hollowviper40 said:The itching, the itching... It’s unbearable! p.s. Not on Paxil anymore. Between that and having scabies, it was a nightmare. btw., I believe Prozac can wreck someone just like it did me—much like how Effexor, which everyone raves about, turned me into a total wax figure. I’d even go so far as to say it tanked my libido... But I have one quick question since you went through such drama with Prozac: what was your dosage, and what were you taking it with?
You mentioned that Effexor turned you into a wax figure? What exactly do you mean by that? How long have you been on it? And regarding the thing about the shrinkage... I can honestly say the same for myself, so I completely get where you're coming from. It's a total disaster. I wonder, though, is there an alternative to Effexor that doesn't come with those kinds of side effects?
It’s honestly absurd, but I’m looking at a month-long wait just to get an appointment here. Last week, I finally made it in, and the nurse actually had the nerve to ask if I wanted to squeeze into a slot on March 12th... as if that's soon enough?? I was so stunned I couldn't even argue; I just gave a weary little smile and told her, "This isn't right," but she just stared back at me with this incredibly strange expression. 🙂
Quick question for the moderator... would you mind just moving this thread over to that specific sub-forum, or should I go ahead and start a new one over there myself?
I find myself wondering how many of you actually managed to build something meaningful out of the wreckage after dealing with the drugs, the physical pain, the constant sweating, the lies, the stripping away of everything, and all that other hell that comes along with addiction? I suppose the question is, has anyone truly failed to make it? If so, why do you think that happens? And if you’ve somehow managed to secure a stable, normal life despite having been an addict, I’d be interested to hear how you actually pulled it off.
hollowviper40 said:I believe Prozac can act that way for certain patients—though let's face it, we're all essentially patients, even when we aren't taking Prozac and complaining to our doctors. As that Irish genius George Bernard Shaw once put it, "the whole world is one big hospital," and if one of the "hospitalized" thinks they might feel better somewhere else—say, the French Riviera, the Caribbean, or New Zealand—it's really no different than asking for a hospital bed closer to or further from a window; nothing actually changes—the sickness is inside them, eating away at the system regardless. When I switched from Paxil to Prozac back in the day, I was incredibly irritable and combative for nearly two weeks. Someone with less self-control, especially if they're still young and immature, could potentially commit a decent little massacre in their immediate surroundings during that window—though I didn't go anywhere near that extreme. After about fifteen days, Prozac became my favorite antidepressant to date, and I still hold a soft spot for it even though its effectiveness has significantly waned (and reading others, it seems many have similar experiences with various antidepressants after prolonged use, though none of us truly know why...). So, in a layman's attempt at speculation, I'm drawing a parallel between psychotropic drugs and psychoactive drugs—not that the scale of drama is comparable: when someone starts experimenting with heroin, after that first sniff of an almost negligible amount of powder sends them to seventh heaven, later on, once they're properly hooked, just that hit becomes like half a shot of bitters for a gourmet grandson, which he takes just to stave off the bloating after overindulging on beans.
That last part is a good example, that idea of it being "just one"...
hollowviper40 said:They’re still working, just with less intensity—if you ask me. And look, I get why you're hesitant to switch entirely—for crying out loud, finding that perfect antidepressant is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Every time you start something new, it's a long, drawn-out process with zero guarantee of a positive outcome. Just to give you some perspective—and I'm not trying to rain on your parade here—Velasquez was an absolute disaster for my libido. It would drive me to the brink of finishing, only to kill my drive right at the moment I needed that final push. If I were some kind of superhero in every other aspect of my life while on Velasquez, maybe I could stomach it, but I'm nowhere near that. That alone would be enough to make me loathe the stuff. People can talk all they want, acting all scientific, charming, and incredibly persuasive, but if you're a man who's been turned into a coward, you'll realize the truth pretty damn fast...
