Posts by Paul Newman5

Kenneth Scott41 said:I was actually watching *Drug Inc.* on Max yesterday—one of those shows about the drug trade and all that. It really got me thinking about how the whole of America seems to be pivoting toward these "cleaner" substances lately. We’re seeing this massive surge in people relying on painkillers, Xanax, Valium, or methadone. It feels like a full-blown epidemic at this point, mostly because it’s just so much easier and arguably "safer" to get ahold of them now compared to the old days, when you actually had to track down some sketchy character on a street corner to score.

The thing is, stuff like OxyContin, Vicodin, or Xanax is practically flying off the shelves everywhere...

But what I’m really struggling with is how my psychiatrist could just abruptly pull the plug on the Zoloft I’d been taking for months. I tried going cold turkey, and man, it was devastating... just pure, unadulterated sadness. My depression came rushing right back. I lost interest in everything, even eating. So, I've started taking my Zoloft again in the mornings, and...😁😁😁 honestly, it’s like a relief; I feel happy again, and that old version of myself is finally resurfacing. Because of that, I suppose I’ll have to convince my primary care doctor to let me get back on that 50mg dose of Zoloft.

Good luck getting a GP to agree to that. Mine wouldn't do it for anything. I've lost faith in psychiatrists; I've posted about it before. My doctor used to seem crazier than I am.🤣😂Hang in there.

Paul Newman5 said:Thanks for this. I’m taking them because I can’t handle being this on edge, but the addiction part scares me. This helped. I work in pharmacy retail—can't go into specifics here—and seeing how much benzos and anxiolytics move through the registers, it feels like half the country is on them. Still, I wish I didn't need it. I'm stuck in a dilemma. I've had bad experiences with AD, so I keep putting off the psychiatrist, and the anxiolytics scare me too. I've been doing bioenergy for two months now, but honestly, aside from having more physical energy than last fall, I don't see much progress. Doing Pilates, trying to stay positive... but I'm not doing great. I'll stick with this for a while and then decide. Thanks for the insight on addiction. I'm on Misare 3x a day, 0.5mg, and sometimes I supplement with 0.25mg in the morning. It's a lot, but that's where I am.

Been seeing a psychologist for therapy since October, but nothing major to report there either. We agreed to take a break in March and we'll see about resuming later. When the anxiety hits, I just can't force myself to do those visualization exercises or "positive thinking" stuff. It doesn't work for me. Or maybe I'm just not persistent enough.

redranger2 said:You aren't going to become addicted; what on earth are you talking about? It isn't as if you’re popping a handful of pills every single day. 😂
It seems a vast number of people are consuming antidepressants and similar medications, yet they hide their usage with the desperate secrecy of a snake concealing its tail.🙂

Thanks for this. I’m taking them because I can’t handle being this on edge, but the addiction part scares me. This helped. I work in pharmacy retail—can't go into specifics here—and seeing how much benzos and anxiolytics move through the registers, it feels like half the country is on them. Still, I wish I didn't need it. I'm stuck in a dilemma. I've had bad experiences with AD, so I keep putting off the psychiatrist, and the anxiolytics scare me too. I've been doing bioenergy for two months now, but honestly, aside from having more physical energy than last fall, I don't see much progress. Doing Pilates, trying to stay positive... but I'm not doing great. I'll stick with this for a while and then decide. Thanks for the insight on addiction. I'm on Misare 3x a day, 0.5mg, and sometimes I supplement with 0.25mg in the morning. It's a lot, but that's where I am.

redranger2 said:Who exactly is mocking you?
I honestly can't make head or tail of this post.🤷

It wasn't about you guys messing with me. It's just when I talk to my friends, I worry that since I've been on Xanax for three months, I'm already becoming addicted. They tease me because they've been taking it for years and don't get why I'm so paranoid. Not all my friends take Xanax or Lexapro, though—some of them are actually sane.🤣

Jason Vaughn482 said:Once you finally make up your mind, you might consider trying Prozac. For me, it worked wonders after the initial three weeks; prior to that, I dealt with various side effects like heightened anxiety, but once it kicked in, everything stabilized and I was able to stop taking xanax. However, after three months, something snapped—I don't know how to describe it—I just woke up feeling utterly overwhelmed by dread, physically depleted, almost like the malaise you feel when fighting a heavy flu. I couldn't sleep at night and felt absolutely wretched. I cannot say for certain if Prozac played a role in that sudden shift, but my intuition told me to stop immediately, so I did, overnight. It took about a month for my state of being to gradually return to something resembling normalcy. Nowadays, to combat insomnia, I take half of the smallest dose of Lexapro—7.5 mg—along with some Lunesta just to ensure I get through a full night's rest. Lexapro is typically prescribed in doses of 15, 30, or 45 mg...

