Posts by Brandon Lopez6

I'm 23, and I haven't had a period naturally for about four years now. My reproductive organs are totally healthy.
No physical illnesses on my end.
I am currently on antidepressants and an anti-epileptic, but this amenorrhea started way before I ever touched those meds.

Heading to the endocrinologist next week, but I'd love to get some thoughts here if possible before then. Thanks in advance.

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Alexander Torres5 said:@sickman123... I’m dealing with some similar stuff as you... Since it’s been almost a year since your last post, I was wondering if you managed to get things sorted out? And if you did—how? I’d be seriously grateful for any insight because I’ve started noticing things lately that I didn't even pick up on before—like this constant shortness of breath, my heart racing off and on (which, obviously, I'm hyper-aware of now), losing my appetite, and that nasty feeling like I'm gonna throw up right after eating. I really could use some help here, but honestly, I'm just not sure who to turn to.

doctor

Jason Vaughn482 said:Yeah, I'm right there with you. I get gripped by this sudden wave of terror and panic, and then I feel this desperate urge to pop a Xanax just to settle my nerves within twenty minutes... and that's the extent of it. Since I haven't dabbled in the drug scene, I can't offer a direct comparison, but I can draw an analogy to alcohol. I remember being able to have a few beers and experiencing actual euphoria—everything felt wonderful, my inhibitions vanished, it was pure bliss, and I even slept soundly. Back then, I wasn't touching any of these types of medications; I was just taking something for blood pressure. I don't drink anymore, but if I compare the two eras of my life, it feels ugly to admit, but I felt significantly better with a couple of beers a day than I do with all this stuff I'm on now. Of course, I'm not planning on returning to the beer, but these meds leave me feeling utterly numb, and frankly, I don't feel well at all—I am perpetually exhausted and drained. Either that, or my doctor just can't seem to get the dosage right. My current insurance authorization has run out, and I'm thinking about switching psychiatrists next year.

I used to drink too (wasn't really on any pills back then), and honestly, getting pretty trashed is a totally different vibe than taking Helex. When I was drinking, I was down for anything—dancing, singing, just messing around... now, I take Helex and I just sit here in front of my laptop reading forums. With Helex, I can do normal stuff just like anyone else who isn't medicated, it's just that without it, I find it hard to stay calm.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I’ve been sitting here wading through all these comments—some people swear by this, some find that boring, some hate this, some love that... it's the usual endless debate. Personally, I’ve been on xanax for four years now. It doesn't send me into some euphoric high; its sole purpose is to quiet the panic and settle the terror. It isn't a sleeping pill for me. Over these last four years, my dosage has fluctuated quite a bit, ranging from a mere 0.5 mg a day up to a maximum of 1.5 mg. And sure, call it a drug if you want—fine, go ahead—but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking antipsychotics are as harmless as a glass of milk. A 400 mg dose is meant for psychosis, not for catching some Z's, and we really need to be careful, especially with young people who might end up tethered to psychotropic meds for the rest of their lives. At the end of the day, everything mentioned here falls under the umbrella of legal drugs: xanax, Klonopin, antidepressants, antipsychotics... it all just depends on what a specific individual needs. My philosophy is simple: I try my hardest not to overdo it with any of them.

Jason Vaughn482, I think you and I are pretty similar when it comes to Helex and Xanax. I second everything you said.
For me, Helex doesn't cause any kind of euphoria. Honestly, I’ve never actually done drugs, so I can't really compare, but man, isn't a drug supposed to make you feel something? Not just kill off a panic attack? Like, anything. Some special feeling. That urge to take more, stronger, faster? Thinking about how to get more, or feeling amazing right after you take it? My experience with drugs is mostly just stuff I've seen or read about, nothing firsthand, so maybe I'm not the best judge, but I don't get any "special" feeling from Helex other than just feeling okay. Or better yet, feeling normal. I function like everyone else who doesn't have my issues and isn't popping pills. I just feel like I used to feel back when I was healthy.

Kevin Bailey2 said:When you take amyzol at night, how do you actually feel the next morning?

I used to take it almost 10 years ago, but only when things got bad. I remember sleeping way too much and eating constantly whenever I was on it... plus that general brain fog.
But whatever. What I really want to know is: what’s it like waking up? How do you feel in the morning after taking amyzol?

