Posts by Michael Hill2

hollowcrane95 said:So, I finally picked up that Calixta supplement today to see if it actually helps with my insomnia, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out for me... I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous now after reading your comments about feeling like total zombies after taking it, so I'm really hoping I don't end up with that same experience.

I'm not sure what dosage your doctor cleared you for, but honestly? Start with the smallest effective dose. For me, that was about 1/8 of a 15 mg tablet. I actually feel better on 1/6, so that's my current sweet spot.

My advice? Take it on a Friday or whenever you have zero responsibilities the next day. The first time I took it, I slept for ten hours straight, then napped for another five hours in chunks throughout the day. I didn't really feel human again until 7 PM. But hey, since I was so chronically sleep-deprived anyway, I wasn't even mad about it. I was just happy to finally shut my eyes for a bit.😍

It’s not quite the "unable to function" thing. I managed to get through my workday and everything; I was just feeling a bit woozy and groggy at first.

Just hang in there for two or three weeks once you start. Right now, I don't feel any morning grogginess at all, and I'm sleeping better than I ever have in my life.🙂

Oh, and yeah—I read about that on some US forums too. I had those side effects during the first month. My dreams were freaking intense. Like, full-on cinematic experiences. Everything was vivid, interesting, total lucid dreaming territory. I actually looked forward to bedtime just to see what movie would be playing in my head that night.

That phase passed, though. Now it's just regular, boring dreams. Blah.😉

casualgardener17 said:Lady, you act like you're perfectly healthy... why on earth are you drinking all that stuff? 🤣

Heh, I’m actually doing great right now, thank God. Never better, really.

I don't even take that much. Between the Adderall and Calixta for sleep, it's not like I'm popping them every single day. If it were, I wouldn't even realize I was on meds :-D

It’s just that over the years, anxiety and some pretty messy thought patterns kind of built up until I hit a point where I had to go get professional help. Luckily, I caught it early.

It’s not just a pill habit, either. I’m in therapy and doing a lot of actual work on myself.

In a weird way, I'm actually glad the insomnia happened. If it hadn't, I probably would have never stepped foot in a psychologist's office or seen a psychiatrist. I would've just kept sweeping my anxiety under the rug until one day I just popped like a kernel of popcorn :-D

hollowcrane95 said:So, I finally picked up that Calixta supplement today to see if it actually helps with my insomnia, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out for me... I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous now after reading your comments about feeling like total zombies after taking it, so I'm really hoping I don't end up with that same experience.

Look, I don't know what dosage your doctor prescribed, but maybe start with the smallest amount that actually works. For me, an 1/8th of a 15 mg pill did the trick, then I moved up to 1/6th and that's where I stay now.

I’d suggest taking it on a Friday or any day when you don't have to clock in the next morning. The first time I took it, I slept for about 10 hours straight, plus another five hours spread out in naps during the day. It didn't hit me until 7 PM. But honestly, since I was so chronically sleep-deprived, I wasn't even mad about it—I just enjoyed finally getting some shut-eye.😍

It’s not like you can't function or anything. I managed to get through my workday and everything; I just felt a little woozy and groggy at first.

Just hang in there for two or three weeks once you start. Right now, I don't feel that morning heaviness at all, and I'm sleeping better than I ever have in my life.🙂

Oh, and yeah, I read about this on some US forums too. I had that side effect for the first month—insane dreams. Like, full-on cinematic experiences. Everything was vivid and interesting, almost like lucid dreaming. I actually looked forward to bedtime just to see what movie would be playing in my head that night.

That phase passed, though. Now it's just regular, boring dreams. Meh.😉

To my fellow sleep-deprived zombies out there, I feel your pain. 🙂

Has anyone here tried Benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

I take it alongside my Ambien. For those who aren't in the loop, when you use Benadryl for insomnia, you stick to a tiny dose—like a quarter of a 25mg pill or even less. At that level, it just hits the histamine receptors without any of that heavy antidepressant side effect.

I’ve been on this routine for two months now, taking about a sixth of a pill, and honestly, I’ve been sleeping like a baby since day one. I’m getting at least 8 hours, sometimes even 9.