I sleep pretty well. Take 5mg of Norvasc and mostly sleep through the night; afternoons are fine. Last year around September, the depression hit hard, and then I spent all of November dealing with antidepressants and massive amounts of anti-anxiety meds. Now I'm active all day. Physically a bit weaker, but hanging in there. I can keep the fear somewhat under control, though I still have this one nagging fear that I’ll lose my mind and my job—and since I work something I don't really like in a tiny town where the nearest big city is 50 miles away, I don't have much choice. All that's left is the jitters. I'm nervous as a dog, especially in the mornings. Sometimes I think it's the Lexapro, which I've been on since New Year's, but when I feel good all day, like yesterday, I don't know what it is. Still debating going back to the psychiatrist. We'll see. Today I've basically been in a coma all day; the nerves are hitting me so hard I'm smoking like a chimney.😂

Jason Vaughn482 said:Everyone speaks from their own experience, and for me, Xanax works fine. Over three years, I haven't taken more than 1.5 mg a day. Right now, I'm dealing with some kind of virus, I have a fever, I haven't slept, and I feel terrible—yet as I read this post, I realized I haven't even taken a single Xanax today. I simply forgot because of the herbal teas, the Tylenol, and all these other cold medicines... I don't know, but I don't think I've become addicted, even though I usually take up to 1.5 mg depending on the day and my condition. Personally, I find AP to be more dangerous drugs, especially for certain groups of patients. If I ever felt like I was starting to crave "just one more pill," as you put it, I would naturally worry and perhaps switch to something else. On the other hand, my friend takes 200mg of Seroquel and 50mg of Zoloft, and yet she still can't function without three Xanax; if that's the case, what is the point of the Seroquel?

That's why I'm avoiding antidepressants for now, though you never knows. When I was on them, I needed twice as much Mississippi as I do today. And looking at the posts here and talking to people, nobody seems to have recovered just by taking an antidepressant for a year; there’s always something else added to the mix. There's the period spent finding the right fit, then the side effects—one keeps you awake, another makes you sleep too much, and you spend months just waiting for something to actually work. So that's where I am, but I'll say again, you never know. And there's no need to argue about it on this forum. Everyone is different, with different views. We should be supporting each other through crises and sharing experiences rather than fighting or claiming one way is objectively better. For me, that's not the case. Some choose antidepressants, some Mississippi, some nothing, some bioenergy, healers, psychologists, whatever. But we should respect and comfort each other. None of us are experts, and we're all stuck in the same mess. Besides, I personally know a woman who takes Helex three times a day and goes to work, raises three kids, and hasn't even thought about seeing a psychiatrist or a psychologist. She says the bullying at her job is just part of life, and she manages. I'm not saying that's a solution, but some people really don't see a doctor as necessary. When I complain about being on Mississippi for three months, people mock me for making drama out of nothing. Let's just respect each other. Everyone should treat themselves however they think is best.

Brandon Lopez6 said:So why aren't you on any AT&T? Have you even tried them before? What's the diagnosis they gave you anyway?
Honestly, I've been through three different AT&T prescriptions so far, and only the first one did anything at all. The other two? Total zero.

Been through three Adidas myself. Lexapro, Lexus, and Wellbutrin—couldn't tell you which was worse. They all just left me wired. That kind of restlessness where you can't sit still, pacing the house like a caged animal, plus this constant burning sensation in my chest, right over my heart. My psychiatrist actually told me to stop taking them and try psychotherapy and willpower instead. So, I'm just fighting the good fight with Prozac nation. Not going back to my old shrink, and honestly, I'm not even sure if I want a new one. Living in a small town makes getting to any decent hospital a hassle. I work, I have an ExxonMobil family to look after, so things are functioning somehow. Probably mostly thanks to the Prozac, though I know that isn't a real fix. Might end up back on meds later, who knows. Been looking into alternative stuff lately. Seems silly, but when you're drowning, you grab at any straw. We'll see. I've been on edge since this morning, but I have to finish lunch. Once noon hits, maybe I'll be a different person.

