Posts by Anthony Lopez8

Eric Mitchell55 said:Is it possible that my psych meds are causing memory gaps?
Sometimes I feel like I’m losing chunks of my day... just blanking out completely.

Here is what I'm currently taking:
Azolar 30mg, Leponex 150mg, Xanax 1.5mg, Fluzepam 50mg

Look, I am one hundred percent certain that Xanax (and Fluzepam too) can cause total blackouts, and I’d venture to guess that antipsychotics aren't exactly doing you any favors regarding cognitive clarity either. It's scary stuff, believe me, I've been there. 😬
You really ought to bring this up at your next check-up if these lapses become more frequent or severe.

Noah Garcia4 said:Yeah, they are genuinely spooked. 🤔
They shake like a leaf at the mere mention of it. It’s almost funny in a dark way—like, "Oh, you're going to kill us all? How hilarious! Hahaha."

In my case, when I was working, my colleagues decided to be incredibly helpful by inviting my new wife out for coffee just to explain how I have schizophrenia and how I once tried to kill my grandmother.
To be fair, I did have a massive breakdown where I tore a religious calendar to shreds with my bare hands—which, looking back, was a brief flash of lucidity amidst the chaos—and my grandmother told everyone I was trying to murder her, nearly resulting in her being sent off to a nursing home.

Despite being part of a huge family, I'm the one who looks after her, helps her bathe, and handles her daily needs.
But she survived the whole ordeal.

This really deserves some recognition. 🤣🤣🤣

Robin Lopez2 said:Healthy people are just naturally happy—with or without faith, it doesn't matter!

If someone slips into psychosis, then finding happiness can become a real struggle.

Science suggests the real remedy for happiness is chocolate. 🙂

I find myself in complete agreement here. In fact, I’ve always leaned toward a somewhat extreme theory suggesting that happiness and misery—or more accurately, a profound, deep-seated depressive state—are primarily products of chemical equilibrium within the brain. Aren't all the "reasons" we concoct to justify our moods merely convenient rationalizations used to explain away what is actually happening under the hood? Of course, life isn't quite that reductionist, but I suspect the biological foundations play a far more significant role than most people are willing to admit.

Brian Hayes43 said:It seems to me that placing any kind of blind faith in something you cannot verify through your own observation is, in our specific situation, a fundamentally misguided approach.

When we look at psychosis—at least during those acute stages—isn't the fundamental issue actually the complete unreliability of the very mechanisms a person uses to distinguish reality from delusion? Because of that internal breakdown, a person finds themselves in a position where they can trust neither their own perceptions nor the external world any more than the other. However, once those psychotic symptoms subside and the ability to reality-test is restored, the individual regains the capacity, just like anyone else, to weigh the credibility and logic of incoming information to decide whether it warrants acceptance or rejection.🤷

Eric Mitchell55 said:Hopefully, the dosage will be dialed back soon. Fingers crossed.

I was actually on a similar regimen until recently, but then I had another episode, so they bumped my meds up...
I have schizoaffective disorder (the depressive type).

I understand; honestly, you don't really have any other viable options right now. Dealing with psychosis is an incredibly heavy burden to carry. Besides, the side effects from the necessary medications remain notoriously difficult to stomach. I truly admire how rationally you're approaching all of this. In my estimation, you actually have a very strong chance of feeling better soon.

Eric Mitchell55 said:Olandix 15mg, Haldol 3mg, Akineton 3mg, Prazine 50mg, Cymbalta 60mg

Honestly, I could probably sleep for twenty-four hours straight if I took enough of this stuff to knock me out. 😢

Honestly, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be completely knocked out by that cocktail.
😢

redranger2 said:There really is no universal rule here; it clearly varies from one individual to the next.
My therapist was quite clear with me, suggesting that addiction isn't the issue with antidepressants,
rather, the tapering process has to be handled with extreme patience because the brain simply needs
sufficient time to recalibrate its own chemistry, and those symptoms are just the fallout of that adjustment.
Since you cruised through your benzo withdrawal and I struggled through mine, it proves there's no
standardized pattern at play.🤷

