Posts by redranger2

wiredmason56 said:It’s been an absolute disaster—a complete train wreck, really. My psychiatrist acted like it was some kind of miracle drug, pulling it out of his drawer like he personally manufactured it or something. Even my primary care doctor was confused about why he switched me in the first place; she wasn't happy about it at all. But I think I'm the one who took the biggest hit, because this stuff has totally wrecked me.☕I am definitely staying on Effexor. I'm just praying to God I can get back to feeling like myself again, because lately, I feel like I'm completely breaking apart. It's honestly a nightmare.😠

How long has it been now that you've been on Effexor?

wiredmason56 said:Yeah, I did exactly that—totally messed things up for myself by switching to a new antidepressant, but well, here I am. I was on Effexor for about six months and I felt significantly better; the dark thoughts quieted down and I actually felt a bit more alive. I had some trouble with insomnia at the start, but I managed that with Lorazepam or Clonazepam, which I'm still taking. This past month, though... what I've been going through feels terrifying compared to before. For the sleep issues, I tried Valium for a while, but it used to act weird on me—like it would wake me up instead of putting me out, especially once when I took it and didn't go straight to bed, oh boy...🙄 Now I'm thinking maybe Trittico might help since it works on both the depression and the calming side of things. I'm really curious to see what my doctor suggests. My biggest worry right now is these stupid paranoias and this constant, lingering sense of fear... Which antidepressant were you on, and which one are you on now?

I started out on Vairy, an antipsychotic used for sleep, alongside Lexapro. After two years, the Vairy suddenly stopped working and the insomnia returned, so after consulting with my psychiatrist, we decided to discontinue it. Once the panic attacks set in, I began to suspect the Lexapro had lost its efficacy, so we cycled through several different antidepressants, none of which I could tolerate. That's when the real chaos began—shallow breathing all day long, tremors, shaking hands, total insomnia, excruciating back pain, tingling in my fingers, and so on. Because of that state, my doctor prescribed an antipsychotic again (a quick fix) and put me back on Lexapro. It took me nearly two months to finally feel like myself again.

As for Trittico, everything is highly subjective—for some, it’s a sedative, for others, it does nothing at all. It's the same story with Agomelatine. The worst part of this entire ordeal is the endless trial and error required while
you search for the one medication that actually works.
If I were in your shoes, I would stick with the Effexor since it clearly works well for you (it just made me incredibly jittery), and perhaps reconsider an antipsychotic to help with sleep. Ultimately, though, that is a decision for you and your psychiatrist to make.

wiredmason56 said:Thought I’d jump in here for a second. For a little while there, I actually felt pretty decent, so I figured I wouldn't freak out, but... well. I was on Effexor and it felt alright. Sure, I had the usual stuff like losing my appetite, trouble sleeping, dilated pupils, and some initial nausea, but honestly, those didn't bother me too much because my mood finally lifted. I even felt a bit euphoric at times, so the antidepressant really seemed to be doing its job. Then, I went and made a total rookie mistake and agreed to let my doctor switch me over to Wellbutrin because he insisted it was a better option. I took it for a while—and yeah, I'll admit I missed a dose here and there—but mostly I was being consistent. Long story short, it did absolutely nothing for my depression compared to Effexor, and it actually made my anxiety way worse. I spent a few weeks without an antidepressant entirely, just relying on anxiolytics like Lorazepam and Clonazepam to help with the nerves and the insomnia. What’s really messing with my head right now, though, is that during that gap, my intrusive thoughts started ramping up. I've been dealing with slight paranoia, sudden mood swings, flashes of aggression, and these night terrors. My GP is putting me back on Effexor, which is helping my depression stabilize a bit, but all those other issues are still hanging around—especially the insomnia, the repetitive thoughts, and these recurring dreams. Thank God I finally have a follow-up with my psychiatrist this Monday. I plan on being totally honest about everything, but I'm low-key terrified they're just going to throw an antipsychotic at me, and I really don't want to go down that road. I've heard people say Trittico is okay since it works as an antidepressant and helps with sleep at the same time. If anyone has experience with it, please let me know... It feels like I'm never going to catch my stride, and things are just starting to feel weirder and weirder.🤷

It seems you're experiencing exactly what happened to me. I went through the same cycle—switching from one antidepressant to another, then to a third—only to find that everything spiraled downward because my brain chemistry became a complete mess. It took me a month and a half to get back to that first medication, and the symptoms in the interim were brutal. I am doing fine now, though.
Essentially, your return to Effexor is going to be a process that takes several weeks until your neurochemistry stabilizes. You simply have to be patient. There is no guarantee your psychiatrist will prescribe an antipsychotic, even if they can be effective for insomnia.

