172 posts shown.
James Fowler3 said:A quick question 🙂
First, I should mention that I’ve already consulted with two different doctors who gave me the green light, but I still wanted to see if anyone here has some actual lived experience...
Basically, I’ve been taking Xanax 2x0.25 for about 20 days now, and since it just isn't sitting right with me, I’m looking to switch over to Lexapro. My doctors suggested the transition could be immediate because I haven't developed a dependency yet, and they even said it was fine to take Xanax in the morning and Lexapro in the evening. I actually tried that yesterday—taking my Xanax in the AM and then just half of a 1.5mg Lexapro dose around 7:00 PM—and I felt perfectly fine... so I figured I would just make the full switch to Lexapro today. However, despite feeling mentally steady yesterday and the day before, I woke up this morning feeling absolutely terrible... dizzy, heart racing, and just shaking all over. It made me wonder if this might be withdrawal from the Xanax? I ended up taking it amidst all that chaos, and now I'm debating whether I should stick to the Lexapro tonight and perhaps taper off more gradually over a few days, or if it truly is safe to just make the jump all at once?
You can switch immediately. Just keep in mind that both of these fall under the benzodiazepine category, which means they have a real potential for dependency if you use them long-term. Honestly, it's smarter to treat anxiety with a targeted antidepressant that has anti-anxiety effects.
Since you’ve already been on Xanax twice a day for 20 days, try not to stay on the Lexapro for more than three weeks. My therapist mentioned that by the six-week mark, you start developing a dependency that triggers withdrawal symptoms once you stop.
I was on Xanax for roughly that long myself, and I didn't have any issues when I stopped. 😉
quietwalker5 said:Did you experience any tremors as a side effect when you first started taking it?
I totally blanked on mentioning this in my last post a few pages back, but yeah, I definitely had the shakes when I first started on Fevarin. It cleared up after about three weeks to a month.😉
Jamie Martin37 said:Maybe it wasn't even a full-blown panic attack or whatever, but man, it was enough to totally throw me off my game. I'm completely rattled. 😢 Honestly, in those moments, I legit thought I was losing my mind. Like, I actually wondered if there was something seriously wrong with my brain or if I was just going totally nuts... I don't even know.
Man, things have been absolutely wild lately. Life’s been moving at a million miles an hour and I haven't given myself even a second to just breathe. I've been working a ton leading up to summer—basically every single day from 8 to 4—and then once I get home, I'm immediately jumping back into chores. Especially this past week... it's been non-stop. To make matters worse, some jerk totally snapped at me recently, which honestly just left me feeling like absolute garbage. I ended up heading into work the next day feeling totally miserable because, let's be real, I'm sensitive as hell and everything just gets under my skin. I've definitely been dealing with a lot of anxious thoughts, too. They don't mess with me as much as they used to since I started the antidepressants (which are seriously a lifesaver), but I still feel this massive wave of insecurity. It's scary. Sometimes I feel like I'm actually afraid of myself. On the outside, I'll act all tough and stand my ground, but on the inside? I'm just falling apart. I feel so pathetic. I keep worrying that I have some horrible disorder and that I'm gonna snap soon and turn into a total psycho or someone just plain mean. I don't know. It's a lot.
Ugh, it’s honestly driving me crazy. I just feel so... empty? Like, I can't even wrap my head around feeling anything real for my family or my boyfriend. It’s like there's just nothing there. I don't know if it's the Adderall or maybe just low iron and blood pressure because I was reading online that those could be symptoms... And yeah, I actually just got some blood work back and it turns out I am super low on iron.
So, about therapy... I’ve been seeing this amazing woman over in downtown Chicago, and she told me I can basically call her whenever I need to vent. Honestly, most of our sessions have just been me rambling about how I've been handling everything lately and just processing all my feelings. She’s been great at helping me dig into why my anxiety is such a mess, but we haven't really jumped into the heavy lifting yet—like, you know, actually tackling the intrusive thoughts and killing off the anxiety for good. Once finals are finally out of the way, I’m definitely planning to try some CBT. My psychologist mentioned there’s this legendary professor over at Yale who specializes in it, so I might look into that!
