Posts by Mark Nelson

redranger2 said:My doctor put me straight on 50 mg of Q-pin; it knocked me out instantly, but the effect was far too fleeting, so I had to keep bumping up the dosage. I think I eventually hit 200 mg and even that wasn't enough. However, the side effects were unbearable, so my doctor pulled it immediately. It does put you to sleep beautifully, though.

Right now, I'm on Vaira (olanzapine) at 15 mg, but I've been dealing with heart palpitations, so I was prescribed beta-blockers—yet my heart is still racing, making me think I'll have to stop those as well. My doctor admitted he's running out of options for my insomnia. He mentioned that Lopressor is excellent for sleep, but warned it's a heavy-duty medication with significant side effects, so he'd rather not play games with it. Falling asleep is such an ordeal for me; honestly, I feel like I'd have better luck just hitting myself in the head with a hammer every night.😁

I guess it varies from person to person. It's weird to me because I've been taking it for almost a year now and it doesn't actually help me sleep. As for side effects, the only thing I've really noticed is weight gain, but honestly, I'm not even sure about that—I've just been eating a whole lot lately.🤷

casualgardener17 said:Why are you guys messing around with all those chemicals during late-stage pregnancy anyway...🤷

Where exactly are you seeing a pregnancy here? 😕

fadedbear92 said:It's an atypical antipsychotic

The medication guide actually mentions it—if you look at the side effects section, it says missed periods can happen

The instructions always suggest reaching out to your prescribing physician if you notice any side effects

If you have your doctor's cell number, you could always give them a quick ring—since you already have an appointment set, how many days has it actually been since your period was due? It might just show up in the meantime
I don't think there's any reason to panic, but if it's really stressing you out, just call your doctor or a pharmacist

It’s not that it’s late, it’s more like it just stopped halfway through my cycle. I’m hoping I can just wait until the fall, like the end of this month🤷
My appointment is September 23rd
Thanks 😉

fadedbear92 said:Yeah, absolutely.

Certain medications

Any drug involving hormones—whether we're talking about thyroid hormones or antipsychotics,—can definitely impact your cycle. It’s important to remember that no single hormone operates in a vacuum. They all work in sync and travel through your bloodstream; they're all interconnected, even if they're produced by totally different glands.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/hormonal-cycle

Elevated Prolactin Levels: The pituitary gland produces prolactin, which is responsible for stimulating milk production. However, high levels of prolactin in women who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding can actually inhibit ovulation, leading to amenorrhea. High prolactin levels might also point toward a pituitary tumor. If you experience milk production when you aren't pregnant or nursing (a condition called galactorrhea), that's a symptom of elevated prolactin that needs medical attention. Some medications, such as oral contraceptives and certain antipsychotics, can also bump up those prolactin concentrations.
http://www.webmd.com/women-s-health/hormone-disorders

3. Medications

Specific drugs can cause periods to stop entirely, including several types:

Antipsychotics
Chemotherapy drugs
Antidepressants
Blood pressure medication

http://www.healthline.com/medications-and-treatment

Does Seroquel fall under that category? My cycle has been totally wonky since my doctor bumped up my Seroquel dose, even though I’ve been on it for three months already without noticing anything... until now. Should I be calling my doctor right away because of this, or is it fine to just wait until my scheduled appointment?*

Thanks for the detailed breakdown 🙏

Edit- *my appointment isn't until late September.

Is it actually possible for birth control pills to mess with your period?

Maybe you should try to "join forces" with another family member? You know, someone actually reasonable, if anyone like that even exists in your house.

So, are you one of those people who gets self-destructive when you're flying solo? And what does that actually look like for you, specifically? What kind of "self-destruction" are we talking about here?

