Posts by George Sullivan7

I was watching a documentary on contract disputes the other night, and it got me thinking about how much of professional negotiation is just a psychological game of chicken. It feels like nowadays, whether it's in sports or even just a big corporate promotion, there's this massive gap between what a person is actually worth and what the "powers that be" are willing to put on the table to see if they can get away with it.

It's frustrating to watch, honestly. You see someone perform at an elite level, basically carrying a heavy load, and then the moment they're eligible for a new deal, the organization acts like they're doing them a favor by offering pennies on the dollar. It's a calculated move to test the waters, but it often feels more like a lack of respect for the talent involved.

I've dealt with this in my own career—offered a "competitive" raise that didn't even cover the cost of living increase, just because they knew I had limited options at the time. It makes you wonder if these initial numbers are ever meant to be serious, or if they're just designed to see how much someone will settle for out of desperation.

Do you think these low initial offers are a legitimate strategy, or is it just a way for organizations to disrespect the people who make them successful?

Kimberly Morris said:So, I finally got my hands on the pharmacologist's report. It’s like three whole pages of jargon, but honestly, who has the time? I’m just gonna dump the conclusion right here and see what you guys think:

If the psychiatrist thinks medication is absolutely necessary to manage the patient's panic attacks, I’d suggest either Mirtazapine (categorized as B3 under standard US classifications) or Escitalopram—since the patient has already used this SSRI before and it kept things under control. Just a heads-up though: both Mirtazapine and Escitalopram can lead to withdrawal symptoms in newborns, and with SSRIs, there’s also a risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension. If the mother's clinical situation allows for it, these meds should be tapered off gradually during the final stage of pregnancy. For benzodiazepines, I’d recommend Diazepam, and even then, only at the lowest possible dose, strictly as needed. As for the usual risk of congenital anomalies—which sits around 1-3% in our population—using Mirtazapine, Escitalopram, or Diazepam shouldn't bump those numbers up any higher.

Not much to say here. According to the pharmacologist, there are certain specific potential side effects for the baby you're carrying if you take the meds. And I mean POTENTIAL, not guaranteed. Personally? I think it's better to take the pills than to subject a kid to the constant stress of your panic attacks, which is definitely going to affect them—stop with the "maybe" stuff. To comfort you, my sister took diazepam—basically like taking Xanax or something similar—throughout her entire pregnancy just to relax her muscles and prevent contractions, and today I have a healthy, normal, happy three-year-old niece. So if you ask me, forget what we think; just listen to the doctors. They're the ones who matter.

So, I finally wanted to tell you, I actually got my CPAP machine after all, yessssss, 🎉🎉🎉, God bless it, I finally got some decent sleep 🙏

Raymond Ortiz69 said:Hey everyone!

Does anyone here have any experience or insight regarding how activin h (St. John's Wort) interacts with coffee, specifically caffeine? I don't mean literally swallowing a capsule alongside my latte—though I can see how that would be a mess—but more just about the general routine of taking activin h while still enjoying my usual morning brew and maybe a little afternoon pick-me-up.

I’ve honestly thought about cutting out coffee entirely since I feel like I can't even wake up without it, but it’s such a lifesaver for my focus; without it, I feel like my brain is basically just offline. (I have my own theories on why that is, given how much of a stimulant caffeine is, but I won't get sidetracked by that right now).

I stumbled upon this recent article about St. John's Wort , which mentions that based on current research, it acts similarly to an SSRI and potentially even like a MAO inhibitor. That’s where I start getting a little nervous, because if that's true, you aren't supposed to mix it with anything containing tyramine. According to the authors, coffee is actually listed among the things you should avoid combining with the herb, along with stuff like beer, wine, and soy. It might not be set in stone yet, but they suggest staying away just to be safe.

When I picked up my activin h at the local CVS a few days ago, the pharmacist didn't really give me much guidance when I asked about the timing of my capsules versus breakfast or coffee, so I'm left feeling a bit unsure about how much I should actually worry.

To give you some context, I've been struggling with long-term depression and anxiety, including panic attacks, over the last year. I haven't received an official diagnosis yet, so I'm just sort of navigating this on my own for now. Since I won't be able to make it to a doctor for another few weeks, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start the activin h because I just couldn't keep functioning like this anymore. It hasn't worked like instant magic, which I wasn't expecting anyway, but I'm really hoping it provides at least a little bit of relief as a first step.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. You should be fine to keep drinking your coffee while taking Aktivin H.

