Posts by Brandon Lopez6

shadowbear9 said:From now on, I will—and I intend to—but I completely forgot to ask how long I am supposed to stay on Mirzaten to keep my condition stable. I’m starting to realize I could end up eating like a whale if I'm not careful.🤣 I honestly have no idea what the minimum duration is that I need to take this before my symptoms potentially resurface.

I don't think anyone can give you a 100% certain answer on how long it'll take for the meds to get you back to baseline. Usually, with antidepressants, doctors suggest sticking with them for anywhere from 6 to 12 months after the depression or anxiety episodes actually clear up, just to make sure they don't sneak back in.

I know the weight gain is stressing you out, but honestly, try to focus on your mental health first. 🙂
If you're constantly hungry, maybe grab some healthy snacks and try eating smaller meals throughout the day. If you stick to cleaner eating, you probably won't pack on as much weight. Plus, (from my own experience), once you finally stop the antidepressants, the weight usually just falls off because that weird, unnatural hunger disappears.

EDIT
I went down a Google rabbit hole just now to check the instructions for Xanax (since you mentioned it earlier, and it's essentially the same thing) versus birth control, since I was taking both and nobody ever warned me about anything. On this site, it says this (I bolded the important parts):

When alprazolam is used alongside medications that interfere with its metabolism, pharmacokinetic interactions can occur. Agents that inhibit specific liver enzymes (specifically cytochrome P450 3A4) can increase the concentration of alprazolam and intensify its effects. Data from clinical trials involving alprazolam, in-vitro studies, and trials with drugs metabolized similarly to alprazolam provide evidence of varying degrees of interaction and potential interactions between alprazolam and numerous other medications.

Based on the level of interaction and the type of available data, the following recommendations have been made:

• Simultaneous use of alprazolam with ketoconazole, itraconazole, or other azole antifungals is not recommended.
• Caution and consideration for dose reduction are recommended when alprazolam is used concurrently with nefazodone, fluvoxamine, or cimetidine.
• Caution is advised when alprazolam is administered alongside fluoxetine, propoxyphene, oral contraceptives, sertraline, diltiazem, or macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and troleandomycin.
• Interactions involving HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir) and alprazolam are complex and time-dependent. Low doses of ritonavir have led to significant impairment of alprazolam clearance, extending its elimination half-life and amplifying clinical effects. However, following prolonged exposure to ritonavir, induction of CYP3A acts as an offset to this inhibition. Due to this interaction, it will be necessary to adjust the dosage or discontinue the use of alprazolam.

So why not just use a condom for the first week or so? Isn't that way more reliable than just sitting there playing the "fingers crossed I don't get pregnant" game? Honestly, I think your OB-GYN might have steered you wrong. From what I’ve seen, every girl I know who switched from Yaz to something else either waited until they were actually active to start the new pill, or if they were already having sex, they just played it safe with extra protection.

Steven Martin13 said:I honestly just stick to what's listed under the official indications for the medication—for instance, Social Security guidelines note that certain meds are prescribed specifically for OCD.

In my case, I was actually prescribed an antipsychotic on an as-needed basis for those exact kinds of thoughts, mostly because they just seem to hit harder and work more effectively. 🙂

Honestly, I was just going by experience. I don't really follow all the research or anything, to be real. 🙂
The AP worked great for me, but man, I looked like a total wreck while taking it.🙄

Paul Newman5 said: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.

Mornings are the worst for me too. Even when I feel like garbage in the AM, I'm usually fine by the afternoon. It's rare for me to have a bad day that lasts the whole time.

Jason Vaughn482 said:Wait, you said 2 mg, but from what I can tell, you're actually taking 1 mg total—just doing 4x0.25 🤷

Yeah, me and math... not a great combo.🙈

You’ve got a massive talent for storytelling. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I sat through a post this long without checking out five times because of boredom. But you actually kept me glued to the screen—you basically "forced" me to finish your story.

I haven't lived through what you have, but we’re definitely siblings when it comes to having too much confidence and being way too mouthy. So, there's that.

I kind of get what you're saying, but also I don't. On one hand, I feel your vibe, but on the other, I haven't been in your shoes, and my own life hasn't really touched any of this stuff either. So, I can't just drop a "totally get you, just do this and that, I'm the same way, everything will be fine" line.

I’m not gonna dump my whole life story here right now—I can if I need to, nothing wrong with that—but when someone opens up like this, I’m happy to answer whatever they throw at me. If you want, we can move this to DMs, or just keep chatting here. I've got some questions for you, so tell me: do you find it easier to talk "privately" or keep it public? (There, that's the first question 😁)

Just wanted to jump in here—for intrusive thoughts, you actually want to look at AP, not AT&T.

