why don't hospitals start using Circadin instead of all those standard medications they rely on... you know, things like Sanval, Zan, Cerson, and so on.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why?!
The one real upside is that you practically can't overdose on it... even taking 300 mg won't trigger any major adverse reactions.

But then again, just like any other chemical substance, melatonin carries its own side effects and shouldn't be taken without a doctor's supervision.
Furthermore, melatonin shouldn't be mixed with antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or a whole host of other drugs.
Since the people here on Psychosofa are mostly individuals undergoing pharmacotherapy... discussing melatonin feels somewhat pointless.

Hmm, this claim regarding the REM sleep phase seems rather tenuous, given that some studies haven't actually shown those results.
And claiming that Fevarin yields the best results? That's just nonsense.

shadowbear9 said:Pearson is out of the question, but what about Dormicum? Also, does that Quincie or Seroquel stuff cost a fortune? And how strong are they really?

If you want the heavy hitters, Dormicum is easily the most powerful sleep aid on the market today.
Now, Seroquel and Q-pin are technically classified as antipsychotics, but when all other options fail, can they be used to facilitate a more "normal," prolonged sleep? Yes, they can.
Don't worry, you'll certainly sleep soundly on those... perhaps even longer than necessary.

Eric Mitchell55 said:I'm kind of in the dark too. 😁
Basically, I was prescribed this for my mood, so I was wondering if anyone has any real-world experience with it? I tried Zoloft for a while and it seemed fine at first, but eventually, it just felt like it was making my depression worse and worse. :\
And does it actually help with anxiety?

Hmm, what should I even write that might be useful to you?

Generally speaking, it's a good medication. It’s easy to tolerate—it doesn't mess with my stomach too much, which was a huge deal for me.
I take 75 mg every night from Maria Theresa and I haven't noticed my body building up a tolerance to it yet, which is important to me, though I suppose that's true of all antidepressants, even if we like to claim otherwise.
I don't struggle with anxiety myself, so I can't say for sure, but I highly doubt it wouldn't help.
For depressive moods? It's excellent. For me, it's been the best one so far.
Of course, you have to look at everything over a long period of time; things were rough at the start and I had to wait quite a while, but once it finally kicked in... everything has been much better since then.
For someone like me, who was completely consumed by suicidal thoughts before this, it has been a true revelation.😉

Eric Mitchell55 said:Has anyone here actually used Velafax before? I'm curious to hear if it's worth it.

Well, I am not entirely sure what specific information you are seeking.
I have been taking it for ages...

redranger2 said:They definitely work for sleep; I was prescribed them for stubborn insomnia.

So, look—antipsychotics aren't strictly *intended* to be sleep aids.
Their primary purpose is to stabilize certain types of psychosis.
However, doctors will occasionally prescribe them for sleep because when someone is dealing with psychosis (or even intense neurosis), they simply cannot sleep. They show up to their appointments absolutely exhausted, sleep-deprived, and completely wiped out...
In those specific instances, you have to address the lack of sleep immediately as a matter of urgency.

Once the psychosis begins to settle down, the antipsychotics are phased out or the dosage is tapered off.

Zyprexa is a solid medication—olanzapine. I used it back in the day, and later on, I took Olandix... it's essentially the same thing.

rustymaker682 said:The doctor gave him a pill from her own stash... I think it's called Vaira... please, can you explain these EF-oeves to me?

And I’ve taken that stuff myself; it isn't exactly terrible.
But listen, it isn't meant for sleep; it's an antipsychotic.