The Ambien used to wreck me with middle-of-the-night wakeups; I’d bolt upright at 3 AM and just stare at the ceiling, unable to drift back off. Adding the Benadryl fixed that within five days. Now, I don't wake up until my alarm actually goes off. 🙂

I won't lie, at first I felt pretty zombie-ish during the day. It would linger until about 4 PM—just this weird, groggy, half-drunk feeling where you can't quite shake the fog. But after two or three weeks, my body adjusted. Now I feel great from the second I open my eyes. No more drugged-out feeling, just solid sleep.

My only real fear is the "what if" regarding quitting. I've read threads on American forums where people claim they hit a wall of horrific insomnia once they stopped taking it. But hey, I'm not going to obsess over that right now. If it's working, it's working. 🙂

casualgardener17 said:Michael Hill2... can you send me a link showing that 0.5 mg of Xanax is equivalent to 10 mg of Normabel? I’m still having a hard time believing it—I’ve been doing a bit of Googling and most people seem to think 0.5 is a pretty laughable dose... 😉 though I know 10 mg of Normabel is a total powerhouse... basically the go-to for those extreme situations, right?

Fine, here's an online converter so you can do the math yourself :-D
http://clincalc.com/Benzodiazepine/?example

mistyjackal842 said:Can anyone share their own experience regarding which antidepressant worked best for PMDD? I'm actually going through a period of grieving for my mom right now—it hasn't even been a full year since her sudden passing. I think the stress from losing her triggered this disorder, which I’ve honestly never dealt with before. I was on Lexapro 10 mg for about three weeks and felt a bit better, but I had to stop because of some pretty intense and unusual side effects... specifically frequent urination. From what I've read, almost all antidepressants seem to cause that issue. Out of the ones used for this syndrome, Prozac is the only one where I haven't seen much mention of it affecting urination. Paxil, for instance, seems to have a huge impact according to what I've read. Lexapro—well, I already tried that—but maybe something like Zoloft? It doesn't seem to affect urination as much based on my research, though it might not be the primary choice for this specific syndrome. I'll be asking my doctor about it tomorrow.

What I really want to know is if anyone here has personal experience with an antidepressant for this syndrome that *doesn't* lead to frequent urination. Doctors tell me that this specific side effect is often the reason people have to quit their meds entirely. On top of that, I've been struggling with insomnia since my mom died, and I'm sleeping terribly. I try to avoid sleep aids as much as possible, but if I miss two nights of sleep in a row, I get these massive headaches. Since I'm not working at the moment, I can nap during the day, but once I start a job again, that won't be an option.

Thanks in advance for any answers or for sharing your experiences.

Sent from my iPhone 8 using Reddit

I did a quick search on some American forums, and they mentioned that the FDA has approved Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft for treating this syndrome.

Most women wrote that for this condition, they only take the medication for 14 days of their cycle leading up to their period, rather than every single day of the month.

Also, a lot of people noted that Prozac worked best for them, so definitely talk it over with your doctor. 🙂

Donna Vaughn28 said:My treatment plan just got a shake-up.
About a month ago, my doctor switched things around. I started on Wellbutrin XL and 25mg of Q-pin, but we kept the Mirtazapine at 0.5mg—which I’ve been taking for years now. I used to take the 1mg extended-release version, but lately, I’ve just been adjusting the dose as needed... When I first saw the list of side effects for Q-pin, I actually asked my therapist if this made sense. She just laughed and told me I was on the lowest possible dose you could imagine. Apparently, people usually start much higher, like 600 to 800mg, so the chances of me feeling anything are slim to none. Anyway, the big win is my sleep. It used to be so shallow and brief, but now it’s actually decent. I can even sleep for seven hours straight in the morning. I take my Wellbutrin in the morning per my doctor's orders, and so far, I’m happy with it. I wouldn't say I feel amazing, but those constant depressive dips aren't hitting me quite as hard. The only weird thing is my stomach... it’s been hit-or-miss, either sudden diarrhea or really bad constipation.
The instructions don't mention anything about whether I should take these on an empty stomach, with food, or if it doesn't matter at all. Also, does Q-pin cause dependency? I haven't slept this well in years, and I'd hate to end up addicted...

From what I know, Quetiapine doesn't cause addiction in the sense that you'll need higher doses over time just to get the same effect.

