Posts by Daniel Gomez10

The main ingredient is just caffeine, so you'll save some cash if you just stick to drinking more coffee 😁

p.s. Honestly, I doubt this thread is going to stay serious for long, sorry! 😁

Lisa Ramos74 said:I'm totally with you.
I don't think I'll ever get into racing like you and a few of my girlfriends, but honestly, running, swimming, yoga—whatever works—is pure magic. It does wonders for your figure, your health, and especially your mood.

👍
I've actually cut back on running big time because runner's shin splints have been killing me. 🙄
Now I've actually stopped altogether since I started doing Insanity! 🙂

Honestly, home workouts are such a lifesaver for young moms. You can't really use excuses like I just don't have the time, it's not convenient and all that.
There's so much out there—Insanity, Focus, P90X, Zumba, Jillian Michaels...
Plus, there are tons of daily HIIT sessions on YouTube. Those 10-minute workouts are super easy to squeeze into a busy schedule.
One of my coworkers has a little one who isn't even a year and a half old yet, and she was working out through almost her entire postpartum period and still keeps at it today.

rowdypanther12 said:btw, can I use "during" instead of "throughout" in the title? Something about it just feels off to me.😁

🤣
We definitely don't want this thread causing any eye strain, so consider that fixed! 😬

Reading through all of you, I’ve been thinking back on my own pregnancies and life afterward, and honestly, I don't really remember any major struggles.
The only thing I recall was some hip pain while sleeping toward the end of my pregnancy.

Also, I've actually been dealing with a chronic condition for a decade now (Crohn), but pregnancy and breastfeeding didn't make it worse at all. In fact, I didn't need any medication the entire time I was nursing.
To be fair, once I finished breastfeeding and went in for checkups, things were a little rougher and I had to start meds again, but then everything settled back to normal, just like before the pregnancy.

As for just feeling better overall—mentally and physically—I highly recommend staying active.👍
I started working out regularly and sticking to a routine about two years ago, and I'm still going strong. No plans to stop anytime soon!🙂

@ironbadger9
I really hope what you're going through is just temporary, but please make sure to check in with your doctor.
Fingers crossed everything turns out fine!🙂

fadedbear92 said:😂😂😂sorry, my mistake
How much should you take?
The standard starting dose is usually between 15 and 30 mg daily. Your doctor might suggest bumping that up after a few days to find your "sweet spot"—anywhere from 15 to 45 mg per day. Generally, the dose stays pretty consistent regardless of age. That said, if you're an older patient or dealing with kidney or liver issues, your doctor will likely tailor the amount specifically for you.

Anyway, I found this link

Nothing out of the ordinary for this thread lately 😁

restlesstrucker15 said:I just wanted to drop a quick word of warning: stay far away from Ambien. 🙂
Earlier today, my anesthesiologist mentioned he was going to give me something through the IV to help me relax. When I asked for clarification, he told me it was a narcotic combined with a bit of Ambien.
I told him that I had actually been taking it for sleep for quite a while, and he just immediately started shaking his head at me. It certainly did the job of relaxing me, though. 🙂
The point is, if you ever find yourself needing surgery, please, do not under any circumstances use Ambien for longer than a couple of weeks.

Skickas FR

When I got Ambien through an IV before a quick procedure once, I was out in like 2 seconds 😁

If you're talking about Lexapro, that's on you, but I was actually referring to my doses of Calixto.

fadedbear92 said:Hold on—did your GP actually prescribe an antidepressant and set the dosage? You've got to be kidding me.😲

Your primary care doctor can prescribe antidepressants all on their own.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:There isn't some magical, exact line where things start to climb or drop off, you know?
The doctor meant well, really—trying to make sure you weren't a total wreck during the day. But honestly, it looks like this Effexor XR just isn't clicking with your system.
You can try to play games with the timing and move it around all you want, but...

If you ask me—and hey, I'm nobody—it's just too high a dose!
I am genuinely curious to see what they decide to change...☕

I realized after reading this that a 50 mg dose of Calixte isn't exactly nothing... I'm on 45 mg myself, and even then, my doctor thought I was being dramatic about it.