Roger Bennett62 said:So, I’m stopping the Lexapro on August 3rd, though honestly, I’m not even sure why. I feel pretty good—had a little stomach trouble for a couple of days, but nothing crazy. It’s been an okay process, really. I’ve bounced around different antidepressants for years, but now it just feels like I don't need them anymore. I don't feel bad, no withdrawal stuff hitting me, but I still feel this weird sense of responsibility, you know? Like, I don't want to mess things up because people can get into trouble when they decide to go rogue on their own meds... It’s already been 15 days and I’m feeling great. Just stuck wondering if I should keep going or just call it quits with 🙂

Sent from my G2

Please, don't do it on your own. I tried quitting Seroquel cold turkey once, and while I felt alright for a little bit, it eventually caught up to me. I suffered a psychotic break and ended up hospitalized.

electrichound3 said:Honestly, the side effects from Effexor were the mildest I've dealt with, aside from that constant lump in my throat—which was incredibly uncomfortable; even Normabest didn't touch it. At least I had some energy, unlike when I was on Faverin, where I felt like I'd been beaten half to death and had a million mosquitoes buzzing in my head... something like that. 🙂 As for the benzos, no major side effects, just a little drowsiness and this sensation like I've been turned to concrete... everything feels totally numb. 😂

It doesn't really turn me into concrete; if anything, I'd say it just relaxes me quite nicely.
I've also noticed more energy since bumping up my dose of Leponex. Before, I was constantly lying around, and everyone kept nagging me about it, but now I'm actually moving around and getting things done.
I guess we just need to give it some time until the right therapy finally clicks.

electrichound3 said:Lorsilan belongs to the benzodiazepine group, which are the heavy hitters when it comes to anxiety. My doctor prescribed Ativan for me; as soon as I take it, I'm calm. I only used it at the very beginning when I was prescribed Faverin—I had to stop because the side effects were unbearable—and again when I was starting Effexor. I took it consistently for maybe a month. I asked my doctor if I could get hooked, and she said no, that such a short duration wouldn't lead to dependency. Now, I don't use it at all. I have no intention of becoming addicted. I'll only reach for it during major, high-stress events. Psych meds definitely helped me manage psychotic episodes, there's no denying that, but beyond that... look, I never really struggled with depression. It was always that stupid, crushing anxiety that just wrecked my psyche because it spiraled out of control. My doctor thinks it's just genetic inheritance. And honestly? I react terribly to psych meds. Doctors don't have a clue why it varies so much—one person feels great, another feels awful—but for me, the side effects are devastating. They completely floor me and leave me incapacitated for a long time. Sure, you have to push through the adjustment period, and benzos can help you cope, but man, I end up feeling like a zombie. With Faverin, I couldn't even get out of bed for more than a month. I was on 50 mg, then briefly bumped to 100 mg, started losing weight, and felt a sudden wave of depression hit me. That part actually terrified me, so I switched over to Effexor immediately. That one gave me diarrhea within a few days, which was a surprise, but the main issue is that my words get jumbled and I feel pretty high😁 ...so I really need to calm down.

makar Effexor might actually work for you so you don't have to suffer anymore. 😉From what I hear, the side effects from that one aren't quite that brutal
Do you get side effects from the benzos?
This is kind of off-topic, but whenever I need to calm down, I just lie down in bed, close my eyes, and stay like that for a while. It usually helps, though I still deal with that anxiety that hits me whenever I'm out in public. That's why I take Lorsilan before I head out the door

electrichound3 said:Yeah, it’s a hell of a struggle... regardless of what meds I'm on, it still catches me off guard now and then. Even something as simple as having a cup of Nespresso can trigger an immediate wave of anxiety. It wasn't like this before I started any medication. Ideally, I should just quit caffeine altogether, but I refuse—it's one of my few little pleasures. Honestly, I even get the feeling that my Valfax might be spiking my anxiety levels... I swear, I just can't catch a break with these psychotropic drugs. It's enough to drive you insane.🙂

Lorsilan helps me when the anxiety gets bad. But it’s a bit of a trap, and you shouldn't really be taking it every single day. Still, it feels pointless to torture myself—and everyone else around me—by dealing with constant anxiety and all those endless conversations about it.
Have any of these psych meds actually done anything for you? Like, nothing at all hasn't helped? What is your doctor even saying about all this?

electrichound3 said:Yeah, those are classic antipsychotic side effects. I only took Sanval for a little while at the very start of my treatment... but the sleep quality was pretty terrible.

