Posts by Brandon Murphy5

Is it actually a bad idea to take AT&T, specifically Zoloft, right before hitting the hay at night?

I mean, if it turns out to be a mistake, what's the actual logic behind why that would be an issue?

Michelle Kelly4 said:Gotta brag for a second—I’m actually feeling better. It’s not perfect, and I definitely had another intrusive thought pop up, but overall things are looking up...

🙂

quietwalker5 said:How are you doing? How’s everything going?

I'm officially on my tenth day of Zoloft—not counting those first few days when I was just taking half a pill—and honestly, things are looking up; the side effects have finally cleared out, and I'm really crossing my fingers that they stay away for good...
It’s just that right now, I feel like I’ve got absolutely zero motivation to get anything done, but I know deep down that the spark will come back eventually, it's just a matter of waiting for the gears to start turning again...

quietwalker5 said:How are you holding up? How do you feel today?

I'm doing alright... honestly, I'd say things feel pretty middle-of-the-road right now, and I know I still need some more time to really turn the corner... maybe another two weeks or so before things feel steady...

I just know deep down that things are going to get better, it’s really just a matter of being patient and letting the process work itself out.

redpilot37 said:I’ve been on Zoloft since July 3rd. Started with half a pill for the first eight days. At first, the side effects were brutal—felt like I was losing my mind. Then things started looking up. My motivation kicked in, I felt like doing everything, staying active. But then, out of nowhere, everything just died. Now I have zero drive. I feel numb. I'm exhausted. This isn't me. The only thing I noticed is that it calmed me down and killed my social anxiety, which wasn't even why I started it—I took it for depression. My libido picked up a bit at first, then tanked again. I didn't expect it to hit me like this. I think I'm going to get off the Zoloft. Took a half dose today... feels weird.

Hang in there, because honestly, all of this is pretty "normal" for the process. You're already seeing progress, since you mentioned the improvements yourself; you just need to give it more time to settle.
I'm telling you all of this from my own personal experience—things will eventually stabilize and be okay.

quietwalker5 said:Today feels like a crisis. I’ve been taking Lexapro since July 15th. It started at 1/4 tablet, then moved to 1/2, then 3/4, and tonight I need to take a full pill. Like a storm shifting gears, I thought increasing the dose would bring relief.
This morning was heavy with fatigue, low mood, and depression; by this afternoon, it turned into irritability, restlessness, and anxiety. It is bearable, though.

Is this how the process works?

That’s pretty much how the process works, so it actually means things are heading in a better direction.🙂

Grace Ross62 said:I'm also hoping this anxiety eventually fades, though I realize that until I change my own mindset, even medication can only do so much. My doctor told me to take half a pill for the first week before moving up to a full dose. I've been doing halves for three days now—is it really necessary to wait the full seven days, or can I switch to the full tablet sooner since I haven't noticed any side effects? Also, how long does it typically take to kick in? Two or three weeks?

I assume when the milder meds don't touch those severe bouts of insomnia, they move you toward antipsychotics?

Well, I ended up doing half doses for about four days before I just jumped straight to the full pill myself...

It usually takes at least that long for the meds to really find their groove, and honestly, sometimes it takes a little bit longer than that...

restlesstiger49 said:I'm honestly at a loss for what might actually work anymore. It's just frustrating as hell...🙂
The only thought that brings me any peace is death...

You really just have to hang in there and find a way to stay patient, because I truly believe things are going to start looking up before you know it. It’s like when you’re driving through a massive thunderstorm on a lonely stretch of highway outside of Des Moines; everything feels dark and overwhelming right now, and you can barely see the road ahead of you, but you just have to keep your hands steady on the wheel and trust that the clouds will eventually break and let the sun shine through again. Just hold on tight, because better days are definitely coming.

restlesstiger49 said:Hey everyone, is it actually possible for anxiety to kick in after being on Paxil for a few weeks? It feels like it's starting to mess with my head again lately... 😢 Or could this just be because of all the emotional stress I've been dealing with recently?

I honestly think it’s totally possible because everyone’s body reacts so differently to medication... personally, I dealt with those kinds of side effects for maybe two months straight at one point...

restlesstiger49 said:Man, I took some Xanax XR today and ended up sleeping through the entire damn day. On top of that, a fellow member mentioned in the previous post:

But that’s exactly why you take an antidepressant—so you aren't constantly relying on Xanax just to function.

