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Recovering from heroin addiction and dealing with the fallout in Health · Nov 27, 2010

Anonymous said:Hey everyone.
I finally decided to sign up here, though I’ve been lurking on Reddit for a while now. I’ve been diagnosed with depression and I'm currently managing a few different medications. I had a serious struggle with heroin in the past, so I’m also taking 18 tablets of methadone a day. Starting today, I’m adding Citalopram to the mix—beginning with half a 20mg pill for four days before moving up to a full dose. I'm also supposed to take 25mg of Prazosin three times a day, I think. I'm honestly pretty terrified about the side effects. I just want to know if anyone has experience with this kind of regimen and if the depression will actually lift. I deal with this crushing sense of guilt that started when I was 14 and has only gotten worse as I've hit 22. Even though I'm young, I spent five years struggling with heroin; I've been clean for six months now thanks to methadone treatment, but the depression is still hanging over me like a cloud. My psychiatrist mentioned that antidepressants take a long time to kick in and that I’ll likely be on them for the long haul. Has anyone here actually managed to beat their depression?

Man... it feels like you're reading my mind. It's almost like I wrote this myself. 🙂
I am also on methadone and antidepressants. Everything is basically identical to your situation, except I’m taking 16 methadone tablets and 20mg of Citalopram a day.

The antidepressants will eventually work... trust me, I was on them for a long, long time—well over two months—before things suddenly started shifting for the better. I don't feel nearly as depressed anymore; things are feeling much more manageable. 🙂 👍
I suppose you just have to have patience while the antidepressant settles in... for some people, it happens quickly, but for others, it might take half a year. The main thing is finding the one that actually works for your chemistry. I tried Zoloft, Effexor, and Paxil, but none of them felt right for me. This current one, however, seems to suit me quite well. 🙂.

If there is a downside, it’s... a certain indifference toward sex, almost like you've become Asexual. But honestly, it seems like anyone on these types of medications, especially at high doses like we are, ends up feeling Asexual. Don't worry too much about it, though... if you take a two-day break from the methadone, it’s almost like taking Viagra. 😉

Take care!

Recovering from heroin addiction and dealing with the fallout in Health · Nov 27, 2010

Anonymous said:

__________________________________________________ __________________

That's a fair question about why I started using. Honestly, I don't even know myself. I started when I was 14—just a kid, naive, inexperienced, and with plenty of cash in my pocket. I was the perfect target for dealers, and an easy one at that. I've learned a lot, though, mostly just trying to claw my way out of it. I'm on 5mg of Heptanon; it's not much, I barely even feel it, I basically just take it to keep the withdrawal away. But the depression and this weird psychosis are killing me. It feels like constant panic attacks; I get this overwhelming sense of dread and I don't even know what I'm afraid of. It's such intense fear that it triggers actual panic, and it feels like it's driving me insane. That's why the doctor prescribed Prazin and Citalopram. On top of all these feelings, I've been carrying this guilt since childhood that fueled my depression, and the drugs definitely made everything worse. Back when I was on heroin, things were different—there was always that euphoria, I always felt good. With Heptanon, that's gone, and it feels like there's just a permanent void left in my head. I'm so confused. I want to go through rehab, but I feel too weak. I can't face the withdrawal; the agony is more than I can take. I feel like my brain might actually snap.

Your "picture"—or rather, your current state—is almost identical to mine... I'm also on heptanone, but in liquid form—8ml, which is basically like taking 16 tablets—and on top of that, I take Citalopram for the depression...
I'm feeling the same way you are... I don't even notice those 16 doses of heptanone; there's no euphoria at all. I just take them so I can function, and I suppose I'll have to stay on the Citalopram for a while longer before I start seeing any real effect... you'll see.😉 Some people need it for longer, others for less... but the most important thing is finding the specific dosage that actually works for you. That's crucial!

