Posts by Brian Wells

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Jason Hughes51 said: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.🙏

Well, thanks for the essay. It seems like all I need right now is some courage. The Valium definitely works, but sometimes I still get emotional turbulence, especially on these hot, humid days when it feels like a storm is coming and everything goes back to how it was...

I'm hoping the Valium kicks in even more and gives me the push I need to start tapering off the Lorazepam. That stuff is a terrible anxiolytic...

It’s been a "friend" of mine for 16 years now, and I can't imagine not taking it. That’s the biggest hurdle, I guess... and my psychotherapist keeps pointing that out, too.

Best,

Jason Hughes51 said: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.

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.😕.

😛

Jonathan Ruiz10 said:Dear experienced members,

I’m dealing with a situation involving my mother that’s weighing heavily on me. She’s always been a difficult person—honestly, I dealt with quite a few issues with her growing up—but now that I’ve come home to visit my family, I’ve noticed she seems to be losing her grip a little. It’s as if she’s becoming intentionally mean, almost like she can't control her own impulses anymore.

For instance, we’ll be sitting at a local Starbucks, and a woman walks by with her dog. My mom will just start loudly commenting, "Oh, look at her, obsessing over that little thing. Gross! I bet she can't even have kids."

Normally, I stopped arguing with her years ago—it's just not worth the energy—but when she says things like this, I feel forced to shut her down before someone decides to get physical with either her or me.

Or, take the other day, when an old acquaintance of hers—a former Police Chief—stopped by. My mother started making these scathing remarks about how anyone with nothing more than a middle school education could get hired in law enforcement. It was enough to bring my sister to tears.

Given all this erratic behavior, I’ve started wondering if the normabel her doctor has been prescribing continuously for the last 15 years might actually be the culprit. She originally started taking them for depression after losing her job, but now she takes them constantly, and I’m honestly not even sure why anymore. She’s never quite been herself, but it used to feel more like a personality trait rather than... this.

I’m terrified that the normabel has actually made things worse for her. On top of that, she occasionally has a drink—not like an alcoholic, mind you—but then she'll take her normabel on the same day. From what I understand, that’s incredibly dangerous, and the instructions specifically state you shouldn't be on normabel for longer than three weeks.

So, what am I supposed to do about the doctor who keeps handing these out? What kind of steps can I actually take?

I’m scared she’s going to lose her sense of reality entirely and start causing much bigger scenes or outbursts for all of us to deal with.

Basically, can anyone tell me if taking normabel for such a long duration can cause these kinds of effects, and if so, how???

Thank you all so much in advance!!!

Using Normabel or Valium over a long period might cause some personality changes, though maybe not quite to that extreme. It definitely leads to dependency, though. Looking at your mom's situation, I don't think the issue is just the long-term use of Normabel, her doctor, or even addiction itself (sometimes dependency is unavoidable). It seems more like it's her actual temperament, her age, or perhaps an underlying health issue.
If she isn't bumping up the dosage, she probably isn't that addicted.
It looks like she's taking a bit less than the prescribed Normabel dose mid-day. I should mention that if you can't find a way to get her to seek help now, waiting until she sees a psychiatrist later might result in a much more volatile situation.

Just try everything you can right now to convince her.

It would probably make things a little calmer for everyone involved.☕

cosmictinker21 said:It's based on the amino acid tryptophan, which serves as a precursor and substrate for creating 5-hydroxytryptamine—otherwise known as serotonin. What’s interesting is that none of these supplements ever specify the exact chemical formula for that famous "milk peptide." Since peptides are essentially chains of amino acids, you really need to know the precise chemical structure to understand how they interact with cellular biochemistry. There are some studies out there, though they aren't particularly precise; they tend to focus more on observing results rather than establishing actual neurophysiology. Beyond that, they don't seem to share the same structure as benzodiazepines, nor do they bind to GABA receptors the way benzos do. That said, they do yield a decent effect, almost comparable to pharmacological options. Not quite at the same intensity, obviously, because if they function by increasing serotonin, then we're looking at a completely different biochemical pathway—even if the end result feels similar. After all, SSRIs and benzodiazepines have somewhat overlapping effects. In any case, there haven't been reports of toxicity or severe side effects, but you shouldn't expect miracles either. Plus, you generally have to take them consistently over a period of time before you notice anything concrete...