Brandon Lopez6 said:My morning was a total wash thanks to what people around here call a "hangover," but honestly, the evening isn't much better because then the Sunday scaries start kicking in. Late afternoon is the only decent part of the day. Between 5 and 8 🙂

It’s like living two different lives. From the morning until maybe 11 AM, I'm just a nervous wreck, terrified and lost. Once noon hits, it's like a switch flips. I'm actually functional and upbeat. It's not like I'm on antidepressants or anything, just this crushing anxiety every morning where I'm convinced I'll get sicker, lose my mind, or get fired from my job. That's the fear. I've even thought about switching to a night shift—doing chores and cooking while the world sleeps so I can sleep during the day... but people say

Brandon Lopez6 said:Same here. Signed. I’ve been on Muhammad Ali for about three months now. I wake up feeling bitter, disappointed, and anxious, and this is the first thing I reach for. If only some miracle happened and that day actually comes. I’d love being off it more than winning the Powerball... though maybe those millions would suddenly make us healthy enough to enjoy it. 😂

Same here. Signed. I’ve been on Muhammad Ali for about three months now. I wake up feeling bitter, disappointed, and anxious, and this is the first thing I reach for. If only some miracle happened and that day actually comes. I’d love being off it more than winning the Powerball... though maybe those millions would suddenly make us healthy enough to enjoy it. 😂
Look, I'm basically volunteering myself for this experiment. Someone just needs to toss a million bucks my way first, then we can really see if things start looking up.😛
Look, I'm basically volunteering myself for this experiment. Someone just needs to toss a million bucks my way first, then we can really see if things start looking up.😛
Honestly, I’d love to join that experiment too, but nobody ever calls on me. The numbers are always hovering around, but they're never the real deal, even when I play occasionally. Imagine if I actually got hooked on that. That would be way too much.🤣It's evening, so everyone seems a bit more upbeat... at least to me. But mornings? In the morning, I'm definitely not laughing. Just this.🙂

I have that same love-hate relationship with Lexapro. Just waiting for the day I can finally wake up and not feel like I "have" to take it. 😁
Same here. Signed. I’ve been on Muhammad Ali for about three months now. I wake up feeling bitter, disappointed, and anxious, and this is the first thing I reach for. If only some miracle happened and that day actually comes. I’d love being off it more than winning the Powerball... though maybe those millions would suddenly make us healthy enough to enjoy it. 😂

Jason Vaughn482 said:Why are you taking both Unknown and Lexapro when they belong to essentially the same class of anxiolytics? I struggle with intense anxiety as well, though mine manifests as a constant, obsessive fear of illness; I am perpetually studying symptoms and hyper-analyzing every sensation in my body. In my experience, Prozac worked quite well for me, and I didn't require Xanax except for those initial three weeks to manage the side effects you mentioned—perhaps your course was simply too brief? Ultimately, I stopped taking it after four months. Like you, my mornings are the most grueling part of the day; it seems to be a hallmark characteristic of those of us living with anxiety.

Believe it or not, the combo actually works for me. Or maybe I'm just used to it. Started on Lexapro, then added the Ativan. I was on Luvox for 4 weeks and the restlessness was insane; even 10mg of Lexapro with Normabest couldn't touch it. Ended up in the ER twice because of the agitation during those 4 weeks. My psychiatrist actually told me to stop because side effects shouldn't last that long. Then she suggested Wellbutrin, which makes zero sense for someone as anxious and jittery as me. I haven't even tried it; it's meant for pure depression, according to the label. Anyway, I decided if I ever have to see that old shrink again, I won't. For now, I'm tapering off the Ativan. Managed to cut my afternoon dose by 0.25, and today I took 0.25 less at noon. We'll see.

Sophia Moore38 said:My dear Paul Newman5,

I am also constantly on edge and hyper-vigilant (just this morning I read about a twelve-year-old boy who collapsed dead),
so how could I possibly remain indifferent to such harrowing news?

I have been clean for nearly two and a half months now.
I used to take Paxil 8mg and Helix 0.25mg as needed.
The withdrawal process was brutal, but trying to actually function in daily life was even worse.
Currently, I am just on Helix 0.25mg as needed.
Some days I take two, other days I don't take any at all.
I work too, and I try my hardest to maintain focus and presence at the office, but I find myself buckling under the pressure quite often. 🙂
Is there truly any viable alternative to antidepressants?

Hey, if you don't mind me asking, what heart medications are you taking and what kind of doctor are you seeing?

