Gerald Torres2 said:But then it just goes on forever... I don't understand how anyone is supposed to taper off a high using that method. I get that you build up a tolerance and need more, but is there actually a way to get off it? To be honest, I'm pretty clueless about this stuff...🤦
Of course there's a way. You head into a detox center—maybe a facility in Seattle or wherever you choose—where you're locked away with maybe eleven other people who are in similar situations, though honestly, many are much worse; we're talking criminals who have spent significant time in state prisons. There, they'll give you morphine until your tests come back negative for methadone, but then they switch you over to Suboxone. They market it as this "smart drug" designed to speed things up while you're stuck in the program, which is actually the polar opposite of how methadone works. It's a newer drug, so Big Pharma loves to praise it, but you know how that goes... once you actually look at the potential side effects, you start wondering what kind of poison they're actually feeding you. 🙂 Methadone doesn't carry nearly as many nasty side effects—anyone who doubts that can just read the fine print on both drugs and see for themselves. And then, you end up acting like a fool, trying to detox from the Suboxone all over again, which is its own special kind of hell, even if it's supposedly easier than weaning off methadone. A whole crowd of people ends up cycling back to heroin; one stash sits there $2.25😁, while Suboxone $267🙂 (and of course, you aren't the one paying for it), so you have to ask yourself who the real crazy ones are here. Naturally, the pharmaceutical industry is raking in massive amounts of money on Suboxone, which is why they push it so hard, but in my view, it's pure poison. The question remains constant... if you've already tested negative for methadone during detox, why won't they just let you go home? Instead, they shove Suboxone down your throat so you can get hooked on that too! It's because some people care more about lining their pockets through addicts than anything else—it really is as simple as that. 😠
Gerald Torres2 said:Now, regarding your specific situation... I know people go that route too. But why did they increase your dose? I mean, isn't there supposed to be a way to eventually get off it? It's essentially a legal high if you aren't careful.
It isn't a legal high. Methadone doesn't provide that euphoric rush that hits you so hard you feel like you're floating and suddenly love everything in sight; I guess they actually managed to strip away the best part of it from the formula. There is no way methadone is even remotely close to a high!!!🙂 I mean, do you honestly think the CDC would be handing out chemical highs? Methadone is just the closest thing to a high, nothing more. It’s not an elevator like Suboxone; it's more like a slide. I had to increase my dose because my tolerance grew to the point where my old dose was just insufficient—I literally couldn't function. I suppose you aren't really familiar with how this works, so let me put it this way: my body became so accustomed to that specific dose of methadone that I reached a point where I couldn't walk, talk normally, or laugh... I was constantly feeling sick. That is precisely why we use the term "functioning." Now, I might actually be able to function like a normal person again. It's a closed loop, I realize that.
Gerald Torres2 said:Mind if I ask why you're on methadone??? I mean, it's essentially a replacement for heroin—like, when you're tapering off or dealing with a morphine dependency—it's just a legal drug... 😕 I saw you mentioned they lowered your dosage for you in New York City, but you didn't mention that methadone was part of your treatment plan now. How are you holding up??
Feel free to ask anything. I'm 30 years old now, and I feel like I've tried just about every stupid thing there is; honestly, I wish I hadn't. I suppose I forgot to mention that I am still taking methadone, and they actually bumped my dose up to 16ml a day. I haven't been back to see my doctor to get the new prescription finalized yet, so once I've gone through those 16ml, I'll let you know how it feels.😉 Yeah... methadone is typically prescribed to folks struggling with heroin, acting as a way to taper off, though there are certainly people who end up hooked on the methadone itself. You might start with a single pill that gives you this sense of euphoria and peace, where all the negatives in your life just seem to vanish and you feel great... but then you eventually find yourself needing ten pills a day or more, and at that point, you're really in a bind.😁
It might actually be helpful if everyone shared which part of the States they’re living in. Why am I asking? Well, it’s because of this... I was driving out from St. Louis toward New York City today for a check-up with Dr. Sakoman. I hit the road at 5:00 AM just to make sure I arrived right when he told me to. Everything seemed fine initially, but once he took a look at my last evaluation from my therapist back in St. Louis, he honestly couldn't believe his eyes.😁 He immediately snapped—not at me, mind you, but just out of pure frustration—asking if people were out of their minds, telling me that I was basically a walking pharmacy... that my body had become a literal drug factory.🤣 To cut a long story short, he was stunned by the sheer volume and frequency of the medications I’m taking—two antipsychotics, two antidepressants, and so on. He mentioned that my bloodwork probably looks like a disaster given how much stuff I'm putting in my system. I tried telling him that I eat like a bird yet I'm still gaining weight, but he just countered that it’s the meds slowing down my metabolism. Actually, he said my metabolism isn't even slow; it's practically non-existent.🙂🤣 I mentioned to him that it seems like every psychiatrist out here in the Midwest works the same way—they see you for ten minutes and then just scribble a massive list of prescriptions. He looked genuinely unsettled by the whole thing.😁 He ended up drastically cutting down my dosages, so this is what I'm on now: Velafax 150 at 1:00 AM, Normabel 3x10mg, and Q-pin 200mg in the evening, and that's really it.