Hmm, okay. But I guess if it works, why isn't it talked about more as a potential therapy before turning to "sticky" benzodiazepines? Where can you buy this in the US, and is the product registered as a dietary supplement or a drug?

Thanks for the answer.🙂

fadedbear92 said:You can't force it. If it isn't working yet, maybe you aren't quite ready. I was on Xanax for twelve years myself. It’s likely you need a stronger antidepressant to manage the anxiety first—once that kicks in, you'll find you naturally forget to take your anxiolytic because you won't even need it. Just take it slow and stay in close contact with your doctor.👍

..haha, good point..don't rush things..

...look, I think we're all naturally wired to try and find our own cures. From touching a wound, or getting a kiss on a boo-boo from mom, to gathering herbs... and now we have all this high-tech machinery to run tests...
...but somehow we've lost that intuition and the faith in self-healing...
and I suppose I look for answers and solutions in those kinds of places too. That's why I'm interested in everything that might help....

Thanks for the warning, I appreciate that... I tend to think along similar lines... and if there were a safe way, I guess someone would have commercialized it by now and we'd be seeing side effects... but I don't see any... That's all.

Regarding your 12 years, are you talking about tapering off xanax or being dependent on it?

The truth is, it's not the right time. I consider it a win even when I don't increase my dose. But I've been struggling with the same thing for a long while.

Best.

I've reached an agreement with my doctor about tapering off Lorsilan..

.... but I can't really make it happen. I just can't afford to deal with a long withdrawal period right now because of my family and work commitments.😢

Does anyone here have any first-hand experience with Tryptozen? Is it true it's supposed to act similarly to Xanax, but it's derived from milk?🙂

After about a month on Coaxil (3x12.5mg), my depressive symptoms have eased up quite a bit, and my anxiety feels way more manageable.😛 I feel much better overall... more balanced, maybe a bit more steady.

I’m still taking anxiolytics, though (3 x 1.5mg Lorsilan).
I can't tell if this is just withdrawal or if my anxiety disorder is just that intense.🙂

I keep wondering, "is this really me, or is it just the withdrawal?"☕

Should I just stay where I am, or should I try to taper off the anxiolytics after using them for a full 16 years????????🤷

casuallynx982 said:Hey there,

So, here's my experience—I was taking them three times a day. At first, I dealt with some dizziness and a bit of dry mouth, but that eventually cleared up..

After about a year, I started tapering down and finally stopped altogether.. I didn't run into any withdrawal symptoms at all, mostly because my doctor mentioned they're actually among the milder antidepressants out there.

Bottom line? They definitely helped me find my footing and get stabilized.

👍

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions.

Hi,

After dealing with anxiety mixed with depression for 15 years, I’ve significantly lowered my dosage of anxiolytics (like Lorazepam), and I've been taking ExxonMobil for four weeks now to help manage the withdrawal symptoms.
I'm wondering if this slow but steady improvement will continue with ExxonMobil after the first month passes?

Thanks.😕

Jason Hughes51 said: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.😍

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?😲🙄😠🤷👍

fadedbear92 said:Don't mention it—we're all just here to lean on each other and swap stories.
So, basically, I spent seven years seeing this terrible psychiatrist—I didn't even realize how bad she was at the time—over at a clinic in Chicago. She put me on Prozac and a tiny dose of Xanax, just 0.25 mg. Honestly, I got hooked on the Xanax incredibly fast.

