So, today marks day one on Wellbutrin. It’s actually a bit baffling that there isn't a second option available here; it seems like we just have this one specific generic brand floating around. I suppose that explains why there isn't much substantial information to be found on most American medical forums or sites...
The side effects during that first half hour were honestly pretty harrowing—it felt as though I was suddenly struggling to catch my breath, like this intense tightness was constricting my chest. But strangely enough, once that passed, I haven't felt a single other side effect. It's a bit peculiar, I guess. No tremors, no excessive sweating, none of that other stuff you typically read about in the warnings... just that one unpleasant sensation right at the start.
ambermason16 said:Look, I'm not afraid of getting addicted to anything. Nothing man-made is going to be worse, more long-lasting, or more agonizing than detoxing from heroin... and that's something I can't avoid anyway. Am I going to end up with a runny nose because I'm craving Oxazepam? In the grand scheme of things, that is such a minor detail that I have absolutely zero reason to worry.
The info I have (though who knows how accurate it actually is 🙄) is that Valium, Apaurin, and Normabul are all essentially the same thing... and I'd go as far as to say that's true, based on my own experience.
Oxazepam actually caught me off guard after a long, long time. That doesn't usually happen with pills... but I can see this heading in a direction I definitely don't want to go.
I can't avoid it either, though I’m not losing sleep over it. When the time is right and I truly feel ready, then I’ll deal with coming off the Hepaviron. And look... this whole situation with the Oxazepam is happening because... well, you know why. For people like us, it’s almost standard... I mean, it was somewhat expected, wasn't it? 😉 But maybe try looking at it this way: You’ve realized that Oxazepam actually works for you, which is a new and positive realization. So, I guess you might as well enjoy that and try not to ruin it. Maybe intentionally take just one, or perhaps skip a day here and there just to let your tolerance dip a little. That way, at least I might 🙂
ambermason16 said:I don't know what to tell you. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck where everyone is arguing about the color of the conductor's hat instead of jumping off the tracks. You see it all the time in these discussions—people getting bogged down in useless minutiae while the actual problem is staring them right in the face. It's frustrating, honestly. It's like trying to explain basic math to someone who refuses to believe numbers exist. At some point, you just have to step back and realize that some people simply aren't interested in the truth; they're just interested in being right.
You’re the only one I can actually relate to when it comes to these drug reactions and emotional rollercoasters. It’s like we’ve been through the exact same meat grinder. 🙂
So, thanks for that comment. Really. 🙂 Looking at that list you provided, I’ve cycled through almost all of them at one point or another. Sometimes in small doses, sometimes heavy, sometimes solo, and sometimes mixed together—switching between different manufacturers along the way. Based on that roller coaster, I can say with total confidence that Oxazepam is currently the only thing that actually works for me. It’s the only thing that settles my nerves and puts me to sleep. But honestly? The way my tolerance for it is skyrocketing is terrifying. Over nearly twenty years, I’ve built up resistance to just about every psych med and pharmaceutical out there, but I have rarely seen it happen this fast. With Oxazepam, it's like a vertical climb. My required dose is jumping by 60 to 90 mg a day! I’m already sitting at 90 mg as my prescription, and then I still have to add another three or four pills on top of that just to feel anything. And even then, the effect only lasts a few hours. It's a losing battle.
I am absolutely not feeling this. I get that tolerance builds up, sure, but this? This level of escalation is happening way too fast. It’s just... too much, too soon.
Yeah... since we've been through the same things, I feel like I understand you best, too. I get why you feel this way or that way regarding everything. 😉 Man... that tolerance! I'm doing the exact same thing you are. (Who would've thought? 😉) I'm prescribed 30mg three times a day, but it doesn't quite do the trick, so I'll take 60mg at once or maybe add some Xanax SR to the Oxazepam so it lingers a little longer. 😁 I read a lot about these pills, and I came across something saying Oxazepam is basically just a weaker version of Valium, and that getting off it is just as easy as it was to ramp up the dose. So, I guess it isn't such a disaster if you do end up relying on it, which is why I'm not particularly worried. It's a shame they don't make an Oxazepam SR; that would be perfect in my opinion.
There was an explosion over at Bristol-Myers Squiss! I really hope my pills weren't caught up in the blast!😁 Just the thought of running out of my benzos is enough to make me feel incredibly on edge.
To be honest, I haven't even heard of that Quetiapine type before (and god help my friends and family, because I have this obsession with learning about every new pill out there 😬 ), but it sounds interesting..
I actually like Oxazepam too, but there is absolutely no point in me stuffing 180-210 mg into my system just to get four measly hours of sleep. A normal person would probably walk it off without a second thought, but me? I’m over here face-planting into the carpet and hallucinating lasagna.. 🙄
See, for me, Seroquel or Loquen work quite well too, though I wouldn't exactly go so far as to call them "light" 😁 As for Oxazepam, it's actually very effective; I've spent a lot of time on the more well-known ones—you know, things like Xanax, Normabest, Helix, Misar, or Diazepam—especially Alprazolam, which I find to be incredibly addictive. So, Oxazepam fits my needs quite nicely, and it doesn't seem to have that same heavy pull that Xanax or Helix does
Timothy Wood38 said:Back at it again with yet another medication shuffle. My psychiatrist decided to pull the plug on my Prozac and swap it out for Wellbutrin instead. So, here is the current lineup: Paxil 60mg Wellbutrin 300mg Zyprexa 10mg Ambien 20mg Xanax 0.75 mg
I’m curious—does anyone here actually have experience using Wellbutrin? I’ve been trying to convince myself that this specific cocktail of Paxil, Zyprexa, and Wellbutrin is going to be the magic fix. Honestly, the power of suggestion is a funny thing... I already feel a bit better, 🙂 even though, realistically, it's far too early for the Wellbutrin to actually kick in. But, well, there it is. If you've dealt with Wellbutrin before, please, let me know what your experience was like.
