Posts by shadowfox75

restlesstrucker15 said:I'm a Late Starter, and I was asking you about the symptoms from your last antidepressant experience. It sounds very similar to mine. Just like everyone else is telling you, I suggest sticking with it for at least five or six weeks and using Helix to help manage the transition.

You see, it's all highly individual. I was on Paxil for a very long time before I stopped, which was a mess, and eventually, Paxil just stopped working for me altogether. Since then, I've been on Lexapro. Miraculously, I haven't had many side effects. My only regret is that it doesn't feel quite as perfect as Paxil did, though I suspect that might just be my own perception. Because of that, I tried almost the entire spectrum of medications, but nothing worked—it felt like I was constantly wired, and I wasn't even just on Zoloft. Now, I just stick with Lexapro and push through.

Don't give up; the brain needs time to stabilize. If you're struggling to figure out whether a sensation is physical or psychological, I would personally take some Helix and try to assess the situation. I don't mean trying to analyze it while the anxiety is hitting you, though. And honestly, people are right when they say you need to get out of the house. Try to go out, no matter how difficult it feels; it helps, and you'll be glad you did. Just carry your Helix with you, just for peace of mind.

Skickas FR

Paxil was fine for me, but I wouldn't go back to it because the withdrawal side effects were horrific. My neurologist couldn't believe what I was describing. She suggested I was just overthinking everything because of internet forums, but she realized I actually knew what I was talking about once she consulted a colleague of hers. He confirmed my experience, and she decided I should stop the antidepressants entirely rather than continue dealing with such intense side effects. Her suggestion was to try again using psychotherapy, so she referred me to a psychologist, but she is completely booked up.
She told me immediately that psychotherapy alone would be difficult and that I really needed medication support.
She prescribed Lucas, but I didn't feel any connection to that treatment even after two months.
As of today, after seven days on a half-dose of Celexa, I have started the full dose.
My head feels heavy. I feel tense, hovering on the edge of derealization and depersonalization. It feels like I am floating.
Naturally, that heightens the anxiety, which makes everything worse.
I am not sure. I will try continuing with the Celexa and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I think I will give up on antidepressants altogether. I won't make any long-term plans, but I am truly fed up with these medications.

This is truly fascinating. You would think these newer medications would be superior, yet the older generations often seem to work much better.
I know things aren't easy for you right now, but I am sincerely rooting for this antidepressant to provide the relief you need. You deserve that

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Not my type.🤣

In psychiatry, we rarely encounter a problem that is strictly and clearly defined—take panic attacks, for example.
If it were that simple, it would be wonderful; we would just apply targeted medication or psychotherapy and consider the problem solved.
But it’s never that straightforward. It is always a complex web of various disorders or underlying issues that precede specific conditions.
Most laypeople don't actually grasp the distinction between heightened stress and clinical anxiety. We end up deceiving ourselves with random information gathered from the internet, clinging to what we imagine is "knowledge," which is frankly pathetic, especially when you're acting out of fear.

Things have to be resolved step by step; it is truly the only viable way to alleviate or reduce certain symptoms.

For instance, we feel depressed, so we can't sleep; then comes the anxiety, followed by headaches as the icing on the cake; for women, irregular cycles; for men, impotence or loss of libido, and so on and so forth..

Where do you even begin??

Naturally, we start with medication, often experimenting with various antidepressants... and we might even end up on antipsychotics simply because we "heard somewhere" that they work.
Only then do we mask the actual problems, dragging ourselves deeper and deeper into the hole.

The foundation of treatment, or at least an excellent starting point, is lifestyle. If we don't change our habits in that regard, we can kiss our health goodbye.
Trying to normalize sleep, nutrition, interpersonal relationships... reducing stress wherever possible, reflecting on oneself and one's needs regarding things like money, socializing, honesty, morals, love...

As long as we fail to address these fundamental areas, we are merely helping the illness progress to its full extent.
Once that happens, even doctors will be able to narrow down the list of causes. They often don't bother telling you what would actually help because it's futile; bad habits are stubborn creatures, and breaking them is incredibly difficult.

