To everyone here who has dealt with those "brain zaps" or that sensation of an electric shock in the head... would you mind walking me through what that actually feels like?
Basically, I experienced it for the first time today, and I’m honestly struggling to find the right way to describe it. I was just walking through downtown when, out of nowhere, it felt like something just shot straight through my brain. It wasn't exactly painful, per se, but it was this incredibly unsettling sensation—you know, how people use the term "electric shock"? It felt exactly like a pulse of electricity racing through my skull. 🤷 I also occasionally get these brief, involuntary jerks of my head. I suppose I should ask, are those considered brain zaps as well?
What am I actually dealing with here??
p.s. How on earth did we pivot from discussing psychotropic medications to talking about Omega-3 fatty acids? Just a little bit of off-topic rambling there.
redranger2 said:Listen, I really hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medication cold turkey, because that’s a recipe for triggering a massive shock to your brain, which has become entirely dependent on that chemical support. When tapering off SSRIs, you have to go slow, and frankly, that process can be quite a marathon. Once you finally reach the point where you're down to just a 1/4 dose, you should continue taking those tiny amounts for a while—maybe every other day, then every third day—until you eventually wean yourself off completely. Your brain simply needs enough time to relearn how to manage its own neurotransmitters without outside help.
Eric Mitchell55 said:Hey, if you head over to a major children's hospital in Washington, D.C., you’ll find kids even younger than fourteen dealing with all sorts of stuff.🙂 Mental health issues don't care how old you are. For me, the hallucinations started when I was fourteen—actually, a little bit before that, really—but my parents didn't think it was time to see a psychiatrist until then.
Man, that sounds heavy. I deal with hallucinations too, though they aren't quite as intense; I've sort of grown accustomed to them over time, I guess. I take Zoloft to manage it... what about you?
Eric Mitchell55 said:Looking at this thread, I see people way older than me who are way too young to be dealing with this many pills. I actually started on Helixim when I was just 14—almost 15—and within a few months, I was already on Haldol and some pretty nasty meds. Now I’m turning 19, and my daily routine includes Olandix 20, Akineton 4 mg, Haldol 4 mg, Cymbalta 60mg, and Prazosin 75mg. The plan is that I'll probably switch from Olandix to Seroquel soon.
Anyway.
Forgive me, but who else is actually taking pills at 14 years old? 😲 😲Back then, I was mostly just hanging out with my crowd, grabbing beers and trying to act grown up.😁
Uh... I see quite a lot has been written here. First off, responding to Victoria, I’m 30 years old. Sometimes when I look at the pile of medication sitting in my box, I honestly find myself wondering: good grief, how much stuff am I actually taking?! Well, your boyfriend is lucky he's just on Diane.😉 In the beginning, I was only on Effexor, Norbell, and Seroquel. Looking back at my condition then... three pills seems reasonable. Now, I'm up to five.🙄 But if I'm being honest, I suppose I have a bit of a pill addiction, though I don't tell anyone. I tried Lamictal the other day and didn't feel a thing. Maybe it's just my metabolism or something, but it feels like I truly need high doses to feel anything at all. When I was going through detox at the clinic near Sakoman, they couldn't quite manage to get me clean—the protocol says patients should be treated for 16 to 20 days max. Mind you, I was on a higher dose than everyone else, but that's just how it was. I was getting 300mg of morphine three times a day; they even considered giving me more, but Sakoman said even that was pushing the limit. Any other addict taking 300mg of morphine would probably be delirious😁 combined with the morphine, of course, plus the Seroquel and Phenobarbital... anyway, they had already worked out a plan whereI would still have to take morphine at homewhich is kept locked in a pharmacy safe until the withdrawal symptoms subside. Can you imagine that?! I'm not going to stop taking every single pill, though. If one works for me, why wouldn't I take it? Some people argue that you'll just end up becoming addicted to everything... please. The worst thing is being hooked on Methadone, Helex, or Xanax—all those benzos. But becoming addicted to an antipsychotic? I've never heard of such a thing. I swallow plenty of pills, sure, but at least I don't touch alcohol. Not even a beer, nothing at all. If anyone here has actually struggled with an addiction to an antipsychotic, please let me know. In my personal experience, nothing compares to the agony of methadone withdrawal.
Oh, I forgot to mention that since starting Zoloft and Effexor, I've been eating like a bird... sometimes I don't even feel like eating, even when I haven't had anything at all.
Seroquel has been a real lifesaver for me, honestly; I’m still on it. And yeah, the weight gain is definitely a thing. It feels pretty heavy when you first start, but I suppose you eventually just get used to it...