How has your experience been with Wellbutrin? I'm curious if the initial side effects tend to be particularly rough when you first start taking it.
Peter Wilson2 said:Is there actually anyone out there who feels like Velafax actually did them a favor?
In my experience, I guess it did eventually work and helped me out, though it took about a month of consistent use before I noticed anything. I’ve been on it for roughly a year now, but since it’s causing such massive issues in my personal life—I mean, my sex life is basically non-existent at this point—I really have to switch to something else. It’s just becoming too much to deal with.
One silver lining, I suppose, is that it doesn't cause you to put on weight.
Roger Bennett62 said:Man, I feel like I always need something to take the edge off... you ever wonder if those meds actually fill those little gaps left behind by old habits? 😉
Heh, well, they certainly try to fill them, but I guess they never quite hit the mark the way I'd want them to.😉
When I stumbled upon the news that a brain tumor is actually listed as a potential side effect 🙂 I have to say, I was pretty shaken up. It’s one of those things that really sticks with you, and honestly, I don't think I could ever bring myself to take Wellington antidepressants again.
Donna Torres5 said:I’m also taking Faverin, and honestly, I haven't run into any side effects, aside from that pesky drop in libido I mentioned before. But I won't go into it again—I don't want people thinking I'm just an old lady obsessed with sex.
I completely understand where you're coming from. Believe me, you aren't alone in this. It's the same for me, except for us men, there’s also that other issue to deal with (if you catch my drift)... I find myself constantly scouring Google, searching for an alternative medication that doesn't come with that specific side effect. 😁
The woman I was planning to marry cheated on me 😢 ,is there an antidepressant out there that actually works for this? I am in a total downward spiral right now. Yesterday, I ended up taking three Xanax, one Zeldox, and one Faverin all at once, but it didn't really do anything... I just fell into a deep sleep.
I wonder if Effexor really is the most potent antidepressant out there. I suppose it’s safe to say that Lexapro is on the weaker side of the spectrum, isn't it?
If getting off Visa is proving to be this much of a struggle, I suspect my psychiatrist isn't going to hand over a new prescription quite so easily. I've been on Visa for well over six months now, and I suppose I'm just feeling a bit curious about whether switching over to Prozac might actually make a difference.😁
I can't help but feel like everyone has suddenly developed this massive collective phobia regarding Prozac, and now there’s this sudden rush to distance themselves from it 😁, am I right? :P
On a different note, do you think it’s actually a good idea to downplay what I’ve learned—like things I might have picked up here on the forum—when talking to my shrink? I suppose I worry they might just give me that look, you know? Like, "Oh, look at him, he thinks he's an expert on depression and medication just because he spent a few hours reading stuff online," acting all high and mighty. Or do you think they'll actually listen to me like a normal person?
Charles Patel said:I don't give a damn about textbooks or academic papers. I can find all that junk in a library or online if I really wanted to. What I actually care about is real-world experience.
So, how do you actually get off Xanax, and what kind of hell am I looking at during the detox?
Dreading this stuff is an understatement. If I miss my dose by even a little bit, I'm done for—panic attacks, dizziness, feeling weak, nausea... it's brutal.
Well, maybe you could try searching online if hearing from someone who’s actually survived it (like myself) isn't enough for you. I did respond to your question, but perhaps you missed it or simply didn't find it relevant.☕
I suppose I can't say I'm entirely surprised that Xanax or Ativan would be sitting at the top of that list... honestly, it doesn't really matter which one you pick, it's much of a difference. 😁
I was wondering how the process of tapering off Xanax went for those of you who have been through it?
I’ve been taking it for panic disorder—just one dose a day, usually about 0.25 mg around lunchtime. I’m hoping to step away from it before my body starts demanding more and more...
Or maybe it won't? 🤷
It feels like you might have hit the nail on the head there. I actually started my own taper a few days ago. I was originally on two 1mg Xanax SR tablets, but I’ve recently cut back by a full tablet; generally, though, I find reducing by just a quarter—0.25 mg—is much less painful. Anyway... my anxiety has definitely ramped up, my hands have started shaking, I’m feeling more irritable, sleep is harder to come by, and I’ve even noticed some occasional muscle twitches. I suppose Xanax is quite dangerous in that sense; it relies on alprazolam, which almost feels like a trap, and trying to quit it can be absolute hell if you don't have a plan or if it's your first time. It might be worth switching over to good old Diazepam, which acts as a better Anxiolytic and doesn't feel like such a trap—specifically Diazepam (Normabel, Valium).
Robin Gonzalez3 said:Hey, so my psychiatrist just put me on Priscilla extended-release 25 mg... and now I’m kind of tripping over this "extended-release" thing. Like, am I supposed to suck on it or what? Anyway—oops—just swallowed it already. xD
That’s one of the older antipsychotics, and it sounds like they gave you the mildest version available. No, you don't suck on it.😁
Reading through all these posts, I get the impression that most people seem to be gravitating toward Wellbutrin or Prozac, treating them as if they’re somehow the gold standard or just the best fit for everyone. I’ve been on Wellbutrin myself, but lately, I can't help but feel like it’s stopped working... or maybe its effectiveness has just started to wane. It seems perfectly logical that you might develop a tolerance to a medication if you've been taking it for six months or so, but I suppose that leaves one wondering what the next move should actually be. Do you just bump up the dosage of the current one, or is it better to switch over to a different antidepressant entirely?