I agree that when it comes to these matters, there isn't a single rule that applies to everyone.
As for what your therapist told you, honestly, that's the standard script you hear from almost every psychologist out there. I have to wonder if they're being fed this falsehood during their residency at some Ivy League medical school or what the real issue is, but the notion that "antidepressants can't possibly cause physical dependency" is one of the most widespread delusions in the entire field. I've listened to plenty of nonsense from various so-called "experts," but this particular myth is something they all seem miraculously stubborn about, even though the lived experiences of a massive number of patients suggest otherwise. 🤷

redranger2 said:

Anthony Lopez8 As I have previously noted:
What exactly is the distinction between experiencing a shift in your brain chemistry that triggers withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, versus simply being physically addicted to a substance? 😕

There is a fundamental distinction.
Once you find yourself spiraling into a dependency on benzodiazepines, the symptoms of withdrawal begin to manifest with a rather relentless, heavy persistence.
It functions quite differently than standard antidepressants or antipsychotics. For instance, my own experience with antipsychotics was a completely different ordeal altogether.
I managed to taper off without much trouble in just a week, though doing it while on benzodiazepines made the entire process significantly more drawn out and grueling.
That is precisely why tapering off any kind of medication becomes such a grueling ordeal. It isn’t just about the physical dependency; it’s the psychological warfare that follows when you try to reclaim your own chemistry from a pill. Once you've relied on something to steady your nerves or balance your mood, stepping away feels less like a recovery and more like walking a tightrope without a net. You realize far too late how much of your perceived stability was actually just a chemical illusion, and trying to find your footing again is an exhausting, uphill battle.
One shouldn't attempt to rush such a transition abruptly, lest you trigger a systemic shock that ripples through the entire body—and the brain along with it.

Fair enough. In my own experience, getting off benzos was seamless, stepping down from antipsychotics was a bit of a struggle, but quitting antidepressants? That was an absolute nightmare—easily the most prolonged and exhausting process I've faced. In fact, I would go so far as to say the withdrawal from antidepressants was almost entirely physical; my mental state barely even played a role in the discomfort.
However, it wouldn't be intellectually honest of me to take my personal history and draw a sweeping generalization that you can get addicted to antidepressants but not to benzos. 🤷

redranger2 said:The issue isn't that you get addicted to antidepressants; it's the benzodiazepines that cause addiction. You never abruptly quit an antidepressant because doing so completely wreaks havoc on your brain chemistry. The reason we taper off gradually is simply to allow the
brain to adjust to a new equilibrium, not because the patient is "addicted" to the medication itself.

But what is the actual distinction between having your "brain chemistry" altered by a drug—leading to withdrawal symptoms when you stop—and being physically addicted to a substance?😕

To anyone out there struggling with a medication that just isn't hitting the mark, or perhaps dealing with side effects so intense they make daily life a misery—especially if those symptoms persist well beyond the initial adjustment phase—please, stop suffering in silence for no reason. You need to speak up. Tell your psychiatrist exactly what is happening and demand a change in your prescription. If you find that your doctor is being particularly unreasonable or simply refuses to take your discomfort seriously, then you might have to resort to a bit of strategic exaggeration when describing those side effects. Why shouldn't you? If you lean into the severity of your symptoms, you force them to act; sometimes, the only way to get a physician to pivot is to make the alternative of leaving you as you are seem even more problematic. 😬

fadedlynx96 said:When dealing with schizophrenia, medication is the only real answer. Please don't bring up Satan or God; religious themes can actually make things worse for certain types of schizophrenic patients.

The reality is that medication is the only thing that works, and the hardest part is when they start making statements about only living for their family or some other external reason instead of themselves.

If you actually want to be helpful, make sure she stays consistent with her meds and attends all her appointments at places like the Mayo Clinic. Just talk to her like a normal person; don't spend the whole time treating her like a patient. There are plenty of other topics to discuss besides her diagnosis.

And whatever you do, don't take advantage of her vulnerability for your own physical gratification.

I couldn't agree more. Look, Tony, I understand that faith is important to you, but please, for the sake of her safety, do not even indirectly suggest that she can skip her medication because a trip to Lourdes will somehow cure her. Or worse, don't imply that there is some presence of Satan dwelling within her—I truly don't want to imagine the psychological fallout that kind of suggestion could trigger in someone battling psychosis. It’s clear that you care and genuinely want to help, but I urge you to be more pragmatic here. If you aren't careful, you'll end up causing far more harm than good, and I am certain that isn't your intention.