Then, thank God, I switched doctors and went to a private practice instead. My new shrink immediately prescribed a stronger antidepressant, Zoloft. She let me keep taking the Xanax for a while because she realized my dependency was both mental and physical. She mentioned that since she was the one treating me now, she wasn't going to just cut me off the Xanax immediately. Hmm.
I was taking about 5 mg of Zoloft, but I kept ramping up the Xanax on my own—total amateur move, I know... I started having relapses, you know, those heavy depressive episodes triggered by some pretty rough stuff happening in my life.
That’s why, about 4 or 5 months ago, after playing around with different antidepressants to see what would stick—since it really depends on your genetic makeup whether a specific med works for you within those first few weeks—she prescribed Prozac. And man, that depressive episode finally started lifting.
http://www.pic4ever.com/images/157fs837411.gif
That antidepressant also dialed down my anxiety, which is why I don't feel the need to keep popping Xanax like crazy anymore. Now, I only take it as needed when the anxiety gets overwhelming. I'm also on Lamictal as a mood stabilizer to handle the ups and downs. And that's pretty much it.

It's a long story, but it has a happy ending, and I hope it stays that way for you for a long time.

I never took anything on my own until I started using Lorsilan; I used it to deal with all my daily discomfort. After 15 years, it becomes part of who you are. But now, I'm only taking about a third of my old dose.

You mentioned Prozac and Lamictal. If DOC or cosmictinker21 can share a bit about those meds...

Thanks for sharing your experience.
Have a great May Day and enjoy yourself somewhere...

cosmictinker21 said:You can do this, I’m certain of it. Just don't rush things; everything has a way of settling into place eventually. This isn't some sudden revolution... it's more of a process, one that sometimes demands a lifetime of commitment. But things always tend to look up in the end. Don't give up now. Everything you're doing and thinking is exactly where it needs to be.👍

Look, I'm glad to hear you're a woman, cosmictinker21... and honestly, I'm ready for a lifelong commitment, haha... maybe even longer. That kind of commitment is huge. My whole lifestyle is my commitment... But of course, I get discouraged quite often, especially when I have to be at work (I run a small business) and try to stay firm, decisive, and calm... while dealing with a withdrawal hiccup or a full-blown crisis.... So, it's just day in and day out.
Thanks, and if you think of anything else... just scribble it down.
☕Happy May Day.

fadedbear92 said:I'm not cosmictinker21, but your story really hit home for me. I used to take six Xanax (0.5 mg) at a time instead of just one or two max per day, and I ended up hooked over 12 long, grueling years. That’s actually why my doctor prescribed a stronger antidepressant—even though it's an older one, Prozac is an SSRI, which significantly reduces anxiety and therefore lessens the need for Xanax. And hey, it worked for us! There are days now when I don't take a single Xanax. So, I'm crossing my fingers for you—hang in there!.👍

I love hearing stories like this. It takes real willpower and courage. Thanks for sharing your experience. If you can, maybe describe the symptoms you felt when you started Prozac and how the process of tapering off Xanax went.
Thanks. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Just to let Maher know, I deal with nothing more or less than classic depression with anxiety, and I've been living with it for 20 years—more or less normally. About a year ago, I turned my life completely upside down: check out my blog on recovery (yoga, diet, autosuggestion, psychotherapy, hypnosis... and just endless reading). I'm taking things slow and steady. Every bit of advice matters to me, aside from what my psychotherapist and psychiatrist say.
Thanks.
With Lorsilan, even a 0.25mg difference can make for a very rough day. But you have to keep working.

🤷

cosmictinker21 said:Technically, they both fall under the "psychotropic" umbrella, just with different mechanisms, different symptoms, and different diagnoses. With Lexapro, you'll sleep like a log. Beyond that, though, one is an antipsychotic while tiagabine is one of those newer antidepressants...

What are your thoughts or experiences with Tianeptine (ExxonMobil)? Maybe share a bit about how it works or what you've heard. I've been on it for three weeks now and I feel more balanced, but the goal of tapering off my current dose of 2+2+1 Ativan still feels pretty far away.

Just to clarify, I was taking 14 mg of Ativan daily a few months ago. I reached that level over a 15-year period dealing with anxiety and depression. Even without an antidepressant, I managed to drop down to 5 mg without facing severe withdrawal. My doctor put me on an antidepressant to help lower the Ativan, but it seems like the withdrawal symptoms actually get worse every time I try to taper down.

Do you have any suggestions or personal experience? Thanks.

Jason Hughes51 said: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. 👋

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.