I can weigh in here too.
I take 4x10mg at night. Waking up is just as much of a struggle as it was before the pills, and the morning vibe feels pretty normal. Not sure how else to put it 😁
honestly—it's the same as any other AD I've tried before. I don't really notice a difference (at least when it comes to being sleepy).

shadowbear9 said:Just chill out. I asked a perfectly polite question. I had never heard of there being a lower dose, which is why I was surprised...

Yeah, well, I asked nicely too and just got a total attitude instead. 🙂

shadowbear9 said:Well, if that's your prescribed therapy, I guess there isn't much to be afraid of. People like you are always the most stubborn, though I suppose your doctor knows what you need and how much, right? And what kind of 10mg Amyzol is that anyway?😕 My doctor warned me about toxicity when I mentioned I was taking four at once.
I mean, how could you possibly not notice an effect? Maybe try biting a pill straight and you'll see how numb your mouth gets, let alone what it does to your brain... Unfortunately, they won't let me take more than one for sleep and as an antidepressant. It all feels like a joke trying to manage schizophrenia, especially when you're dealing with a whole family history of it and still getting these kinds of medications...

What would it look like? They're blue and weaker than the 25mg blue ones. Google is your friend.

"People like you are the best"? Wow, love the tone. Truly. I'm just here like everyone else, quoting other people's experiences. My bad for quoting and addressing your highness. 👋

shadowbear9 said:I was prescribed 25 mg, but last night I ended up taking 50+50 and I still woke up after only four hours...

Amyzol comes in 25mg, and if I recall correctly, there isn't even another strength available... but when you take three or four of those, you just stay completely knocked out and nothing wakes you up. Honestly, I feel like I might need to check into a hospital for a while. I failed my classes at college, so I have the time, and maybe they'll just pump me full of massive doses; hopefully, that actually makes things better....

I'm on Navecet at 10mg four times a day, and frankly, you guys scaring me about poisoning is getting old😢.
It does absolutely nothing for my sleep. Not for falling asleep, not for the quality of it. Either the impact of Maltene is just too subtle for me to notice, or it's just not working.
As far as Anafranil goes, it's been great, though on the other hand 🙂

shadowbear9 said:I suppose I should address what restlesstrucker15 was getting at earlier. Honestly, it’s just frustrating how people try to oversimplify things when we know better. I mean, maybe they think they have a point, but I find the whole argument to be incredibly shortsighted. It’s almost laughable, really. If you actually look at the facts—and I do suggest doing that before jumping to conclusions—you’ll see how flawed the logic is. I guess some people just prefer an easy answer over the truth, which is just exhausting to deal with.

Well, I don't know about that... I suspect it isn't quite that simple.

"Contains the active ingredient Quetiapine"... yeah, that's exactly what it says on the box, too.

So, here’s how it went down. I took half a dose around 8:00, and I kept studying until about 8:30 without noticing any real change. Since nothing was happening, I decided to take the second half. Suddenly, this wave of exhaustion just hit me out of nowhere, so I laid down. I was tossing and turning a bit, and then, I guess just to be safe, I took some Amyzol... and I didn't wake up again until 2:00. 🙂 Is it even possible that absolutely nothing is working for me? I mean, seriously, how am I supposed to actually get hold of anything if nothing seems to have any effect?🙂 I’m going to take that canister of gas from beside my bed just to act like some kind of anesthesia to knock me out... because honestly, when it comes to actually sleeping, I feel like I’m constantly waking up mid-cycle. It isn't deep sleep at all. Right now, I don't even feel groggy or tired. Up until this point, the only thing that seemed to work was taking 4 or 5 milligrams of Amyzol, but if I'm not allowed to do that, I might as well just poison myself. 🙄 I suppose it’s highly probable that the Amyzol will end up being toxic, if you ask me. 🤣

How many mg is that Amyzol you were talking about?

If you can swing it, my advice is to go talk to a therapist. Honestly, finding someone who does CBT might be the move—they can teach you those little mental tricks to help you get a handle on the negative thoughts.
Everything you’re feeling right now? It’s totally normal. I don't think there's a single person out there who isn't terrified of surgery. Just look around—plenty of people freak out over basic stuff like getting blood drawn or even just a quick shot at the doctor's office. A full-on surgery is a whole different beast, and I think you need a decent amount of grit to face something like this without much support.