The worst part is that I end up totally blaming my doctor. Like, I feel like they’ve done more damage than actual help, and then I just lose all faith in the whole process. I’m planning on scheduling an appointment with my psychiatrist soon anyway—she told me to check back in around September. Honestly, it feels like such a massive mountain to climb before I can finally feel like my old self again... or even a new version of me, haha. I’ve just let so much insecurity sink into my brain that I second-guess every single thought. I’m constantly spiraling, wondering if my reaction is actually normal or if I'm just completely losing it.
That's great, I'm really glad you're doing therapy and starting CBT. I actually have a recommendation for a private therapist who literally saved me. If you're interested, just shoot me a DM. 😉
CBT is going to be huge for your anxiety and the panic attacks. You'll learn how to handle things so they don't wreck your equilibrium. There were days when a situation would knock me so far out of whack that I'd stare at my bottle wondering if I should just take a Xanax, but I sucked it up and remembered the breathing exercise from CBT instead. It calmed me down so much that I didn't end up needing the Xanax. I'm seriously proud of myself. 🙂
Hey, try this exercise next time a panic attack or intrusive thoughts hit: close your eyes and just focus on external sounds. Like, listen to a car driving by, or people talking nearby. Just close your eyes and listen. When the intrusive thought tries to creep back in, shut it down and redirect your focus back to what you're hearing. It's a proven way to break the cycle of intrusive thoughts. 🙂
Don't go thinking your ADHD is doing you any favors here. You even admitted yourself that you tend to forget those anxious thoughts pretty fast 😉
Look, you don't have a tumor, you aren't sick, and you aren't dying. It’s just anxiety. Just try to remember what your therapist told you about how anxiety actually works and how it shows up 🙂
Jamie Martin37 said:Guys, please, I seriously need help... I don't know what to do. Is it actually possible to have a panic attack even though I've been on my meds for two months now? Man, this has never happened to me before, I'm totally lost. First, my stomach was acting up—I already deal with issues there—but then my hands started doing this awful tremor, like an electric current running through them. And then last night, my head just started pounding like it was going to explode... it felt so empty, you know? I'm feeling so hopeless right now. It's true I've been a little anxious lately, but I honestly thought things couldn't get worse if I was staying on my prescription. Plus, my libido is basically non-existent, my blood pressure is low, and my circulation feels off. I don't know if it's all connected or what. This time I'm genuinely terrified that I've got some incurable disease. Why is this happening to me? 😢(( I'm just waiting for the day I actually lose my mind ://
Oh, and should I take some Misar 0.25? Will that just make me completely sedated? I haven't taken it once since I started therapy because I just tried to tough it out, but if we're talking about a full-on panic attack, I'd take it just so I don't feel too drowsy... Please help, I really don't know what to do, I'm scared I can't handle this 😢(
Based on those symptoms you described, I don't think you had a full-blown panic attack. From my experience, a real panic attack is nasty—it feels like you're dying, losing your mind, or losing control. Honestly, sounds more like your anxiety just spiked a bit.
Have you seen your psychiatrist recently? You really should go so they can evaluate what's actually going on.
Unfortunately, antidepressants aren't a magic wand that just deletes anxiety or depression. They're just the foundation that gets you to a functional state so you can actually do the work through psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, etc. In my opinion, you can't really have one without the others.
As for the Misar 0.25, go ahead and take it when the anxiety hits hard. You'll be fine. For me, it works great to calm me down and shut up all that internal dialogue and overthinking about whatever problem is bothering me.
Either way, I'd suggest checking in with your doctor and giving psychotherapy some thought.
Did anything happen recently in your life that you think might have triggered these stronger anxiety symptoms?
Hang in there. 🙂
Michael Lewis5 said:Hey everyone!
It's day 3 on Zoloft (half of a 50 mg pill) — my first time ever dealing with depression. I also popped a tiny dose of Xanax (0.25) this morning because I woke up feeling super anxious. Now I'm just exhausted... like, I could sleep forever, but then the anxiety starts creeping back in again this afternoon 😢
Is this kind of side effect normal?