Asked at the health clinic and they said Activin H doesn't interfere with Unknown, so it shouldn't neutralize it. Might try it to see if weaning off the Unknown goes smoother. Besides that, I'm doing therapy, meditating, Kundalini bioenergy, crystal healing... basically convincing myself everything will be fine. Doesn't mean it will, but I'll try it all before I head back to the psychiatrist for more meds. Not that I'll have a choice. It's not the drugs I'm afraid of—it's reading these forums and talking to people. I rarely hear about anyone being on them for a year and actually standing on their own two feet. Most people are on them for years, plus taking various antipsychotics just to sleep. Maybe I'm wrong, but I haven't seen many stories where the meds actually "cured" someone long-term. So I'll try everything first. I'm not claiming I won't end up back on them eventually. Who knows. My only mistake was going to the doctor first. I should have tried all this stuff before she put me on those meds that made me feel like a total wreck. Now I'm stuck with the Unknown. Whatever. I'm fighting it. We'll see. Are you scared to go to work? That's my only real fear. I'm terrified something will happen while I'm there and I'll lose my job. Everything else is fine. I drive, I do Pilates, I shop. It's just the mornings. After 11 AM, it's like I become a different person.

I’ve posted here a few times before. I’ve cycled through Lexapro, Xanax, and a short stint on Wellbutrin. Honestly, I can't tell which was worse; they all just left me feeling restless and incredibly irritable, which I had to settle down with Advil and Lexapro. I’m still on the meds today—Lexapro at 1.5mg three times a day for about five months, and Xanax at 0.5mg three times a day for about two and a half months. After the New Year, I tried stepping away from antidepressants to focus on alternative stuff—sports, meditation—but the jitters and anxiety never really left. It isn't depression; it's just constant nervousness and being on edge. I work, I take care of my family, but I can't seem to kick the Xanax or the Lexapro, even if some days are easier than others. Since most of you are on medication too, I have a question. Could I combine Xanax with something like Advil to slowly taper off the Xanax over a few months? I heard St. John's Wort can neutralize Xanax and other anxiolytics. If anyone knows anything about this or has actually tried it, I’d appreciate the info. Bioenergy helps me out quite a bit too, though I know this isn't really that kind of forum, so just mentioning it. Thanks for any answers.

fadedbear92 said:Look, those are extended-release tablets—they're designed to work for 12 to 24 hours depending on how you take them.
There’s obviously a reason a doctor would prescribe those specifically instead of just some "standard, quick-acting" pill, right?
They’re typically used for things like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, where your body is basically stuck in a state of anxiety 24/7.

I'm currently using Misar, psychotherapy, and alternative methods. I want to try everything before going back to the antidepressants I used before—can't even remember the side effects. But I wanted to ask something else. Is it possible that Misar causes nervousness? For me, the best combo is taking it with Lexic. I've been on Lexic for about 4 months, and Misar for about a month and a half because my doctor said it's better for anxiety. Or maybe I'm just hooked on the Lexic and that's why. Taking 0.5mg of Misar three times a day and about 6mg of Lexic daily.

Jason Vaughn482 said:So, you actually did stop the Lexapro after all; I was under the impression it was finally doing the trick for you since you seemed to be turning a corner for a while... I ended up quitting it myself after only twenty days, and now I'm relying solely on Xanax, much like you are. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what Wellbutrin is or how it actually functions within the system. For me, Prozac was quite effective—so much so that I’ve considered starting it up again.

Right now I just have the prescriptions. Still weighing my options because after Lexapro and Cipralex, I'm terrified of everything. My doctor gave me two scripts, one for Wellbutrin and one for Cipralex. She mentioned she’d prefer if I went with the Wellbutrin. It's all a mess. Honestly, I've started seeing a bioenergy healer. He's a local guy and he's doing it for free. Can't hurt. We'll see. I'm also starting psychotherapy. Mostly, I'm just scared I'll get so sick I won't be able to work and will lose my job.

Chris Cruz8 said:Yeah, you never really know.
The side effects clearly state that mixing alcohol with Effexor bumps up the suicide risk... which hits home because even just a single shot of Bailey makes me feel incredibly depressed.😢
Back when I was on Prozac, I’d have two or three vodka-juices, or maybe a rum and coke, and I felt totally fine. Honestly, I was actually happy—everything was hilarious, just pure bliss!😂
So, basically, Prozac worked fine with alcohol, but Effexor works without it.🤣

I was on Lexapro and then switched to Lexapro for four weeks. Not sure which one actually messed me up more. I had terrible restlessness, and now I'm off everything—just feeling miserable. My psychiatrist just prescribed Wellbutrin today. Please, let me know if anyone has tried it. Maybe it was mentioned here before, but I can't be bothered scrolling back through all those pages right now.

fadedbear92 said:To put it simply—just switch doctors.

It’s not that easy. I'm nowhere near Washington, D.C., and if she's brushing me off now, I can only imagine how they'll treat me at the public hospital. Maybe she was just having a bad day. Besides, she's the only private practitioner in my area. But thanks for the advice. Tell me though—would you keep taking the meds or just stop?