Well said. I understand there is truth in that, though I struggle with how to actually implement it.
I explain to her that when I have dizziness and fear, I am incapable of socializing; I cannot sit with a group because I feel terrible. I only do what is strictly necessary.
She asks me when I last had sex or did something that brought me satisfaction. I paused and realized—wow, she’s right.
She tells me that the more I stay home, the stronger the dizziness, fear, and anxiety will become, creating a vicious cycle. She insists I need to get out, go to the movies, and so on. When I ask if she could sit for coffee while feeling these symptoms, she says she would force herself to do it (though I wonder if she truly could).
If I collapse, someone will pick me up, an ambulance will take me to the hospital, and that's just life. If I wait, the same thing could happen at home, because she realizes I feel safest staying inside. There is no perceived "danger" there, and even though what I'm experiencing is terrifying, it feels more manageable. No one will see me or notice.
The problem is, I no longer know how to force myself.🕺

wearycyclist17 said:So, how did you stumble upon that subconscious layer? What were you analyzing—your past, the present, your personality, relationships, deep-seated traumas? Or just everything at once? How EXACTLY did you get there?

I've done plenty of self-analysis myself, but I've never actually landed on any concrete answers or conclusions.

That is an interesting question. When I speak with my therapist, she usually asks me to identify what I believe is causing my symptoms—why I am experiencing dizziness or fear at that specific moment.
The truth is, I don't know. It could be a million things. I suspect work is the biggest factor, though I can't just quit on a whim, or perhaps it is the fear that something is physically wrong (even if that doesn't mean I'm immediately demanding an MRI).
In the past, I dealt with significant trauma, such as losing both of my parents. The difficulty lies in the fact that there are so many contributing factors, and I cannot pinpoint the primary one.
By the way, I am looking for a girlfriend. 😛
Everyone tells me that once I find a partner, I won't dwell on these trivialities anymore because my life will feel complete. 🎉
However, besides being in debt until I'm 50, I also have a negative balance in my checking account, so if anyone is interested... I'm free.

Brandon Lopez6 said:I started doing some deep self-reflection lately and realized that nobody could really help me before because even I didn't know what I was trying to say. While digging through my own head, I uncovered a whole different side to my issues—stuff I’d never told anyone because I wasn't even aware of it myself.
Now I'm in a decent spot that keeps me pretty level-headed, except for the OCD. And man, that stuff is brutal. It makes you want to lose it sometimes.

Had some blood work done the other day to check my liver enzymes and thank God everything came back fine. My meds haven't messed with it at all. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Isn't amyzol a tricyclic antidepressant, from the older generation?
Hasn't a single SSRI worked for you?
How many different antidepressants have you tried?
How are you managing to get through life? Are you working?
Sometimes I wonder how much longer I can function like this. How is it possible that we have to experiment with these medications so extensively?
It is difficult to distinguish what is purely physical from what is psychological. My primary care physician refuses to attribute anything to a psychological phenomenon. Every time, they insist on ruling out a physical cause, but I know I cannot constantly demand endless tests throughout the year while symptoms are active.
That is the only thing keeping me going... the hope that they won't just dismiss everything as "all in your head" and overlook a potential physical issue.
I am in a total coma today... I am not depressed, just extremely anxious. I have this massive dizziness, and I have to work the next two weeks of night shifts because my colleague is on PTO.
Well, I am about to go on PTO myself, though I am worried I might pass out during a night shift... or whatever happens.
In my opinion, if you were actually going to faint, you would have passed out a hundred times by now. This dizziness wouldn't have lasted this long. I read somewhere that if there is a physical cause for vertigo, it resolves within a specific timeframe once the brain compensates for the damage (whether it's the vestibular system in the ear or something else). Anything persisting beyond that window is considered psychogenic vertigo.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Man, I’m sorry. I really wish I had some good news to share here.
I totally blanked on mentioning this, but then I saw your other post below. Back then, I actually bumped my dose up from two Helix to four, and honestly? Even that wasn't cutting it. Trying to taper down from five Helix to two was a total nightmare, and then—boom—within a month, I was right back at square one. That second attempt at tapering was way easier, though, mostly because once the Cipralex finally cleared my system, the actual craving for it just kind of vanished. It took me about two months the second time, but that first go-round dragged on for almost four.

The battles we fight are intense... yet all we receive is a mountain of unsolicited advice.
Yesterday, I received the latest feedback from my boss. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if anyone truly understands us... or if we even understand ourselves. Personally, I feel lost regarding what is happening to me; I can no longer distinguish which symptoms are psychological and which are genuine physical ailments.

Do you ever get the feeling that you won't live much longer than a few years? It is as if I have entered a phase where everything has fundamentally shifted, though I struggle to put it into words.