I've been diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression
My psychiatrist wants to see me for a follow-up on September 3rd.
I'm basically a total wreck right now 😢
Anyone got any advice?
Just power through the first month. When the anxiety gets unbearable, take some Xanax—just don't overdo it—and look up some progressive muscle relaxation or breathing exercises online. 🙂
It's always like this at the start. Your brain is just trying to adjust to a new chemical balance. It gets better. For all of us, the beginning was a total disaster. Check out my old post from a few pages back where I went into detail about my own initial side effects. 😉
Hang in there. 🙂
Thanks a million 🙂
Just keeping it positive and hoping things look up soon 🙂
Hey everyone,
Reading through all your experiences really helped me when I first started on antidepressants, so now I figured it’s my turn to drop a review of my experience with Faverin after three months on it. Hopefully, this helps someone out. 🙂
So, basically, I went to see my doctor about three months ago because I just hit a wall with sleep. After three days of barely being able to keep my eyes open, I realized the joke was on me and decided it was time to seek some actual professional help.
My doctor is in private practice and I’d highly recommend him, but strictly for the meds side of things. He’s incredibly sharp with pharmacology, but he doesn't do psychotherapy—for that, I go to CBT sessions.
I told him straight up that I couldn't sleep, but honestly, even before that, I’d spent my whole life obsessing over stuff. I couldn't distance myself from my own thoughts; the internal monologue in my head just never shuts up.
The guy actually listened to me. He gave me a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), noted the anxiety, insomnia, and intrusive thoughts, and suggested Faverin since it's specifically indicated for this kind of anxiety. He did warn me, though, that with psych meds, it's basically a 50-50 shot whether they'll work for any given individual.
The first three or four weeks were a total disaster. I'm going to list the initial side effects here just so nobody else gets discouraged if they hit the same wall.
1. Increased anxiety- At the start, my anxiety spiked through the roof. I couldn't sit still for three minutes. It actually felt worse than before I started the medication; if I hadn't had Xanax on hand, I don't know how I would've survived that phase. That lasted about a month.
2. Loss of appetite and nausea- Food became repulsive to me. I had to practically force myself to eat anything at all. That lasted about two weeks.
3. Frequent urination- I was constantly needing to pee. It even woke me up at night. This one stuck around for a while—definitely two months.
4. Tinnitus- This weird sensation of pressure in my head accompanied by a high-pitched ringing sound. It used to wake me up at night. Lasted about a month.
5. Headaches- Terrible, constant headaches. After about a month, I managed to get them under control by taking high-quality magnesium, which I still take. If I forget a dose, the headache comes back, so that's definitely linked. But yeah, that passed too.
I went back for a follow-up after a month. By then, I was finally able to fall asleep, but I’d wake up after four or five hours because of the bathroom trips and wouldn't be able to drift off again. Since the doctor didn't want me relying on Xanax at night anymore, he prescribed me Ambien. He told me to take a quarter pill or less, but I found that a 1/6th dose is my sweet spot. Now I sleep like a baby for 8 or 9 hours—could probably go longer if I had the time. 😁
I've been on the Ambien for a month now. In the beginning, I felt like a total zombie, but now I've settled into a rhythm where I function perfectly fine in the morning, and my sleep at night is absolute bliss. I've slept more than I ever have in my life. 😁
Back to the Faverin: after finishing three boxes, I feel like a completely new person. Honestly, I don't think I've ever felt this good in my entire life.
The anxiety? Gone. Zero. Zilch. 😍
I didn't think this was possible, but all those voices and the endless mental loops have stopped. For the first time ever, I can just sit on a bench overlooking the ocean, watch the waves, and actually enjoy the moment. I'm not worrying about what happened or what's coming next. I'm just... zen.
When a problem does pop up, I'm actually capable of looking at it rationally, dealing with it, and then letting it go. I don't spend days or nights obsessing over things anymore.
Thoughts just sort of float gently through my head now, like little smoke clouds. They drift by, and even if I get upset about something, they just dissipate into thin air.
