Posts by urbanskipper4

Larry Lewis said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about this—and honestly, life is just one long series of questionable decisions—but I’ve been taking 3mg of Risperdal every single night for about six months now. And, if I’m being totally honest, my headspace has actually improved quite a bit... which is a miracle in itself, given the general state of the world. I didn't exactly get it through the traditional, bureaucratic channels—you know how the healthcare system here can be a total nightmare of red tape and endless paperwork—but I managed to track it down and secure it myself because, frankly, I was already using it and knew I needed it. It's a strange way to navigate things, I know, but sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.
It was about ten years ago—just a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things, really—but I distinctly recall feeling... well, alright. It’s strange how the mind works, isn't it? One minute you're drifting through the fog of time, and the next, a memory surfaces—vivid, clear, and surprisingly pleasant. Back then, life felt manageable—actually, it felt good. I remember it clearly, even if the details have since blurred around the edges like an old photograph left out in the sun.
I’m really not one to second-guess a medical professional—I mean, they spent years in school for a reason, right?—so I won't weigh in on what your doctor is suggesting, but let's assume the guy actually knows his stuff.
Look, it doesn't cost you a dime to give it a shot—I mean, if it doesn't work out, what's the harm? Why not? I’m telling you, it made a massive difference for me.

P.S.—I can’t say I experienced any side effects from it—none at all. Truly.

Well, I was on 2 mg of Risperdal for half a year and I felt completely wiped out. Just totally sluggish, endlessly exhausted, and I felt like I was sleeping my life away. But hey, everyone reacts differently to meds.
Maybe it'll be fine for you.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, maybe it won't trigger an addiction for you—I keep saying this, but everyone's biology is just different. As for the whole "addiction" debate? I’ve always been a bit skeptical of what doctors tell us, even if they're supposed to be the experts. For instance, my physician prescribed Ambien and insisted there was no risk of dependency, yet here I was, needing to double my dose after just two weeks. And look, you can become dependent on a medication without ever hitting that messy withdrawal phase. I actually went through it with Diazepam myself; I was taking up to 50mg in a single go, but when I finally quit, I didn't experience any withdrawal symptoms at all. This whole business of drug dependency—whether it's physical or psychological—is just strange. There really isn't a predictable rule to follow.

I took Xanax for years, just small doses. I stopped and didn't have any freaking withdrawals or anything, and I didn't get addicted. I also took Normabax for two years and quit without any issues either. It all comes down to how you handle things mentally. 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, maybe it won't trigger an addiction for you—I keep saying this, but everyone's biology is just different. As for the whole "addiction" debate? I’ve always been a bit skeptical of what doctors tell us, even if they're supposed to be the experts. For instance, my physician prescribed Ambien and insisted there was no risk of dependency, yet here I was, needing to double my dose after just two weeks. And look, you can become dependent on a medication without ever hitting that messy withdrawal phase. I actually went through it with Diazepam myself; I was taking up to 50mg in a single go, but when I finally quit, I didn't experience any withdrawal symptoms at all. This whole business of drug dependency—whether it's physical or psychological—is just strange. There really isn't a predictable rule to follow.

I was on Xanax for years, just small doses. I stopped and didn't have any crazy withdrawals or end up addicted. I also took Normabest for two years and quit with zero issues. It all just depends on how you handle things mentally. 🙂

blacx said:So what? I honestly don't get what you were trying to prove with that link 🤷 did I say something wrong? Anyway over here you can read more about benzodiazepine addiction—which includes clonazepam, if you actually care 👍

Hmm, I just spent some time looking up info on Rivotril. Turns out it's addictive. It's an anti-epileptic used for panic attacks too. I really thought it didn't cause dependency.
Better ask your psychiatrist,
But look, I was taking xanax 0.25 twice a day for years before I finally quit. I didn't feel any withdrawal or anything, like I was missing it or needing it.

velvetsailor26 said:Is anyone else actually taking this, and what dosage are you guys on?

Has anyone here dealt with getting hooked on it?

You can't really get addicted to it—as far as I know, it’s an anti-epileptic, though people use it for all sorts of other stuff too. I was only on it for a tiny bit because it made me feel absolutely sick to my stomach. It kept making me want to throw up.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, I think I'm actually going to try taking the Zyprexa Velotab sublingually this week. Apparently, according to some studies, if you take Zyprexa Zydis (the Velotab kind) sublingually—meaning you let it dissolve in your mouth rather than swallowing it straight to the stomach—it doesn't cause nearly as much weight gain. I'm genuinely curious if there's any actual truth to those research findings. I'll give it a shot and let everyone know how it goes.

