Posts by Gerald Torres2

Donna Torres5 said:I’ve been feeling that mental fog lately too, almost like my brain is running on low battery. It takes me much longer to tap into my creative side, which is tough since my job requires me to stay sharp and ready to react at a moment's notice. I’m dealing with some minor setbacks, but if this is the trade-off for maintaining my stability, I can handle it. There are much bigger struggles out there in the world; I’m facing this, while others are fighting battles like cancer. At the end of the day, life isn't fair—we can't all live long, happy lives and pass away peacefully at ninety.

So, I'm back in school (not a kid, I'm 27), and honestly, I struggle to even follow the lectures sometimes because my valium kills my concentration... but the way Seroquel made me feel so stupid was just terrifying. I couldn't find the right words for things. Like, I'd stare at the fridge and completely blank on what the thing inside was called or even how to say it. It was awful. And then, predictably, once that passed, the low-grade depression and anxiety started creeping in... man, what a mess.🙂🙂🙂🙂

fadedbear92 said:It honestly pains me to see how poorly Zoloft affects some of you—if it’s hitting you that hard, please either find an alternative or at least talk it over with a therapist.

Personally, I think Q-pin is the absolute best.

As for me, I don't even need it. Honestly, I have no idea why I let anyone talk me into trying this in the first place... I still feel completely trashed. I have zero motivation, I'm depressed, and I'm exhausted...🙂
I can't wait for this feeling to wear off.🙂 🙂 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:Yeah, and the absolute worst part is when people start noticing you've slowed down—that vacant, hollow stare. After what I went through with Zyprexa and Prozac, I'm strictly avoiding antipsychotics. Even at my last checkup, my doctor suggested swapping out my anxiety meds for 25 mg of Seroquel. Yeah... no thanks.

Honestly, it sounds awful...🙂 🙂I have zero interest in taking that stuff, so I don't need it. Even if I actually did need it, I still wouldn't touch it.😲

Timothy Wood38 said:That's pretty much what all antipsychotics do.

That sounds awful...🙂 🙂 🙂Thanks for the heads up.
I have a feeling things are going to be... well, thanks, but I'd really rather not deal with this when I head to the psychiatric clinic on Tuesday.😍

I took 25mg of Seroquel yesterday and actually managed to sleep for a solid 9 hours, 😍
but man, I feel completely drugged today. I have to force myself to focus on every little thing I do just so I don't screw everything up... which isn't exactly a win in my book. Usually, when I get my usual 6 hours of shut-eye, I wake up feeling totally fine and alert. Honestly, I think sticking to 6 hours might be better for me. It feels like this was prescribed as a mood stabilizer, but my moods aren't even really swinging that much to begin with. 😲
As for anxiety meds, I'm already tapering off them anyway; I only take them when absolutely necessary, averaging about 1 mg of Klonopin every other day. 🤷😕
The Seroquel just makes me feel stupid—like my brain is running in slow motion and my memory is shot. Has anyone else dealt with side effects like this?

Kevin Bailey2 said:For me, Seroquel hits hardest about thirty minutes after I take it. Almost immediately. I usually just head straight to bed and wake up feeling rested, though I'm a little groggy until I grab a coffee or a Gatorade. That usually snaps me out of it. And then, of course, I start my morning routine... Prozac and Valium.

Don't sweat it. Those aren't even high doses.

I ended up getting a bit anxious and decided I’ll just hold off on starting the Seroquel until Saturday night. Between a job interview today, studying for school all afternoon, and a workshop tomorrow morning... I figured it was better to delay. I'll let you guys know how it goes once I actually try it.😍

Kevin Bailey2 said:For me, Seroquel hits hardest about thirty minutes after I take it. Almost immediately. I usually just head straight to bed and wake up feeling rested, though I'm a little groggy until I grab a coffee or a Gatorade. That usually snaps me out of it. And then, of course, I start my morning routine... Prozac and Valium.

Don't sweat it. Those aren't even high doses.

That’s great, thanks so much for the heads-up!!! 😍
Wellbutrin is going to be my lifesaver; it’s basically my morning jumpstart. 🙂

Kevin Bailey2 said:If she said "one a day," you can pretty much count that as "one at night." Just take it right before bed. If you're worried about the munchies, that's your best bet. Usually, those cravings hit hardest when the meds are peaking... so it's better to just sleep through that imaginary hunger.

But seriously... at first, I just felt hungry. After a while, even that stopped.

Then again, I’m basically on the edge of having anorexia, so who am I to give advice on this stuff?