Yeah, I’m a little confused here. I really don't want to be popping anxiolytics every single day. For crying out loud, after four weeks, you'd think the antidepressant would actually start kicking in by now. Either that, or we just keep on experimenting. 🤷 Honestly, I’d rather just be dead. I am completely at my wit's end with everything right now. 🙂

When I was on Zoloft last time, it felt like I was waiting forever for it to actually kick in; you really have to have an incredible amount of patience because it isn't always like what the literature says—it’s much more individual than that.

quietwalker5 said:Just asking Brandon Murphy5:

When you were taking Pfizer in the evening, was that your routine for the entire treatment, or did you switch it to the morning? I feel like I'm starting to have more trouble falling asleep...

I was taking it every single night, and honestly, the beginning was rough—like, really rough—because the side effects were just overwhelming, but once the medication finally kicked in and started doing its job, it felt like I was finally stepping back into a completely normal life.

Now I’m taking it in the morning, but I’m really torn on whether I should go back to nighttime doses because taking it in the AM makes me feel incredibly jittery and anxious, so I’m just sitting here wondering what the best move is...

Grace Ross62 said:I have a checkup scheduled for next week. I’m planning to ask my doctor about > instead of >. I see some of you mentioning Faverin; I know everyone reacts differently, but does anyone have a recommendation for something that handles depression, anxiety, and health anxiety without killing my libido? (Maybe I'm asking for too much, haha.) Since I'm seeing a private specialist, I want to be as prepared as possible.

It really is a case-by-case thing, honestly; I’m actually on my third round with Pfizer, and while the first two times were totally successful, you just have to remember that the beginning is always the hardest part before everything finally settles back down to normal.

I've actually picked up some really helpful tips from reading through this forum, and I've been putting them into practice, which makes breathing a whole lot easier 🙂

Like, starting with tiny doses and gradually increasing them, or figuring out the best timing for taking the medication and stuff like that...

Good luck!

quietwalker5 said:Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?

Honestly, coffee is naturally going to trigger that jittery, restless feeling, but it feels like it can be way more intense—almost amplified—when you've got antidepressants in your system.

quietwalker5 said:What is the actual difference between taking it at night versus in the morning? Why choose one over the other?

I want your transition back to the routine to be as smooth as possible.

Thanks, 🙂

The whole thing comes down to the fact that if you take it in the evening, those antidepressants can sometimes act like a shot of espresso for your brain, making it nearly impossible to catch any sleep, whereas taking it in the morning usually makes that issue a lot less of a headache...

Michelle Kelly4 said:Man, this one is just brutal. I honestly don't even know what to do anymore...

Look, maybe just take something to help you relax and try to get some actual sleep, because things always seem to look a little less heavy once the sun comes up tomorrow.🙂

Michelle Kelly4 said:I'm totally gonna lose that battle!

Oh, you absolutely won't, honestly, everything about this is totally normal, and I promise you, once some time has passed, you're actually going to look back at this whole thing and find it hilarious.🙂

Brandon Murphy5 said:So, I’m just starting out on Zoloft—it's only my second day taking half a pill in the morning—and honestly, everything feels pretty fine so far.

I'm really holding onto the hope that it stays this way.🙂

The thing is, I've actually been through this before, so I have some positive history with Zoloft, though I remember those first few days being absolutely brutal, much like how a sudden storm hits before things settle down. Back then, I used to take it at night, but this time around, I've switched to taking it in the morning.

quietwalker5 said:Brandon Murphy5, what dosage are you on, and how many days has it been?
Are you dealing with fatigue or anything else?

So, I’m just starting out on Zoloft—it's only my second day taking half a pill in the morning—and honestly, everything feels pretty fine so far.

I'm really holding onto the hope that it stays this way.🙂

Michelle Kelly4 said:Look, here’s the thing... ADHD does its own thing, and honestly, it can be a lifesaver in itself, but I still have to put in the work and play my part, and I just don't have it in me right now...

But you really do have to, honestly, because it feels like the only way through this, and I want you to know that what you're feeling is a totally normal reaction to everything going on—we've all been in those dark trenches before and we made it out, so I truly believe you will too...

Don't hesitate to shoot me a private message if you just need to vent or talk things out privately; we're all in this together, fighting these same uphill battles side by side.

I actually just finished about 15 minutes of light exercise, and man, the difference is immediate—it’s like clearing the fog, and I swear, you just have to force yourself to stay active so your mind doesn't start spiraling into those negative thoughts.

Michelle Kelly4 said:Man, it’s been years. I started out on Paxil, but I’ve been on Zoloft for about two months now

You just have to hang in there a little longer until things really start to level out and stabilize, I’m telling you this from my own personal experience... please don't give up yet...