Peter Clark6 said:you're the one who needs to apologize first and regarding those rural types—they're just people living out in the sticks, if that isn't obvious enough... most of them have a dog on a chain, or if they have a decent fenced yard, it's just that one dog barking behind the gate before it decides to chase cars or cyclists down the road. A farmer "trains" his dog to guard the house... yeah, right... that's some pretty high-level training there. 🤷

Look, I was being sarcastic. This is a forum; an apology from someone trying to make a fool out of me (though he's failing 🥳) means about as much to me as dirt under my fingernails. 😁

Look, it doesn't matter if some guy in the countryside is training his dog for this or that, but he *can* train him. By the way you phrased your post, you already ruled that out, implying the guy running the whole show is some city slicker. You've used that tone in a really condescending way plenty of times before. Don't make me dig through your old posts again; I'm honestly over it. 😁

Peter Clark6 said:Man, that’s just... yeah.Got herself into a mess.Total dog person here. Whether they're big mutts, little pups, or just tiny fluffballs—I'm all about them.
She’s throwing around so much garbage that I’ve actually started catching her nonsense myself. It's getting ridiculous.

Spot on. I don't even know where to start with this one. It’s just... a lot. Honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole situation. It feels like we're all just circling the drain while everyone else acts like everything is totally fine. Just one of those days, I guess. So, people use the term "dog" to describe someone who keeps a trained dog around—whether they did the training themselves or just bought one ready-made. Honestly? I don't see how that's supposed to be an insult. Like, what's the problem with having a disciplined pet?

Alright, let's get to it. I'm ready when you are. Just toss me whatever you've got and I'll work my magic. Keeping it low-key, keeping it real. Let's see what we're working with. My bad. My apologies.!!

So, one of the fallout effects... dog taxes. I honestly don't get the hype around those big tech giants lately. It feels like every time I open my laptop, there's some new "revolutionary" gadget or software update that promises to change my life, but really, it just makes everything more complicated. Remember how we used to just sit around, play a few video games, and not worry about data privacy or subscription models? Now it’s all just one giant monthly fee. Anyway, I saw what Paul Jackson7 was saying earlier about the market trends, and I think he's onto something, even if his take is a bit extreme. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You see it coming, you know it's going to be messy, but you can't really look away. Just me? Probably. I'll stick to my old habits.

The bureaucrats just don't get us folks out in the sticks.
Who exactly are we talking about here? The ones keeping the dog on a leash?
...or just wandering through the woods. 😁

I haven't seen any posts from boldano yet.
With all due respect,
You're only associating me with the ones in power. 🤣

Look, this is just one post from the thread, and it’s pretty obvious you weren't actually aiming that at Sash. If we’re talking about a sheepdog, then sure, a farmer could fit the description too. I mean, plenty of folks out in the sticks train their dogs for all sorts of things—guarding the house, watching over the livestock, whatever.

There was an explanation there, but now they’ve wiped out the second page and half of the first one. It was all right there just the other day, then poof—gone. The mods will probably tell you why if you ask.
All I can say is things were getting pretty heated, so I’m guessing that’s why they scrubbed it. Probably just to stop someone from taking it to the chat (or even over here 😬).

Serbo-American? What kind of alternate universe are you living in if you think that’s even a thing? And honestly, why do you think the mods gave you a warning for using that term? It’s because you were clearly using it as a slur.

Your thread has zero future in a space meant for dog owners and enthusiasts because you keep pushing these half-baked theories. They really should have just left it unlocked so you could keep talking nonsense—just like your other threads where you try to prove how much you "love" and "care" about dogs 🥳
.
It's pretty obvious you can't tell the difference between insulting people and sports (🤦), so I'm done engaging with your provocations.

Anyway, thanks for the laugh 🤣🤣🤣

Peter Clark6, you know exactly what you were dropping in there. You spent half your time calling everyone "those damn dog owners" and went on about how the mods were basically kissing up to their pets—which got nuked, if I remember right.
Look, I’m not about to go digging through your old posts myself, but I'll let someone else—specifically the Pet Forum mods—do the heavy lifting. Let them decide if someone with your attitude even deserves a seat at the table.

EOS from me☕

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.

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 🙂

insulting dogs ->

A 75 to 100-pound dog can take down a 220-pound guy without breaking a sweat. I’ve seen it happen during training drills.
Kids usually end up being the ones getting mauled, left with permanent facial scars because dogs get territorial and cowardly when they go after an adult, unless they're unhinged and forced into it.

insulting owners ->

It just goes to show that dog owners and their pets basically have "VIP status" in our neighborhoods while paying next to nothing for it.
Implementing a dog tax would barely scratch the surface of the issues they cause for people and the environment, though it could help fund maintenance and fixes that are becoming pretty dire because some owners are so blinded by their role in the pack that it’s honestly bordering on a psychiatric issue.