Modern research is constantly changing and studies often contradict each other, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Real-world experience is usually the best indicator anyway. If people like us who take SSRIs and drink coffee regularly aren't seeing side effects, I think that's all the proof we need.

Look, if your gut tells you to stop, then stop. But medically speaking, there's no proven reason to skip the coffee. I've spent years drinking coffee and St. John's Wort tea—which is basically the herbal version of Aktivin H—not at the exact same moment, obviously, but still—and I haven't felt any negative effects.

Also, if you're dealing with serious depression and anxiety, forget the herbal supplements. Go find a real antidepressant that can actually fix your brain chemistry so you can function like a normal person. It's exhausting. At least, it was for me, when every single tiny thing in life felt like climbing Mount Everest.

restlesstiger49 said:Over the last month, I’ve noticed a real decline in my cognitive sharpness. My memory is slipping, I'm becoming increasingly forgetful, and I even find myself blanking on basic names and terms more often than not.. 😵 Honestly, I have a nagging suspicion that Velax might be the culprit here. Is it possible that AD-ov could be playing a role in this? Does anyone have any insight?

I was watching this documentary the other day about the pills we take, and man, there are pros and cons everywhere. They mentioned that one side effect of long-term AD use—not just Velax, but ADs in general—is exactly what you described. But then other experts argue it’s not the case at all. Looking at it objectively, my take is that Americans go absolutely overboard with this stuff. In the States, they basically prescribe ADs, APs, or benzos for every little thing. It’s like people here are a bit... well, let's say "uninformed." They don't read the fine print where it clearly states that some side effects or symptoms can hit harder when you first start an AD, which is why doctors often have to throw benzos at you just to stabilize things. Basically, there's a huge uproar over ADs because apparently, there’s been a massive spike in homicide and suicide rates among people on these meds.

You also have to realize that in America, ADs, APs, and benzos are advertised on TV like they're candy, making them incredibly easy to get. So, if you ask me, these drugs cause these reactions in people who probably don't even need them—they should probably be in therapy instead. Instead, they just wreck the chemical balance in brains that were perfectly fine to begin with.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking after that documentary. When I weigh the possible side effects of medication against the absolute nightmare of being unable to function without it, I’ll choose the side effects every single time. Because if we start going down that road, we could debate anything: antibiotics, growth hormones in factory-farmed meat, GMO plants, or processed food loaded with additives.

Look, if your symptoms are actually so bad that they're changing your personality, tell your psychiatrist and see if they'll switch your prescription. But personally, I can give you an example. A few weeks ago, I was complaining here about how I couldn't sleep for the life of me. First, my doctor upped my benzo dosage—zero help. Then she tried Ambien—nothing. Finally, she prescribed Depakote Chrono combined with Fluzepam. I took them last night while being super suspicious, thinking, "Great, more chemicals," especially since Depakote is a teratogen, meaning if I got pregnant, I'd have to abort because it affects fetal development. After countless days of zero sleep, I took the combo last night, and this morning? I woke up like a bird! I slept eight hours straight without waking up once. I'm not tired, I'm not hungover—holy crap, it felt like how I used to feel years ago. I haven't felt this fresh in forever. Compare that to when they used to prescribe me 20 mg of Norvasc for sleep; I’d wake up feeling like I’d been beaten with a stick all night. And Ambien? Forget it, I couldn't get more than four hours of solid sleep.

So honestly, I don't care what the side effects are as long as I can function decently. And as for forgetting names or concepts? That happens to me even when I'm not taking anything—it's always right on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't grab it.😁.

Again, if it's really drastic, talk to your shrink. If not, just relax.

shadowbear9 said:I’ve been taking it for a month and everything was going perfectly fine, but now, suddenly, everything has gone completely sideways...

Look, just hang in there. It might be temporary. For the first month or two, those ups and downs are totally normal. And for the love of God, do NOT start tweaking your own dosage. This isn't like hitting up a gas station for more caffeine or trying to take some sleeping pills because you can't drift off. You can't just decide, "Hey, if 10mg of Normabel doesn't knock me out, I'll just grab 15." Don't do it.