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 25, 2010

Larry Howard8 said:Is anyone here currently on Zoloft?
🤷

I’ve heard that most SSRIs tend to cause weight gain, but apparently, Zoloft can actually help people lose weight.
Because of that, I know some women take it specifically for that reason...😲

so, are you planning on starting it now? 🤣
I think you might have been misinformed about the weight loss thing; honestly, it seems like it varies entirely from person to person.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 25, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:Hehe, welcome to the club, man. Did they put you on an antipsychotic? Those things are usually prescribed for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and yeah, they are expensive as hell. I remember when my Logan cost me $166 (200 mg) and $86 (100 mg)... back in the day, you couldn't even get them covered by insurance without going through some insane medical board review just to prove you actually needed them. It’s not quite that bureaucratic nightmare anymore, but let's be real—they still cost a fortune. Better start saving up some cash... suicidal thoughts aren't cheap, damn it...

But a friend of mine was also taking Zyprexa, and since he has full medical coverage and a good supplemental plan, he said he didn't end up paying anything at all.🤷

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 25, 2010

@Robert Collins2 - well, I finally worked up the nerve to talk about it and headed out, though it took quite a bit of coaxing myself😛
I suppose I’ve finally laid my demons bare for the doctors. My GP was actually quite kind—she wrote me a referral for a psychiatrist immediately and even suggested a specific specialist, treating me with a sort of gentle empathy that felt almost misplaced, given how I feel😁
Anyway... when I arrived at the psychiatrist's office, I ended up explaining everything to a different doctor, someone younger, who took all my notes and then went to consult with "the" specialist I was supposed to see right away. But despite the referral being marked "urgent," there's always that inevitable waiting game... it's exhausting
Once the psychiatrist actually sat down and listened to my history, she seemed genuinely alarmed. She told me she’d call me tomorrow and insisted that I absolutely come back for a follow-up in two weekspwalking to her clinic🙄. She even suggested I might consider inpatient care—just staying in the hospital for a while—but I turned her down
. Now, I’m left feeling a bit confused. First of all, why don't patients arriving with an "urgent" referral for suicidal ideation get immediate priority? And secondly, why did she insist on me walking there? She made sure to ask where I live first (I live about 40 minutes away on foot), so I assume she's worried I won't be able to drive safely😕. As for the medication, she increased my dose of Alice to two tablets in the morning and added a new prescription, Vera. From what I've read online, it's essentially the same as Zyprexa, just a liquid version. I also read everywhere that it's incredibly expensive and usually requires special authorization, yet she handed me a full box to take home right then and there at the clinic. Generally, it's used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or mania, none of which apply to me entirely—though, I suppose, I do deal with bipolar symptoms and suicidal thoughts.
What I wanted to ask you all is, once I finish this current box, will I have to pay through $33 for the next refill via a prescription? Or is it just that the American version of Zyprexa is overpriced?
Also, does anyone here have actual experience with Olanzapine, specifically Vera?
How did it affect you... and did it actually help anyone?

Topamax experiences in Health · Nov 22, 2010

I have this very close friend who’s been struggling with manic episodes and anxiety for quite some time now. To be honest, I’m an alcoholic myself, so I know a thing or two about patterns, but even I find his medical history a bit surreal. He’s cycled through countless psychiatrists, and it’s almost absurd how every single one seems to come up with a different diagnosis. One doctor labels him with schizophrenia, the next says it’s bipolar... it’s all very confusing. 😕

So, he reached out to me yesterday after being silent for a week, mentioning he’d spent some time stuck in a hospital under "observation"—whatever that actually entails. Apparently, they’ve put him on yet another new medication: Depakote Crono R 500mg.

I was wondering if anyone could explain what that specific medication is used for. I did a little digging online, but I don't quite grasp why they would prescribe an antiepileptic when he doesn't suffer from epilepsy, given that his issues seem strictly limited to mania and bipolar disorder.
Does the "R" signify anything specific regarding the dosage, or why start with such a high amount? Does it mean extended-release, perhaps?
He mentioned that the medication makes him incredibly hungry, and while he feels somewhat better mentally, it hits him hard physically—he said he can barely walk without stumbling.