Well, fingers crossed that method actually works for you with the Zyprex!

Timothy Wood38 said:Right now, I’m just sticking to Zyprexa 10 mg and Lexapro 20 mg, and honestly? I feel pretty good. In my case, Zyprexa was a total home run. There is just one little catch... I’ve definitely noticed it makes me hungrier, puts on some weight, and seems to slow down my metabolism quite a bit. So, I think I might ask my psychiatrist about switching over to Zeldox next time we meet. I’m really hoping Zeldox works as a solid substitute for Zyprexa. As for Seroquel, if I recall correctly from my last chat with my doctor, it isn't quite as potent as Zyprexa. Ideally, I’d love to give Abilify a shot—since it's considered a third-generation antipsychotic, people say it has the fewest side effects. It hasn't been approved here yet, though. I know it's been getting quite popular lately in the States.

I took Zyprexa a long time ago and felt amazing, my focus was totally on point, but yeah, the weight gain is real because it makes you hungry. My nutritionist keeps telling me it's not the pill itself making me fat, it's just what I eat because I'm too lethargic to do anything.
Now I'm on Seroquel 150 mg and I feel good. The effect is pretty similar, kind of like Zyprexa or Risperdal.
It doesn't make me gain as much weight and I don't get those shakes (like when your blood sugar crashes and you need food immediately) like I did with Zyprexa.
At this dosage, Seroquel acts almost like an antidepressant for me. It does increase my appetite, but just a little bit.
I was supposed to be on 200 mg, but that dose made my head spin so they lowered it.
You can actually control yourself so you don't overeat. Seroquel is working pretty well for me.

ambermason16 said:Faverin... all I remember about that stuff is how much it used to put me to sleep. 🙂

Yeah, I check my liver levels. Honestly, I just print out my lab results and then damn them—they use those scary warnings to spook kids when they're being difficult.😢

I couldn't get a wink of sleep at all because of Fever. I've started a new treatment plan though, and things are looking up. My boyfriend dumped me—which made everything way worse, honestly. Deep depression, total mess. But it's under control now. My OCD is also somewhat managed, if you can believe it. The thoughts are still there, lurking, but they don't grab me like they used to. Compulsions have dialed back a bit too. I'm going to try group therapy next. My psychiatrist suggested it; she’s an absolute gem, really wonderful. We spent a long time just talking through everything.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Emma, it can’t really be right that it’s just you and me hanging out here, can it? 😁
Everyone else seems to be busy firing up their grills, while I find myself without any company—and honestly, I’m probably lacking the motivation to seek it out anyway...😢

I'm absolutely trashed. I told this guy a month ago that I deal with OCD. He tells me yesterday he needs "space" from me right now. We've been together a year. He’s totally confused and doesn't get my condition—he doesn't realize how damn hard it is to recover. Like, just because I decide I want to get better, it magically happens? Hello? I have the desire, but it doesn't work like that! And now he's saying I need therapy. Well, yeah, I'm definitely going to need therapy because he completely wrecked me. I'm stuck at home today in a massive depressive hole. What can I even say? Back to work tomorrow, whatever. I'll be fine, I've dealt with worse shit than this.
I can't sleep at night. Yesterday was the first time I actually slept after a week because I took some Sanval.
If he doesn't get it, then what's the point? I don't need him.
The worst part is, he deals with depression too, had PTSD and all that, and he stopped taking Prozac.
And now *he* can't understand me and can't handle me. It's fine if he needs to focus on himself, but my feelings don't matter? That's not okay.
I should just dump him if he can't empathize. Fuck off!
Am I not a human being? Of course I am.
Maybe he just needs time to process everything... Fine, we'll see, but I don't think there's anything left. He said he doesn't see a future with me, but suggested we could still "see each other."
He can take that "seeing each other" idea and shove it. I'm pissed.

Kenneth Scott41 said:It’s pretty obvious from your post that you actually have a sense of purpose in life. See, I don't have that, and I think that makes a massive difference. Beyond that, you're dealing with OCD. I'm not trying to diminish your struggle, but nobody has ever ended it all because of OCD alone—it's the depression that usually does the damage, and that's far more common.👎👎
We could probably sit here and dissect this for hours, but truthfully, depression has pushed me toward the edge three times already. If I hadn't been unsuccessful in those attempts, I wouldn't even be here to type this.