To follow up on what shadowbear9 was saying about Zoloft... if you were taking that too, you must have been a real handful😁 I guess I’ve just always been wired this way, though; there’s just no chance of anyone pushing me around. I won't allow it. The only real issue I have is how thirsty I am—my mouth is constantly bone-dry. My psychiatrist actually mentioned how many of her patients rave about combining Effexor and Zoloft. For me, that sounds like a perfect combo, except I’m also taking 100mg of Seroquel on top of it. So, I suppose I really am shoving quite a lot of chemicals into my system...😁
So, here we are...😁 I’ve been taking Effexor XR 150 mg twice a day, but I recently had to go in for a follow-up because things have honestly taken a bit of a turn for the worse lately. My doctor told me she couldn't just bump up my dose of Effexor XR 150 mg any higher. Instead, she decided to layer in some Zoloft 50 mg along with Zeldox 40 mg 2 x. this Zeldox. This Zeldox is pricey enough to cost more than $267, and even the Zoloft isn't exactly cheap, though I suppose I don't really have to worry about the bill myself since I'm covered by 🙂.
I was actually pretty apprehensive about starting the Zeldox because I know how heavy it can hit, but at 40mg, it seems to be hitting that sweet spot for me—I haven't struggled with insomnia at all. As for the Zoloft, it feels like it’s lifted my spirits a bit; I'm feeling significantly happier... I guess you could say I'm catching some good vibes.😁
It looks like my therapist might have actually hit the nail on the head regarding what I need.🙂
How is everyone doing? I actually ended up seeing my psychiatrist yesterday, mostly because things have taken a real turn for the worse. I felt like I absolutely had to go, which is unusual for me since I typically skip my check-ups unless it's been about six months or so. 😁 The moment I stepped into her office, she managed to pinpoint three specific things that have spiraled lately: I'm tense, anxious, and just generally on edge.
What I’m really wondering about here... is whether anyone else in this group is taking two different ADs at the same time? See, I’m currently on Effexor, and my doctor mentioned I’m at the maximum dosage. Then she asked me... which AD she should add to the mix, which caught me a bit off guard since I'm already on one of the stronger ones out there. 🙄 She suggested Zoloft, noting that it has shown great results, and from what I've read online, it seems to be a highly regarded option too. She also added Zeldox 40 mg 2 x. o Zeldox to the plan. I'm actually quite familiar with Zeldox because I've used it before; though, back then, I was on those heavy 80mg doses that could probably knock out an elephant. One doctor once told me that Zeldox is excellent once it actually kicks in—usually after a few weeks—and that it's somewhat similar to Zyprexa, except for the fact that you might actually lose weight on Zeldox, whereas Zyprexa can make you gain 50 pounds.
So, I guess I'm just curious if anyone else is balancing two ADs simultaneously? Doesn't that seem... a bit much? ☕
Everything just seems to be sliding downhill lately... I suspect my dose of Valtrex might be a bit too low, though I suppose I've just grown accustomed to it. I'm thinking about getting back on Zoloft, but I need to be careful—not the 80mg version because that just leaves me in a permanent sleep state, maybe the 60mg would be better. As for Zyprexa, it’s honestly terrible; it feels like you just put on fifty pounds the moment you touch it.
I somehow managed to run completely out of my AD, my antipsychotics, and my Normabale over the holiday break... basically everything.🙂 I suppose I was being a bit of an idiot by not accounting for how many days the clinics would actually be closed. When I finally see my nurse, she’s probably going to look at me and think, "Did you really run out of every single thing, or are you just trying to hawk Normabale on the street corner?"🤣
But honestly, guys, running out of an antidepressant is terrifying... you fall right back into that heavy depression I used to feel when I was stuck in those psych wards, which feels almost as gut-wrenching as running out of Heparin.
Back in July, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer pleaded guilty to charges involving the off-label promotion of various medications, ultimately agreeing to pay a massive $3 billion settlement to resolve allegations of fraud.
The United States Department of Justice charged the company with marketing the antidepressant Paxil for pediatric use without authorization, as well as promoting Wellbutrin specifically for weight loss purposes. Additionally, they faced litigation for failing to disclose critical safety data regarding Avandia, a highly popular diabetes medication that has since been pulled from the market.
What on earth am I reading here? Are you people actually considering checking into a facility in El Paso?!🙂 Honestly, don't go destroying your life like that. If you do, they’ll likely just treat you like nothing more than another number in their system.
I find it hard to believe; I mean, why would anyone ever choose to go to El Paso?!
Matthew White4 said:Kenneth Scott41, listen, I’m dealing with a heavy mix of major depression, social anxiety, panic disorder, you name it... I actually manage to keep all that chaos under control using Effexor XR 150 mg plus Sulpiride 200 mg. Right now, things are a bit rough—I'm unemployed and living with my parents, who honestly can't stand being around me. I've already submitted my paperwork for some small business grants, so fingers crossed I can finally open my own little coffee shop. It's funny, because whenever I'm working my tail off 24/7, all these issues and the stress just... vanish. I function perfectly fine when I'm busy. But lately? I’ve spent the last four days curled up in fetal position in bed, only getting up every few hours just to step outside for a cigarette. I think it's time I go see a local psychiatrist here in town.