For me, that went away once my doctor bumped up my dose of Leponex. Since then, my gaze feels normal again.
The fact that your sleep is finally improving suggests you might be heading in the right direction. 🙂
All I know is that beating anxiety is a brutal fight. Lately, though, things have been feeling a little easier for me on that front..

electrichound3 said:Look, they’ve tried just about everything with me, but nothing sticks. I haven't had a single positive reaction to any of it. Even my doctor was baffled—honestly, she was pretty stunned. Instead of feeling better, I just felt worse. It got to the point where they were actually afraid to prescribe anything else because I'm such a unique case. The side effects were brutal. I was getting those awful eye spasms from the antipsychotics—just staring upward uncontrollably. It was disgusting. Then there was the Cogentin; that stuff completely wiped me out. One day, I practically lost all sense of time and space. I had absolutely no idea what was happening around me; I couldn't remember a single thing. At least it stopped the staring at the ceiling, though. Small mercies, I guess. 🙂Some people respond beautifully to psychotropic meds, while others don't react at all. Honestly, even the psychiatrists can't quite wrap their heads around why it varies so much. I’ve been reading online, and apparently, it’s all down to individual chemistry. As for sleep—man, when I was on antipsychotics, I couldn't get a wink of shut-eye without Sanval. Even then, I was only getting a few hours here and there. Now? I'm not taking anything for sleep anymore. Things finally leveled out on their own.

electrichound3 said:Look, they’ve tried just about everything with me, but nothing sticks. I haven't had a single positive reaction to any of it. Even my doctor was baffled—honestly, she was pretty stunned. Instead of feeling better, I just felt worse. It got to the point where they were actually afraid to prescribe anything else because I'm such a unique case. The side effects were brutal. I was getting those awful eye spasms from the antipsychotics—just staring upward uncontrollably. It was disgusting. Then there was the Cogentin; that stuff completely wiped me out. One day, I practically lost all sense of time and space. I had absolutely no idea what was happening around me; I couldn't remember a single thing. At least it stopped the staring at the ceiling, though. Small mercies, I guess. 🙂Some people respond beautifully to psychotropic meds, while others don't react at all. Honestly, even the psychiatrists can't quite wrap their heads around why it varies so much. I’ve been reading online, and apparently, it’s all down to individual chemistry. As for sleep—man, when I was on antipsychotics, I couldn't get a wink of shut-eye without Sanval. Even then, I was only getting a few hours here and there. Now? I'm not taking anything for sleep anymore. Things finally leveled out on their own.

I can't believe we’re dealing with the exact same symptom. I honestly thought that weird "eyes rolling upward" thing was just happening to me. Maybe I'm not going crazy after all.
I was on Cogentin myself once... honestly, I didn't deal with any side effects from it. That weird upward eye roll thing? Yeah, I had that too, right when the panic attacks and those intrusive thoughts really started hitting me.

electrichound3 said:Look, they’ve tried just about everything with me, but nothing sticks. I haven't had a single positive reaction to any of it. Even my doctor was baffled—honestly, she was pretty stunned. Instead of feeling better, I just felt worse. It got to the point where they were actually afraid to prescribe anything else because I'm such a unique case. The side effects were brutal. I was getting those awful eye spasms from the antipsychotics—just staring upward uncontrollably. It was disgusting. Then there was the Cogentin; that stuff completely wiped me out. One day, I practically lost all sense of time and space. I had absolutely no idea what was happening around me; I couldn't remember a single thing. At least it stopped the staring at the ceiling, though. Small mercies, I guess. 🙂Some people respond beautifully to psychotropic meds, while others don't react at all. Honestly, even the psychiatrists can't quite wrap their heads around why it varies so much. I’ve been reading online, and apparently, it’s all down to individual chemistry. As for sleep—man, when I was on antipsychotics, I couldn't get a wink of shut-eye without Sanval. Even then, I was only getting a few hours here and there. Now? I'm not taking anything for sleep anymore. Things finally leveled out on their own.