Look, everyone thinks their own struggles or symptoms are somehow "easier" than someone else's. Trust me, I deal with bouts of depression too. But for me, OCD is a chronic, brutal disease. You think this is easy for me? It isn't.
But unlike you, I'm a fighter! I don't quit! And I never will!
And honestly, I'm done arguing over who has it worse. I'm just saying: fight. Good luck.

Kenneth Scott41 said:But you're home now. What happened with the psych ward? Why aren't you there anymore?
I suppose I just have to stay put, mostly because my parents are terrified I'll do something drastic to myself. My mom calls me every single day from work just to check if I'm okay.
Yesterday, I ended up taking too many pills at once, and I could barely stand; I don't even remember much of it now, except for my parents telling me that if it comes to it, they'll send me to the best specialized clinics in the country to get properly treated, even if it takes a whole year.
Where did you stay, and what was your experience like there?

I'm not there because there's no point in just lying around in a hospital bed. I have to work and fight through this. I stayed at a facility in Boston. Maybe you just need a different prescription.
I've learned how to carry my own crap and just live with it. I have bad days too, moments where I feel like I'm about to snap, but I don't let it happen. And man, this OCD is killing me. It's eating me alive, but one day, I'll wash it all away for good. Go to the hospital if you're feeling low. I mean it. You'll be fine, trust me. Just don't start messing with your meds on your own. Don't do anything drastic to yourself because everything can be fixed. It's a huge blessing that your parents actually get you. That's a massive plus.
Hang in there! It’s gonna be okay, I’m sure of it!

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Actually, I am curious about the typical duration. I've been on it for a month now and haven't felt any improvement yet. I'm not sure if it's because it's not the right fit for me, or if it just hasn't kicked in yet...

Hmm, well, you should usually feel something by week three, but then again, they say for any med you need at least three months. I don't know... just talk to your doctor and see if she wants to switch things up or just let it ride for a bit longer.

fadedbear92 said:It could be worse... though, let's be real, it definitely could.😢

Are you actually doing alright? Why all this whining?
I'm fine today, sure, but who knows about tomorrow? Today I'm good, tomorrow I might not be, etc.

Arthur Vaughn2 said:What’s the absolute minimum amount of time you have to stay on antidepressants? (Specifically Zoloft) Is a year enough...

Ugh, I don't know. I was on Zoloft for such a short stint. Less than a month, so I honestly can't say why my doctor pulled me off it so fast. It didn't even touch me—I felt absolutely nothing from it.
But that's beside the point, it might actually work for you. We aren't all built the same way, and we don't all react to ADs the same way. Our brain chemistry isn't identical, or whatever the layman term is.
Actually, check out fadedbear92's page; they have a whole section dedicated to meds. Go study up there.
Or just ask your doctor. That's your safest bet, really.
Besides, why are you even stressing about how long you'll be on them? The main thing is that the meds actually make you feel okay.
Medications aren't supposed to kill us; they're meant to help us and get us healthy.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Honestly, I don't know about all of you, but whenever it hits me that I’m looking at a minimum two-year stretch on these ADs, I just lose it. Every single morning I wake up feeling just as miserable and pathetic as the day before, and I struggle to even imagine myself existing two years down the line. 👎

I mean, if someone like me—someone who’s already been through the psychiatric ward and now feels this overwhelming urge to go back there again (even though I know deep down I just want to be home)—is feeling this way, then I really don't know what my ??!! is anymore. 🤷

Why does the idea of taking meds bother you so much? They're literally there to help us. You've only been on them for three weeks? Sometimes it takes a full three months before you actually feel the real impact. 🙂
You just gotta have patience. If one doesn't work for you, you switch to another. 🙂
I've been on mine for eight years, so what? I'm still here. And I'm alive! 🙂I spent three weeks in the psych unit once. I used to cry whenever they let me out for the weekend because I didn't want to leave. Then I'd head back from the weekend to the hospital and cry because I didn't want to go back in. Dammit, most people deal with that exact same cycle.
I totally get where you're coming from. Don't worry, it'll be fine. A dreamer said on the forum: "Everything has its beginning and its end."
I actually believe that's true. Sounds optimistic, right?
Honestly, all this bullshit needs to stop for everyone.

fadedbear92 said:urbanskipper4, if you're up for it, shoot me a DM—my doctor is incredible at treating OCD.👍

Hey, looks like your inbox is totally slammed—you aren't even taking new messages. Anyway, there’s a ton going on, but honestly, health comes first, right? So, is she actually a psychoanalyst?
And how do you actually know if it’s successfully treating OCD? Did someone just tell you it works?