Well, mine was prescribed for the evening too... so I'll probably take it around 7 or 8 PM like you suggested. I don't want to be a total zombie during my interview tomorrow since this is the extended-release version. I've taken all sorts of pills before, but I've never tried an antipsychotic, so I honestly have no clue what to expect... and when does the drug actually kick in? Like, how long after taking it? Since you know about this XR version?? Sorry for being such a pain, I'm just a little stressed out...😢

fadedbear92 said:Basically, the pill is designed for a slow release based on what your body needs, so it stays active through your entire 12-hour sleep cycle.
If anyone here knows more about how that works, please jump in!😉

Well, that’s exactly my concern... how long does this stuff actually last, and how quickly does it kick in? I have a job interview tomorrow and I'm terrified that if I take it tonight, I'll show up looking like a total drunk. Plus, I've got class on Saturday, and I'm dealing with the same anxiety there too...
I'm stuck deciding whether I should just skip it for those two days entirely, or maybe try taking it around 5 or 6 PM so it wears off by 11 when my interview starts...😕
Any advice???

Kevin Bailey2 said:The "XR" just means it's extended-release, so it kicks in slower and lasts longer.

For me, it spiked my appetite for the first three days.
After that, nothing.

Yeah, mine told me to take it once a day as a stabilizer. 😕
When exactly do you start feeling that XR kick in?
I'm really hoping I don't pack on the pounds... because right now, I'm already feeling a bit heavy...😍

So, I was just prescribed Seoquel XR at 50 mg to take at bedtime. I see that some of you seem to be doing fine on it, but you’re all taking the standard version while I’ve been put on the XR formulation. Could someone please explain the actual difference between the two? Also, I’m curious if anyone has dealt with weight gain from this specific version. The instructions mention it’s a common side effect, and frankly, that’s the last thing I want to deal with right now.
thanks for the input.

redtiger35 said:Didn't get a reply a little while back, so I figured I’d give this another shot...
My doctor wrote me a prescription for Valium to help me taper off the Helix.
But honestly, I’m still sticking with the Helix because I’m pretty hooked—even though my doses aren't massive, maybe 1 mg at most, and sometimes just half a milligram keeps me asleep at night, which is what I've been doing for about a year now. I'm just terrified that Valium won't provide that same sense of "support" that Helix does, and since there’s never a perfect time when life isn't hitting me with stress or work craziness, I really don't want to risk going without my Helix.

So, how does Valium actually work? I've heard some people say you can't even feel it and that it's way weaker than Helix.

I've mentioned Valium before, and for me, it’s great... I'd honestly rather take it than Xanax (same goes for Helix). In my experience, 1 mg of Valium is roughly equivalent to 0.5 mg of Xanax. It doesn't hit you instantly; it takes about half an hour, and you don't necessarily "feel" the onset—you just suddenly feel normal, like it clears your head, calms you down, and relaxes you. At least, that's how it works for me. With Xanax, I end up yawning constantly and feeling sort of stupid, like my memory isn't working quite right. You don't get that with Valium. Don't be afraid; I would choose Valium over Xanax or Ativan any day (those are the two I used to take). Just keep in mind that Valium lasts longer than Xanax, and supposedly, it's not as easy to get hooked on.

Daniel Doyle7 said:Anyone here dealt with urinary retention from meds? Like, you literally can't empty your bladder? If you have—how did you fix it?

I don't have full-blown retention, but it definitely takes me much longer to get things moving, and it feels like a struggle to go... ever since I started my meds. As for actual retention, though, I can't say I've experienced that.😲

Paul Newman5 said:What's the point of talking to this shrink? Even went private thinking I'd actually get "better treatment," maybe someone who'd listen and believe what I was going through. When I told her the Luxe was driving me crazy and giving me chest pains all day, she basically said she hadn't heard a single patient complain in 25 years and that everyone loves Luxe. Guess I'm just special. Then she suggested I check into the hospital so she could experiment with combinations there—she works both private practice and at the hospital—and ended up prescribing Wellbutrin, which I never even picked up. It's strictly for depression, and I have anxiety and restlessness. That's what the labels say, anyway. Some people on here say it makes them feel like they're being electrocuted, and even psychiatrists writing articles online say it's no good for anxiety. So what's the point of arguing about mixing two different meds? She even told me there are 500 psychiatrists in the country, so I can pick someone else if she doesn't believe me. But really, she didn't believe me; she just insisted Luxe was perfect for me. As if I wouldn't be thrilled if Luxe actually worked, or if Cipralex hadn't caused the same issues and left me feeling better by now. I started the Luxe in November last year, so I should have seen some progress by now, but she just wouldn't listen. So, yeah... we're "friends."