There is some information here regarding Trittico.
http://www.depression.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=7521

You didn't mention how long you've been back on Effexor?

shadowbear9 said:So, I just got off the phone with my mother—she’s basically an expert on pharmaceuticals (in her own mind)—and I asked her about those antipsychotics. She confirmed that they definitely knock you out, so she’s actually going to set some aside for me to test out and see how they affect me. After that, I’ll probably have to go sit down with my psychiatrist and read the manual myself, since she clearly forgot to mention such an obvious detail. 😠

Good grief, you absolutely cannot be taking your mother's medication.

Just have a conversation with your psychiatrist instead; tell her you'd like to explore using
antipsychotics, and let a medical professional determine the specific dosage and type, rather than relying on your mom.

shadowbear9 said:Well, I guess I'll make sure to ask at my next check-up. This Elice is absolutely destroying me right now. I'm constantly feeling miserable, overly sensitive, crying all the time, and I can't even eat. It's honestly awful. And on top of all that, I can't sleep a wink.

Regarding the Elice, you really ought to tell your psychiatrist exactly how much this is taking out of you; my own therapist used to just...
with side effects like those, they would typically taper you off the medication and transition you straight to a different antidepressant. Side effects are a common reality with ADs, but if things spiral into a complete worsening of your symptoms or deep
depression, then it simply might not be the right medication for your chemistry. Don't sit there waiting for it to get better; go see your doctor so you can get this sorted out.

shadowbear9 said:NOTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE! For years, my therapy has consisted of Sanval 0.5 and Misar 0.25, and recently—at someone's suggestion—I was asked to switch to Sanval 10mg and 0.5 Misar, alongside Fevarin, which I used to get filled at Elice. And yet, I still can't sleep... I have no appetite, I feel completely off, and I haven't even taken the medications mentioned, so I'm actually terrified to even ask...

Look, honey, things like Sanval and Misar aren't actual cures for insomnia; they are nothing more than temporary Band-Aids. There is absolutely no reason to be afraid of asking
your psychiatrist for whatever you need. They work for you, not the other way around. You should specifically ask about being prescribed an antipsychotic, as those are frequently utilized for severe, chronic cases of insomnia. For instance, options like Quincie or Prazin are widely available and kept in stock.

Larry Taylor2 said:Hey everyone! For those of you who rely on Alice: what’s your actual experience been like? From what I’ve gathered through the grapevine, the results are all over the map—some people don't feel a thing, others swear they put on weight, and then there are those who deal with dizzy spells that make it impossible to get used to the routine. On average, how much of the stuff are you guys taking? Thanks for sharing.

Personally, I find Elice (Lexapro) to be an excellent antidepressant because, in most instances, it
managed to pull me out of my crisis. Of course, everyone reacts differently, but for me, it has been a highly effective
medication with side effects that remained relatively minor—mostly just some yawning, a loss of appetite, lethargy,
and slight nausea.

Kimberly Cook5 said:Honestly, I actually managed to get something that works way better than Zyprexa—I'm on Risset now, and it doesn't leave me feeling quite as dead to the world... Plus, I've been taking Luxet on the side.
And I can't believe they just discovered recently that my thyroid is acting up, too—so maybe all those panic attacks were actually being triggered by my thyroid issues all along?!

You’re dealing with conflicting opinions here.
I went through a period of thyroid inflammation where every single one of my symptoms spiked; my private endocrinologist, who performed my ultrasound, was convinced my mental state was a total wreck because of it. Yet, another specialist over at Mayo Clinic told me the exact opposite—that the thyroid wasn't the culprit. So, you can see for yourself that even the experts can't seem to agree on anything.

