Posts by Jason Hughes51

Robert Collins2 said:Jason Hughes51, man, huge congrats to you! Seriously, I hope you never have to deal with that sickness ever again! 😁

Thank you. I sincerely hope so too—"I feel like I finally understand myself, though the whole experience was quite surreal. I never imagined that being a fairly optimistic person would lead me to become such a deep pessimist."
But, I suppose there is a lesson in everything, even if it comes at a high price, and I am just relieved that it is over.

Stay strong, everyone... 😘

To my fellow travelers navigating depression and those difficult F-type medications—it seems I’ve finally been stripped of everything, having had to taper off Coaxil and Xanax quite some time ago. It feels as though I am starting over from scratch. As for how long this state of being will last... well, I suppose we simply don't know. Regardless, I truly wish you all luck in finding a psychiatrist who actually listens, and I hope your own journey toward tapering is as painless as possible. 🙂

ambermason16 said:Thanks for the input. 🙂

Well, at least I haven't hit full-blown psychosis... yet. 😢

Just stick to the medication, and things should start looking up. 🙂

Larry Howard8 said:My psychiatrist never actually mentioned that specific diagnosis to me, even though I’ve brought it up several times...

🤷

You should probably include those details in that formal letter. Just list your full legal name along with your birth year.

It seems to me that lately, they tend to slap an F-code on someone just so they can maintain a certain level of control over how a patient is managed. I suppose you could call that a rather blunt approach, if you ask me.
But, if it provides you with some sense of mental stability—well, maybe don't worry too much about the technicalities of the F-codes. 😉

ambermason16 said:

It's an F-32.3—that means a severe depressive episode with psychotic features. We're talking an acute crisis here.
Then there's F-33.3—severe recurrent depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. That's the chronic phase of the illness.

So what about an F-32.2?

It seems to be a major depressive episode without any psychotic features.

Larry Howard8 said:For the hundredth time,
is anyone else here taking Zoloft?

🙄

btw, I definitely wouldn't recommend mixing Zoloft with alcohol.
I’ve been there before, and it just turned me aggressive, triggered panic attacks, and all that good stuff...
👎

I suppose no antidepressant should really be paired with alcohol. Personally, I was transitioned off Prozac after about a year.
Initially, I was tapering down, taking one dose in the morning or before bed.
Nothing negative occurred—in fact, I might say I feel more like my old self again.
👍

Larry Thomas58 said:Don't bother asking about either—they're just addictive. Stick to beer instead.

I suppose one should probably just ignore comments like that. After all, alcohol is also highly addictive, I think. 😉

Rebecca Bennett41 said:I have a question of my own—is it possible to experience increased sweating as a side effect of Anafranil? This kind of perspiration has NEVER been an issue for me before.

I suppose I can't say for certain, but I personally feel like my body odor has changed strangely since I started taking Celexa.
I eventually found an answer while looking through the patient information leaflet—it mentions that alcohol consumption should be avoided during therapy. 😁
Perhaps one really ought to take the time to read what is written on those little instruction slips occasionally. 🙄
Well, I guess doing what is necessary isn't particularly difficult.

I have made it through four months now! I am feeling quite well. 👋

Matthew Castillo5 said:Nothing good. You’re probably just making the side effects from the antidepressant way worse, and since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, you're essentially neutralizing the medication's effectiveness at the same time.

Does your psychiatrist actually know you're drinking while on Prozac, or are you too nervous to tell them?

I know things are incredibly heavy for you right now with everything going on with your family, but please don't make life even harder on yourself with this kind of self-destructive behavior. Seriously.

I suppose it depends on what one considers "too much." I mean, would something like a single beer a day be considered acceptable, or is that also off-limits?

Brian Wells said:Glad to hear it, Jason Hughes51. For me, after being on Valium for about a month and a half, I feel more alive,😉 like I can actually enjoy simple things. I'm calmer and more upbeat, though I still don't have the energy to cut down my lorazepam 3X1.5mg dose. How long have you been on Valium?
Did you quit xanax cold turkey, or did you follow a specific plan? If you have a method, a suggestion, or just an idea, please let me know.
I'm also open to hearing from anyone else who has tapered off benzos.😕.

😛

I have been on Valium for just under three months now. My doctor mentioned that things should improve even further in a week or so, and once they see that I am doing okay, they will let me taper off immediately without much fuss. In theory, the tapering process shouldn't actually be a problem.