The standard max dose is usually 45mg, but doctors can definitely go higher if they need to.
I've heard that in some parts of Europe, they actually go up to 90mg a day.

restlesstiger49 said:How on earth is that supposed to be "fun"? I’ve been on Prozac for four weeks now and haven't felt a single thing. Then, I happen to miss my dose this afternoon—well, I forgot to take it last night—and suddenly I'm dealing with nausea and this weird ringing in my head... What kind of joke is that?

Your dose might be too low.

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

There are a few options out there. Just make sure to tell your psychiatrist if side effects are bothering you.

restlesstrucker15 said:I see, you're thinking in terms of work capacity. However, I would hope a general practitioner wouldn't specifically list neurotic disorders.

I agree with you; a specialist is a specialist. My doctor mentioned she had received instructions from Medicare, so I assumed she was being vague, but after reaching out to them directly, they confirmed her account. I even contacted the Patient Advocate Foundation, and unfortunately, they confirmed it as well.
Fortunately, most doctors do write things down. Furthermore, I know that nurses don't enter private practice findings into the company system; they tell me every time, "Show those results to your doctor—not just the psychiatrist—because I can't log this." I have no idea what the doctor does with that information afterward, but they ask for a copy to file in the physical folder. That said, since the software includes a directory of all physicians, they probably just enter the doctor's credentials without revealing their specific practice location. At least, that is my assumption.

Sent fr

It's basically that confirmation saying, "I confirm this patient under my care has or hasn't been diagnosed with chronic conditions."
It feels like it's mostly up to the doctor's discretion how much detail they decide to include.

As for the Medicare regulations regarding private practitioners, all I can say is 🙂
I'll have to look into that a bit more.

Lisa Myers said:Look, I get it. You can definitely keep your private psychotherapy sessions "under wraps." But if you’re taking psychiatric medication, your primary care doctor really needs to be in the loop. If they aren't, it could actually be dangerous—think about potential drug interactions and all that. Not to mention, if you ever end up in the ER because of high blood pressure or something else, they have to know what you're on. Or if you end up being hospitalized... the second a major institution like the Mayo Clinic or a local hospital logs it, you're officially "on the record." Sure, you can keep it a secret forever, but you have to ask yourself what the cost of that secrecy really is.

signature 👍

mistyjackal842 said:I was doing some digging online after dealing with what I honestly feel are some pretty rough side effects from Lexapro, and I came across this claim that the drug actually shares certain characteristics with ecstasy in how it works on the brain. Someone wrote a whole comparison between the two. I have to say, I was genuinely taken aback—and a little uncomfortable—when I read that. Since Lexapro is just escitalopram, I don't really see how that comparison is supposed to be helpful, though I did read somewhere that ecstasy was originally studied for medical purposes before they banned it once they realized it wasn't actually providing any real benefit.

Sent from my iPhone 13 using Reddit

You can find just about anything on the internet.
Escitalopram and ecstasy don't work the same way.

restlesstrucker15 said:I made sure to look into this thoroughly. Generally speaking, a primary care doctor isn't strictly required to agree with a specialist's findings, though in practice, that disagreement is quite rare.
Under Medicare regulations, a doctor technically shouldn't be prescribing medications recommended solely by a private specialist, yet most doctors do it anyway, treating it as part of their standard service. They will handle anything that doesn't have a strict clinical guideline attached—essentially following the specialist's lead. Most psychotropic drugs don't fall under those rigid guidelines. However, they absolutely cannot prescribe a medication used for a specific condition if Medicare only recognizes one particular diagnosis for that drug, which might not match yours.
My doctor informed me that no one can access my medical records except for other physicians, unless there is a court order involved. As for partners, children, or parents, I'm not entirely certain about the legal specifics there. But employers and insurance companies? There is no way they get access.

Sent from my iPhone 13

Is that actually in the handbook?
A specialist is still a doctor, whether they work privately or at a Medicare facility, and I don't think the medical board makes any distinction between them, at least not from what I've heard.