I’m sleeping great. Honestly, maybe even too much. I haven't even touched any sleep aids, which is wild considering I'm still taking two antipsychotics.
Man, Sanval really did a number on my mom when she was taking it. It was pretty rough. I guess it’s just great that you finally managed to get rid of it. 🙂

electrichound3 said:I definitely struggled... honestly, at the start of my treatment, I had all these urinary issues—constant trips to the bathroom. It wasn't enough to make me lose my mind, but there were no infections either. My blood pressure shot through the roof, but the doctors didn't even blink. Then Zyprexa sent my blood sugar soaring. As for myself, I felt totally disconnected; walking down the street, I couldn't even process things like cars passing by. It was a mental fog I'll never forget. My memory was shot—I couldn't concentrate, couldn't even read properly—I basically hit total amnesia. I lost my period for a good year, then my right hand just stopped working, shaking like a leaf. It was pure horror; more harm than good at times. I had derealization, though that subsided quickly. Regarding that rash you mentioned, it's almost certainly from the pills, but your doctor will never admit it. I learned that the hard way—my own doctor tried telling me certain side effects weren't caused by the meds, but they were. I know my body better than they do, whether I'm on them or off, but of course, they don't want to scare us. I was put on Paxil for anxiety, and my god, I couldn't even get out of bed. My head was buzzing, depression was clawing at me, and my appetite vanished. I couldn't handle it, so I switched to Effexor. That was better, but for two solid months, I felt this constant lump in my throat 24/7, along with nausea. So yeah, I have a bad history with these pills. For anxiety, you really have to train your mind—stay active, try to think positively. It isn't easy, obviously, because it's wired into us. You have to face the fear, and once you realize nothing actually happened, you start seeing things more realistically. And whatever is eating at you, let it out. Don't bottle it up; that's what triggers the attacks.

I have to say, that sounds pretty terrifying. I'm so sorry you had to deal with all that.😢
I had vision problems too; my eyes would just drift upward, and those intrusive thoughts were absolute torture.

Have they even tried finding a med that actually works for you? I don't know, it doesn't feel like they're doing everything they can.🤷 I mean, that's just my impression.

Chris Robinson25 said:I've heard all sorts of things about this med.
A friend of mine was on Haldon for a long time, and on pretty high doses, too. It didn't exactly work wonders for her.

That's an old-school drug, as far as I know. It didn't sit right with me either; my fingers used to lock up—and I play guitar, so that's a big deal. I don't know if it was the pill, but the timing was suspicious. My GP even suggested it might have been the medication.

electrichound3 said:Of course we all want to be free from pills, but sometimes we need them just to make life livable. I’m a total wreck sometimes; my anxiety can skyrocket and just drain the life out of me. Things are getting better, though. People say you should just redirect your focus when it happens, but I know firsthand that isn't easy. That way of thinking just crawls into your brain and stays there. I was prescribed Solanax early in my treatment, but I only stayed on it for a couple of days before I developed extrapyramidal symptoms. I froze up, had to get an injection of Cogentin immediately, and finally felt okay again. But they stopped giving it to me. You’re lucky you respond so well to antipsychotics... like Zyprexa... As for my weight, yeah, it fluctuated. There were phases where I had no appetite, followed by phases of binge eating. I haven't been on antipsychotics for over five years now, and I haven't had any psychotic symptoms since. I was on them for three years; I think it was Risperdal at 2 mg, and toward the end of my treatment, I was only taking half a pill before they tapered me off. How long have you been on your current regimen?

Man, you really went through the ringer, didn't you?😢
As far as side effects go, when I first started Seroquel, I broke out in this nasty rash that was itching like crazy. My doctor tried to tell me it wasn't from the Seroquel, but honestly, the timing felt way too perfect for it to be anything else. Eventually, the itching cleared up, so I just kept going with the Seroquel.
I've been on psych meds on and off since July 2011—so about three years total, give or take.
I originally started on Quetiapine to deal with some depersonalization and derealization issues. It helped a bit, and I ended up doing group therapy too.

Around month three of last year, I ended up hospitalized with an F23.2 diagnosis. I actually had to switch psychiatrists because my old one works in pediatric psych, and they wouldn't admit me there since they only take patients up to 18, and I was already 19.
Since I live in NYC, I ended up being treated over at the Brooklyn facility.
While I was there, I was on a cocktail of Haldol, Zyprexa, and Cogentin... along with a ton of dose adjustments that would be way too much of a headache to list out right now. These days, I'm taking Lopomin, Seroquel, Lamictal, and Lorazepam.
So yeah, that's my messy little history with meds and treatment..