I didn't really follow a strict protocol. I used them initially to act as a sort of "bridge" until the Valium began to take effect, even if only slightly. I wouldn't say I had a grand strategy; I simply knew how difficult withdrawing from these can be, so I figured it was better to be prepared rather than wait.
I developed a little routine where I would take one before bed, or perhaps just half a tablet if I felt particularly unsettled during the day. I ended up taking that half dose a few times, though I was more consistent with the nighttime dose.
The transition went relatively smoothly. I didn't sleep for about three nights, but I made sure to exhaust myself during the day, and that seemed to do the trick. I experienced a bit of increased salivation and some restlessness in bed, but nothing truly unbearable.

Sleeping while on them was pure bliss. I would take a pill, tuck myself in, and I was instantly in dreamland; I wasn't waking up in a cold sweat anymore, but instead waking up in the morning feeling like a baby. I honestly might have stayed on them longer, but I don't think anyone needs that kind of dependency—so now I am just on the Valium.🙂

When I go out now, I don't have issues with men approaching me; I don't live in fear that something terrible is going to happen. After a little more time with my psychiatrist, I truly believe I will make it through this.

I had to head over to the clinic the other day to pick up my prescriptions. Aside from the fact that she thinks I look much better, I actually had to thank her for essentially pushing me toward seeing the psychiatrist in the first place.🙏

I’ve just started back on a new course of Valium. 😍 My doctor mentioned that I look much better lately, 😍 though she noted that it might take about three months before I feel any truly significant internal shifts. 🙂
It’s interesting how things have changed—the tablets actually seem to be working for me now.

As for xanax, I’m not taking that anymore. My psychiatrist, my primary physician, and I all reached the same conclusion: it just isn't necessary for me anymore.

Brian Wells said:If your left eye isn't crying, what is the right one doing? (The right side connects to the left hemisphere—the rational part, I think—and the left to the right, the emotional part... if I remember correctly.).

Anyway, back to combining anxiety and depression meds. Like using "anti-depressants" alongside those minimal "fear-reducers."

Wellbutrin and... what else goes with it? I've been sticking with Wellbutrin for about a month now. We've built some trust; it hasn't let me down yet, and I haven't let it down. It's like it realizes it's too small to tackle a "heavy hitter" like Lorsilan. Lorsilan is like quick cash: you spend it fast and it's gone. But everything else we have to help us, including Wellbutrin, requires work, persistence, and faith. You don't see massive progress immediately; it takes time, and you just have to trust the process.

If success means being 0.5 mg lower on Lorsilan after a month, then I'll take that.
The side effects are tough, but they're manageable in a controlled setting.

None of my eyes are crying anymore. Sometimes they just get red from anger...

What do you guys think of my little essay?😲🙄😠🤷👍

I suppose my tears fall differently now; they don't come from both eyes at once anymore. 😲
Though, I should mention this happens quite infrequently. I have never really been much of a sentimental person, I guess.
I managed to taper off my Xanax, and I feel quite alright, all things considered.🙂

cosmictinker21 said:There are psychiatrists covered by insurance if you go through the public health system... you just have to be patient and try to get on a waiting list. That specific combo is a bit unusual, too. There might be better options out there for you...

Well, yes. I mean, who on earth prescribed her Normabell and Misar anyway? 🤔

I guess the only way I'd cry on Wellbutrin is if I had a twitch in my right eye.
There aren't any panic attacks or anything like that anymore. It feels like I'm totally fine, maybe even cruising along smoothly.😍

Brian Wells said:If it’s just a matter of getting a truck in a few years, you’ll be like new again. Hopefully you get some good rest.
I want to thank Brenda Carter once more for the encouraging words. When things are this hard, those words feel like a necessary part of the medication and the whole recovery process.

I'm entering my fourth week and I don't quite have the nerve to taper down my dose of 2+2+1 mg of Lorazepam yet. But I guess my ship isn't rocking nearly as much. I'm in a better mood, I handle life's stressors a bit more rationally, and I'm not overreacting. Even when the low moods hit, they don't last long, so that constant "fear of fear" feeling isn't really there anymore.

Anyway, thanks Jason Hughes51—no matter how it sounds—and thanks Brenda Carter too. I'd also love to hear from anyone else who feels like sharing their own experience.

Ugh, well, I have decided—my psychiatrist suggested it was possible—that I can finally wean myself off Xanax.
I’ve kept one box tucked away just in case of an emergency, but I am trying my best to ensure such an emergency never arises.