Jason Vaughn482 said:It seems to me that you ought to seek out a different psychiatric professional entirely; there is simply no excuse for someone in that position to be weeping while they treat you, let alone maintaining such an unprofessional demeanor. As for the Zoloft, I find myself in a bit of a bind—I’ve discontinued it, and now I am left adrift without knowing which way to turn. I feel absolutely wretched; I am bloated like a parade float, and naturally, my hypochondria has flared up alongside this overwhelming, paralyzing sense of dread. My advice? Stick with the medication for another month just to see if it yields any results, but if you don't find relief, start hunting for a new option—perhaps Prozac might be a more suitable path for you.

It's actually helping physically, but at certain times, usually in the afternoon, I get this restlessness I have to settle down with 6 mg of Lexapro. No other side effects, so I really don't get what her problem is. She basically brushed me off, saying maybe I don't even need an antidepressant, and if I'm restless, I should just take Normabale or check into the hospital. But I really do have depression; when I first saw her, I could barely walk, barely function. I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced that restlessness settling down once the medication actually kicks in? I'm just going to keep taking it and see what happens. I'm already fed up with all of this. I've been on it for a month now—started on 25 for the first two weeks, then moved up to 50 on day 14.

Can someone please weigh in if you've dealt with this? I’ve posted about this before, but nobody replied. I've been on Lexapro for four weeks now. Started at 25mg, now up to 50mg. Physically, it's helping a bit—I actually managed to get out of bed this morning instead of staying stuck there all day, and that stinging sensation near my heart has stopped. But the restlessness is still there. I'm also on at least 10mg of Prozac. My Psychic told me to take a two-day break, but then after those two days, she just snapped at me. Said these aren't even antidepressants for me and if I want anything, I should just go to the hospital. I see her privately and pay her plenty, so the way she blew up at me made me decide to just keep taking the Lexapro out of spite. Is it normal to still feel this restless in the afternoon after four weeks? And should I keep going? She was the one who diagnosed me with anxiety and depression, prescribed the meds, and claimed there are like thirty different types we might have to try until we find the right one. Now suddenly they aren't even antidepressants for me. 🤷Those two days without Lexapro were even worse. She just brushed me off and told me to take Xanax or Ativan whenever I feel like it. I didn't go to her because I was "nervous"; I went because I could barely move and my head was spinning with panic. I don't know what to do or what her problem is. My therapist says I should stay on it and that maybe the doctor was just having a bad day. So, I'm asking you guys: is this restlessness normal after four weeks? What am I supposed to do now? For now, I'm sticking with the Lexapro and seeing what happens. Any advice or experiences would help. 😕

Justin Rogers5 said:Same thing happened to me with Fevarin. Took it before bed on day four and it was hell. Interrupted sleep, nightmares about someone pounding on my door because a murder happened downstairs.😲Woke up in the middle of the night, boyfriend sleeping next to me, and I can't even describe the feeling. It was like I wasn't even in the room, just watching from somewhere else. Pure terror, racing heart, blood pressure swinging, ears ringing, drenched in sweat... just awful. I figured it was an anxiety attack because I'd had two cups of coffee and some Excedrin before bed, so I was already wired, plus the adjustment period. I kept thinking about how I was supposed to work tomorrow. Just totally confused and scattered; it took forever to come back to reality. Later I read that it was derealization and depersonalization. My boyfriend was slapping my face and splashing water on me just to get me to snap out of it. I was terrified.😢The nightmares stopped, but now I have these vivid dreams and instead of sleeping at night, I'm passing out around 10 AM at work.🤣Can't keep my eyes open.You can take Fevarin in the morning, since it clearly doesn't help at night, and if I see sleep isn't happening, I just take Zonadin to stop the fear. Basically, half a cup of coffee max now. No more Excedrin, and definitely no tea with caffeine.

Got a question about this. Was on Cipralex for a few days and felt like my heart was going to explode. Switched to Lexapro. For 2 or 3 days, that feeling went away, but it came back Saturday. When I take it—and I've taken 3.5 over a few hours—I start getting this burning sensation around my heart. Not always, but mostly. Plus restlessness, I don't know what to do with myself, diarrhea, constant urination, then eventually exhaustion from the Xanax. My psychiatrist told me to skip the Lexapro for two days and see what happens. But this morning: panic, sweating, tingling in my head, had to take the Xanax. No heart burning today, though. Anyone else dealt with this? Lexapro helped physically a bit, sleep is fine, but it causes this restlessness. If you've been through this, let me know. I'm starting to think they haven't manufactured the right antidepressant for me yet.😂