Also, I don't know about you guys, but when I'm feeling like garbage, I just show up whenever my clinic has office hours—which is twice a week for me. I tell the medical technician I'm not doing well and that I've come in, then I just wait. Depending on how bad it is, they either squeeze me in between scheduled appointments, or I just go grab a coffee nearby while I wait for my turn. Honestly, in my city, the folks at the psych ward are actually pretty decent about that kind of thing.

Jessica Chavez4 said:Sure, they can, but only for a month or two. After that, they have to send you to a specialist. They can't just keep handing out prescriptions for years without clearance from a psychiatric facility.

Oh, they absolutely can. It all comes down to the Primary Care Physician, especially when it comes to benzos. You’ve got your Schedule II and III lists, and it spells out exactly what a specialist can prescribe versus what an MD can handle. GPs regularly prescribe antidepressants. It’s really about whether the doctor actually gives a damn. If a decent GP sees you're genuinely struggling, they’ll write you a referral to a psychiatrist. But honestly, that has nothing to do with the Microsoft situation. He could have easily handed over some Oxazepam to tide him over until his next psych appointment—especially since those doctors are totally checked out and can easily check the local waiting lists or see the last exam note which clearly states when the next follow-up is. So, either his new GP is terrified, incompetent, or just a complete coward.

My own GP, for instance, saw during my last psych visit that the meds the specialist gave me were wrecking me, so she switched my antidepressant herself and booked me an online appointment with a new psychiatrist who then confirmed the change. Basically, you can do whatever you want within the law if you actually put in the effort.

And don't even get me started on how some GPs will just look at an elderly patient who's clearly falling apart, rewrite their antidepressant prescription, and not report a thing if the meds seem to be working and they're showing signs of improvement.

Bottom line: a GP can definitely prescribe benzos without any issues. The real question is how long they’ll keep you on them without a psychiatrist's sign-off to make sure you don't get hooked. Same goes for antidepressants.

It’s exactly like sick leave. Nowadays, a psychiatrist can recommend you stay off work for ages, but the GP can just tell you to get back to work if that's how they judge the situation. They implemented that because psychiatrists used to write massive medical leave notes, and then the GPs would get chewed out by the insurance auditors. And if you try to complain to the board? Forget it. The commission is always going to side with the GP's assessment over the psychiatrist's, unless you've completely lost it and gone psychotic—which shouldn't happen if you're actually taking your meds.

So, I'm telling you: either find a psychiatrist with an open slot ASAP, hit up an urgent care psych clinic, or just find a new GP. There is no third option.

I can't even begin to deal with this right now. Just absolute madness. kaže:
I really ought to dig up my medical records, probably going back about two years or so.
Yeah, I'm on the stabilizer combo—Rivotril plus Ad Edronax.😒😉

Dammit! 😢So, I was looking into Edronax, and yeah... definitely a hard pass for me. Between dealing with glaucoma and having low blood pressure, my doctor basically told me that stuff is off the table. Not worth the risk. 🙂The instructions say you can't take them together, and that’s exactly where I run into a wall. It’s a massive headache. I can't touch any of those noradrenergic ADs, or anything else that triggers glaucoma—which pretty much narrows my options down to almost nothing. One time, a doctor put me on Effexor, and my blood pressure shot up to 160/100. In the US, if you hit 180, you're looking at an emergency room visit or worse. Now, the few meds I actually *can* take just don't work for me... grrrrr. 😠

Listen, if this conversation about Rivotril and Q-pin doesn't actually make sense, I’m switching shrinks. Seriously. I've had enough of this guy's nonsense.

restlesstiger49 said:Look, I’m struggling to wrap my head around something here. If I was originally prescribed oxazepam for my insomnia through my primary care doctor—on his own initiative—but now that a new physician has taken over, he refuses to refill it without a sign-off from a specialist I haven't been able to see for two months... where is the damn logic in that?

There isn't any logic, honestly. A GP can easily prescribe both SSRIs and benzos without sending you to a specialist at all, and Oxazepam falls right into that category. Plus, once they do refer you out, they might decide to stick strictly to the psychiatrist's orders because you're already on other meds, though I don't see why he wouldn't just give you some Paxil or Oxazepam. Usually, the GP stays out of the mental health treatment plan once the specialist takes over, but those rules are pretty "flexible" depending on the doctor.