Gerald Nelson3 said:Has anyone here tried using Kvetiapin? I’m curious about your experiences with low doses—specifically around 50 mg. How does it actually feel? Does it affect your daily functioning much, and are there significant side effects like nausea or stomach issues? Thanks!

Keep in mind that Kvetiapin is essentially just Seroquel—it’s the same thing as Q-pin or Loquen. I am currently on Q-pin myself, and I started out at that same 50 mg threshold. Initially, I dealt with intense drowsiness, a sort of mental fog, and bouts of dizziness, though those symptoms eventually tapered off after about two weeks. If you take it in the evening, it
certainly helps you drift off to sleep. For me, taking 25 mg three times throughout the day helped mitigate the side effects enough to get through my daily routine.
Honestly, the medication is excellent; it was the very thing that pulled me out of some truly dark places.

wiredskipper45 said:Yeah, sleep is the big one right now. 😢 I was on mirzapine for three years and slept like a log. But lately, my anxiety has been spiking, and I started worrying the meds were the cause, so I just stopped taking them altogether. Since then, I've been sleeping less and less every night, even while staying on the same amount of Xanax. Honestly, I had issues before I ever touched the mirzapine, and stuff like Ambien or Lunesta didn't do much for me back then either. 😢
Do you think things like Lyrica or Paxil work better for getting some rest?

You need to head back to your psychiatrist and lay it all out for them. I find it hard to believe that
your anxiety intensified because of the Remeron, though perhaps your doctor will decide to prescribe
you a different antidepressant. When it comes to insomnia, antipsychotics are generally the most effective route. Don't just sit there struggling;
insomnia is a frequent symptom of both depression and anxiety, and it is something you absolutely have to address.😉

Edward Long4 said:Ugh, don't even ask. I completely lost it. 😂
She had four freaking seizures—cramping up and screaming—and honestly, "screaming" is an understatement. My blood turned to ice. I went into a full-blown panic attack immediately, then finally managed to calm her down and stepped outside for a second. 🙂

I called him four times, I was practically screaming at him the last time, and he just goes: "Why the panic? It's just the anesthesia, it'll pass..." Seriously, I felt like shooting him. 🙂

She's okay now, thank God. She walks a little, then lies down... she isn't controlling her bladder, but honestly, my brain is complete mush right now.... if I can actually fall asleep without needing some Xanax, I might actually win a dance competition. 😍

I have this nagging feeling I'm going to have to go back on Prozac. It felt like someone grabbed me by the throat again—not super intense, but still... uuuuuuugh... not again.

I really hope your kitty turns out alright. Just stay by her side, give her tons of love, talk to her, and watch her closely. 🙂

Honey, when you find yourself facing these kinds of high-tension situations at the vet, just take a Xanax—it’ll steady your nerves.
Personally, I don't permit myself to exist in that state of stress; why bother trembling and letting my heart race? I just take a shot of whiskey and call it a day. 😂 I refuse to suffer through this nonsense any longer; I've already dealt with enough in my life. 😍
Look, veterinarians don't understand people like us who spiral into panic attacks; they simply don't get what it's like when we lose it. 😂
The pup will be fine; she’s been through the trauma of surgery, so she won't bounce back instantly.
And don't assume you're heading straight back to Prozac; you're just spiraling because of the current chaos, but it will pass. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:Good evening, everyone.
Today, I feel absolutely wiped out for the first time in ages. I honestly don't know what's happening... I'm terrified that I might never get back to my old self.
I managed to push through until 5:00 PM at work before heading to Chase. I thought I was going to collapse right there in the middle of the branch. Vertigo, fainting spells, instability, and this bizarre visual disturbance—it felt like my vision shifted by 500% in just a few hours. Panic set in immediately (you all know how anxiety works). I was convinced I’d either pass out on the floor or lose my mind. My brain immediately went into overdrive, convinced there's some underlying illness, even though I've been checked out from top to bottom. I had an MRI two years ago, and just two months ago, I did a full physical. Everything came back perfect. I've even gotten my weight under control; I lost 30 pounds over the last two years with my doctor's help. And yet... here I am again, gripped by fear and a million "what if" questions.
Currently, I'm on half a dose of Paxil and 100mg of Lamictal. That's it. I can't tell if this is being amplified by all those videos I've been watching on YouTube about tapering off Paxil, or if something is actually physically wrong. I'm trying to figure out what this could be, but you know how things are handled here in the States...🙂
Damn. If this hits me just from thinking about tapering off Paxil, what happens when I actually tell my neurologist I want to stop? I have no idea if I'm even ready for this, but I've been on Paxil for nine years now, and it's just... exhausting.🤷
Thanks, and sorry for venting.🤔