If I’m not mistaken, Mirtazapine isn't quite the same as a benzodiazepine, though it might feel similar in some ways—it's generally classified as an antidepressant, I believe.
I have a bit of a question, and I suspect I might be the only one here dealing with methadone: Is it true that you don't necessarily need to take anything else alongside it, given that methadone itself is such a potent substance? Even though I've been on it for about two years now, I actually had to switch over to Effexor recently, which honestly felt like it brought me back to life. I think I'll probably bring this up with my psychiatrist during our next session...☕
I realize this is completely off-topic, so I’ll probably get a nudge from the admin to move this discussion elsewhere.
The thing is, I’ve managed to improve my own mood without all the fire, the smoke, or those 4,000 different carcinogens. I ended up picking up an e-cigarette—something that isn't even technically classified as a tobacco product since there's no actual tobacco involved. 🙂 It doesn't really harm my health and there’s no lingering smell, which I suppose is a win for my physical well-being and a bit of a courtesy to my partner, who used to be a smoker.
If you feel like that depression is starting to creep back in—and I notice quite a few people here mentioning they’re struggling with relapses, sometimes even feeling worse than before—I can't help but wonder why you stopped doing the things that actually helped you get through it in the first place. Personally, I don't see any issue with someone just taking a single AD indefinitely if that's what works for them. I mean, look at my elderly mother; she’s been taking her heart medication for years now without anyone batting an eye...
I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences regarding side effects from taking Zeldox. I realize we aren't exactly a massive group here, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask... I've been having these moments where I think I might be experiencing hallucinations, though I can't say for certain if they're actually happening or if my mind is just playing tricks on me.
Gerald Torres2 said:No, that’s actually the whole problem. I’m only taking Wellbutrin and Xanax, and my goal is to get off the Xanax entirely and just stick to an antidepressant. The thing is, Wellbutrin doesn't touch my anxiety or my panic attacks at all.
I suppose you could call Wellbutrin a sort of "stimulant" among antidepressants. It feels like you always have to be doing something; I could never just sit still while taking that stuff. My therapist eventually switched me over to Effexor, which I've been on for about a year and a half now, and honestly, it seems to suit me perfectly. I don't deal with the depression quite like I used to.😉div>
shadowbear9 said:I feel for you. Honestly, I rarely have days quite this bad, but I truly hope that for those of you struggling, your medication provides at least some relief from that awful sensation. Yesterday, I just stayed in bed, took a nap, and then went for a walk with my grandmother, which helped a little bit. Today, however, is just... standard. Neither good nor bad, just nothing. I am incredibly unmotivated. It's just garbage.
This Sunday feels like it's dragging on forever, and honestly, I'm just feeling completely hollow... blah.
shadowbear9 said:Today has been absolutely miserable. Does anyone have any advice? Ever since I woke up, I’ve just been feeling incredibly angry and dissatisfied. I haven't even managed to get out of bed before 1:00 PM, and this mood is still hanging over me. I honestly feel like my life has no purpose and I don't even want to bother living it... what the hell is wrong with me? 😢
Robin Myers91 said:Has anyone here tried that new schizophrenia med that hit the US market about two months ago? I finally managed to get my psychiatrist to prescribe it—had to fight tooth and nail because Zyprexa, Everbio, Risperdal, and Seroquel made me pack on over 90 pounds. So far, I haven't noticed any side effects other than some mild drowsiness (which I don't even really feel), though apparently, people with heart conditions should stay away from it. It doesn't cause weight gain at all; in fact, it actually kills my appetite so much that I’ve already dropped 11 pounds in just seven days. I'm still taking Zeldox 120 mg on the side.
I've been on it myself... for quite a while now. It isn't prescribed very often, though, mostly because doctors tend to default to Zyprexa, and since I was struggling with being overweight, my specialist switched me over to Zeldox. You mentioned how it kills your appetite. I feel the exact same way... I just don't have any desire to eat. But honestly, anorexia could be a potential side effect, so you might want to watch out for that! It seems like a solid medication, but it's definitely potent.