Maybe try actually talking to him. Just tell him straight up that you need something for sleep and let him decide what to give you since you can't get to your psychiatrist. If that doesn't work, you could always head to the ER. Tell them you haven't slept in days and your doctor won't help you with anything for insomnia. That should light a fire under them. No point in suffering through this for nothing.

fadedbear92 said:Yeah, it's true—everything is highly individual. There were times when Xanax was the absolute gold standard for my anxiety and panic attacks, whereas during those periods when Xanax was scarce in the US, Helex would sedate me way too fast and way too hard.
As for doctors, it really depends on the physician. Thank God I don't have any issues—mine writes the prescription exactly as my therapist instructs—but then there are some who just won't budge. Is it because they're scared? (According to insurance guidelines, they should probably be prescribing generics rather than name brands since they're cheaper), or maybe they've made a deal with some big pharma company to push one specific brand? Who knows... unfortunately, anything goes.

My doctor has seen me through all sorts of phases—I mean, different mental states—so she doesn't even make a big deal out of anything anymore. She knows I'm not playing games regardless of where I'm at. Like, if her notes say Ativan for my liver stuff but my back is killing me (since I deal with that too) and I ask for something like Klonopin or Ativan instead to help relax the muscles, she just writes it. It's really down to the doctor, though, and also us patients. If you can actually communicate like a normal human being, it works, but let's face it, sometimes we patients are just totally stuck in our own heads.

Anyway, Rejo, how long have you been on Qapin? And are you taking a stabilizer with it, or just the antidepressant plus that? Not trying to pry or anything! But like I said, I'm right on the edge of changing my whole regimen, and I refuse to give up my eglonyl, even if I never sleep again🤣. I just wish I could talk to my doctor properly and actually argue my case for why I want or don't want certain things. This Fluzepam thing she gave me is basically useless when combined with the Depakote Chrono she prescribed last week for stabilization and sleep. I've got another appointment next week.

shadowbear9 said:She gave me Loquen 25 mg twice on a private prescription, and man, that cost me $33 per box. Later, I told my psychiatrist to write down the specific diagnosis, but even that wasn't enough because the paperwork didn't explicitly state I had those symptoms; the doctor had to emphasize it later on 🙄 and they gave me Seroquel while I was in the hospital, and yeah, you can definitely tell the difference... I'm just glad she isn't forcing the generic stuff on me anymore, though she still won't give me Xanax, just Helex or Misar...

I'm reading through all this and honestly, my experience is the complete opposite. It’s wild how much this stuff varies from person to person. Xanax does absolutely nothing for me except make me act totally hysterical. I’ve never had that happen with Helex, so if it’s a choice between those three, I’m picking Helex every single time. When I take Xanax, I feel like a squirrel on amphetamines. It’s a terrible feeling, especially since it's supposed to actually calm a person down.

My primary care doctor always prescribes me the exact same thing my buddy mentioned. Heck, I’ve even had pharmacists ask me which one of those three I want—like, if they're low on Helex, they'll politely ask if I want Xanax or Misar. And I always give them the same answer: "No thanks, I'll just go to the next pharmacy."

fadedbear92 said:You really don't need to worry about the Q-pin; I've been using it for quite a while now and it completely cleared up my insomnia.
I used to take Tegretol, which worked wonders for getting me to sleep—though you have to be incredibly careful with it. You have to keep a close eye on your liver enzyme levels via regular blood work every three months; if those numbers spike, you have to stop taking it immediately.

Thanks, fadedbear92 🙂.

No, the plan is to wait and see what happens in two weeks after my follow-up. My doctor mentioned that starting a mood stabilizer might actually help me sleep better anyway. She suggested Depakote, saying it's good for sleep, so she wants me to try that along with 플루페이담 (Flurazepam) and Eglonyl before we even think about introducing Q-pin.

Honestly, I'm just stuck. I don't know what to think or even what to say about all this.

Jason Vaughn482 said:You might consider trying Claritin, though I suspect it won’t do much for you. A mere fraction of a 15 mg dose is unlikely to touch a case of insomnia as severe as yours, especially considering that even Valium and Halcion haven't provided any relief. To give you some perspective, I personally have to take half of a 15 mg dose combined with either 10 mg of Valium or Cercon; even then, I endure an agonizing struggle just to drift off. It can take me an hour, two hours, sometimes even longer just to find sleep. Once I finally succumb, however, I tend to sleep for a solid nine hours straight. The true battle isn't staying asleep—it's the sheer difficulty of falling asleep in the first place. When I first started taking 15 mg of Claritin, I was out like a light within fifteen minutes without any extra help, but unfortunately, that initial window of efficacy has long since vanished.