Do you have any actual advice on how to beat panic attacks and anxiety? 🙂

electrichound3 said:Hey, hey there. I’ve been dealing with a similar diagnosis since July 23rd... they told me the same thing, that maybe I'll be on meds forever, or maybe not—it's all very individual, I guess. When the psychosis was actually hitting me, man, it was brutal. It all stemmed from having a super stressful life since I was a kid. As for antipsychotics, I was on Zyprexa and that stuff just made everything worse; I practically lost my grip on reality, so they had to pull me off it. Then I switched to Risperdal and that finally brought me back to my senses, though the side effects at first were rough. My doctor slowly tapered me down until I was off the antipsychotics entirely. Honestly, I struggled with them so much. But, after several years since that episode, the psychotic breaks are gone. Now I just deal with anxiety, which has been a thing since childhood. My doctor says I just inherited this kind of temperament, so I guess I just have to make peace with it. I'm just on low doses of antidepressants now. Don't stress too much about how long you'll be popping pills; I mean, people take insulin for life, right? Just try to keep stress levels down if you can, stay active, and I personally take B-complex supplements. Life knocks you down sometimes, but I guess we just have to get back up and keep moving. 😉

My situation is actually the exact opposite. I react pretty well to the meds, but I'd still love to be "normal" and medication-free one day, if I'm being honest. It's not like it's the most important thing in the world to me right now, though. I'm okay with things staying exactly as they are, and I'd be more than happy to just keep going like this. 🙂
But even so, it doesn't exactly sound great to be dependent on something, and I think anyone would want to be free from that.
I struggle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts too, but usually, once I take some Lorazepam, I feel better. Everyone gives me the same old advice—tell me to just distract myself, go do this or that—but how are you supposed to do that when it's this overwhelming feeling that just drowns you? It's not like it's voluntary. I don't know if that means I'm addicted or what. Anyway, my doctor just bumped up my Solanax dose, so hopefully, I can stop the Lorazepam. We'll see how it goes, I guess.

I was on Zyprexa too. Did the severity vary for you while you were taking it?
I gained weight, so my doctor decided it wasn't the right fit for me and switched me from Zyprexa to Lamictal instead. I feel pretty good on it.
So, let me get this straight—you aren't on an antidepressant, and you aren't having psychotic symptoms anymore, if I understood you correctly? How long were you on the antipsychotics?

fadedbear92 said:I really hope someone reaches out to you; you can find more in this thread.

personal experiences.

As for your mom, she’s just going to have to face reality—I mean, what other choice is there besides hospitalization? Neither you nor her would want that, let's be honest.
It's great that you're feeling better on the meds—it means they're actually working for you.

I've been hospitalized before, and let me tell you, it was rough for both me and my mom. I totally agree that you just have to pick the "lesser of two evils," if you can even call it that. Honestly, I've felt so much better since my doctor finally got my prescription cocktail sorted out—I actually have energy again, which was nonexistent before.

Thanks a ton for the links.

Is there anyone else on here who’s dealt with psychotic disorder and actually managed to go totally off the meds? Like, is there even a real chance at getting better and leaving this stuff behind?

My doctor brought it up during my checkup, basically saying I might be stuck on these pills forever. Now I can't even find a way to break the news to my mom without feeling like a failure.😢
I've been diagnosed with F23.2, and honestly, I feel pretty good right now.

[No text provided to rewrite]

fadedbear92 said:Valium doesn't really cut it for severe insomnia. I took it back when Effexor was keeping me wide awake, then they switched me to Ambien. That only lasted about an hour—and that's the stuff they usually give you right before surgery.🙄
If we're talking about serious insomnia, doctors often look toward antiepileptics or antipsychotics.

Did you get an official diagnosis? What kind of diagnosis do you have?

Seroquel is an antipsychotic; the name itself implies it's for psychosis, but in higher doses... while in lower doses, it's used for anxiety and insomnia.

