Posts by slywolf11

bluerider512 said:I have a question: I’ve been on a new medication, Alvent—it's an antidepressant and anxiolytic combo—for about two months now. I’m also taking Xanax once a day along with it, as prescribed by my psychologist. For a while, I actually felt pretty good and had plenty of energy. But for the last two weeks, I’ve felt completely drained. It doesn't matter if I'm relaxing at home or busy working; the fatigue is constant, though I notice it a bit less when I'm occupied. Even my motivation to exercise has vanished—I used to hit my stationary bike every single day. I’ve brought this up with my psychologist several times, but she hasn't offered any real solutions or changes.😢I really don't want to turn into a "zombie." I'm worried these pills are doing that to me, even though I'm on the lowest possible doses just once a day. I've considered seeing a different doctor, but I'm not sure if that would actually solve anything. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Even though I go to psychotherapy regularly, I feel awkward telling her that I feel like she's just "pushing pills" on me. I feel like I need more support from the therapy side rather than just more medication. Does anyone have any advice?😢

Look, I’m on Effexor and Xanax too, and I can tell you that I actually feel quite alright. I did have some issues at the start—I barely needed any sleep and would wake up at three in the morning feeling totally refreshed—but that passed after a few days. Before I started this regimen, I was incredibly hyperactive; I suppose you know how stress causes the pituitary gland to pump out extra adrenaline, which probably explains it. I couldn't sit still, I had to find ways to burn off all that excess energy, and my fuse was extremely short; everything irritated me and I was in a constant bad mood. Now, things are completely different. External stressors don't hit me the way they used to, the hyperactivity is gone, and I feel much calmer. Maybe I'm a little slower, I guess, but it doesn't bother me because it isn't stopping me from getting my work done. I don't know how long you've been on this treatment, but I noticed an improvement after just a couple of weeks, and even the people around me picked up on it...

Roger Rodriguez said:No worries, kind wishes are always appreciated 😁

I'm sorry, I missed whether you mentioned exactly which medications you're on, but if you're only taking Xanax, I have to say your psychiatrist isn't being very responsible. He's filling you up with anxiolytics that create a massive dependency rather than actually treating the root cause.
Are you taking an antidepressant?
Xanax won't impact your sex life, but antidepressants definitely can; they aren't the same thing.
If I were you, I wouldn't increase the Xanax dose, or perhaps look into switching to something else entirely, because Xanax isn't going to cure you or provide long-term relief.
I'd love to know who this doctor is! 🙄
By the way, if you need something during pregnancy, you can take Ativan; it shouldn't harm the baby. 👍

Along with Xanax, I was taking 75 mg of Alvent and a quarter of a Klonopin at night. After a month, I stopped everything, but within a few days, I felt this restlessness again, like an excess of adrenaline, and everything just seemed to irritate me... so he put me back on Xanax for two more weeks, and after Easter, I'm starting psychotherapy.
I don't know much about these drugs—life basically forced me to start using them for the first time ever—but with Xanax, I truly feel better; I'm cheerful, my mood is steady, and I have a high tolerance for everything... it simply brought me back to life. I don't know how harmful it might be or whatever, but it helps me, I guess.

Charles James3 said:Tbh, after being in a deep depression, I don't feel much different on this Alvent since I was on Prozac for so long anyway. But what you mentioned is exactly what's eating at me—what happens with pregnancy while on AD 🤷

I talked to my doctor about it, and the main thing is that I want to have a baby ASAP, and I'm terrified of any side effects. My doctor obviously told me it's not good and that taking AD during the first trimester while the baby is developing is risky. But if it's absolutely impossible to function without them, maybe there are some ADs available outside the US that might be safer? I mean, if I have to go abroad to find something, I will, but I'm still scared as hell..

As for the sex stuff—I've basically gotten used to not reaching orgasm by now. Mostly because my boyfriend doesn't fully get it and thinks he's the one failing, which is just... yeah.🤷

I went to see my psychiatrist and we talked things through; I explained that I'm feeling that surge of adrenaline again, like I have to constantly move and I'm hyperactive, plus that constant nervous knot in my stomach. He prescribed Xanax 0.5, both morning and night, and I've been taking it and feeling pretty good. I realized, though—and I feel like such an idiot—that when I looked at his report from about a month and a half ago, it listed Xanax 0.5, but I hadn't actually checked the prescription issued by my primary care physician (the paperwork in our healthcare system can be such a mess). It turns out the script actually said Xanax 0.25, just two boxes. So, I've essentially been taking Xanax 0.25 in the morning and at night instead of the 0.5 dose. I think I'll start taking the 0.5 starting tomorrow and see how it goes.
Xanax doesn't affect my sex life; I double-checked that as early as Wednesday 🙂 and everything was 👍, whereas while I was on Alvent, it was 👎.
Regarding pregnancy and Xanax, I plan to keep taking it right up until the moment I find out I'm pregnant. A year ago, I was pregnant and didn't take anything, and I lost twins, which absolutely destroyed me mentally. That's why I'm seeing a psychiatrist now. I suppose if it's meant to be fine, it will be fine, and if not 🤷....

Charles James3 said:I'm totally with you on this!
I was just wondering what would happen if I drank, because after four years on antidepressants, you just want to feel normal for one night. But honestly, my health matters way more than that.
Thanks for the input—there's no shame in asking, just in not knowing...