A supposedly "great doctor" with all that experience really ought to know that medication affects everyone differently. Most people handle Paxil fine, but it nearly drove me over the edge when I was on it. Wellbutrin works for me, but it does almost nothing for my panic attacks or anxiety, so I take Zoloft alongside it. That combination works for me. You need to find another doctor—and honestly, they don't have to be a private specialist to be more rational than this one. I hope you find something that works...

Paul Newman5 said:Or maybe just a heavy blow to the head for some real sedation.😂I told her I’m still weighing whether I'll even bother seeing a psychiatrist again. That Lariam didn't do much for my anxiety when I was taking it with Luxe. Wouldn't that just leave me sleeping all day anyway? Sometimes I wish I could just disappear to a desert island for two months where nobody asks me for anything. But that's not happening.

Right, because you can always get that kind of sedation covered by Medicare. 😂
Maybe you could try combining two different antidepressants—taking one in the morning to give you an energy boost and another at night to knock you out. I've heard people pull off those kinds of combinations... personally, I take two stimulants during the day, and it works perfectly for me.🤷
And that remote island? I've been dreaming about it for years, too... but I can never quite make it happen.

Larry Campbell said:I’m going to try this one more time... does anyone here actually have experience working with Asante?

Well, you aren't exactly having much luck finding anyone with real-world experience, are you?

wiredmason56 said:I’ve been on Effexor for quite a while now, but I’ve really started to notice a pattern: if I miss a dose, my mood just tanks. I get these sudden bouts of crying spells, like this past Friday 🙏where I ended up snapping at my boyfriend for no real reason—well, okay, he was being annoying about one of his opinions, but my reaction was totally out of proportion even to me. We got back to my place and I just started spiraling, getting all worked up about him walking into the room with his shoes on, just little things, you know? Then it escalated into me yelling about how he hates me and saying I can't take it anymore... 🙄After that, he just stood up and walked away. He eventually came back with something wrapped in pretty gift paper, but I was still sulking. Then I had the nerve to demand he make me some coffee and bring me a soda 🤣,but he told me he wasn't doing anything until I calmed down. That just set me off even more. I told him, "Fine, I'll do it myself, but then I'm leaving, and you won't see me again because I'm meeting someone else"—honestly, it was a total disaster 😂. Well, he just told me to go, though you could tell he was absolutely fuming inside... So, I went to make myself a Nescafe and grabbed a Coke 😂and then I just started crying again. Eventually, we made up and I actually started laughing at myself. I've realized that happens every single time I accidentally skip my meds... Generally, the stuff works for me, I've just noticed I'm a bit more irritable and forgetful lately 🤷

Ugh, I know this feeling all too well... I also find myself overreacting in really stupid ways sometimes. It's not even that I feel agitated or irritable beforehand, I just react that way regardless. I try to stay on as few anxiolytics as possible, so I often end up in the exact same position you were in last Friday... poor guys have to deal with us

David Bishop4 said:I hear you, and you're absolutely right. That's exactly what I plan to do—take it one step at a time and see how it goes.

It doesn't hurt to try. If this works—and I really hope it does—you might finally be able to start tapering off the Misar.😍

David Bishop4 said:When I'm back home, I usually find that I don't even really need it; if I am feeling tense, I can generally manage to stay in control of it. I'm heading over to the guys' place today, so I'll likely finish off that remaining half-dose, but starting tomorrow—or perhaps Monday—I am going to try stepping down to the 0.25mg dose, and we shall see how that goes.

Look, here’s the deal: take the one you have, but pack the other one in your pocket just in case you hit a wall and need it. That said, you've been on Seroxat for about four or five weeks now, so honestly, you shouldn't be leaning on Misar anymore... that's just a trap. Seriously, try to move away from it.

David Bishop4 said:Back when things were at their absolute worst, even that 0.25mg dose didn't feel like enough to help me, but now I find myself terrified of leaving the house without that tiny dose. Honestly, I'm just not sure what to do.

Look, those antidepressants usually spike your anxiety right at the start. But you've adjusted now, and since the anxiety isn't hitting quite as hard, just give it a shot. Try staying local—just stay home or nearby while you test the waters. It really isn't worth getting hooked on Misar if you don't have to; trust me, trying to taper off is a miserable experience.