I’d appreciate it if anyone who has used this could share their experiences. 🙏

Jason Hughes51 said: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. 😬
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. 😬
Alright, alright, I won't bug you about yoga anymore 🙂...
To be honest, I'm curious about how antidepressants work, including this unusual Xanax. There's always been that idea that they start working around the third week.
So, my question for Brenda Carter and anyone else on different ADs or maybe Xanax—does the effect continue to build if you feel it after just two or three days?

How fixed are those timelines? In my experience, everything that happened over these three weeks is that I can metaphorically say I’m "leaning less into heavy winds" than usual.

Can I expect an even better response or less turbulence over time, or is this as good as it gets with Xanax? 😲

To cut a long story short. It reaches its full effectiveness after three weeks, and that needs to be maintained. And
Or perhaps anxiety and depression can continue to decrease with ongoing use. Of course, that's assuming you don't abandon other ways of managing these disorders.

Anyway, I'm rambling, and maybe someone will chime in with their own experience.
🙏
These emojis are great... heheheh🙂🙂 Going to eat now..

"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.👍

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

I'm starting my third week on 3x daily Brintellix. I feel more emotionally stable, less depressed, and much more productive at work. The side effects have gone away.

I guess I don't want to get ahead of myself, though. I'm not sure if the effect will stay consistent or maybe even get stronger in a few weeks or months. I suppose I need to wait and see.

This is just an update. I haven't reduced my Xanax dose by a single milligram yet. My psychiatrist is pushing me to swap every 0.5 mg of Xanax with 2 mg of Diazepam (or Oxazepam). That would put my maintenance dose at roughly 3x 4mg of Diazepam alongside the Brintellix. Honestly, I don't think I can manage that. Every milligram of Xanax I try to cut feels pretty rough.

Still, I'm happy. I'm sticking to my routine, including psychotherapy, yoga, meditation, and my spiritual and scientific studies.

I'd appreciate hearing about anyone else's experience. Your thoughts really mean a lot to me.

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!

It’s been a week since I started taking Coaxil 3 x1. I had that same experience you did, feralranger22—the first two days were rough with some dizzy spells and restlessness. But the next few days felt pretty promising. It actually lifted my mood and helped cut down my need for Xanax.

After going through a few actual high-stress situations in my life, I don't really feel like it's having much of an effect anymore. Because of that, I'm still managing my anxiety with Lrosilan 3 x1 mg (and sometimes even more than that).

Alright, I guess we’ll keep going for another two or three weeks. That's what my doctor and the pharmacologists are suggesting, anyway.

If anyone else happens to stumble upon this thread, please feel free to share your experiences.☕

Seneca greeting.

stormymaker24 said:My doctor prescribed me more Xanax, fully expecting my anxiety to flare up, though I’ve been trying my best to avoid taking them. In truth, I didn't touch them at all until my shoulder started acting up again—because, as luck would have it, my anxiety always manifests physically—but even then, they provided absolutely no relief. I think I’ve taken maybe five pills total.

I spent years attempting to tackle my depression entirely on my own; it’s been a nearly five-year struggle defined by constant peaks and valleys, but I finally hit a wall of absolute lethargy, escalating panic attacks, and relentless nightmares. I simply couldn't endure it anymore, so I sought out a physician to get a prescription for anti-anxiety medication.
Now I am looking into starting therapy, though finding the right fit is a challenge. Since I am currently studying psychology, it feels particularly complicated because everywhere I turn, Professor 😁

As for the regimen, I am taking three a day now, though it was just two during the first week. That seems to be the standard dosage; I suspect the dose for something like Lexapro remains relatively consistent regardless of the individual.

Oh, and I should mention that during those first two days after starting the medication, I dealt with bouts of dizziness, which also occurred when I increased my dosage. Fortunately, that sensation didn't last long.

Hi,
I started taking Coaxil. Up until now, I've been treating my anxiety and depression with anxiolytics. My doctor recommended this med to help me taper off the anxiolytics and generally manage my condition. I was wondering if you ever took 2x1, how much you took at the start, and maybe a little more about the side effects. I'm feeling a bit unsettled—I have dizziness and morning headaches... and I feel different, not exactly better. I know the medication is cumulative and works over the long term, but hearing about your experience would help.