Antidepressants: General Discussion

Look, I don't think you need to force yourself to drink that much water; maybe just stick to drinking when you actually feel thirsty. Honestly, three times a day seems like quite a bit!

Nah, I'm good—just rummaging through the apartment... looking for something

Just stick to 5mg before you hit the hay. Honestly, 5mg used to turn me into a total zombie.

Yeah, tell me about it. I’m over this whole chemical mess... ugh.

Try starting with 2 mg before you hit the sack. If you haven't used stuff like this before, 2 mg might actually be plenty for you. For me, even 2 mg keeps me wide awake at night and carries me right through the next morning.

In any case, taking that medication three times a day sounds like quite a bit. I would suggest just taking it as needed, perhaps only when you're actually trying to get to sleep, or maybe even just taking half a dose if your main goal is simply to calm down a little bit.
Personally, I found that Normabell didn't really work for me; instead of helping me relax, it seemed to make me feel even more on edge than before.
Whenever I'm dealing with PMS, I usually take a 3 mg Lexaurin at night because I can go three or four days without being able to sleep properly, so I find that helps me manage.

So I caught this segment on Good Morning America today: antidepressants versus placebos—apparently, they're basically giving you the exact same effect.👍The only ones actually doing damage are those first-generation meds that just wreck your system!👍

Normabel is a really old-school medication. It’s used for both depression and anxiety, but it's definitely from a different era.
Back when I had the chance to take it, I didn't see a specialist until after the fact. When I finally sat down with my psychiatrist, they told me straight up: this stuff is usually reserved for elderly patients who aren't going to be on it for the next twenty years anyway.
More often than not, you just get it prescribed by a general practitioner.
It can be incredibly addictive, though typically that doesn't kick in unless you've been using it intensively for a few months—say, at least two.
I really hope a psychiatrist was the one who put you on this, and ideally, that it came after a real conversation.
If it wasn't, please, go see someone immediately. Taking this kind of therapy without expert guidance isn't smart in the long run.
You really shouldn't be doing this without a professional.
Look, if you aren't quite ready to commit to regular psychiatric appointments, that is totally okay. But please, at least go once so they can find the right treatment for you.
I know I'm just a layperson here, but from my perspective, the dosage you're taking seems totally vague and unclear; honestly, it could end up doing you more harm than good.
I know things are tough right now. Sending you 🙂 and a prayer.

Susan Diaz91 said:Since I lost my baby about 20 days ago, I've been prescribed Normabel at 5mg, three times a day.

I'm honestly terrified of taking this... what if I get hooked? The label explicitly says it can be addictive.

Has anyone here ever used this stuff? What are your actual experiences with antidepressants, Normabel, Xanax, or anything similar?

Man, that is just heavy. I am so incredibly sorry.
I've never touched that stuff myself, but I know people who have.
If you want my two cents? Don't take it. Instead, try tackling this head-on with these methods—you'll see they actually work:

1) BREATHING EXERCISES. Every single day, set aside at least 10 minutes. Turn off the TV, kill the music, silence everything, and just breathe. If you can, do it in natural light or even out in the sun (that spring sunshine is good for the soul). Deep inhale, long exhale. Do that at least a hundred times.

2) RUNNING. Try to go for a run around 1.2 miles at least twice a week. You’ll be surprised at how much it lifts your mood!

3) GET ACTIVE. Try hitting the gym, doing some Pilates, dancing, or whatever helps you build physical strength. Just remember: when you strengthen the body, you strengthen the mind too.

Personally, since I deal with hypothyroidism, I went through a bit of a depressive funk a couple of years back. But between hormone replacement therapy and everything I just mentioned, I'm totally back to my old self. It just takes persistence and serious discipline. As for those chemicals? Honestly, I don't buy into them. Good luck!

Normabel isn't actually an antidepressant; it’s an anxiolytic. It acts as a central nervous system depressant, and because of that, taking it long-term can actually lead you straight into depression.