Hmm, sounds pretty bleak then. But hey, I guess if it at least works for a little while at the start, that's something. Plus, there's always QAnon pins to keep me busy. Maybe. 🤔

Michael Hill2 said:You could always try adding Remeron (Claritin) into the mix to help with the sleep situation. 😉

It’s an antidepressant, sure, but at those low doses? It barely touches the neurotransmitters. Honestly, it’s basically just hitting the histamine receptors, which is why it knocks you out like a light.

My therapist added something to my routine to help with sleep alongside the Faverin I take for anxiety, and honestly? It’s been a game changer. I’m finally getting a solid 8 or 9 hours. Even if I happen to wake up in the middle of the night, I can actually drift right back to sleep without the usual mental gymnastics.

I’m just taking a tiny fraction of it—like, one-sixth of a 15 mg pill.

If you're looking for more info or want to hear how others have handled this, just Google "low dose Remeron or Mirtazapine for insomnia." Honestly, it was a total game-changer for my sleep issues. It doesn't cost you anything to give it a shot, especially if you're nervous about mixing two different antidepressants or if your doctor isn't exactly eager to prescribe them. 😉

Ugh, thanks! I’m actually seeing her today, so I’ll see what she thinks. This whole tossing and turning all night is exhausting 🙄, man. If I could actually do something productive instead of just rolling around the bed, I wouldn't mind, but right now? Zero benefit. I'm wiped during the day and a total wreck at night because I can't sleep. Just pure chaos.😵

Hey everyone, quick question for you 🙂

So, like most people here, I deal with ups and downs, and right now, I'm back in a phase where I seriously need my meds. When it comes to antidepressants, Zoloft is the one that actually works for me—it’s basically somewhere between an antipsychotic and an antidepressant. In low doses, it hits the depression and anxiety, but ramp up the dose and it acts more like an antipsychotic. My massive headache right now is that along with this depressive slump, I’m dealing with some brutal, chronic insomnia. My doctor tried giving me Valium and Halcion, but honestly? Zero effect. It works for a tiny bit and then nothing. We end up back at square one. Even bumping up the Lexapro didn't help much either. For instance, the Xanax I take regularly doesn't even touch my sleep issues, whereas Lexapro used to help a little because it relaxes my muscles, but even that stopped working. And I refuse to just keep cranking up the doses. I've tried Valium and Ambien too, and still nothing. I'm wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

I saw someone mention on this thread that Qypine helps some people with stubborn, long-term insomnia, so I wanted to ask: has anyone ever combined Zoloft with Qypine? Logic tells me you probably shouldn't mix two antipsychotics, even if Zoloft isn't a "classic" one depending on how much you take. Usually, people mix antipsychotics and antidepressants, but I really don't want to give up my Zoloft because it's genuinely great for me, yet I'm dying to actually get some sleep. My doctor is a total hard-ass about antipsychotics; she thinks they're a huge "no-no" unless it's an absolute emergency with severe depression. It took months of arguing just to get her to let me try Zoloft after Effexor, Faverin, and Lexapro all failed me—and those are supposed to help with sleep, right?

If I already asked this somewhere else in the thread, my bad. I seriously don't have the time to read through every single page. So, any advice, suggestions, or personal experiences? 🙂

Paul Thompson3 said:If the inspiration just isn't there—well, it isn't. If you're paralyzed by the fear of failing, just play it out: imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. You tanked it big time, it’s the biggest disaster in your industry, and you’re basically the laughingstock of the town. Honestly, it’s hard to actually do something that catastrophic in real life.😁

Yeah, fair point. Good method, I guess. Though in the meantime, I actually went and read that thread Master pointed me toward, and I found some pretty solid advice on how to actually get moving.😁

I’ve got this project hanging over my head, and look, it’s not like I don't care about it or anything. It’s just... overwhelming. Honestly? I’m terrified I won't be able to pull it off. Now, in my experience, things usually start looking up once you actually dive in, but I just can't seem to force myself to take that first step 😁. I guess I'm just paralyzed by the fear of failing miserably.

Anyone got some tips, tricks, or even just a kick in the pants to help me actually get moving?