Based on this PDF I'm looking at, I think Two-Face has been taking it for years for insomnia, so maybe try sending her a DM. She'll be able to give you the firsthand scoop. 🙂

casualgardener17 said:Man, how do you know so much about all this chemistry stuff?? Are you studying something related??

Nah, I just went through a massive hypochondriac phase once. Spent about two years basically getting a mini medical degree from Dr. Google.😁

casualgardener17 said:Magnesium isn't a bad idea either... seriously... 200 or 300 mg can help a person feel a bit more relaxed.

Plus, hitting a stationary bike or getting a solid workout in for an hour—it almost feels like a total reset for anxiety.

I'm with you on the magnesium. I take it too, but I don't bother with that cheap magnesium oxide junk you see everywhere in the States; I stick to chelated magnesium because it actually absorbs properly.

It was the only thing that saved me from those brutal headaches when I first started taking my Prozac.🙂

shadowbear9 said:No, I am not joking. That is exactly why I came here to ask instead of looking for a lecture. My doctor prescribed me a very low dose, so I suppose if I'm an hour or two late, the world isn't going to end...
I would appreciate it if someone could actually provide a useful answer.

I wasn't being skeptical; I was just worried about you.

Anyway, look, I know for a fact you shouldn't take an extra dose of Prozac like you mentioned. You have to keep that dosage consistent every single day.

As for the Depakote, I don't know what they prescribed it for or if you're even allowed to take it "as needed."

For those anxiety spikes you described, people usually take something like Ativan or Valium.

🤷

casualgardener17 said:Hey there... first time posting here, so I have a quick question...

What’s the actual difference between Normabel (say, 2 or 5 mg) and 0.5 mg of Xanax? Are we talking about the same level of effect here?

Also, I'm curious... what do you all think the real-world difference in how they feel is?

Up until now, I've just used Normabel here and there to take the edge off when I get anxious, and honestly, it works pretty well for me... I know Xanax is alprazolam and everyone says it's essentially the same thing, but I haven't actually tried it yet—it's just what I have on hand right now.

A 0.5 mg dose of Xanax is roughly equivalent to 10 mg of Normabrel.

They aren't the same. Xanax hits much faster and harder—you'll feel it within 20 minutes—but because of that, it wears off quicker, maybe in 4 to 6 hours depending on stuff like how long you've been taking it or if you're mixing it with anything else.

That rapid onset and quick drop-off is exactly why it has such a high potential for addiction.

Honestly, if you just need something occasionally to calm down and Normabrel does the trick, I wouldn't mess around with Xanax if I were you.😉

Tyler Anderson12 said:I'm glad it worked for you. I imagine that feeling of silence—no more internal monologues or "what if" scenarios—must be extraordinary. 😍

I plan to stick with therapy and hope for the best. I'll check back in with my final results (hopefully positive ones) once enough time has passed. 🙂

Hope you find some peace soon. Honestly, the best way I can describe my current headspace is that I'm basically on an unpaid vacation from my own crazy mind. 😍

shadowbear9 said:When and why exactly are you all taking Zoloft? And when I say why, I mean whether you're on it daily or just reach for it whenever you feel the need. Also, what about Eglonyl?

I am trying to gather some insights because I honestly have no idea which of these two medications actually targets those sudden symptoms I deal with—the complete lack of motivation, stomach pains, nervousness, and that general sense of torment... just that awful feeling. Sometimes I take an extra dose of Zoloft, and other times I go with Eglonyl, but I’m really not sure which one would be more appropriate for easing these specific symptoms...

I really hope you're joking here. You can't just play doctor with an antidepressant and an antipsychotic by dosing yourself whenever you feel like it. You take the exact dose your doctor prescribed, every single day, period.

Don't go doubling up on Zoloft either; you're asking for serotonin syndrome. Do a little Google search.

Seriously, I'm hoping this is just some kind of joke. 😕

Tyler Anderson12 said:Greetings.

I started taking Faverin four days ago to manage my OCD (50 mg at bedtime). Since then, my appetite has vanished, I feel completely disoriented and exhausted, and the frequency and intensity of my obsessive thoughts have actually spiked. On top of that, my mood feels significantly lower.
To put it bluntly, things have taken a turn for the worse. 😢

Has anyone here dealt with Faverin before? Is this kind of volatility typical during the initial weeks, and did you push through the side effects or stop?