Regarding accessing medical records, that part is true, but employers often ask candidates for a medical clearance from the doctor that lists whatever conditions the candidate is being treated for.

Michelle Kelly4 said:I can't believe they don't even carry 100mg Zoloft here in the States

🤷

Benjamin Martin65 said:It feels a bit strange to me how everyone seems to claim that, because I’ve actually been on Fevarin for about a year and a half now, and I don't experience any sedative effects at all; in fact, my sleep was perfectly fine from the moment I started taking it. 🤷

That seems to be the case for most people, but it doesn't apply to everyone.
Plus, it’s great for sleep since it helps with melatonin production. It really helped me get through those restless nights last week.

fadedbear92 said:"Quote:"

I’ve had a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to finding that "wind in my sails" feeling—different meds have hit differently for me at different stages. Zoloft gave me a boost, then I tried Fevarin and Prozac... now I'm on Edronax (an SNRI) to help get those norepinephrine levels up.
I've got it. Here. There are several different types of ads out there—it really depends on what you're trying to achieve! tu

I haven't heard a single word about any potential raises—not even a whisper. My therapist actually said: Let's give the 50mg dose a shot first—we'll just see how it goes from there.I was supposed to have my session about ten days ago—maybe we could have split the dose then—but I just got word that he’s unavailable and heading out on vacation, so I'm told to check back in September. Honestly, I really don't want to mess around with my dosage on my own. I'll try to figure out some way to get a check-up sooner.

Is anyone actually switching to it, or should I just go find something else entirely?

Edronax is just an NRIs.

restlesstiger49 said:In principle, yes—it should spark the drive to actually make something of my day. I want to wake up feeling like there's a reason to get moving. For me, the main thing is getting both my serotonin and dopamine levels back up.

I don't know, the very term "side effect" carries such a negative weight. Personally, I really like my brain, and if I'm going to have to mess with it using chemicals, I’d much rather use them for their intended purpose.

No, nothing was mentioned about increasing the dose. My therapist just said, "Let's try 50mg and see how it goes". I was supposed to have a session in a week and a half—maybe we would have adjusted the dosage then—but I was told he’s unavailable and taking his vacation, so I should check back in September. I am absolutely not going to play chemist with my meds on my own. I'll try to find another provider for a check-up.

True, because of that sedative effect, I was actually advised to take it at night.

Don't go playing chemist on your own.

restlesstiger49 said:

I haven't seen any posts from tihonsee lately. As requested:
When it comes to Q-pin, a 25mg dose is honestly tiny. At that level, the medication acts quite selectively on the H1 receptors, which means its primary effect is basically just knocking you out.
At that specific dosage, it's typically prescribed to help with insomnia. I'm assuming that’s exactly why your doctor put you on it.
Let’s be clear: not all antipsychotics are created equal.

But let’s be clear: psychotherapy is really the backbone of the whole treatment plan.

I just got handed a prescription for Q-pin with instructions to take it in the morning, so I’m highly skeptical about using it for insomnia. Look, I realize not all antipsychotics act the same way, but I’ve had enough bad experiences with these types of drugs that I'm really hesitant to just keep swallowing them. It’s honestly tragic how people are prescribed medications only to have their side effects "treated" by even more medication. I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and when I was dealing with insomnia previously, I was given Fevarin—so why on earth am I being prescribed an antipsychotic now? I’m definitely going to bring this up at my next session.

tihonsee Asks:
You can always request a second opinion from another doctor within the same medical group.

That’s actually a great idea. Since I can't schedule an appointment with my psychiatrist until September, I was wondering if it's possible to just check in with another doctor at the same clinic. I've been on 50mg of Fevarin for three weeks now, and if we decide I need to bump up the dosage, could I just have a quick follow-up with one of their associates instead of waiting? Just a brief consultation to see where things stand.

Okay, then it's definitely not for sleep issues.😁

Why is it a bad thing to use a side effect for a good purpose?
Well, you were prescribed Faverin for that exact reason—it's an antidepressant with sedative effects, so it kills two birds with one stone.
Though, you could argue whether that's really a side effect or just how the medicine works.