What dose are you taking for sleep? I also take an antipsychotic—Quinn at 100 mg for sleep—and I'm happy with it. For anxiety, I take 25 mg, which works great too.

As far as Lorazepam goes—
"Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine group with intermediate onset. It has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and slightly muscle relaxant and sedative effects."

They probably should have prescribed you a low dose of Seroquel for the anxiety instead, which might mean you wouldn't even need the Lorazepam. You should try consulting with her about that.

My doctor prescribed Valium along with my AP, but I didn't touch the AP because of the insomnia. He actually gave me the Valium just in case the anxiety and all that other misery kept me from falling asleep. Honestly, I slept perfectly fine once I started taking the AP (Quetiapine), so I only tried the Valium once out of pure curiosity. I didn't really notice any difference, I guess.

fadedbear92 said:Valium doesn't really cut it for severe insomnia. I took it back when Effexor was keeping me wide awake, then they switched me to Ambien. That only lasted about an hour—and that's the stuff they usually give you right before surgery.🙄
If we're talking about serious insomnia, doctors often look toward antiepileptics or antipsychotics.

Did you get an official diagnosis? What kind of diagnosis do you have?

Seroquel is an antipsychotic; the name itself implies it's for psychosis, but in higher doses... while in lower doses, it's used for anxiety and insomnia.

What dose are you taking for sleep? I also take an antipsychotic—Quinn at 100 mg for sleep—and I'm happy with it. For anxiety, I take 25 mg, which works great too.

As far as Lorazepam goes—
"Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine group with intermediate onset. It has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and slightly muscle relaxant and sedative effects."

They probably should have prescribed you a low dose of Seroquel for the anxiety instead, which might mean you wouldn't even need the Lorazepam. You should try consulting with her about that.

Back in 2011, when I was on Quetiapine, I was dealing with some heavy depersonalization and derealization issues, plus those constant OCD loops—F44 stuff, you know? At first, my doctor didn't have me on any antidepressants. But after I'd been on the Quetiapine for a few months, they decided to add Zoloft to the mix. That was the whole situation back then.

fadedbear92 I think you're missing the point here. Honestly, I don't know what to tell you. It's just one of those things, I guess. Maybe we're all just looking for something that isn't there. It’s exhausting, really. Just my two cents. Seroquel is an antipsychotic. I mean, the name pretty much gives it away—it’s meant for psychosis. But when you start cranking up the dosage, things get complicated. It's used for all sorts of stuff, but at those higher levels, it's usually to deal with... well, you know. I guess it depends on what you're trying to fix. Maybe it works for some, maybe it doesn't. Who knows? It's a heavy hitter, for sure. It’s used in low doses for anxiety and insomnia, I guess. Maybe that's why people take it.

I was taking it to deal with those subpsychotic symptoms—you know, that specific kind of mental fog and agitation. That's how it was prescribed, I guess. 😁
Back then, my biggest issue—the thing that really messed with me—was that constant feeling of depersonalization and derealization. It’s hard to explain, but everything just felt... off. Like I wasn't quite there, or nothing was actually real. I guess that was my main struggle during that stretch.

I guess I’ll just start by saying that everything feels pretty heavy lately. It’s hard to wrap my head around how much things have shifted. I mean, maybe I'm just being cynical, but it feels like we're all just spinning our wheels. Honestly? It's exhausting. I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking it. But anyway, here's what I think about it.

fadedbear92 Asks: What dose are you taking to actually get some sleep?

I haven't touched Seroquel in over a year and a half. Everything changed after I ended up hospitalized with an F23.2 diagnosis. After that whole ordeal, I switched doctors and completely overhauled my medication regimen. These days, I'm on Clozaril, Lamictal, Perphenazine, and Lormetazepam.

I guess I should start by saying that life isn't exactly a walk in the park. It’s more like a slog through knee-deep mud, honestly. I’ve been sitting here thinking about everything lately—all the noise, all the chaos—and it just feels heavy. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just getting old and tired of the whole circus. But anyway, here goes nothing.

fadedbear92 said:Valium doesn't really cut it for severe insomnia. I took it back when Effexor was keeping me wide awake, then they switched me to Ambien. That only lasted about an hour—and that's the stuff they usually give you right before surgery.🙄
If we're talking about serious insomnia, doctors often look toward antiepileptics or antipsychotics.