You’ve hit the nail right on the head. I’ve cycled through several different medications that just didn't work for me, eventually landing on Velafaks which is probably my best option, yet even then, like you mentioned, things often struggle to stay up long enough to actually get the job done. Personally, I really don't have the energy to go through the trial-and-error phase again trying to find a perfect match—no way. But then again, I can't just keep living like this when it comes to my sex life either... I think I'm going to have to be very blunt about this situation when I talk to my therapist.
hollowviper40 said:There’s also Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and so on—but I’m honestly not sure which ones can be safely mixed with these types of antidepressants...
I have two specific questions here, so I'm hoping someone with more expertise or actual experience than I have can weigh in. First, why is it a confirmed fact that antidepressants like Paxil, Prozac, and Effexor lose their effectiveness after a year or two of regular use? Second, is Tylenol still actually prescribed for treating depression, and what is its mechanism of action—basically, what class of antidepressant does it fall under?
My psychologist told me that Effexor is actually still working for me; otherwise, I guess I wouldn't be in this state, or I'd probably be in a much worse place right now. I'm just not quite sure how to handle this... I mean, what am I supposed to tell her? If she tries to switch me over to some terrible new medication that doesn't sit right with my system, I think I might just stick to telling her that the Effexor is doing fine.
Chris Cruz8 said:Yeah, I feel you... Prozac is fine by me. I haven't dealt with any real side effects, and my sex life is totally normal. I don't know, I feel like I need something stronger. Is Prozac even hitting hard enough?😢 Effexor was better for me. Honestly, it was the best medication in the world for a while, right up until it stopped working.🙂
I was actually reading something today about this kid over in the USA who was primarily on Prozac... he ended up killing a girl and then just calmly went to Mass with a smile on his face. There always seems to be some connection made between Prozac and those manic types committing murders across America... and I guess this isn't even the first time it's happened. But honestly, what I really need is an antidepressant that won't absolutely wreck my libido.😁
hollowviper40 said:Of course it matters—but let's look at the facts here. You just informed us that you suddenly downed an entire stash of pills because your relationship fell apart. So, unless your libido is suffering from the lack of a partner, I have to wonder... was that whole episode actually about the breakup, or was it just recreational swallowing?
Well, she’s laughing, obviously. I suppose I didn't explain myself very clearly, so some people—women, in particular—are taking a little pleasure in twisting my words. The reality is that I'm back with my girlfriend now. So, naturally, we want to be intimate. I don't see what part of that is unclear or particularly funny.☕
I suppose I don't see how there's any confusion here. Sex is a fundamental part of a relationship. It’s basically the core issue that can tear things apart if it's missing, though I guess not everyone views it that way.☕
Chris Cruz8 said:Those damn women, amen to that!😂 I totally agree! I actually need some help from you guys. Advice... So, back when I first started Effexor a few years ago, it was absolutely amazing for me. The panic attacks, the nerves where I felt like pulling my hair out—all of that just vanished. My God, for the first time in a long, long time, I actually felt clear-headed, calm, steady, rational, patient, kind, and genuinely happy.😍 The only side effect was having zero interest in sex, but that cleared up after a few months. It was the perfect drug.🙂 But after a while, it felt like it stopped working. So my doctor prescribed Effexor combined with Abilify. That combo is okay, but Abilify has to be bought out-of-pocket, and if I remember right, it was about $600 for a box of pills.😢 Unachievable. Then I was told to switch over to Prozac. I've been on it for almost a year now, and I won't say it's bad because it isn't—I don't have any side effects—but I'm just not seeing any major positive changes. Honestly, I keep thinking maybe I don't even need it because I'm still irritable and depressed. I don't see much difference. Does anyone know of any great meds that might help me feel the way I did during those first few months/years on Effexor? I don't want to be a zombie. I just want to be "normal." I know, I know, you guys get me. I hate Xanax because it completely, totally numbs me out. It sucks.😢 Thanks in advance!🙂🙂
Eh... I had the exact same experience with Effexor, except for me, the erectile dysfunction issues are still there.🙂 I don't know how much longer I can deal with this... it's destroying my relationship.😠 I think I'll tell my doctor the same thing—that it's stopped working... I can't really feel its effects at all anymore.