On top of that, the Faverin doesn't mess with my cognitive abilities at all. I'm working just as efficiently as I was before, if not better. I'm not slowed down, and my brain isn't lagging at all.
The only real "side effect" I’ve noticed is that my taste buds have basically gone on vacation. Everything tastes better now—I’m even eating tomatoes, which used to be a hard pass for me. I’m just out here living my best life through food. 😁
For the ladies out there, I should probably mention that Fevarin hasn't touched my libido at all. If anything, let's just say things are more active than they were back in my teenage years. 😍
And before anyone asks, no, I haven't put on a single pound from either the Fevarin or the Calixte. Not one ounce.
So, as far as I'm concerned, Fevarin was a total win. I don't think I've ever felt this happy or fulfilled. Life is actually pretty great right now.
Lord help me, but I honestly never want to stop taking it. 😉
quietwalker5 said:Does anyone else experience sudden restlessness immediately after drinking coffee while on antidepressants?
Is caffeine contraindicated when taking an antidepressant?
My therapist was pretty blunt about it—told me straight up not to touch caffeine while on my meds, so now I'm strictly a decaf person.
I'm actually on Fevarin, which is notorious for not playing nice with caffeine.
A quote from a site: Mixing caffeine and Luvox can be intensely unpleasant. Your one cup of joe will suddenly become like five cups, and the effects will last six times as long.
Michelle Kelly4 said:I'm feeling pretty restless and on edge today...
Just take some Xanax and try some deep breathing exercises. 🙂
Michael Clark4 said:Hey there,
So, I’m officially on day six of taking 20 mg of Paxil for my anxiety and depression. At first, I felt pretty wiped out—not totally incapacitated, but definitely feeling off—though I can tell the nausea is starting to dial back the longer I stick with it. The real issue right now is my pupils; they're acting crazy and I look like I'm tripping on LSD. Does this go away, or am I stuck looking like a freak forever? Anyone else dealt with this?
It will. I went through the exact same thing when I first started my antidepressants, so don't you worry.🙂
Michelle Kelly4 said:Not sure if we’re allowed to talk shop about prices here. For me, an hour of $100 isn't even something I need twice a month unless it’s absolutely vital. Honestly, I don't really look at it that way. Health is my top priority, so I don't sweat the cost... I just know that what you put in is what you get back.
I'm right there with you—mental health is everything.
The only difference is I go once a week, which means a decent chunk of my paycheck goes straight to IBM. But honestly? It's money well spent. I really wish I'd started doing this ten years ago so I wouldn't be stuck relying on psych meds right now.😉
Grace Ross62 said:Could you please explain what this therapy actually entails? Everything is still very new to me, and I've been struggling with this for a long time—things have honestly just gone downhill lately. The last time I saw a psychiatrist, the whole thing lasted maybe ten minutes before they just handed me Zoloft. I haven't been back since.
I know this is off-topic and technically belongs in the psychotherapy thread, but mods, please bear with me—my girlfriend asked me about this. 😉
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is basically one of those psych branches that attacks the problem from two sides: fixing distorted thought patterns (those "cognitive distortions" people talk about) and changing actual behavior.
Basically, it teaches you how to spot when your brain is lying to you during a crisis, while also showing you better ways to actually act and react when things go south.
Personally, I think taking Apple is just step one. It’s necessary, sure, but it's far from enough.
Just popping an Apple isn't going to teach you how to process thoughts or react properly to life.
I'm seeing a private therapist for IBM, which is honestly exhausting, $100 an hour at a time, but it's been worth every penny. Looking at where my head was two months ago versus now... it's night and day.
Maybe there's an IBM psychologist covered by insurance somewhere nearby; it might be worth looking into.
If you have more questions about IBM, just shoot me a DM so I don't clog up the feed. 🙂
Grace Ross62 said:Does anyone know of a solid antidepressant for hypochondria, constant anxiety, and depression? Looking for something other than Zoloft.
Fevarin, plus you definitely need to look into CBT.🙂
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. 🤷
Same here—it doesn't make me drowsy. But I have noticed it makes my thoughts feel... I don't know, "softer"? Especially the anxious ones. They still pop up, but I can't seem to hyper-fixate on them anymore, and they don't trigger those physical symptoms like cramps or shortness of breath.