Robin Hernandez8 said:Honestly, misar acts pretty much the same as xanax. There is xanax SR available in 1 mg and 2 mg doses... so, I guess, it might be worth asking your doctor to prescribe that instead if they're willing? Because taking 4 misar at 0.5 mg feels a bit off, even though—and I know how this goes—it ends up being the exact same thing anyway.
Maybe even just one xanax SR at 1 mg would be enough to knock you out.

I really wonder how much an extended-release formula will actually help with sleep. Since it's designed for slow release, it's meant to be taken in the morning so it lingers throughout the day, but when it comes to actually inducing sleep at night...🤷

wiredskipper45 said:Only managed about two hours and twenty minutes of sleep tonight, even after taking 1 mg of Xanax. Honestly, the stuff doesn't even touch it anymore at this dose. It’s frustrating. Does anyone actually know what the upper limit is for a single dose before things get dangerous? Any idea?

Typically, the maximum daily dose for anxiety sits around 4mg, though it can go up to 10mg if you're dealing with a panic disorder.
But let's be realistic—any medication can cause serious issues regardless of the amount prescribed. 😁
If your primary struggle is insomnia, wouldn't it make more sense to talk to your doctor about switching from Xanax to something specifically designed for sleep rather than forcing a sedative to do a job it wasn't meant for?

Edward Long4 said:I don't know if I'm just a weird case when it comes to Helix or what. 🤷 I mentioned before that I was taking 5 or 6 mg... who knows anymore... anyway, once I finally got my surgery date scheduled, I just stopped taking stuff because nobody gave me any guidance. I was so terrified about the operation that maybe I didn't even notice the withdrawal symptoms from the Helix... or something. 😕 So reading all these posts feels a bit surreal... I was taking Diazepam (5 mg) after the surgery too, and then I just got fed up when I realized it wasn't helping, so I tossed it in the trash. Eventually, because of the choking sensations and panic attacks, I ended up on Zoloft, which is the only med I've ever tapered off under actual medical supervision.🙂

That really depends on the individual, but the specific medication plays a massive role too. Personally, I didn't run into any major hurdles weaning myself off Helix, nor did I struggle with antipsychotics or other antidepressants. However, Effexor? That was an absolute nightmare. I want to be clear—I'm not saying this will happen to everyone—but it is a very real risk that anyone considering starting it should be fully aware of before they begin.

Quincy:

Is there anything more fundamentally exhausting than the constant pursuit of a perfect duet? We spend our lives trying to find that one specific harmony, that singular synchronization where two distinct voices finally align, yet we often find ourselves stumbling through nothing but dissonance. Why is it that we strive so intensely for this kind of unity, only to realize that most attempts at connection are little more than noise? It makes one wonder if the struggle itself is the only thing that is actually real. As Anthony Lopez8 points out: Listen, I truly hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medications cold turkey, because if you do, the fallout could be disastrous. Is anyone actually considering such a reckless move? To stop abruptly like that would only trigger a massive, sudden reaction in your system. Is there anything more unsettling than witnessing a sudden neurological crisis in someone whose brain has become entirely dependent on medication? It’s a profound shock to the system, both for the individual experiencing it and for those of us watching from the sidelines. When a person's chemistry is so deeply tethered to a specific pharmaceutical regimen, any disruption—be it a missed dose or an adverse reaction—doesn't just cause discomfort; it triggers a total systemic collapse. How can we even begin to grasp the sheer volatility of a mind that has lost its chemical equilibrium? Tapering off antidepressants is a slow, deliberate process, and it’s something that can take quite a while to navigate properly. When you finally reach that quarter-dose mark, you should continue taking it as prescribed. It will continue like this for a little while longer—just those small amounts at first, then moving to every other day, then every third day, until eventually... You simply refuse to stop, don't you? You fail to grasp that the brain requires a certain amount of time to establish actual control over its neurotransmitters before any meaningful progress can be made.