Does anyone here have experience with this particular drug? I’d like to know what kind of side effects to watch out for so I can give him a heads-up. With him, it's always a struggle; he tends to toss the packaging aside immediately rather than reading the warnings.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 22, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:Honestly, Lotenex and Seroquel are like little baby drugs compared to Nocturnal. I mean, what do you think? It wasn't easy for me to sit there and tell my wife I wanted to end it all, but if I hadn't been honest, she wouldn't have been able to help me out or get my dosage bumped up to include the antipsychotic I actually needed to stay level.

So, here I am today, still kicking. You try gambling with your life and popping benzos over the weekend and see how that goes for you; they seriously just make the suicidal side of depression way worse. ☕

I am planning on telling her. I've spent these last few days having some pretty heavy, deep conversations with myself... and I've finally concluded that I just have to come clean. Now, the thing is... I suspect she might not take me seriously. Or, she'll just hand me a referral for a psychiatrist, and in this city, the waiting list for a psychiatric evaluation can be two months long! 😠 That’s probably exactly how it will go, and I honestly don't know how she expects me to just sit around and wait those one or two months for an appointment. To be fair, every psychiatrist in my area has a backlog like that, which isn't really surprising given the history of the system...👎

Do you think my primary care doctor could prescribe something like Seroquel? Did she prescribe it to you directly, or did she have to send you to a specialist first? I just can't wait... I need to get this out of my system, otherwise, I feel like an astronaut just drifting aimlessly through space. 😢

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

Kenneth Scott41 said:You really are right about that; it's quite true. There isn't much you can actually do for them, other than either letting yourself get worked up or simply tuning them out entirely. Though, in my case, my mother has this uncanny way of getting under my skin no matter how hard I try to stay detached.🙂

I find myself in the same position; I have absolutely no desire to force a conversation right now. It feels like trying to push a stubborn horse that simply refuses to budge, no matter how much pressure you apply. My family is being exactly the same way... it’s exhausting.
It seems they only ever fall silent once I’ve finally had to give them a piece of my mind.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

SuperCow;30047943 said:Maybe if you just started taking depression seriously, everything would be sorted out.
If you consider yourself an adult, I suppose it shouldn't really matter what older generations think about your situation. You’re an adult in the US now, and you get to decide how to navigate your own life. As for those people who claim depression isn't a real medical condition—well, honestly, they probably haven't actually lived through it themselves, so their opinions don't carry much weight with me at all. 🙂

I never suggested that psychiatric medications were a bad thing; in fact, I’m quite a strong advocate for them. But, you know how mothers can be... even if I were fifty years old, she’d likely still be hovering over me, convinced I was just swallowing some nonsense instead of actual medicine.
It’s not that I care about what society thinks, it's more that my mother is the type of person who can still get under my skin, and I guess I can't really blame myself for letting her.🙂 I might have stumbled upon a bit of a solution, though—a way to handle things logically.😉

Look, I can't possibly know what your experience has been like... but it isn't exactly easy to sit down in front of a doctor and casually mention that you're having suicidal thoughts. It’s not something you just blurt out. You have to find a certain amount of courage to say it, and that's the tricky part. I don't know... I suppose I'll just spend the next few days thinking about it.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

Andrew Watson59 said:In my experience, 90% of people struggling with depression run into this exact wall with their parents. With the help of my therapist, I eventually just gave up on trying to make them understand. I stopped attempting to bridge the gap. The reality is, I see something clearly that they are simply blind to, and you can't force sight. Now, I don't even discuss my depression or my AD use with them anymore.

You really are right about that; it's quite true. There isn't much you can actually do for them, other than either letting yourself get worked up or simply tuning them out entirely. Though, in my case, my mother has this uncanny way of getting under my skin no matter how hard I try to stay detached.🙂

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

Roger Rodriguez said:It’s most commonly used to manage depression, manic episodes, and schizophrenia.