The thoughts just drift in, float around, and drift out. Honestly, I'm pretty happy about that.😍
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.
It didn't knock me out at first either. It took a little over a month before I actually started feeling the benefits—mostly just that those anxious voices in my head finally quieted down. 😁
Now, after two months, it actually puts me under quite nicely. The only catch is that I tend to wake up after about three or four hours and then I'm just stuck wide awake. My therapist actually suggested adding a quarter of Calixt to my Fevarin routine to deal with that.
When I take the Calixt, I still wake up in the middle of the night, but I'm so heavily sedated that I can't even bring myself to check the clock before drifting right back off. 😁
mistyjackal842 said:Can anyone tell me if increased urination is a side effect of Celexa? It feels like I'm heading to the bathroom way more often since I started taking Celexa 10mg daily, and I've been on it for about three weeks now. I guess... should this be a reason to stop taking Celexa altogether? I had my blood work done right before starting Celexa about a moon ago, and everything looked totally fine regarding my kidneys and general blood count.
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Hey mistyjackal842, 🙂
I saw your question about the frequent bathroom trips related to Celexa.
Personally, I don't take Celexa—I'm on Fluvoxamine (which is also an SSRI antidepressant)—and I deal with that exact same side effect.
I've been on them for two months now, and until recently, I was peeing constantly. Now I'm noticing it's settling down a bit, so just hang in there; things usually regulate themselves. It definitely isn't a reason to quit your meds.
I also read what you wrote on Healthline about how poorly your mom was treated at the hospital. I am so incredibly sorry you had to go through that and that it ended the way it did. My heart goes out to you; I went through something very similar with my granddad.
I also noticed in some of your other posts on the psych forums that you've mentioned several times how much you want to be on antidepressants for as short a time as possible.
If you don't mind me being blunt, I have a bit of advice.
You've been through a hell that would break anyone, and right now, you need support.
Antidepressants will help you. Celexa is a good one, so don't fight it so hard. Just lean into it and give it a chance to actually do its job.
You generally need to be on these for at least six months to a year. You're dealing with a chemical imbalance in your brain right now and you need the help.
Don't stress so much about how long you'll be taking them. You'll take them for exactly as long as you need to and as long as your doctor thinks is necessary. That’s not the issue here.
The important thing is that they help you feel better.
Your mom is in a better place now, watching over you, and she wouldn't want to see you suffering.
There's nothing you can change now. What happened, happened. It's a massive tragedy, but there's no sense in dwelling on it anymore. It's time to let go.
Kind regards, 🙂
After a long period of back-and-forth, I finally decided to try Mirtazapine for sleep. Figured I’d share my experience here in case it helps anyone else on this great forum 🙂
I've been on Fluvoxamine for nearly two months now (dealing with anxiety and insomnia), but it hasn't quite fixed my ability to sleep through the night. My therapist suggested adding a tiny slice—about 1/8th—of Mirtazapine to the mix.
So, yesterday around 8:30 PM, I took 1/8th of a 15 mg tablet, which works out to roughly 1.875 mg. I slept until about 6:30 AM. I have this hazy memory of waking up briefly in the middle of the night, but honestly, I didn't even have the energy to check the clock.
I drifted back off until 9:00, then took a three-hour nap after lunch. All in all, I clocked a massive 15 hours of sleep. Last time I slept that much, I was basically stuck in a neonatal incubator. 😍
When I finally fully woke up, my head felt a little foggy—kind of like the feeling you get from taking 2 Xanax, for example. I tried to shake it off, and I probably could have if I really tried.
The grogginess and slight dizziness have mostly worn off now, and I'm just leaning into the fact that I got 15 hours of rest. 🙂
Turns out, I totally overreacted to the idea of Mirtazapine; it was actually pure bliss in pill form.