Dear slywolf11, I was on Alventa for about a month and I truly felt wonderful while taking it; I was doing 75 mg in the mornings. I haven't taken it for a week now, and I have to say, I'm feeling a bit down again—not quite classic depression, but more of a persistent restlessness. I have a follow-up appointment this Wednesday, so I'll mention this to my doctor and see what the plan is 🙂.... My issues originally stemmed from a miscarriage, and since we are starting the process all over again, I am concerned about whether there is any therapy available that won't interfere if I happen to conceive.
I'm telling you, Alventa worked wonders for me, but now I feel a little "broken" again.
As for the sexual side of things, I was taking xanax alongside the Alventa for two weeks, and I can tell you that I had some issues; I just couldn't reach orgasm... but once I stopped taking it, by that very same evening, things were 👍

I had my follow-up appointment with the doctor today. It’s been exactly three weeks since I started this treatment regimen. My physician decided to taper me off the xanax entirely today—I’d been taking it both morning and night—but I still have about a week left on the Alventra, followed by another ten days of Rivotril once that's finished. I suppose I'm just hoping I can manage the transition without too much trouble; I'll be heading back for another check-up in ten days...

Gary Thompson6 said:I honestly can't believe it, but after just four days on 25mg of Xanax twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—I'm already feeling so much better. That sense of derealization is finally starting to lift, and I actually feel capable of pulling my thoughts together and thinking logically again. The constant anxiety has completely vanished, and I haven't dealt with any side effects yet; I can finally get my life organized. I have a follow-up appointment in a month, and I’m really hoping this is the turning point. Thank God.

Xanax and Effexor were essentially my lifesavers too, and they worked incredibly fast... I felt a little bit buzzed on the first day, almost like I was tipsy, but everything has been smooth sailing since then. No jitters, no internal restlessness... nothing at all. It’s like the weight just lifted. If I had been smart—which, let’s face it, I wasn't—I would have reached out to my doctor a year ago. Instead, I foolishly thought I could just white-knuckle my way through it on my own, but I was really just sinking deeper and deeper... I suppose everything turned out alright in the end, though.

dustyangler2 said:A little bit of alcohol, like a glass of wine or maybe a beer, shouldn't really mess with you too much. Just don't do it right after taking your meds, though. Maybe wait until somewhere between 👍

It’s a whole different story if someone goes overboard with five beers and a bottle of wine 😁

Anyway, if anyone can help me out, feel free to shoot me a DM...

I'm on Effexor XR 2 x75mg and Xanax SR 2 x1mg. I've been on Xanax for about 3g, and Effexor XR 3 mg. Basically, at first, I couldn't sleep at all—like, I didn't feel anything even after 5 weeks. Then things started looking up a bit. But then I just crashed hard for maybe 2 weeks, and now, for the last few days, I've been sleeping almost all day. Like, I seriously can't stay awake 🤷

I'm starting to think this might be more than just depression! And man, the dreams 😲

I’ve been taking Effexor XR 75 mg in the morning, along with Xanax 0.25 and Xanax 0.25 plus a quarter of a Rivotril in the evening before bed, for three weeks now. I don't feel drowsy during the day; I'm functioning quite well, and most importantly, I sleep through the night and find it easy to wake up in the morning...
I have a follow-up appointment later this week, so I will see what my doctor thinks, but I felt an improvement after just a few days. For about a year, I was dealing with galactorrhea, which my OBGYN attributed to elevated prolactin levels, even though my lab results came back normal. Once I started this specific medication regimen, the galactorrhea disappeared within three or four days; it seems it was all stress-related and rooted in my nervous system...

Robert Collins2 said:Oops, totally slipped my mind—I forgot to mention the Xanax and Klonopin... 🙂

Yeah, my current routine is 0.25mg of Xanax plus 75mg of Effexor in the morning, then 0.25mg of Xanax and a quarter of a Klonopin at night. Getting decent sleep is really the priority here, since I need to stop those episodes where I just lie there staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night, stuck in some endless loop of overthinking... which usually just makes everything feel worse. I suppose I'm just not entirely sure how long these kinds of medication regimens are supposed to last. This is actually my first time ever seeing a psychiatrist, so I guess I got a little overwhelmed and didn't ask all the questions I probably should have. It feels a bit easier to just "talk" through things with people like you guys... any insight or experience would be appreciated.

Robert Collins2 said:Alventa is basically the same thing as "my" Effexor. It’s easily one of the heavy hitters on the market right now—what they call fourth-generation antidepressants because of that dual action mechanism. You want me to shoot you over some info on it? I've got a little write-up, though it's in English.

How long have you been on Effexor, and how are you actually feeling? How much longer do you have to take it? I don't have my follow-up appointment until next week, but I feel okay for now. I was dealing with some senseless depression—f39 episodes of choking sensations, mood swings, and just being tearful. When I got worked up, I even felt this urge to cough... nothing interested me, I had no desire to go anywhere, and I couldn't sleep at night...
Nowadays, I'd say everything is mostly back to how it should be, I guess. I get a bit more bored during the day, but then again, I sleep great at night, provided I take 0.25 Xanax along with a quarter of a Klonopin before bed...
The only downside I've noticed is that it takes me "longer" to get aroused during sex, but from what I've read, plenty of people deal with that. I'm just not sure how much time it takes for that kind of "blockage" to eventually clear up...

Hey there... I’ve been on Xanax 0.25 in the mornings and evenings, along with 75mg of Effexor every morning, for about two weeks now. I’m feeling alright, though my appetite has definitely taken a hit, which I suppose isn't necessarily a bad thing.... I haven't been able to find much useful information online regarding Effexor, so if anyone here has some experience with it, I'd appreciate it if you could share...