Kenneth Scott41 said:urbanskipper4, honestly, that sounds like such a heavy burden to carry, especially when you consider the kid was only nine years old at the time!
just try to hold your ground, I suppose... don't let them get the better of you.😉

Thanks for having my back. It’s tough, seriously. My kid is trying his best to help me out, giving me advice and everything, but man, it's easy to say "don't worry," "move on," or "just forget the past." Like, oh sure, I'll just wear dirty clothes and stop showering, maybe nothing will happen then, right? Then he tells me I don't even need medication. If that's the case, what's the point of Big Pharma making them at all? I know he means well—he actually listens to me—but he just doesn't get how brutal this fight really is.
Anyway, I really need to find a therapist or something because I'm stuck. I've been spinning my wheels in the exact same spot for 9 years now. Honestly, things have actually gotten worse lately. I'm on a different prescription now, so we'll see how that goes, I guess.???

Kenneth Scott41 said:One of the most frequent reasons why antidepressant treatment fails to hit the mark is either an insufficient dosage or stopping the medication far too early. I suspect this usually boils down to the side effects being too much to handle, or perhaps just a general lack of information among patients and their families about how these things actually work. Nowadays, the standard medical consensus seems to be that if you're dealing with your first depressive episode, you really ought to stay on the medication for at least a year; if it's a recurring issue, they suggest sticking with it for three to five years.

And up to five years?! You're telling me I have to pop pills every single day for that long? 😁
Oh boy, I guess I'm just a baby then, since I've only been on them for three weeks. 😁

I've cycled through so many different meds. I was on them for a long time, taking the absolute maximum doses allowed. I did exactly what my doctor told me to do, trying everything from the ones that worked to the ones that absolutely trashed me.
But my OCD is just garbage. The meds only take the edge off. It's rare to find someone lucky enough to have the symptoms vanish completely. You really need to pair it with psychotherapy, though which didn't work for me. Maybe I just didn't have a good therapist. Who knows? I'm a pretty tough case to crack.
I think I'm going to start over now, maybe try a different provider. I just can't deal with dirt; my anxiety spikes so hard whenever I encounter anything filthy.
I have a severe form of OCD. It's been screwing me over for almost nine years straight. My life is a total mess because of it. Plus, I deal with depression on top of everything else.

fadedbear92 said:Faverin can definitely lower your mood; it has an anxiolytic effect, so it clearly doesn't suit you. My doctor prescribes Paxil for OCD, and most people I know dealing with this take that. Hm. Anyway, I really wish you luck—you've been through so much. Hang in there.😠

Thanks, and I really hope things get better for you every single day too.
Paxil helped me a little bit, but only for a short while. I was on it for about a year and a half, then spent the next seven years on Anafranil. That one actually held steady for a long time when they had me on a combo with other meds.
Then my whole system just... collapsed. It stopped working entirely.
Man, I'd give anything to just stop taking all this junk. I'm so sick of it all. My head is just a total mess right now.
Best,

fadedbear92 said:How long were you in psychoanalysis for? I'm going into my 8th year now, and it's working wonders for me.

Short answer? Four months with Dr. Gruden. The guy basically told me to stop listening to him because I'm just too damn stubborn. I drove him crazy, haha. 🙂Well, guess I'll just drive another psychiatrist insane then, hehehe. 🙂I just don't vibe with him as a person, and his whole style is off.
Plus, psychoanalysis isn't even that effective for OCD. CBT is supposed to be better, but even that didn't do much for me. I'm just a lost cause, dammit. :P
I've got an appointment with Dr. plećka this Tuesday. He's my last shot at something working. I'll let you know how it goes.
Anyway, I skipped my Faverin today because it makes me feel absolutely nauseous. I can't stand it, though maybe I should have at least taken a quarter of it. I made a bad call, and now I'm stuck dealing with a massive crying spell tonight. Then I ended up binge-eating like crazy because of the nausea and that empty feeling. I get these horrible hunger attacks, even though I usually eat like a bird. Probably just missing my dose.
I can already tell I'll be on a diet once the holidays are over.
Took some Xanax and I'm calmer now, but my head still hurts like hell.
Been a total wreck all day. Just slept and slept through the entire afternoon.
Honestly, Prozac felt like it worked best for me. I probably just needed to taper the dose down and maybe take something like Tegretol to stabilize the whole up & down bullshit.
The Faverin has me feeling so incredibly down I can't even deal. Ugh, gross.
I am so miserable!