Oh, and just like people say on those American forums, the dreams were intense. It was like watching a massive action movie in a theater; I was part of some elite combat squad protecting the Holy Grail or something. 😁
Kind regards and good morning to everyone 🙂
redpilot37 said:Thanks. Things are going to be different now. My prolactin levels—that hormone from the pituitary gland—are actually sitting below the normal range. Low prolactin is often linked to mental health issues like depression, psychosis, or schizophrenia. So, I'm thinking maybe fixing the prolactin issue by boosting serotonin could work. In my case, I'm using Zoloft.
Basically, that the depression might have been triggered by the low prolactin. 😉
It's possible. Hormones pretty much dictate everything happening in your body. 😉
redpilot37 said:Just wanted to let you know that the side effects from the Zoloft have finally cleared up. I'm feeling great. What I’m noticing is that I feel way more relaxed when talking to people—that awkwardness I used to struggle with is just gone. It's only been about 8 or 9 days, but I can already see things improving. I even managed to catch a solid two-and-a-half-hour nap yesterday afternoon since I’m an early riser and was pretty wiped out. It feels like I'm slowly coming back to life. I put this off for so long because I was scared to start them, but honestly, it wasn't the monster I thought it would be. I tried herbal supplements before—not really the topic here—which helped calm me down, but they didn't touch the actual cause. Using the antidepressants made me realize I actually had a mild social phobia I wasn't even aware of. I realized it because now I can express my opinions without all that heavy baggage, and I feel sharper when responding to things. I'm the type of person who notices the little details, and even though it's early days, I'm hoping it only gets better from here. Thanks to everyone who comforted me and helped me stick it out despite those awful side effects at the start. I did some Googling... turns out the fallout from my untreated anxiety, dissatisfaction, depression, and now this social phobia included a weakened immune system. I've burned through four boxes of antibiotics over the last few months. I'm convinced it's all connected to my mental state; the body needs to release stress, and energy flow matters. You can't just "positive think" your way out of a serotonin deficiency with pep talks, no matter how much I tried that over the last year. First, get the meds right, then deal with the underlying issues and the self-work.😉🙂
Wooo, I am so glad you pushed through the worst of it 😍
Now just enjoy the progress and keep doing that inner work 🙂
Paul Gonzalez71 said:I need some advice, thanks in advance.. 🙂
Basically, after my first psychiatry appointment, I was prescribed this:
Calixta, 15mg before bed for the first week, then Helix 0.5mg (3x daily).
Well, yesterday, sometime after midnight, I took the Calixta for the first time to deal with insomnia. This morning was rough—I could barely wake up. To be specific, I actually slept about 8.5 hours for the first time in months.
The problem is, I've been dealing with extreme drowsiness, brain fog, and a headache all day. I expected some side effects, but not this intense.
Why I'm worried: I have a major event on the 10th, and I need to be somewhat "functional" by then.
Question: Is it okay to stop taking Calixta on my own for a few days, then resume the regimen after my event? Right now, I’m functioning like a zombie, which is worse than my usual state..
Second question: Does my body need time to adjust, or should I contact my psychiatrist regarding a change in medication?
Has anyone dealt with Calixta before? Did you have to switch? If so, what did they put you on instead?
I'm not sure if you were prescribed Calixta as an antidepressant where you'll eventually bump up to something like 45 mg, or if it's strictly for sleep.
If it's just for sleeping, maybe try a lower dose—like 7.5 mg, or even better, just half of that—until you get used to it.
Also, try taking it earlier in the evening. From what I've read, Calixta has a long half-life, like 20 hours, so it hangs around in your system and keeps that sleepy, exhausted feeling going.
I don't think one dose will cause any issues, so you could probably pause it until the 10th and then start again. If I were you, I'd try to find the lowest effective dose for sleep; my shrink says that can be as low as 1-3 mg.
If it's being used as an AD and you increase the dosage, that drowsiness should taper off because at higher doses, Calixta doesn't just hit the histamine receptors; it also works on serotonin and... something else, I forgot. 😉
Personally, I've been too scared of being overly drowsy to even start Calixta, so I've just been scraping by on half a Xanax, even though I know I shouldn't be doing that for long. 😢
As for Trazodone, I've seen people on US forums saying it's great for knocking you out.
Best,