So, I suppose if I even hint that I've been thinking about suicide, my doctor might just immediately prescribe that medication—the one that's basically the same as Seroquel, which feels like some heavy-duty stuff meant for horses!!
I'm honestly torn on whether I should actually come clean about it or not... I've always just said "no" whenever they ask me about suicidal thoughts.
any advice?

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

Andrew Watson59 said:I honestly don't get you people. It’s the 21st century and we’re still debating this? Depression is a disease, plain and simple—just like diabetes. Does a diabetic need to quit insulin because someone thinks they look like an addict? 😕 No. They take it for life because insulin is what keeps them alive. 🤷 What part of that is confusing?

That’s precisely the part I haven't quite wrapped my head around yet; I struggle to view depression through that serious lens. I guess I've started seeing it as more significant since I began dealing with it myself, but how are we supposed to take it seriously when our parents act like it's a joke? They say things like, "Depression? Please, quit being so sensitive, go get a job and you'll feel better." I'm fairly certain about ninety-nine percent of parents hold that exact mindset. It makes me wonder how one is even meant to explain why they're on medication when their own family refuses to see it as a real medical condition, even once you're an adult. That seems to be the core of the issue.😠 And it’s incredibly frustrating, though I suppose there isn't much else I can do... I just have this forum and my own thoughts to lean on.
On top of all that, the side effects from taking antidepressants can be quite unpleasant, especially with things like libido issues and whatnot. I've lost count of how many times I've made those dark, sarcastic comments to my parents about wanting to end it all—treating it like a joke just to gauge their reaction—when, in reality, I actually meant it. They just laugh it off with a comment like, "Oh, stop talking nonsense." It's exhausting...🙄

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 18, 2010

🤣 This is honestly getting ridiculous at this point. I mean, seriously, how many times has it been this exact same scenario where Robert Collins2 ends up in some heated argument? It seems like people just can't stomach her posts anymore, and now, predictably, Admin has gone ahead and blocked her.
Well... I suppose I should have seen this coming from the start... though I really don't want to claim I told you so.

To get back to the actual topic at hand... I don't know about you all, but I find it somewhat difficult to wrap my head around the idea of using an Adderall prescription as a daily crutch for five years straight. At some point, you have to admit that you're basically dealing with an addiction. 😢

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

I was wondering if anyone here has been on any kind of Ad for longer than five years? If there are any of you out there who have, I’m curious how you even manage to sustain that for such a long stretch.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:What kind of chemo are you even talking about? Look, antipsychotics are prescribed when you're dealing with suicidal ideation during depression, which is exactly why I was on them—to make sure I didn't try to take my own life again, because honestly, I definitely would have succeeded this time if I hadn't. I'm still taking Loquen right now, and I've got about three more months of maintenance therapy before I finally taper off everything.

Please, let's keep this civil and without any aggression; I'm just making an ordinary post.

Just a thought... if I'm following you correctly, you started out with just depression, and then it spiraled into a much more severe form where you actually had thoughts of ending it all? Is that right?
Hm... what were you being prescribed during that initial depressive phase, back before the suicidal thoughts set in?
And I'm genuinely curious, during the time you were attempting suicide, was it a truly deliberate, planned decision, or was it more of a desperate cry for help? How can you be so certain that you would have definitely succeeded?

I have a friend who is currently on antidepressants and antipsychotics, and I have to say, I tried one of those antipsychotics he was on, and it hit me so hard I could barely even walk... honestly, I couldn't move. It was easily the worst thing I've ever experienced.
So, are you just taking the Luvox now, without any benzodiazepines?

Come on... it's really important to me that you answer these questions.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

Roger Rodriguez said:Honestly, I don't see any reason to discuss individual forum behavior in a thread like this. A certain user has probably written twenty posts over three pages, and almost none of them actually relate to the topic—all because several users (myself included) pointed out they were talking nonsense. Isn't there a difference between sharing an opinion and stubbornly insisting on something without any arguments while insulting others?