By the way, tell me, how is that Prozac? Is it any better than the Effexor?
Just take a look at a company like Pfizer. They've been dragged through so many lawsuits over the years—I honestly couldn't tell you how many they won versus how many they lost—but there's no denying they are a massive titan in the pharmaceutical industry. I happen to be taking Xanax myself, and the packaging says Pfizer, but when I try looking up the original Xanax produced by them online, the tablets look completely different from what I have here, especially these SR ones.
Larry Lewis said:The guy is clearly going through a rough patch, and honestly, most people are just jerks who will either make things worse for you or simply couldn't care less about your struggle.
Yeah, I am unhappy. I broke up with my girlfriend, and that’s why I’m on the pills.
hollowviper40 said:I don't get what you mean by "overdid it." Did you take more than your prescribed dose, or did you just wash your meds down with a bottle of bourbon?
btw, a question for those who know better than I do: how long should you actually give an antidepressant (like Effexor, for example) to really kick in and start working?
I took about six of my 1mg SR Xanax tablets, and then I mixed them with eight extended-release Tramadol pills plus 20 Hepa...
I think I went a bit overboard last night, and honestly, I have this nagging feeling that I really did.... but even if I were to come clean about exactly how much of everything I took, people would probably just assume I'm exaggerating. They'd claim I was lying because, frankly, the dosage I managed to pull off would likely be enough to kill two grown men....
""""Seroquel does something similar to me. I don't deal with the tremors, but I get this hollow feeling in my stomach, and whenever I feel nauseous, I just end up eating to compensate. The medication itself doesn't necessarily cause weight gain, it’s just that it makes you ravenously hungry. I really need to lose some weight because my knees are starting to kill me.
I’ve been trying this 500-calorie diet, but honestly, whenever that hunger pang hits, I usually cave and grab some pastries or yogurt or maybe a banana. So, my actual intake probably hovers somewhere between 800 and 1,000 calories. I did manage to drop about 6 or 7 pounds, but only after I finally cut out all the sweets. I suppose the real key is just getting rid of sugar altogether. Looking back, most of the weight I put on came from snacking and sugary stuff.🙂 I'm carrying about 45 pounds of extra weight right now. If I had just stuck to regular, balanced meals, I guess I might have only gained a few pounds.
Fortunately, I don't eat at night since I take some melatonin that knocks me out so thoroughly I just drift off.🙂 Avoiding late-night snacking is probably the most important thing. If you're hungry, maybe just drink some water or have a banana.
As for me, once that Seroquel kicks in, I go straight to horizontal; there is just no way I can stay awake. 😁
A Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor is one of the newer types of antidepressants out there. Unlike standard SSRIs, which focus solely on serotonin, this one targets norepinephrine. It actually hit the market back in 2001. What’s interesting about it—and I find this part pretty cool—is how versatile it is; you can successfully pair it with SSRIs, and it can even be combined with MAO inhibitors without those usual safety concerns. It's used both for treating acute depressive episodes and for maintaining stability long-term. Plus, the effects tend to kick in relatively fast. Honestly, though? It feels like this medication hasn't been fully utilized by doctors yet, but I really think its time is coming
gentlesailor25 said:I’m guessing I might be the only one dealing with this particular mess, but who knows, right?🙄 I’ve tried to kick Helix off my routine about four different times now, and every single time, it’s the same story—around day three or four after stopping, I just get hit with this fever, plus the diarrhea and nausea. It’s honestly pretty brutal. The longest I ever managed to stick it out was maybe three weeks, but even during those three weeks, things didn't really start looking up. If anything, it felt like my temperature just kept climbing higher and higher. So, eventually, I’d just give in and start taking it again, and after a couple of days, I’d feel like myself again.🤷