My late grandfather was actually prescribed some anti-anxiety meds, but I don't think popping pills should be your first or only option. Sure, you can always take a pill, but it's better to actually work through the fear. Talk to someone who can help you rationalize what's happening in your head. You need someone who can tell you straight up if you're just spiraling for no reason or if your concerns are actually valid—and if they are, they can help you figure out how to deal with whatever comes next.

Good luck. I really hope the surgery and the recovery go perfectly smoothly. 🙂

Hey, does anyone have a solid recommendation for a good private endocrinologist in the Chicago area?

Mainly just looking for some online company, though I'm definitely open to meeting up properly down the road if things click 🙂.
I'm 23, currently in a relationship, and honestly, there's no point in me listing out all my diagnoses because it’s way too much to get into 😬.
I'd really prefer to hear from girls first—just feeling like I need some girl talk in my life right now 😢.

I realize this is basically an online support group vibe, but hey, anyone else can reach out too, even if you don't deal with mental health stuff. I'm down to chat about pretty much anything, not just meds or heavy topics 😬

mistyjackal842 said:I’ve officially given up on antidepressants. For me, they definitely mess with my urination—specifically that antidiuretic hormone (ADH) released by the pituitary gland. It actually caused a mild case of hyponatremia in my blood; my sodium levels dropped, and my potassium was right on the edge of being too low, too. I honestly think it's pretty rare for someone to deal with this many side effects from an antidepressant. I had been taking the Zoloft syrup recently. If it hadn't caused all this, maybe I would have stayed on it a bit longer. I don't know... I actually felt somewhat calmer when I was on Lexapro for three weeks. That was my first medication, and I felt better then. But then, after those three weeks, that issue with frequent urination started for the first time. I thought about getting my ADH levels checked, but I can't find any private labs around here that actually run that specific test. I just don't know. I feel like I probably need an antidepressant, but clearly, I can't take them. I've read some articles online saying that certain side effects don't just go away over time. That obviously isn't common, but it seems to be happening to me.

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Have you tried Googling to see if any labs in neighboring states do it?

Jason Vaughn482 said:Not at all; you mentioned yourself that Amyzol works wonders for anxiety, and I've heard similar things from others. My primary struggle is actually falling asleep—which is what my doctor always asks about—but once I finally drift off, I sleep for ages. As for the pills, what can you say? Our bodies are all wired differently; one thing works for one person and fails for another. It’s just how it goes. That stuff, whether it's Helex or Xanax, is often treated like a heavy temptation for most, but it hasn't been that way for me. While I do take them, I don't find myself craving higher doses... in fact, I've even managed to cut my intake in half now.
I genuinely enjoy coming to this forum; I find the shared experiences regarding various medications and the nuances of anxiety symptoms absolutely fascinating.

It helps my anxiety, sure, but it didn't touch my OCD, and it does absolutely nothing for my sleep. I sleep long and I sleep heavy, but that's just how I've always been. Even when I was a kid, I could pull a solid 12 hours straight without breaking a sweat.
Seriously, it has zero effect on my sleep.

Jason Vaughn482 said:That's interesting, but did you actually manage to get any rest from those 7.5 mg of Calixta? I've been taking it for three years now with occasional breaks. If I take 15 mg—which is rare—I feel completely drugged, but with 7.5 mg combined with 10 mg of Sanofi, it's not quite like that; I just sleep for a long time. I go to bed at midnight, struggle to fall asleep until about 1 AM, and then sleep until 10 AM. Once I've had my coffee, I'm fine... I wish I could ditch both Calixta and Sanofi and just fall asleep with something like Paxil like I used to, but it's just not possible... so here I am, relying on that duo for years. At least I'm glad I've significantly cut back on Xanax; I can manage 0.25 mg twice a day without any trouble, and I didn't even realize how much less I needed. I was taking 1.5 mg a day for three years... I tried Prazin too, but 25 mg didn't really knock me out and I didn't care for it... who knows, maybe something like Amantila Relax would work? haha
Oh, yeah, I used to take Ambien once in a while and I’d sleep like a log. I've had a box sitting at home for a year now; the expiration date is approaching soon. I deal with constipation, so I'm hesitant to take it because of that, though they say it's good for anxiety too.