By the way, psychiatric drug classifications have become totally inappropriate.
For instance, antipsychotics don't just work on psychosis; they also help with mood and anxiety.
Even Quetiapine is used off-label for things like severe depressive symptoms.

It depends on the clinic, but you should be able to go in for an emergency follow-up with someone else.
Are you sure they didn't tell you to take 50mg for the first week and then move up to 100mg?
That's pretty standard when starting Faverin.

fadedbear92 said:@ restlesstiger49
I take 100 mg of Q-pin to help me sleep. Just a heads up—Fevarin is an antidepressant, not a sleeping pill. A 50 mg dose is really just the bare minimum starting point; it’s practically nothing, so you'll likely need to bump it up to 100 mg by increasing it by 1/4 every three or four days.

Faverin is an antidepressant that acts sedatively, similar to Mirtazapine or Trazodone, which is why it's given for depression paired with insomnia.

restlesstiger49 said:I've been on it for three weeks now. I take it at night specifically because I struggle with falling asleep, though honestly, I don't even feel like it's sedating me.

I didn't ask. I realized too late, once I had already picked up the prescription, what specific type it was—and frankly, I was too hesitant to even swallow it because of some pretty bad past experiences dealing with psychotic episodes. The dose is 25mg. As for the Fevarin, I'm hoping for some kind of improvement, though given my F60.3 diagnosis, I suspect there isn't a single medication out there that's actually going to improve a patient's quality of life, if you ask me.

In the US healthcare system, doctors usually prescribe meds to target specific symptoms.
So, if you're dealing with anxiety or depression, the goal is to see results from an antidepressant.
If Fevarin doesn't kick in right away, maybe something else will—everyone reacts differently to medication.
As for the Seroquel, 25mg is a tiny dose. At that level, it mostly hits the H1 receptors, which basically just makes you sleepy.
It’s typically used for insomnia, which is probably why you were prescribed it.
Plus, not all antipsychotics work the same way.

But at the end of the day, talk therapy is the real heavy lifter here.

restlesstiger49 said:I wasn't given any heads-up. Honestly, I think Michael Hill2 was right when he suggested that doctors prescribe Q-pin just to keep patients from hanging themselves from the rafters while they're off on vacation. My therapist actually took his leave and vanished. They told me to check back in this September, which is a total joke. You get handed these meds and nobody even bothers to ask if they’re actually working for you. They just head out for their summer break and leave you to suffer through it all alone.

fadedbear92 Asks:
It really all comes down to whatever dosage my doctor decides to prescribe.
I take my Q-pin three times a day every morning to help manage my anxiety. 25 mg.
How much did they prescribe you? Are you actually taking it, and what’s the dosage? I’m on Edronax myself, which keeps me wide awake—honestly, that's exactly what I need it for.

I’m taking a little bit of Fevarin right now, though honestly, I have no clue if it's actually doing anything for me. It’s just been added to the long list of medications I’ve tried that turned out to be a total wash.

Did you ask him?

You could always request a second opinion at the same clinic, or just go see someone at a completely different hospital.

What dose of Q-pin are you on exactly?

With Fevarin, you usually won't feel much for about 3-4 weeks if it's for depression, and maybe even 5-6 weeks if it's for anxiety.

restlesstiger49 said:Well, those "other uses" actually interest me. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being handed nothing but heavy sedatives just so my therapist can have some peace and quiet. I've dealt with antipsychotics before, and let me tell you, one single pill used to leave me feeling absolutely trashed for two whole days. Now I see that Q-pin is meant for sleep, yet they're handing it to me for a morning shift? It feels like someone is playing games here...

Dealing with severe anxiety, deep depression, heavy insomnia, PTSD, or addiction issues can be really tough. Just hanging in there.

What did they tell you? Why the Q-pin?
If that medication isn't sitting right with you, just make sure to mention it at your next checkup.