David Jackson22 said:Hang in there, man, I honestly think it'll be worth the wait. It took me forever to finally get my Valtrex working right after my Prozac stopped doing anything for me after ten years on it.
In my opinion, for those of us dealing with postpartum depression or anxiety who have been stuck on meds for years, it takes way longer for a new antidepressant to actually kick in.
Your body basically needs time to flush out the old stuff before the new stuff can even start working. After I finished Prozac, I tried pretty much every antidepressant under the sun and none of them did squat, so my psychiatrist just left me on Valtrex, even though it felt like nothing was happening even after three months. Switching therapies just wasn't worth it anymore because I had to go through that whole hellish cycle every single time, and I was just too exhausted to deal with more new side effects.
It’s been six months now, and I’m finally feeling okay. My doctor and I just stayed the course, slowly bumping up the dose and waiting, waiting, waiting...
It sucks, there's no other way to put it, but when you don't have any other options, you just have to suck it up and be patient.
I really hope things move faster for you, but I just wanted to say this so you don't lose hope if you don't feel better in a few weeks. Sometimes you just have to play the long game.

Yeah... the part where you mentioned trying a whole range of drugs and finally sticking with one really highlights how confusing this process is for us. I took Paxil for ten years. It worked, but it didn't fully resolve my issues. I went a year without medication, then tried Luxe for two months without any improvement. Looking back, maybe I should have stayed the course instead of switching immediately to Lexapro. Who knows... I suspect even the doctors aren't entirely sure. Nowadays, I'm struggling with such intense dizziness that I literally have to hold onto the couch to stay upright. My therapist says they are typical psychogenic dizzy spells... ask God.
Ultimately, if Lexapro doesn't work—though I hope it does—I don't think I'll move on to a fourth option. But we'll see. I'm hopeful things will improve.🍿

Michael Hill2 said:Why would you even call? You already know all this is just a standard reaction to starting a new antidepressant. You just have to ride it out knowing it'll pass eventually.🙂

Use the Helex to help get through the start; once things level out in two or three weeks, it should get better.🙂

I didn't call her. I'm going to wait until my appointment on February 10th and see how things go. I take Helix to help when the symptoms get intense. We'll see, but until then, expect me to bug you all with questions. :-D

Brandon Lopez6 said:I was stuck in that exact same spot on Lexapro for a month. Every single day just got progressively worse, and the kicker was that I felt just as bad for about three weeks after I finally quit.
Worst pills ever.

Oh my god😲

restlesstrucker15 said:Good luck.😉
What were your worst side effects on Luxe, and have you taken any other ADs before?

Send FR to

It was the Luxe. The initial side effects eventually faded after about two or three weeks. Honestly, after a tiny bit of improvement at the start, everything just regressed again after those first few weeks. My psychiatrist suggested we try sticking with it a little longer, but after two and a half months, she decided we needed to switch because it should have been at full strength by then.
My morning anxiety and fear returned—that heavy feeling in my stomach that makes it impossible to function all day.
She decided to start me on Lexapro, noting from her experience with patients that if Luxe doesn't work, Lexapro is usually a solid alternative.
Yes, I was on Paxil for ten years. Eventually, everyone decided, including myself, that I could live without it and leave that chapter behind. I tapered off last year, but things started sliding back quickly. By month eleven, I was seeing a new therapist, which is when we started the Luxe and psychotherapy combo.
I am currently on Lexapro, so we will see how it goes.

Michael Hill2 said:You probably won't deal with heavy side effects. Honestly, you might not feel much at all since your body is already used to SSRIs, and both of these are in the same family.

A buddy of mine dealt with depression and panic attacks, and Lexapro basically brought him back from the dead. He’s been off meds for years now and is doing great; he was on them for about two years.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Lexapro treats you right.🙂

Thanks for the support. 🙂
I just took a half dose, so I'm currently on day three.
The anxiety and tension are intense... it feels like I'm right on the edge of derealization and depersonalization. I don't know what is happening to me. There is this strange tightness in my jaw, restlessness, and a shimmering sensation in my vision. It might be the Lexapro. I feel like I'm going to snap. 🕺
Jazz... I suppose this is just the body reacting to the change. Since there is no more Luxe, my system is fighting the withdrawal, while simultaneously fighting to adjust to this new medication.
I went into work today (though I did take about 7mg of Helex 0.25 around 7:00 AM), but I am really struggling.
I wonder if I should call my doctor? Honestly, what could they possibly tell me that would make sense when I'm only on day three of treatment?

restlesstiger49 said:I just wanted to drop in quickly to share a bit of advice so you don't end up feeling as miserable as I do today after abruptly quitting my Velafax (37.5mg dose). Let me tell you, the side effects from stopping so suddenly are definitely not something you want to experience. Luckily, once I take my next dose, things seem to settle down within an hour. Seriously, learn from my mistake.