Lara, I am so sorry you're going through this. Honestly, I have no idea why anyone would ever prescribe Normabel to you in the first place. I don't know how you're feeling right now, but if you feel like you don't actually need the Normabel anymore, maybe try taking some Vitamin B and magnesium instead? And you should probably look into talking to a solid psychologist. Save the tiny bit of Normabel for those absolute emergency moments when you truly feel like you won't make it through...

Susan Diaz91 said:Since I lost my baby about 20 days ago, they prescribed me Normabel at 5mg, three times a day.

I'm terrified to take it... worried about getting hooked. It says right there it can be addictive.

Has anyone here used this before? What’s your experience been with antidepressants, Normabel, Xanax, or similar stuff?

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. You're going through the grieving process right now, which is completely natural. Grief itself isn't a reason to start antidepressants or anxiolytics. Normabel is an anxiolytic—basically for anxiety.

If you're feeling totally restless and just can't function during the day, maybe take a Normabel. If you've never touched anxiolytics before, even half a pill once in a while might help you settle down. There's no rule saying you have to take them religiously. Honestly, like you said, they can lead to dependency. If you can make it through the day without it, even better...

If you feel like you're sliding into actual depression, talk to your doctor about whether you need antidepressants. Usually, people who are just grieving don't need them—only those with a clinical diagnosis of depression.

Hang in there.

Lara honey, the box says Normabel can actually trigger depression, so that might just backfire on you. I tried that 5mg dose once and honestly, I felt like a total zombie... Just take it at night so you can actually get some sleep, and as for antidepressants, it’s probably better to skip them while you're stuck on bed rest. Leksaurin really pulled me through a rough patch once, but since I have a tendency toward addiction, I still struggle with the urge to go back on them today... You're tough, a real fighter, so you'll be fine if you take them for a few months, or just until you're pregnant again—which, fingers crossed, happens real soon...

Exactly, Normabel is an anxiolytic. A dose of 5 mg three times a day isn't some massive amount—the maximum prescribed is actually double that: 10 mg three times a day. At the end of the day, how your body reacts to any dose is entirely up to you. Some people are knocked sideways by just 5 mg, while others don't even feel like they took anything at all. Besides, Normabel is even given to pregnant women during critical situations. I was prescribed it here and there during my pregnancy just so things similar to what you're going through wouldn't hit me quite so hard—which, honestly, happens all the time in high-risk OBGYN wards.
If you feel like you don't need it, then don't take it. If you can't sleep or just can't make it through the day, maybe try just 2 mg, but don't make it a habit. That's not how you use Normabel.
I'm with you on the breathing exercises, running, and all that. You didn't specify exactly what your symptoms are, though. If it’s "just" grieving, Normabel isn't the real solution—at least not in the long run. If you see a psychologist, they’ll undoubtedly tell you that you need to face what happened and accept it rationally. That’s always the advice, and it's probably true, but man, is it hard to actually do. Whenever we have to sort things out in our own heads, it's a hell of a lot harder than just swallowing a pill. The absolute worst part is when a therapist or psychiatrist tells you that everything depends on *you*. I went through some horrific stuff myself regarding my pregnancy and postpartum period, and I truly believe all of that leaves a mark on your body and your psyche. All that trauma—even if you aren't consciously aware of it—can act as a "trigger" during certain moments, like built-up stress. It's incredibly difficult to just "rationally" move past something like that and pretend it never happened. My grandmother once told me about her mother's experience back in the early 1900s. Let's assume people weren't as bombarded by stress back then; the rhythm of life was completely different. Her mother had eleven children. Two girls (or young women, I don't remember exactly, maybe around the 1920s) died from the Spanish Flu. Decades later, my grandmother asked her mother if, amidst all the other kids and the chaos of the 20th century, those two girls ever crossed her mind. You know what she said? "There isn't a day goes by that I don't think of them." I still tear up every time I remember that, even now. I wanted to share that to illustrate that no amount of Normabel or anything else is going to change what happened to you. You're always going to live with it. It would be good to have someone in your circle you can talk to—you shouldn't keep it bottled up, because suppressing everything is bad news. If you don't have anyone like that, come to this forum. You'll always find someone here to cheer you on. Use Normabel only as a last resort—if you feel your heart racing uncontrollably, or you can't catch your breath, etc.—because those states put a massive strain on your system, so taking Normabel is the lesser of two evils in those moments. I really hope you start feeling better soon; I truly mean that.

mistygull21 said:Normabel isn't an antidepressant—it's an anxiolytic. It's a CNS depressant, which means if you take it long-term, it can actually lead to depression.