Honestly, I am almost at a loss for words. It isn't that I'm dramatic or moody, per se, but I used to be incredibly sluggish and completely uninterested in anything happening around me.
🙂

Brenda Carter is 👍.

Thanks, 🙂

Brenda Carter said:Xanax is basically the only antidepressant with proven neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
Which basically means it actually helps repair (given enough time) the damage caused by glutamate.

I suppose I might need a fleet of semi-trucks to fix my own damage, though. 😁

I finally managed to taper off the Xanax. I can actually sleep now. 👋

Brian Wells said:"More leveled"—if that’s even a real way to put it.

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍
Personally, I can't stand yoga, but I have noticed my appetite has finally subsided, which is a relief.

I used to struggle with binge eating episodes, so it seems this helps with that as well.
Hang in there. 🙂

The sun has come out, so everything feels a bit brighter.
Until we hit the first black hole. 😬

Brenda Carter said:Glutamate is basically just another neurotransmitter, kind of like serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine... you know the drill. But here’s the thing: it’s the most excitatory one out there. People actually call it the MASTER SWITCH. If you’re dealing with constant, long-term stress or deep depression, your levels spike, and then it becomes neurotoxic. It literally fries your neurons and dendrites... mostly hitting the amygdala, hippocampus, and the Core. Coaxil helps bring those levels back down to where they should be.
The hippocampus and amygdala are part of the limbic system, which is basically the emotional center of your brain.
Hippocampus: handles your mood, focus, and how well you can learn stuff...
- someone struggling with crappy cognitive function

Core: deals with short-term memory, making decisions, and taking initiative
- feeling sluggish
Amygdala: manages emotions, fear, anxiety, and aggression
- an irritable, aggressive, or pessimistic patient.

Thanks for the explanation. I noticed you mentioned this earlier, but I didn't quite grasp which part of the brain controls what. Honestly, I feel a bit silly asking the doctor so many questions since our conversations usually drift toward other topics, but since I have some downtime before my next meeting, I figured I should probably understand exactly how Coaxil is affecting me.
Though, I suppose I sound a bit like a broken record. Comparing how I felt a month ago to how I feel now, I am almost unrecognizable.
I feel much more "level"—if that is even the right way to put it.

Brenda Carter said:How long do you stay on Coax?

I guess it just depends on how much time you think you need. Basically, once you and your psychiatrist feel like you can handle things without it, you stop.
That’s just how Coax works—you can quit whenever, there isn't really a tapering period.

Talking about anxiolytics?
Like I said before, Coax has a massive effect on anxiety because of how it hits the Amygdala (basically by lowering glutamate levels in there). New studies actually show people are using 50% less anti-anxiety meds when they're on Coax. But obviously, that doesn't happen overnight. There are no miracles here.
With Coax, you don't get those crazy sudden shifts like sedation or getting all wired up; it's more of a slow and steady thing.
Getting healthy is a long road.

Okay. Honestly, I can already tell this might be a long journey for me, mainly because I actually quite like who I am while I'm on it.🙂
I've already stopped taking my Xanax before bed, which was a relief because I was genuinely worried about becoming dependent on them.
😬

If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind explaining—since I can certainly look things up myself—what exactly causes that lower level of glutamate in the Amygdala?
Thanks.🙂

Brenda Carter said:Just like any other antidepressant out there, you won't feel anything with ExxonMobil for at least two or three weeks.

Do you happen to know how long one typically stays on Coaxil?

Also, my doctor mentioned that I should be able to gradually taper off the xanax now, though I suppose I might still need it occasionally when I feel particularly restless.

feralranger22 said:I started taking it three times a day right away. For those first couple of days, I dealt with some dizziness, but after that, there weren't any other side effects—though I didn't feel much of anything besides a slight reduction in anxiety. As far as the depression goes, things actually felt a bit worse. I don't want to discourage you, though; I see others here who found relief, so I really hope it works for you too. Let me know how you get on...
Greetings!

Well, I started a new round of pills today.😵
Right now, I am just using Xanax as needed. However, I am continuing with my Coaxil 3 x1 daily regimen.
I suppose I feel a certain amount of regret for having resisted medication and chemical interventions for so long; I was under the impression that I could resolve everything entirely on my own.

My psychiatrist mentioned that, based on her assessment, I probably need to be on Coaxil for about six months in my case. But, I still have quite a few hurdles to clear before then.
I am still dealing with dry mouth and some digestive issues. But if that is the price to pay—well, I can handle it. 🙂