Of course, there is no reason to rush the process or pull away too abruptly. I neglected to mention that to Stick earlier, though it seemed like such an obvious point that it barely crossed my mind to say it out loud. However, it appears even he understands the necessity of a more measured approach.
I spent months attempting to taper off my medication. I followed a strict schedule, reducing my dosage in seven-day increments. After starting at 375 mg of Effexor, I eventually worked my way down to 18 mg, and then—as absurd as it might sound to some—all the way down to a mere 9 mg. But what happened when I finally cut that final 9 mg dose? The symptoms were nothing short of revolting. While I dealt with moderate discomfort during the tapering process itself, the moment I stopped taking that negligible amount entirely, everything fell apart. It was absolutely miserable.

Raymond Gomez2 said:Sorry, I trimmed your post down a bit... I'm also on Effexor. Since you clearly know your stuff, I was wondering: do you think taking those omega-3s alongside antidepressants is a good move? Specifically, could it help mitigate all those nasty withdrawal side effects later on? You mentioned an EPA omega; could you recommend a specific brand or product? I currently take one daily from Natural Wealtha, but I'm guessing that isn't quite the same thing... I'm actually considering bumping up my dose.
One more thing—did Effexor ever cause your pupils to dilate significantly? I've only been on it for two weeks, so I'm wondering if this will eventually settle down...

Every single fish oil capsule contains both DHA and EPA. The real question isn't whether you're taking them, but how much of each you're actually getting. There is absolutely no point in buying some low-dose product and swallowing ten capsules a day just to hit a target...
Generally speaking, it is recommended to take moderate amounts of Omega-3 and Vitamin B alongside psychotropic medications, given their role in supporting nervous system function and such. As for whether "preloading" with supplements can prevent the misery of withdrawal? Honestly, I don't have an answer for that...
Regarding the pupil dilation, mine were slightly enlarged, but it didn't bother me much... It’s very possible that it might settle down after the first few weeks.

shadowfox75 said:I've been doing some digging online regarding those specific dosages. It’s a bit confusing when you look at the labels; for instance, one product might list only 180mg of EPA per capsule, even though the total Omega-3 fatty acid content is listed at 1,000mg. I noticed this discrepancy with brands like Solgar.
Each serving of this fish oil concentrate provides 1,000 mg of EPA.
Each serving provides 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA.
It seems unreasonable that I would need to consume ten to fifteen capsules just to reach the levels you mentioned. I would end up looking like a shark if I kept that up. 🤣....
I can't even begin to imagine the hell you've been through. It sounds truly devastating.
I suspect I won't experience anything less than that. I am genuinely dreading those sudden spikes. Even now, I find myself worrying about how it’s all going to play out. To be honest, I've had enough of this after nine years. Dealing with Paxil and their constant claims that it "doesn't cause dependency" or that these aren't side effects feels exhausting. Currently, I feel alright, though I have been riding these small ups and downs for about two years now.🙂

Of course the symptoms are caused by the drug. I wasn't able to miss even ONE DOSE of Velafax without the "brain zaps" hitting me within an hour or two. Tell those pharmaceutical companies to try taking these meds long-term and then tell us whether or not they're addictive.☕

As for the dosing, it's a bit tricky. In the US, people mostly use this supplement. It's likely popular because it's recommended by "The Road Back," but it really is practical—it contains 360 mg of EPA per serving. You take at least three servings of three capsules a day until the worst of it passes.

shadowfox75 said:Man, I would be incredibly grateful for that information. I suspect I will face some intense "hits" after my first attempt at tapering. I know staying positive is important, but honestly, that feeling is just too much to handle right now. I just want to be rid of it; nine years on these meds is plenty. Most doctors don't grasp the issue because they claim antidepressants aren't addictive. Isn't that what GSK says? Hmm.

Well, here it is—I found it. Ideally, you'd be looking at somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 mg of EPA daily. EPA is a specific type of Omega-3. Just grab some high-dose fish oil capsules and check the label to see how much EPA is actually in there...

I should point out that this dosage is somewhat higher than the standard recommended daily amount, so you are essentially taking this at your own risk; however, given the positive effects—specifically regarding those "brain zaps" that so many people report experiencing at this dosage—I believe it is worth a shot.