Need more examples? If so, someone else can dig through your posts. I've read enough for one lifetime. This is just from the first page of three on that thread about the dog tax (it's locked, so I'm dropping links since I can't quote directly).

EDIT
And don't even get me started on how many pages were deleted from that thread.

Paul Newman5 said: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. 😂
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.😛

Peter Clark6 said:where's all the hate in this thread?
http://www.example.com/thread/769853

starting this thread, per the suggestion, in either the men's or women's section—are you guys actually sure about what you wrote here? 😂

----------
so, yeah, please just unlock the thread

you're really obsessing over dogs now? maybe someone messed with you when you were a kid or something?🙄

you spent the whole damn time trolling the dog tax thread (and got banned a few times too), and your big argument was basically "dogs are gross. dogs poop. yuck. dogs bite. ew," like, literal kindergarten level stuff. honestly, I don't think you just missed the point of the PDF, you missed the entire game regardless of where you post it. any mod would be crazy to unlock a thread as insulting as yours.
The Pets section shouldn't be a place for people who think dogs should be put down. ☕

Eric Mitchell55 said:That’s why I didn't hold it against him, but it remains an undeniable fact that I ended up in that office by mistake six years ago, and now I’m stuck being dependent on both him and the medication.
What do you call that—Fate?

Maybe it's Fate, or maybe it's just a mix of an incompetent doctor and you not knowing how to explain what you're feeling properly.

Man, I have such a love-hate relationship with Helex. Just waiting for the day I wake up and don't "have" to take it. 😁
I only ended up taking 2mg of Misar today...
It’s not the end of the world.
I'm really hoping I can eventually taper down to 1mg and just find a way to deal with things without it.😁
I'm on 2mg too, but I split it up into four 0.25 doses. If I'm flying solo, I'll just knock back 0.50 in the morning and then basically "fast" until my next 0.25 dose.
Got this totally ridiculous schedule when I actually take it 🤦

Scott Alvarez22 said:

I’m not trying to sound like I’m out here playing defense for psychiatrists, but honestly, how was your doctor supposed to catch a physical issue if your own GP sent you straight to them instead of referring you to a specialist?

And besides, nobody was forcing those pills down your throat; you always had the option to just not take them, even if they were on the prescription.

That’s why I didn't hold it against him, but it remains an undeniable fact that I ended up in that office by mistake six years ago, and now I’m stuck being dependent on both him and the medication.
What do you call that—Fate?

I’m not trying to sound like I’m out here playing defense for psychiatrists, but honestly, how was your doctor supposed to catch a physical issue if your own GP sent you straight to them instead of referring you to a specialist?

And besides, nobody was forcing those pills down your throat; you always had the option to just not take them, even if they were on the prescription.

That’s why I didn't hold it against him, but it remains an undeniable fact that I ended up in that office by mistake six years ago, and now I’m stuck being dependent on both him and the medication.
What do you call that—Fate?

I’m not trying to sound like I’m out here playing defense for psychiatrists, but honestly, how was your doctor supposed to catch a physical issue if your own GP sent you straight to them instead of referring you to a specialist?

And besides, nobody was forcing those pills down your throat; you always had the option to just not take them, even if they were on the prescription.

That’s why I didn't hold it against him, but it remains an undeniable fact that I ended up in that office by mistake six years ago, and now I’m stuck being dependent on both him and the medication.
What do you call that—Fate?
Maybe it's Fate, or maybe it's just a mix of an incompetent doctor and you not knowing how to explain what you're feeling properly.

Eric Mitchell55 said:Gosh, I’m taking Misar right now too, and I’m actually a bit worried about becoming dependent on it—that’s the last thing I need. So, I’m trying to keep my doses as low as I possibly can.

Check your PM 🙂

Man, I have such a love-hate relationship with Helex. Just waiting for the day I wake up and don't "have" to take it. 😁

Eric Mitchell55 said:As for me, I'm a bit hit-or-miss with how I deal with it all.
Some days I feel like chucking my pills right out the window into the trash, and other days I’m actually looking forward to taking them. I get frustrated with myself sometimes, but then there are moments where I feel pretty good about being so different from everyone else. People can call me a weirdo if they want; I have my own little theories about my condition. Honestly, it almost makes me feel like I'm even crazier than I actually am, but believing in my own logic makes things a little easier to bear.
But man, if it weren't for those little pills, who knows where I'd be right now.