My issues are pretty much identical to yours, though I don't deal with the social phobia part. I'm on the exact same regimen, too. 🙂 I have to say, once the Effexor finally kicked in after those first few weeks, it practically brought me back from the dead. It really did. Like you, I'm currently living with my parents, and I know our relationship isn't exactly great; I'm painfully aware that I'm a burden and that they're just waiting for the day I finally move out. But honestly, how am I supposed to do that? How can I move out when there's no work available!!!😠
Matthew White4 said:Ever since I started taking Paxil, I haven’t been able to function at all, let alone sleep—I just exist in this constant state of brain fog.
And honestly, I don't get the whole "you're too young for this" attitude from doctors. Being sick isn't an age thing; we can't sleep, we're struggling, and we have every right to ask for actual insomnia medication that works.
I woke up five times last night. At this point, I'm not even going to bother trying. It’s worse than having a newborn...
Back when I was living on my own, I just took 10 mg of Ambien twice and a 0.5 Helex, and I was perfectly happy and actually rested every single day.
I swear, my environment is just draining the life out of me.
Yesterday, I was looking for work down in Miami (even though I'm currently stuck out in rural Ohio).
I'm guessing the lack of sunlight is triggering my anxiety and depression, especially on top of all the family drama...
I live in the Midwest as well. It comes through in your post, and I get the impression that you are constantly working. While you're at the office, you're working—and when you come home, I certainly hope you aren't "bringing" that job and all its baggage back into your house. People tend to do that quite often without even realizing it, inadvertently spreading their own agitation to everyone else in the family. I suspect your core issue might just be stress. I won't go into a full list of every ailment stress can trigger, but it really is the primary catalyst... the spark. A friend of mine here in town, a doctor who focuses heavily on psychotherapy, told me as much. He's an American who has lived in El Paso for quite some time now. I know... I've asked him countless times why he chose to move to this chaotic city of El Paso, where you can practically feel the tension hanging in the air. But anyway, moving on... as I mentioned, I think stress is the root of it for you.
Matthew White4 said:Real talk. At this point, even tossing back 3 or 4 Sanval pills along with 4 Xanax doesn't do squat for me (it’s basically like taking nothing). I tried adding a 10 mg Normabel to the mix; sure, I finally knocked out, but here I am wide awake at 4:30 in the morning...
I gave Ambien a shot too, but I need two of those just to feel anything, and even then, I'm waking up way too early.
Then there was the Cerson—I took two of those and actually slept through the night, so I’ll probably have to ask my psychiatrist if I can stick with that or if there's something even heavier out there.
Basically, I’m drugging myself like a total maniac just to get some shut-eye, because doing this "naturally" is a complete joke. Prozac was absolutely useless for me—literally felt like swallowing a Tic Tac. Zero effect.
So now I'm just sitting here having taken some Xanax SR, 2 or 3 Sanval, 3 or 4 Xanax, and a Normabel, just waiting for my appointment with the psychiatrist.
Man, I hear you. I've been in the same boat. There were times I practically cleared out an entire box of Valium, it was ridiculous.
Back when I was living and working on the coast, all I needed was 2 Sanval and 2 Xanax to feel like a brand new person. But ever since I moved to this depressing, soul-crushing part of the Midwest, sleep has been non-existent.
I totally feel for you. If anyone heads out to pick up a new prescription before I do, let me know...
I’m sorry you’re going through such a hard time. I went through a similar stretch a while back where sleep was just... impossible, no matter what I did. I’ve tried most of the same medications you mentioned, and if I had to say, Ambien was the best for me.👍 It always manages to knock me out. But if even that doesn't work for you, well... I remember this old antipsychotic called Prazina, I think it comes in a red 100mg pill. If you try that, I’d bet anything you’ll sleep like a baby, without fail.😉
Paul Newman5 said:I was on Lexapro and then switched to Lexapro for four weeks. Not sure which one actually messed me up more. I had terrible restlessness, and now I'm off everything—just feeling miserable. My psychiatrist just prescribed Wellbutrin today. Please, let me know if anyone has tried it. Maybe it was mentioned here before, but I can't be bothered scrolling back through all those pages right now.
I ended up on Wellbutrin for about two weeks, though I couldn't really stomach it any longer than that. I felt like I was yawning constantly, my jaw started aching, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking. It creates this sort of restless energy where you feel like you absolutely have to be doing something; you just can't find any peace. At least, that was my experience, anyway. In the end, I went back to my reliable Effexor.🙂