For me, the physical withdrawal was absolute hell, though mentally, I wasn't even remotely addicted. In fact, it didn't even cross my mind to start taking those pills again, not even while I was lying on the floor dealing with muscle spasms, shaking, and vomiting. Considering I was on a massive dose myself—Effexor, specifically—I suspect your tapering process might actually go a bit smoother than mine did.

shadowfox75 said:Hey everyone,
I’ve been reading through the forum and I completely relate to what you all are going through. My own story is long and would take quite a while to fully recount here. To summarize: I have been on Paxil since 2004. My dosage fluctuates depending on how things are going. In 2006, I lost my father, and in 2007, my mother. I managed to pull through those losses and keep moving forward. Around that time, my neuropsychiatrist put me on Lamictal and Valium due to some erratic EEG readings. For the last two years, my results have been fine. I stopped taking the Valium, and currently, I am at half my usual Paxil dose along with 100mg of Lamictal. The hardest part is the mere thought of tapering off the Paxil. I want to get off it, but... I tried once before and, honestly, it was a nightmare. It feels like flashes of light in my brain. If I blink, there's a flash; if I turn my head, there's a flash. It is genuinely maddening. My psychiatrist noted: "patient attributes their condition to the tapering of Paxil." That pushed me back to a half tablet, and I have been stuck there for two years now. It's exhausting. Part of me thinks about just locking myself in the house and attempting the taper again. But... I'm afraid. I feel like the specialists at GSK haven't even begun to grasp how terrifying this side effect actually is. On the depression forums, people constantly mention this "electric shock" sensation. Does anyone have any advice?

I went through the process of tapering off a massive dose of Effexor—which is notorious for its revolting withdrawal symptoms, including those very "brain zaps" you mentioned—and somehow, I made it out the other side. My approach was to gradually reduce the dosage, though I won't lie, it was an incredibly unpleasant experience. In fact, the "electrical" sensations became secondary to the other physical symptoms I had to endure. But, the trade-off is that I am currently entirely medication-free, and once those symptoms finally subsided, they stayed gone. Taking a full year to do it is a sensible strategy, especially if your symptoms are as intense as yours sound.

One thing many people in our situation consider a "miracle cure" for those brain zaps is taking high doses of Omega-3 fatty acids. I discovered this relatively late in my journey (and it was a bit difficult to source quality supplements since I don't eat animal products), so I can't say for certain if they are truly miraculous, but I would strongly suggest you look into it. Many people find it remarkably effective at mitigating those specific issues. If you decide to go that route, I might be able to help you look up which dosages tend to be most effective, though I don't have the specific numbers memorized right now...

As for psychiatrists, you hit the nail on the head—most of them seem to have absolutely no concept of the physical dependency these psychotropic drugs create (or perhaps they simply choose to ignore the reality of it, though I couldn't say which...).

I find myself wondering if anyone else has truly sat down to consider the implications of what was just said. Is it even possible to grasp the full weight of this situation without looking at the broader patterns? When you strip away the noise, aren't we left with a reality that most people are simply too distracted to acknowledge? It seems to me that we are constantly dancing around the core issue, much like how one might navigate a complex legal battle in a high-stakes federal court, rather than addressing the fundamental truth standing right in front of us. Does it not strike you as odd that we continue to follow these established paths when the results remain so consistently underwhelming?

Edward Long4 said:So, I’m just scrolling through here seeing everyone complain about how much weight they put on from all these meds... honestly, I actually lost like 25 pounds. Like, seriously, I dropped so much that my doctor actually got spooked—he might have even taken me off the Zoloft because of it, who knows? Maybe. I was basically eating like a bird. I hit 143 lbs at 5'9", which sounds crazy now, but then I ended up at 152... and honestly? I think I'm better off where I am now. 😍

Is it really considered "normal" for Zoloft to cause weight loss? And then, on the flip side, we’re expected to just accept that antipsychotics are going to make you gain weight? It seems like a rather convenient way to dismiss significant side effects, don't you think? 😁

Eric Mitchell55 said:Anyone have any experiences with Seroquel?
Does it cause weight gain? 😁

It definitely caused some weight gain for me, though nowhere near as much as what I experienced with Zyprexa. To be honest, none of the antipsychotics really hit the mark for me, but if I had to choose, I found Seroquel to be slightly more effective than the others.