I pretty much tossed everything else aside except for my Ativan—I’m hooked on that stuff, and honestly, I’d feel fine enough to take a selfie right now. My next goal is finally weaning off it and, if God wills it, getting to a point where I can take something for anxiety OCCASIONALLY, instead of every few hours like I have been. 🙄

If you don't mind, I'd love to hear more about that theory of yours in a DM. 🙂

Eric Mitchell55 said:I know those comparisons so well. It’s like I was a literal walking zombie or moving around like some kind of slow-motion robot. My eyes were half-shut, I was drooling everywhere, my jaw would lock up, and sometimes my muscles would just seize so I couldn't move. It was a total disaster.

And this was all happening when I was only 16 years old.

Me, thank God, I didn't feel the muscle stiffness myself, but people definitely noticed. Especially my old neighbor who'd only see me once a week since I was living in another city at the time; she’d be genuinely shocked every weekend seeing what I’d become. The people seeing me daily probably didn't catch the muscle changes as clearly because it wasn't like I suddenly froze one day—it just crept up on me. And before the psychiatrist caught on, I had zero clue what was happening. I just blamed the drooling on a cold because I had to breathe through my mouth, so I figured that was why.

Seriously, props to you for how you're handling all this.🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Scott Alvarez22 said:The thing is, they aren't suffering from the same things we are; their goal is just to squeeze as much money out of us as possible.
Take this for example:
It feels like there isn't a single vet out there who won't try to push some specialized commercial food (like Hills or Pedigree fell...) just because they happen to stock it or can funnel customers toward specific pet stores.

However, when an animal is more than just a pet to you—when they are a lifelong companion—you naturally become close friends with most vets. But wouldn't you know it, none of those vets actually feed their own dogs Pedigree fell and similar cash-grab products; instead, they all mix together homemade meals, much like what they eat themselves.

And it’s easy enough to verify: just take two bowls, one filled with Pedigree fell and the other with homemade food, and set them down when your dog is hungry (which, let's face it, is every day since they aren't on any antidepressants 😁), then just let the dog decide which one is actually better for them.

It’s the exact same story with psychiatrists.

Here is my own experience:

Back in mid-2006, after three grueling months of struggling with balance issues and endless medical testing, I finally went to see a psychiatrist.
He immediately started treating me by throwing Zoloft and Xanax at me.
In the beginning, the Zoloft and Xanax actually made the dizziness even worse, leaving me convinced that I had completely lost my mind—totally.

I somehow managed to limp along until 2011, when my dog developed a severe ear infection, which ended up sending me back into the clinic for testing alongside him.

Both the dog and I tested positive for issues; the dog got his treatment, while I was sent off for further diagnostic testing while staying on my medication. During those follow-up tests, they discovered an old fracture in my eardrum that had healed over with fibrous tissue.
The specialist asked me how on earth I had managed to live with a ruptured eardrum without ever seeking help or mentioning it to anyone.
The reason I hadn't reported it to anyone else was because my previous doctors insisted everything was fine, but they essentially ruined me by prescribing antidepressants and Xanax, to which I eventually developed a dependency.

After five years of seeing him, my psychiatrist offered the deepest of apologies, justifying it by saying he wasn't an ENT specialist and couldn't have known, though he did note that I certainly had my own psychological baggage to clear out. When I asked if there was anyone out there who didn't have "baggage" to clean up, he told me quite plainly that there wasn't!

So, it all traces back to an ear issue treated by a psychiatrist using drugs, which led to depression and panic attacks, and once I finally realized what was happening and tried to taper off, I felt every demon in existence hit me at once. My body has become so accustomed to the medication that I'm still trying to figure out how to fix it, while the psychiatrist? There's no sign of him anymore. As far as he's concerned, the case is CLOSED, Next please.

Look, I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses for psychiatrists, but how was your doctor supposed to know there was a physical issue if even your primary care physician sent you straight to them instead of a specialist?

Second thing, nobody was forcing those pills down your throat, so you could have chosen NOT to take them even if they were prescribed.

Eric Mitchell55 said:Nausea is honestly such a horrible sensation; it's just awful.
Luckily, I've never had issues quite like that with Akineton, which is a huge relief because I really rely on it. 🙄

Mine was too. The others—the ones who weren't afraid to be blunt—used to tell me I looked like I’d been run over by a truck. Slumped over, totally stiff, and then there was that damn drooling. Aside from the drooling, I didn't even realize how bad I actually looked.
I was taking Risperdal three times a day at 4 mg. Hey, at least it actually worked. 😁