Mental health is a brutal business. Yes, it is highly probable that those stories about brain zaps amplified everything, especially since you're consciously stepping away from the medication and losing that sense of chemical security.
Try to breathe; it's hardly a tragedy to have been on an antidepressant for nine years, and frankly, I don't quite understand
why you're even attempting to taper off at all. Look at it this way: fine, you'll attempt to get off the meds, you'll give it a shot, and you might very well succeed. But if you don't, it isn't the end of the world; you just keep taking them.

Edward Long4 said:Ho, ho, ho... you'd certainly be happier if you were 😍

But honestly, I am a total wreck today. 😢 My dog just had surgery and she's been crying all day; she's having cramps from the anesthesia and I am just completely losing it.😢

I even felt this weird sensation, like someone was choking me, but I just stepped out onto the balcony and told myself I was being an idiot and that everything would be fine. Ugh, I can't wait for tomorrow... I am just straight up 🤷😢

It clearly shook you up, which explains why you are reacting this way. It is a perfectly normal response, so there is no need to panic.
The dog survived the surgery, and now she's going to be just fine. You have to realize, she is alive, and that is
the most important thing. The hardest part is behind her. She will recover and get back to herself, you'll see. :-)
Tomorrow, I am taking my cat in for surgery—full dental extraction—so we have to run all the
tests first to make sure she can handle the anesthesia. I trust it will all go smoothly.

P.S. Did you call the vet about those cramps? What did they say?

shadowfox75 said:Good for you... I'm actually jealous. I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms just from watching these documentaries on YouTube. If only my mother were still alive to give me a hug... man... Let's switch gears for a moment... LIVE, LIVE, JUST LIVE, MY DARLING... HOP, HOP, HOP...🙂🙂🙂🙂: rock:

shadowfox75, I may not be your mother, but I am sending this hug your way as a sign of support and encouragement.
If you ever need anything—a kind word or some advice—know that we are all here for you. 🙂

Edward Long4 said:Hahaha redranger2, hahaha... man, I guess this is just our karma. Honestly though, I’d love to just beat up Kenneth Scott41, 😂 just to give him a little something 🙂
(okay, I'm joking—just like you told me, I'm just boosting your ego... since there's nothing else left to do 😂)
Kenneth Scott41, come on, brighten my day for once. Just write back one day saying everything is wonderful and you're feeling great. 🙂

It’s gonna be fine. You'll get through this. 🙂 But seriously, don't sweat it. 🙂

Hahaha, well, you've managed to make me laugh now too; it seems we've reached a point of overflowing positive
energy. This is how it should be; some might call this off-topic chatter, but one really ought to
laugh and joke around every now and then. 😍

Kenneth Scott41 said:To everyone here who has dealt with those "brain zaps" or that sensation of an electric shock in the head... would you mind walking me through what that actually feels like?

Basically, I experienced it for the first time today, and I’m honestly struggling to find the right way to describe it. I was just walking through downtown when, out of nowhere, it felt like something just shot straight through my brain. It wasn't exactly painful, per se, but it was this incredibly unsettling sensation—you know, how people use the term "electric shock"? It felt exactly like a pulse of electricity racing through my skull. 🤷
I also occasionally get these brief, involuntary jerks of my head. I suppose I should ask, are those considered brain zaps as well?

What am I actually dealing with here??

p.s. How on earth did we pivot from discussing psychotropic medications to talking about Omega-3 fatty acids? Just a little bit of off-topic rambling there.

Those head twitches could very well be a side effect of antipsychotics. Are you starting any new medications lately?
Personally, taking Abilify gives me restless legs and this strange skin tingling. We really are in a tough spot with these drugs.😂

Edward Long4 said:Honestly, my brain has been shocked way too many times over the last 35 years, so I highly doubt it can handle much more. 😍😂 Jokes aside, though, you're totally right!