(Please, just don't ask me why I decided to do this... 🤦)

I sincerely hope and wish that your experience is milder than mine was with Paxil. Even though I followed their medical recommendations and guidelines during my taper, I felt like I couldn't go on. It was a month of pure misery.😲

David Jackson22 said:I was on Prozac for about ten years too and it worked wonders for me, but lately I had to switch things up because the Prozac stopped doing its job and I hit another depressive episode. Working closely with my psychiatrist, I cycled through a few different SSRIs, but none of them really hit the mark. Once we both realized there wasn't any real improvement, my doctor switched me over to Effexor, which I’d actually used alongside Prozac way back when. I wouldn't say this one is working as well as it did in the past, but there is some movement—it's slow, but it's heading in the right direction. Sometimes you just have to be patient and wait a while for things to kick in. I didn't see how long you've been on Luxet? Maybe you just need a dosage adjustment, and if that still doesn't move the needle, then yeah, changing the treatment plan is definitely worth considering. Honestly, I'm not 100% thrilled with how I'm responding to my current meds either, but after cycling through so many antidepressants that did absolutely nothing, I'm sticking with the one that actually shows some results. I truly believe that along with the medication, you need plenty of time and a lot of personal work to actually get stabilized.

I started taking Lexus on November 8th. For the first three weeks, I was on 25mg, or half a tablet. After three weeks—specifically toward the end of November—I moved up to one full 50mg tablet. My doctor said it was too early to tell and that I should be patient. My last check-up was at the end of December, and my next appointment is January 15th.
After dealing with quite intense side effects, things finally started looking up slightly. I gained some weight, and people noted that I looked better (likely because I put on about 6 or 7 pounds). But now, for the last 10 to 15 days, the symptoms have started returning...
I also started psychotherapy. Today was my fifth session. In addition to that, I am taking Lamictal 2 x75mg per my neurologist's recommendation, and Xanax 3mg at about half a tablet daily, though I have started crushing that half tablet to gradually taper myself off...
I will see what my therapist thinks. She describes Lexus as one of the milder antidepressants, so I wonder if it is strong enough for me. I am feeling quite exhausted from all the experimentation and waiting to see when I will actually feel better...🤔

Michael Hill2 said:Sorry to hear that specific med didn't work out for you, but let's be real, we all had to be prepared for that possibility. My doctor told me there's basically a 50-50 shot with any antidepressant whether it hits the mark on the first try or not. Looking back at what you've posted, I think you gave Luxottica enough of a fair shake. If your body isn't vibing with it, it's time to move on. 😉

Thank God there's still a whole pharmacy of options out there. No point in suffering through one that clearly isn't doing the job when you can just switch to another. 👍

Psychotherapy is going to be a huge help too. Good on you for starting that. 🙂

I believe I will switch. I will discuss it with her. During my therapy session today, I mentioned to my therapist that I haven't felt much better after the initial improvement. It doesn't feel right that the anxiety and fear are washing over me again.
Since I am tapering off my Lexus, it is possible my body is reacting to that, as I have been taking it for nearly seven months, even at a minimal dose. I successfully tapered down to half a pill daily, then moved to three-quarters of that half, but the anxiety persists regardless.
Something is bothering me... I was on Paxil for almost ten years. Then, after six months, everything started returning. I tried to push through, but they put me on Lexus. Now, since I was on Paxil and am currently on Lexus, is this new choice just another SSRI or something else? I have heard that if a second option fails, one should consider an SNRI.
What are your thoughts?

Michael Hill2 said:It doesn't necessarily mean you're going to feel terrible for a long time, or even at all. You might just deal with a few days of it and then move on. If your doctor already prescribed Fever for your anxiety, give it a shot—Fever is actually a really solid SSRI for anxiety.

I'm guessing they gave you some sort of anti-anxiety med to bridge the gap while the antidepressant kicks in? That usually helps smooth things out.

Personally, even when the side effects were hitting me pretty hard, I still dragged myself to work. I kept my head down and stayed productive; I never once took a "mental health day," despite how much my mom loves to joke about my "nervous breakdown." 😁

I agree. I experienced several side effects from using Luxe. They eventually passed, but it seems like either this isn't the right ADHD medication for me, or my dosage is simply too low. I have an appointment with my doctor this Thursday. We will either need to increase the dose or try a different prescription entirely. This current approach just isn't working. 🕺

George Clark19 said:Who actually prescribed you guys all this medication?