Anyway, yes, I also know people for whom medication did more harm than good. However, almost all of those individuals made mistakes along the way—either they took their meds without proper supervision (like a friend with schizophrenia who didn't check in with his doctor for nearly two years despite being told to return every two months), or they played around with their dosages, or they mixed their meds with things they shouldn't have.
I haven't met a single person who followed their medication schedule perfectly, attended psychotherapy regularly, and kept up with all their check-ups, only to have a breakdown. That doesn't mean such people don't exist, but if we're looking at the facts—a friend of mine passed away after her asthma treatment was changed. How many people suffer severe consequences from taking "less dangerous" medications? I mean, even Aspirin can hurt you if you're hypersensitive to salicylates; that doesn't make Aspirin a poison or the doctor who prescribed it an idiot, does it?

Yeah, I was writing stuff, but Robert Collins2 was doing the same thing. What they study or what kind of person they are isn't the point of this thread, right? It's not. And you can't honestly claim I'm the "only one." Let's try to be realistic and objective here. In the end, it seems I'm just the scapegoat because about 98% of the posters here are women—so the bias is pretty obvious.
Since we're on the subject... I find myself wondering why there are so few men participating in this discussion. There’s also this widespread social assumption that women only rely on pills while men only rely on alcohol. I suspect some of the men who are actually taking medication might just be too ashamed to admit it, or perhaps their ego gets in the way and they feel like, "why would I need that?"

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:So how come Misar felt like I was basically just drinking water, but Helix actually did something for me, even though they're supposed to be the same thing? ☕

Seriously, why is there such a massive list of SSRIs if they all work the exact same way by blocking serotonin reuptake? Like, why does Zoloft work wonders for one person but feel like a total death sentence for someone else?

I have to agree; Misar felt pretty much useless to me, whereas Helex or Xanax actually seemed to do their job properly.😁

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:Micek, look, I’m tapering off my meds totally fine. I finished up my psychotherapy, so I don’t have any psychological dependency on the pills or anything. My doctor actually encouraged me to jump in here and swap stories with people right when I started treatment, so that's why I'm hanging out—I just want to be helpful, plain and simple. Plus, I love to read. It's not like I think I'm some genius or a total hypochondriac, and honestly, there's no way I'd ever be crazy enough to be a moderator, so thanks for that! ☕

Seriously though, I have no clue where all this biased nonsense about me is coming from, you know? 🤷

And which specific therapy are you tapering off of?

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 15, 2010

Robert Collins2 said:Look, I know about Ambien. Hospitals hand it out to patients all the time just to take the edge off and knock them out before they go under for surgery—usually just half a pill. It’s a 15 mg benzodiazepine dose. Gruden actually pushed some on me back when I was going through that dark period after my suicide attempt, but I ended up tossing them in the trash.

To be more precise, it's midazolam, though it does fall under the benzodiazepine category.
Nothing really worked for me, honestly. Not even Sanval, which feels incredibly weak, and not even Cerson.
Sure, Cerson helps occasionally, but when it doesn't, I just take Ambien, and that seems to give me the best sleep.🙂 It isn't just about how long you sleep, but the quality of that sleep, I suppose. Ambien provides both for me, which is why it's my go-to, though I realize how strong it is, so I only reach for it when I truly can't get to sleep.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Nov 10, 2010

Eric Richardson49 said:Might be a dumb question, but here goes... can increased urination be a side effect of antidepressants? Specifically, someone’s taking Xanax and two Effexor pills at night before bed... and they're basically peeing out all their fluids throughout the night....
The instructions don't mention anything about this kind of side effect, but has anyone else dealt with this while on these meds? Thanks in advance.

I didn't experience that while I was on Effexor, though I wasn't on it for very long. So, I probably can't give you a definitive answer, but it just didn't sit right with me. Nowadays, I'm taking Elicee—it's essentially the same as Lexapro, but since it's produced by Krka, I don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it.