🤷

I’ve been on it for three and a half months now for anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I actually detailed my whole experience a few pages back if you want to give that a read.😉

I also had zero appetite for a good two or three weeks, and the obsessive thoughts were absolutely killing me. Honestly, things felt twice as bad when I first started taking Faverin compared to how they were before.

Just try to hang in there for about a month while your body gets used to it; eventually, everything should level out.

The lack of appetite usually clears up after two or three weeks. If Faverin works for you the way it did for me, food will start tasting incredible again—it’ll be like I haven't eaten in 33 years. :-D

Someone mentioned earlier that it helps to use an anxiolytic like Xanax or something similar in the beginning, just to take the edge off those intrusive thoughts until the Faverin actually kicks in.

In my opinion, Faverin is best suited for severe anxiety and obsessive thoughts because it has a slight sedative effect. My anxiety was so high that I didn't even notice the sedation, not even the fatigue.

For depression specifically, I don't think it performs quite as well since it acts more like a stabilizer compared to some other SSRIs.

If OCD is your main issue, Faverin should help. Just be patient.

After all these years, I finally have some peace and quiet in my head. No more internal dialogues, no constant overanalyzing... I honestly feel like I'm on vacation from myself.🙂

Lucky darling🙂

James Fowler3 said:So, I had my follow-up appointment with my neuropsychiatrist yesterday, and he decided to adjust my regimen... he prescribed Fluoxetine, suggesting I take half a dose for the first seven days before moving up to a full pill, all while keeping me on > at 2x0.5mg. I’ve actually been taking the > for about 25 days now based on his previous recommendation of 2x0.25mg, but honestly, the fear of becoming dependent on it is absolutely paralyzing... I feel this overwhelming sense of guilt every single time I swallow one.
Has anyone here ever tried >? I’m curious about what your experiences have been like, specifically regarding side effects... And what are your thoughts on the whole dependency issue with >? My next check-up isn't for another month, but the anxiety of taking anything at all is already starting to weigh on me. 🙂

On top of all that, he swapped my medication for vertigo from Ural to Dramamine Forte, and after reading through the list of potential side effects, I’m thinking I might just be better off staying dizzy... 🤷

I can't speak to Fluoxetine, but I was on Xanax at 2 x 0.5 for the first three weeks while my antidepressant was still settling in. Once things got a little shaky, I started splitting the 0.5 pills in half and took 0.25 once a night for the following month.

Long story short, I was on Xanax for about two months total, and look at me—alive and well. I didn't get hooked. The truth is, the urge to take it just vanished once my antidepressant actually started doing its job. 😉

In the last month, I’ve only taken 0.25mg of Xanax exactly once, and that was because my husband was snoring so loudly I thought the house might collapse. 😍

Don't beat yourself up over how much Xanax you're taking. Take what you need to get through it. That craving will fade, and then you'll just stop taking it naturally. 🙂

Gregory Jackson3 said:What should one do when anxiety—particularly the intense, overwhelming kind—persists for more than six weeks?
Does one typically look toward adjusting the medication dosage, or perhaps switching to a different prescription entirely?

There are antidepressants that double as anxiolytics for that—I take Farxiga myself. 🙂

They don't cause addiction in the sense that you need to keep cranking up the dose over time. You just stick to the same amount.

Gregory Jackson3 said:Does anyone happen to know the maximum daily dosage for Normabel 5mg, and more importantly, how long one can take it before the risk of dependency becomes a concern?

I hit my absolute rock bottom once and was taking 0.5mg of Xanax twice a day—which, according to some online calculator, is roughly the same as 20mg of Normabel.

The general rule for any benzo is basically "don't touch this daily for more than six weeks." I stayed right on that line with my Xanax, and luckily, when I finally quit, I didn't deal with any major withdrawal symptoms.😉

Michael Lewis5 said:thanks 🙂 I prefer the as-needed Xanax too... at least I can actually relax here and there during the day. Walks help a lot, but this fatigue over the last few days has just paralyzed me. And yeah, the SR stuff scares me, but I didn't know what it was when she gave it to me. My last big anxiety/depression episode was 11 years ago, back when I just took Paxil as needed and did psychotherapy. I stopped taking Paxil completely after a month... I carried it around with me all the time, sure, but I wasn't actually popping them... anyway, seeing a therapist tomorrow to work on this anxiety, and hopefully this AD helps move the needle a bit...