Mark Nelson said:But look, when you're starving, your body has to burn through its own reserves, which usually means losing weight. Could Seroquel mess that up too? 😢

I have a feeling it might work by hitting the metabolism through those M3 receptors.
Honestly, there’s still so much we don't know about this stuff. Plus, everyone reacts to medication so differently, so you really can't say anything for certain.
At the end of the day, you just can't beat eating clean and getting some exercise in. It always helps. 🙂

restlesstiger49 said:I’m honestly a bit stumped—why on earth would I be prescribed Seroquel if I don't have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder? Any thoughts or ideas?

It's just because doctors often use that med off-label for other things too.

Mark Nelson said:Maybe this is a pretty dumb question, but can you offset all that junk by sticking to a strict diet?

Thanks for the deep dive. 🙂

Hmm, honestly, I'd say that's a tough one.
It’s probably more realistic to aim for keeping your current weight steady or at least preventing any big jumps.

But hey, nothing is impossible—how a medication interacts with your body is super personal.

Best, 🙂

Mark Nelson said:So, is that because you end up eating way more than usual, or does the medication itself just cause weight gain on its own? I guess it’s hard to tell which one it is.

Regarding the spike in testosterone levels as a side effect of taking Seroquel, it's thought to be tied to how the drug works:
- by blocking histamine H1 receptors in the brain
- by blocking muscarinic M3 receptors in the pancreas, which can throw off insulin regulation (meaning besides hormone shifts, you could also see issues like high cholesterol or diabetes)

Well, it doesn't explicitly say if it's more about the increased appetite or the metabolic shift, but I'd bet it's a bit of both.

Frank King45 said:Hi everyone,
I started taking Effexor a week ago (37.5 mg—one in the morning and one in the afternoon). I haven't dealt with any side effects so far, except for the fact that I wake up at 7:00 AM every single morning, regardless of when I actually fall asleep. I feel exhausted, yet I just can't drift back off. Has anyone else gone through this? Is this something that eventually settles down? 🙂
Oh, and I haven't noticed any positive changes yet. Tomorrow, I'll be moving up to two tablets in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Positive results usually show up after about three weeks on it.
Side effects should clear up within a week or two.

fadedbear92 said:Effexor is just way too stimulating for me—it kept me wired all the time—so we ended up discontinuing it altogether.
Have you been dealing with this drowsiness for a while, or did it only start once you began taking Effexor?
When you're increasing the dose, you really ought to take it slow—maybe just a quarter tablet every three or four days. It's much better than jumping straight in all at once; that way, your body can actually adjust without feeling the shock.

You don't necessarily need to take such tiny steps; theoretically, you could increase it every 4 days up to 75mg (which is the max).
Also, there's Effexor XR 75mg, where you can just start with one pill a day instead of splitting up the 37.5mg tablets.

Mark Nelson said:Has anyone here actually managed to lose weight while on Olanzapine?

If you did, please just tell me how you pulled it off 🙂
It’s just not happening for me, and I'm trying to figure out why. I'd really appreciate some insight so I can at least confirm if Olanzapine is the culprit or if it's something else entirely. Just a rough idea would help. 🙂

Olanzapine tends to increase weight.

Really interesting read 👍

Susan James said:Well, by the time they hit 8.5, they're already in second grade.
Plus, quite a few schools around JPMorgan Chase don't even offer after-school programs after first grade. So even if they were available, based on how this is being described, I wouldn't even sign my kid up for one until second grade (and honestly, that one year makes a huge difference).

And looking at it from the perspective of someone getting the chance to play in preschool versus spending 8 hours stuck in an elementary school;🤷 I much prefer the first option.

Just a side note: I'm sure preschools vary wildly in terms of what they offer and how engaging they are. Some kids just never "click" with preschool and find it much easier when they finally start formal school. Also, some after-school programs are wonderful, nurturing environments, while others are basically just an extension of the classroom where they have to grind through work—except maybe for Spanish homework, since the supervisor probably doesn't know it (and let's face it, most parents wouldn't either, so I'm not sure how much help a kid would actually get).

Personally, I’d send my kids to school earlier rather than dragging it out, especially if they hate preschool or look like they never will enjoy it.

But hey, my oldest is already 9 months away from being ready, so he'll head to school at 7.
My little one will probably start at 6.5, since that's right around that cutoff age.