I get that pills hit everyone differently, but man, I really wasn't expecting such polar opposite results.
Jason Vaughn482, I know you deal with much heavier insomnia than I do, so if you're saying something actually knocks you out, I totally believe you. My experience has just been the complete opposite.

I feel like this whole thread is kind of losing its point for me—personally, anyway—since it's obvious my experience doesn't really apply to most of you.

restlesstrucker15 said:Apologies, I seem to be having some technical difficulties with my phone and the quoting function here. 😢
Anyway, I simply wanted to observe how much we all differ in our approaches.
I personally wouldn't dream of going without my psychiatrist, though I have read that medication can indeed be helpful for some.
It just strikes me as unusual... do both of you really take such a high dosage at night?
Brandon Lopez6, is that the only antidepressant you are currently prescribed?
As for shadowbear9, I understand that her prescription is specifically for insomnia.

Send it to you

Yeah, that's my only AD. I also take an antiepileptic and Xanax.
Obviously, the dosage is higher 🤷.
Sometimes I still struggle with sleep, though. There are stretches where I just can't sleep, even while on the AD.
Truth is, when I'm not stressed out, I sleep like a baby—but honestly, I've always been like that.😢

restlesstrucker15 said:Taylor Swift, you're loaded with pills. I’m not criticizing you; on one hand, I’m glad you finally found a regimen that works, but on the other, I’m almost envious that you're still functioning despite all that. If you don't mind me asking, what is your diagnosis? With the Lamal and Q-pin, there must be some psychotic elements involved.

I actually have an old box of Calixta and Q-pin sitting at my house. I tell my doctor that whenever I lose touch with reality, I take them to sleep. You might think I'm lying, but two nights ago I took 7.5 Calixta and it took me two and a half days to fully come to.
I was already called in for an appointment at that sleep clinic over in Seattle, but I didn't go. Honestly, I was afraid the doctor there would disappoint me; my psychiatrist knows him, and she was hoping he might be more insightful regarding sleep issues than she was, but it turned out to be nothing. Just keep taking those (Elicea in the morning, and Pfizer for years at night).
Even John Doe didn't work for me; I’ll talk to my doctor about perhaps giving it another shot.
By the way, I was in contact with my former psychiatrist, and she mentioned that if she were treating me, she would put me on Elicea along with Seroxat, and perhaps Prazine or Ziprex for sleep.

Why prescribe two nearly identical antidepressants? I didn't follow through with that. Aside from Prazine, I tried it and tossed it.

Maybe try Ambien for sleep? I have so many questions...
Or perhaps some intense relaxation exercise before bed, and then let the Pfizer do its job.

I know I'm being tedious, but what can I do.

Send it to you

Ambien for sleep? In my experience, that won't do squat for you. I take 4x10mg before bed and it doesn't knock me out at all.

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shadowbear9 said:Is anyone here currently taking Amyzol? If so, I would be incredibly grateful if you could share some insights regarding its effects.

Additionally, I am looking into Dormicum. My intention is to eventually transition away from Sanval to break that dependency, but I read somewhere that Dormicum only comes in a 20-count pack and seems to be quite overpriced.

Could anyone offer some guidance on this?
🙂

Ambien was actually the first thing that really did the trick for me. I didn't deal with any side effects, I feel pretty good, and honestly, I'm not feeling nearly as depressed anymore. 🙂

I need to get my hormone levels checked. I went to see my OB-GYN, and she was pretty hesitant about giving me a referral since she feels this is strictly an endocrinology thing—apparently, everything looks fine physically, but I just don't have a regular period. Once I get my bloodwork back, should I go ahead and book an appointment with an endocrinologist, or is this still something my gynecologist should handle?

mistyjackal842 said:I was wondering... could anti-epileptic drugs be used as mood stabilizers for PMDD instead of antidepressants? I know, I know, this is really more of a question for a pharmacologist. It’s just that I’m honestly terrified of those side effects—specifically the frequent urination you get from antidepressants. I actually asked my doctor about it today, and she advised against it, saying those side effects can be pretty significant. Apparently, that pituitary hormone, ADH, which causes the increased urination, isn't even something they test for at any of the private labs here in Washington, D.C.

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Not sure about the answer, but I take an anticonvulsant (plus an antidepressant) and I haven't dealt with that specific issue. Actually, the anticonvulsant alone was doing the trick for me until my PMS symptoms flared up, then we had to add the AD.