Mine hasn't fared any better, to be honest.😍

Anthony Lopez8 said:Quincy:

Is there anything more fundamentally exhausting than the constant pursuit of a perfect duet? We spend our lives trying to find that one specific harmony, that singular synchronization where two distinct voices finally align, yet we often find ourselves stumbling through nothing but dissonance. Why is it that we strive so intensely for this kind of unity, only to realize that most attempts at connection are little more than noise? It makes one wonder if the struggle itself is the only thing that is actually real. As Anthony Lopez8 points out: Listen, I truly hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medications cold turkey, because if you do, the fallout could be disastrous. Is anyone actually considering such a reckless move? To stop abruptly like that would only trigger a massive, sudden reaction in your system. Is there anything more unsettling than witnessing a sudden neurological crisis in someone whose brain has become entirely dependent on medication? It’s a profound shock to the system, both for the individual experiencing it and for those of us watching from the sidelines. When a person's chemistry is so deeply tethered to a specific pharmaceutical regimen, any disruption—be it a missed dose or an adverse reaction—doesn't just cause discomfort; it triggers a total systemic collapse. How can we even begin to grasp the sheer volatility of a mind that has lost its chemical equilibrium? Tapering off antidepressants is a slow, deliberate process, and it’s something that can take quite a while to navigate properly. When you finally reach that quarter-dose mark, you should continue taking it as prescribed. It will continue like this for a little while longer—just those small amounts at first, then moving to every other day, then every third day, until eventually... You simply refuse to stop, don't you? You fail to grasp that the brain requires a certain amount of time to establish actual control over its neurotransmitters before any meaningful progress can be made.

Of course, there is no reason to rush the process or pull away too abruptly. I neglected to mention that to Stick earlier, though it seemed like such an obvious point that it barely crossed my mind to say it out loud. However, it appears even he understands the necessity of a more measured approach.
I spent months attempting to taper off my medication. I followed a strict schedule, reducing my dosage in seven-day increments. After starting at 375 mg of Effexor, I eventually worked my way down to 18 mg, and then—as absurd as it might sound to some—all the way down to a mere 9 mg. But what happened when I finally cut that final 9 mg dose? The symptoms were nothing short of revolting. While I dealt with moderate discomfort during the tapering process itself, the moment I stopped taking that negligible amount entirely, everything fell apart. It was absolutely miserable.

It’s obvious there is no universal rule here; some people seem to walk away from it without any issues at all.
I managed to step off the AP without feeling a thing, leaving only the AD,
but unfortunately, about a month later, I suffered such a devastating relapse (I actually checked myself into the hospital three separate times, though I had to pull out both times because of work commitments and looking after my elderly mother) that I barely survived the ordeal.
In the end, I had to go back on the AP. Life is just relentless like that.🙂

Listen, I really hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medication cold turkey, because that’s a recipe for
triggering a massive shock to your brain, which has become entirely dependent on that chemical support.
When tapering off SSRIs, you have to go slow, and frankly, that process can be quite a marathon. Once you finally reach the point where you're down to just a 1/4 dose, you should
continue taking those tiny amounts for a while—maybe every other day, then every third day—until you eventually
wean yourself off completely. Your brain simply needs enough time to relearn how to manage its own neurotransmitters without outside help.

Edward Long4 said:You clearly haven't been reading my previous posts, specifically the ones on the heart surgery thread. Look, back when I was 20 and dealing with arrhythmias... I was full of life, looking great, honestly. No one would have ever guessed I had a broken heart. So, for five years, they just kept pumping me full of all that crap, telling me it was all in my head, that I was just imagining things... and thanks to them, I became a "mental patient" in their eyes, right? Just a joke to them. Until I finally passed out from atrial fibrillation... and then a real cardiologist finally realized I'm basically a walking time bomb (thoracic aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia). That's when my actual fight for survival really started...

Auuuu, honey, you were absolutely screwed over. 😢
To go that long without anyone uncovering the actual diagnosis makes one wonder what kind of medical professionals we're even dealing with here.
It’s a relief you made it out alive, and now that you have your treatment plan and regular checkups in place, things should stabilize.
Just stay strong; the worst part is behind you. 🙂