What’s the deal with your therapists' takes on it?

Personally, I’m big on Gestalt and integrative stuff—CBT just isn't really my vibe.

The reason I’m even asking is because seeing everyone talk about meds makes me look back at my own experience, and man...

When I think back to being 19 or 20, the way doctors were basically shoving pills down my throat was honestly insane. It was constant—cranking up the dosage, swapping one thing for another. One doctor even tried to put me on antipsychotics... and I wasn't even that far gone.

Literally just one doctor actually had the decency to tell me I shouldn't be on that kind of stuff at my age. Back then, finding actual psychotherapy in my hometown was impossible, even if you had the cash to pay for it.

Anyway, I was dealing with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. I spent a year on Prozac and it did absolutely nothing for me. Eventually, I just said "screw this" and started figuring things out on my own. I guess I just had this stubborn streak where I refused to let those drugs wreck my life.

Later on, I finally got into therapy, which helped me realize I wasn't some "bad" or "crazy" person or whatever.

But looking back at those hospital vibes and the endless cycle of prescriptions... it honestly hurts to see people going through the same thing today.

P.S. Real healing comes from therapy, not just a pill bottle.

Shrink Quote

George Clark19 said:Who actually prescribed you guys all this medication?

What’s the deal with your therapists' takes on it?

Personally, I’m big on Gestalt and integrative stuff—CBT just isn't really my vibe.

The reason I’m even asking is because seeing everyone talk about meds makes me look back at my own experience, and man...

When I think back to being 19 or 20, the way doctors were basically shoving pills down my throat was honestly insane. It was constant—cranking up the dosage, swapping one thing for another. One doctor even tried to put me on antipsychotics... and I wasn't even that far gone.

Literally just one doctor actually had the decency to tell me I shouldn't be on that kind of stuff at my age. Back then, finding actual psychotherapy in my hometown was impossible, even if you had the cash to pay for it.

Anyway, I was dealing with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. I spent a year on Prozac and it did absolutely nothing for me. Eventually, I just said "screw this" and started figuring things out on my own. I guess I just had this stubborn streak where I refused to let those drugs wreck my life.

Later on, I finally got into therapy, which helped me realize I wasn't some "bad" or "crazy" person or whatever.

But looking back at those hospital vibes and the endless cycle of prescriptions... it honestly hurts to see people going through the same thing today.

P.S. Real healing comes from therapy, not just a pill bottle.

It is surprising that no one suggested psychotherapy to me sooner.

George Clark19 said:Hey, I’ve got a question for the group here.
How many of you guys actually pair your meds with psychotherapy? If you do, what kind of therapy are we talking about? And if you aren't doing it—why not? Just curious to see how everyone else is playing it.

AD plus a psychiatrist plus Gestalt therapy.
It's slow progress, but I've only just started, so I'm not expecting miracles right away.🤔

redpilot37 said:Things are looking up for me. I'm on Prozac now and honestly, I wish I hadn't waited so long to stick with therapy. I'm not taking anything else alongside the Prozac. Since I actually managed to get some decent sleep last night, I'm hoping tonight goes the same way.🙂😁

That is great news. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Tomorrow marks my eighth day on 25 mg. I hope I feel as good as you do soon. Until this kicks in and the side effects subside, I still need a bit of help from half a Lexapro pill.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Anyone been on Lariam for the long haul?
My psychiatrist gave me a bit of a scare today... apparently, it can cause hair loss.

I have. For years now. A neurologist prescribed it for me after an abnormal EEG. I haven't lost a single hair. O
So... good luck with the hair, regardless.

Quincy:

Michael Hill2 As specified by: Nausea and a loss of appetite are standard initial side effects for any SSRI antidepressant, including your Zoloft. When I first started taking Paxil, the nausea was intense during that first week. For about two or three weeks after that, I had absolutely no appetite, though I didn't experience any vomiting. It will pass. My appetite has actually increased significantly compared to before, though I do wish the nausea hadn't lasted quite so long. 😁 Don't overthink it. Just eat whatever sounds good to you when you feel ready; the nausea won't last forever. 😉

Thank you so much for your response. It truly means a lot to me, as the nausea is becoming quite overwhelming, and I just want to avoid getting sick. I am going to try my best to push through this, because I don't want these side effects to drive me to quit my medication. Tomorrow will be day five—the halfway point of this week. If the nausea persists, we will just take things one step at a time.