wiredmason56 said:Thought I’d jump in here for a second. For a little while there, I actually felt pretty decent, so I figured I wouldn't freak out, but... well. I was on Effexor and it felt alright. Sure, I had the usual stuff like losing my appetite, trouble sleeping, dilated pupils, and some initial nausea, but honestly, those didn't bother me too much because my mood finally lifted. I even felt a bit euphoric at times, so the antidepressant really seemed to be doing its job. Then, I went and made a total rookie mistake and agreed to let my doctor switch me over to Wellbutrin because he insisted it was a better option. I took it for a while—and yeah, I'll admit I missed a dose here and there—but mostly I was being consistent. Long story short, it did absolutely nothing for my depression compared to Effexor, and it actually made my anxiety way worse. I spent a few weeks without an antidepressant entirely, just relying on anxiolytics like Lorazepam and Clonazepam to help with the nerves and the insomnia. What’s really messing with my head right now, though, is that during that gap, my intrusive thoughts started ramping up. I've been dealing with slight paranoia, sudden mood swings, flashes of aggression, and these night terrors. My GP is putting me back on Effexor, which is helping my depression stabilize a bit, but all those other issues are still hanging around—especially the insomnia, the repetitive thoughts, and these recurring dreams. Thank God I finally have a follow-up with my psychiatrist this Monday. I plan on being totally honest about everything, but I'm low-key terrified they're just going to throw an antipsychotic at me, and I really don't want to go down that road. I've heard people say Trittico is okay since it works as an antidepressant and helps with sleep at the same time. If anyone has experience with it, please let me know... It feels like I'm never going to catch my stride, and things are just starting to feel weirder and weirder.🤷
Everything you described happened to me as well. The only difference is that I demanded to go back to Effexor much sooner than you did. That Wellbutrin is absolute garbage.
Dormicum works wonders, though its only real flaw is how effectively it knocks me out. It’s been exactly a week since I started taking Zoloft, and I’ve noticed it kind of kills my motivation to get anything done—which is pretty much the polar opposite of how I felt on Effexor, so I suppose I’m somewhere in the middle right now.🙂
I suppose I should mention how absolutely wrecked I feel... has anyone else ever woken up in the middle of the night, shivering uncontrollably because they were convinced it was negative eighty degrees outside? My entire existence seemed to revolve around nothing but thoughts of hot cocoa, cold milk, or maybe an iced tea... though, looking back, I can't tell if that was reality or just some feverish hallucination. Of course, by tomorrow morning, it’ll probably be a sweltering 100 degrees here.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I recall reading the fine print on one of my medications—apparently, I shouldn't be mixing it with anything containing acetylsalicylic acid, and since I have some aspirin on hand, I'm feeling a bit stuck. What am I supposed to do now?? Should I just push through and take it anyway? Even if this turns out to be the H1N1 virus, I don't plan on giving up that easily!! 😠🙂 I think I'll just go take my dose of heptanone and hope to god that little bit of poison manages to defeat this stupid virus.
I’ve been hanging around this forum for quite a while now, and I think most of you recognize me, right, General Hospital?😉
Maybe rejo has more experience with this kind of thing and might know something, though it doesn't really matter... I just need some advice.
Basically, ever since I started taking Zoloft and Zeldox—though lately, I'm starting to suspect it might not even be the latter—I've been experiencing these tiny little hallucinations. To be honest, I can't even tell if I actually heard or saw anything; it all happens at lightning speed. Last night, I was jolted awake by the sound of a phone ringing at 3:00 AM. My first thought was, "Wait, what the hell?" because I'm certain I turned my phone off long before heading to bed. Then I remembered maybe I left my cordless phone in the other room, and when I checked... there it was, sitting on the charger in the kitchen. So, now I'm left wondering... did something actually ring, or am I just losing my mind?🙂
You probably ought to trust me, seeing as I am part of the Secret Service🙂 I suppose it would take more than just some little kid trying to settle me down... no offense intended!
redranger2 said:Mental health is a brutal business. Yes, it is highly probable that those stories about brain zaps amplified everything, especially since you're consciously stepping away from the medication and losing that sense of chemical security. Try to breathe; it's hardly a tragedy to have been on an antidepressant for nine years, and frankly, I don't quite understand why you're even attempting to taper off at all. Look at it this way: fine, you'll attempt to get off the meds, you'll give it a shot, and you might very well succeed. But if you don't, it isn't the end of the world; you just keep taking them.
I tend to hold a similar perspective regarding AT&T. I mean, what's the big deal if you end up on them for life? Some people take heart medication indefinitely, after all.
Edward Long4 said:Hahaha redranger2, hahaha... man, I guess this is just our karma. Honestly though, I’d love to just beat up Kenneth Scott41, 😂 just to give him a little something 🙂 (okay, I'm joking—just like you told me, I'm just boosting your ego... since there's nothing else left to do 😂) Kenneth Scott41, come on, brighten my day for once. Just write back one day saying everything is wonderful and you're feeling great. 🙂
It’s gonna be fine. You'll get through this. 🙂 But seriously, don't sweat it. 🙂
Victoria, if you haven't noticed—and I'm fairly certain you have—there is always a subtle layer of humor or sarcasm woven into my posts. You seem to be cut from the same cloth. Man... I really wish I had been born earlier... 😍
Don't fret. There will come a day when I post something stating that I am finally doing well and feeling happy. 😉
redranger2 said:Those head twitches could very well be a side effect of antipsychotics. Are you starting any new medications lately? Personally, taking Abilify gives me restless legs and this strange skin tingling. We really are in a tough spot with these drugs.😂
Yeah, on top of the Effexor, Seroquel, and Norvasc, I've recently added Zoloft and Zoloft to the mix.