Did you get an official diagnosis? What kind of diagnosis do you have?

Seroquel is an antipsychotic; the name itself implies it's for psychosis, but in higher doses... while in lower doses, it's used for anxiety and insomnia.

What dose are you taking for sleep? I also take an antipsychotic—Quinn at 100 mg for sleep—and I'm happy with it. For anxiety, I take 25 mg, which works great too.

As far as Lorazepam goes—
"Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine group with intermediate onset. It has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and slightly muscle relaxant and sedative effects."

They probably should have prescribed you a low dose of Seroquel for the anxiety instead, which might mean you wouldn't even need the Lorazepam. You should try consulting with her about that.

Honestly, this stuff totally carries me. It’s great. I usually take it right before I head out so the anxiety and panic don't catch me off guard. It works 🙂

fadedbear92 said:Valium doesn't really cut it for severe insomnia. I took it back when Effexor was keeping me wide awake, then they switched me to Ambien. That only lasted about an hour—and that's the stuff they usually give you right before surgery.🙄
If we're talking about serious insomnia, doctors often look toward antiepileptics or antipsychotics.

Did you get an official diagnosis? What kind of diagnosis do you have?

Seroquel is an antipsychotic; the name itself implies it's for psychosis, but in higher doses... while in lower doses, it's used for anxiety and insomnia.

What dose are you taking for sleep? I also take an antipsychotic—Quinn at 100 mg for sleep—and I'm happy with it. For anxiety, I take 25 mg, which works great too.

As far as Lorazepam goes—
"Lorazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine group with intermediate onset. It has anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and slightly muscle relaxant and sedative effects."

They probably should have prescribed you a low dose of Seroquel for the anxiety instead, which might mean you wouldn't even need the Lorazepam. You should try consulting with her about that.

My current Dr didn't prescribe Seroquel; I haven't touched that in ages. I actually switched doctors in the meantime. She bumped up my Clozaril dose to help me taper off the Lormetazepam, but I still feel like I need it, I guess. I have a follow-up appointment in mid-August, so we'll see how things go from there.

mistyjackal842 said:For sleeping, I have Fluzepam, and I think it’s actually quite good—probably better than Lorsilan or things like that. It seems better than Sanval, too. One evening, I took 15 mg of Fluzepam and then half a 10 mg Lexapro the next morning. Well, I was just following what my previous doctor had instructed me to do. But man, I slept so hard that I couldn't even wake up until 4:00 PM. It was a Saturday and I was home alone. I got really scared by how deeply I was out. When I finally did wake up, I felt incredibly exhausted, almost like I hadn't slept at all. Then my doctor suggested that maybe I shouldn't be taking Lexapro in the evening, even though it isn't usually taken then. So now, I’m not taking anything at all. I just sleep... or don't sleep... whenever it happens. I'm just waiting for my doctor to get back from her vacation so I can go in and talk to her properly.

I think they give children the 15 mg dose of Fluzepam, maybe before surgery or something? For adults, it's usually 30 mg, and when I asked about it, he seemed to think I had taken the stronger version at night. Usually, the 15 mg Fluzepam isn't expensive, maybe just $5.00. They gave me one box based on my medical history. There are 10 tablets in a pack. Lexapro is terribly expensive without a prescription; I think it's $53 or even more.

I tried Valium once—don't really know the dose—and it didn't make me sleepy at all. Seroquel was plenty for me; I slept way too much on that, even though I wasn't even taking it specifically for sleep.
I take Lorazepam regularly for the anxiety that hits me sometimes, but even that doesn't help me sleep. My dad used to nag me about my sleep issues, and he thought it worked 🤷
I'm a little scared of getting addicted to Lorazepam, but what am I supposed to do when I'm totally non-functional because panic and fear are tearing me apart? They say you shouldn't use it for more than four weeks straight. My doctor doesn't complain about me taking it every day, so I just kind of ignored that warning.