It definitely will. 🙂

I'm glad you're starting therapy. For me, combining psychotherapy + AD + Xanax at the start turned out to be the winning formula. 🙂

Good luck. 🙂

Michael Lewis5 said:Newbie here again 😁

I just can't figure out how to handle this Misar SR. My doctor said 1-2 times a day as needed. Just to be clear, I don't get full-blown panic attacks, but there's this constant anxiety hanging over me that’s actually gotten worse since I started the Zoloft. It’s my 6th day on therapy—my first full day of Zoloft. Yesterday I took half a Misar around noon and it took forever to kick in... I felt okay by evening, but then I woke up at 3 AM with massive anxiety. I was too scared to take anything else so I just suffered through the rest of the night😢 This morning I took it—again, took a while to work and now the anxiety is creeping back in. Honestly, even if I'm not physically exhausted like those first few days, mentally I'm wiped 😢 it's just this anxiety, this pit in my stomach that tightens everything up... it sucks. Anyone got advice? I feel like that one-off dose of Xanax (0.25) worked way better
I've been doing some breathing exercises, though I skipped my walk yesterday—which usually helps a bit—and just sat out on the patio instead...

Misar SR is designed for a gradual release. Your doctor probably prescribed it because you mentioned that constant anxiety, so the SR should theoretically keep you covered all day long.

Standard Xanax, on the other hand, hits you instantly—like, within 20 minutes. But the effects wear off much faster; I think I read they only last about 4 to 5 hours. That’s probably why you feel better with Xanax; it starts working fast compared to Misar SR.

Personally, if I were in your shoes, I'd stick to the regular Xanax as needed. Maybe one in the morning, one before bed, and maybe one in between if the anxiety gets really unbearable.

I don't have personal experience with the SR versions, but I've read plenty about them, and honestly, those slow-release benzos freak me out. Because they maintain a steady concentration in your system all day, you're essentially under their influence constantly, which makes the potential for addiction way higher than with regular Xanax.

Maybe someone who has actually used the SR stuff can correct me, but that's just what I've read on American forums. 😉

James Fowler3 said:I find myself once again contemplating the sheer absurdity of our current discourse... It seems we have drifted quite far from the initial point of inquiry, though perhaps that was inevitable given the chaotic nature of this forum. I suppose one could argue that clarity is a luxury we can no longer afford in such an environment...

Before I was ever prescribed Xanax, I used to manage by just taking a little bit of Apaurin—maybe 2mg here and there, strictly on an as-needed basis... one day I'd take it, then skip two days, just keeping things steady. But then my psychiatrist decided to overhaul everything, prescribing me both Eglonyl and Xanax to tackle these panic attacks, only to immediately head off on vacation... which is just lovely, isn't it? To be left with this new regimen while he's away. Since starting the Eglonyl, I've actually experienced some lactation, which was quite unexpected, and he told me over the phone—of course, via telephone, because why meet in person?—that I should stop taking that one immediately, though I am supposed to continue with the Xanax. Honestly, I'm looking at the Xanax and seeing very little actual relief, so it makes me wonder why I'm even bothering with the side effects... but what can you do when your doctor is halfway across the country on holiday... 🙂
I find myself gripped by a certain dread regarding the AD... it haunts me like a phantom, particularly when it comes to the side effects, though I am under no illusions that my doctor will simply hand over a prescription once I show up for my follow-up appointment...

If only these dizzy spells would finally subside... then perhaps, just perhaps, the anxiety might follow suit. It feels as though they are inextricably linked, two sides of the same restless coin, constantly feeding into one another...

I was scared of antidepressants too. I remember staring at that first pill like it was a live grenade; it took me ten minutes just to swallow it. Then I sat there like a total idiot for half an hour waiting to see what would happen. I don't even know what I expected—maybe a unicorn horn to sprout from my forehead or something. 😁

Side effects aren't a guarantee. Even if you do get them, you can pretty much count on them being temporary. Once they pass, life is actually great.

If I didn't have to take my antidepressant every night, I probably wouldn't even realize I was on it. No side effects, just a calm, happy head. 🙂