Lara, I'm sorry you're going through this. I have no idea why anyone prescribed you Normabel in the first place, and I don't know how you're feeling—but if you feel like you don't need it anymore, just stick to Vitamin B and magnesium, and maybe talk to a decent psychologist. Save the Normabel for those moments when you seriously think you won't make it...

Leads to depression? Who gives a damn about that?

No way am I quitting.

Amanda Lee31 said:Ouch, what a mess. I feel for you.
I’ve never used those, but I know people who have.
My advice? Don't touch them. But please, try dealing with this using these methods—you'll see they actually work:

1) BREATHING EXERCISES. Every single day, spend at least 10 minutes turning off the TV, the music, everything—just do breathing exercises. Ideally in daylight or even out in the sun (that spring sunshine is good for you). Deep inhale, long exhale. Do it at least a hundred times.

2) RUNNING. Try to go for a run around 1.2 miles at least twice a week. You'll see how much it lifts your mood!

3) WORKING OUT. Try fitness, Pilates, dancing—anything to strengthen your body. Just remember: strengthening the body strengthens the spirit.

Since I deal with hypothyroidism, I went through a bit of a depressive patch two years ago, but hormone replacement therapy combined with everything I just mentioned has brought me right back to normal. You just have to be persistent and very disciplined. As for those chemicals—skip them. Personally, I don't buy into it. Good luck!

Amanda Lee31, thanks, dear. I would do everything you suggested, but I'm currently in the postpartum period and can't do any strenuous activity for 40 days. So, from everything you listed... for now, I'm stuck with just the breathing exercises.

I'm not one for Normabel or Apaurin... honestly, the thought of them makes me cringe.

Because with stuff like that, you just sleep all day and stop caring about anything!

You need to process trauma, not suppress it. To me, those Normabels are just a way of pushing things from the conscious mind into the subconscious.

And you know what they say: "Everything you consciously suppress, your subconscious will eventually throw back at you with a vengeance."

Susan Diaz91 said:You have to work through trauma, actually live through it... you can't just push it down. For me, taking Normabel feels exactly like pushing things from my conscious mind straight into my subconscious.

And you know what they say: 'everything you consciously suppress will eventually come back to haunt you cruelly.'[/B]

You put that perfectly, and I am truly sorry for what happened and what you're going through right now...
I was actually prescribed Normabel during my pregnancy, though I rarely took it because I was essentially on "bed rest" anyway. That dosage they gave you is enough to leave some people dragging themselves through the day or sleeping it off entirely (depending on their body weight).
Once I finished breastfeeding, I became a "mild" addict. I couldn't fall asleep without them, and getting off them was an uphill battle.
It’s a cycle: stress, nerves, exhaustion, insomnia, and suddenly, you're dependent...
If you're going to take them, only do it when you're genuinely feeling terrible. Try not to make it a daily ritual; for instance, after a short while, a single 2mg tablet wasn't enough for me anymore—I found myself needing two just to function.

Amanda Lee31 said:Ouch—that’s rough. I feel for you.
I've never used it myself, but I know people who have.
My advice? Don't go there. Instead, try working through this—you'll see it actually helps:

1) BREATHING EXERCISES. Every single day, spend at least 10 minutes turning off the TV, the music, everything, and just breathe. If you can, do it in daylight or even out in the sun (that spring sunshine does wonders). Deep inhale, long exhale. Do it at least a hundred times.

2) RUNNING. Try hitting a run at least twice a week around 1.2 miles. You'll be surprised how much it lifts your mood!

3) WORKING OUT. Try fitness, Pilates, dancing—anything to strengthen your body. Just remember: strengthening the body strengthens the spirit.

Since I deal with hypothyroidism, I went through a bit of a depressive patch about two years ago. Between hormone replacement therapy and everything I just listed, I'm back to being totally myself. It just takes persistence and serious discipline. As for those chemicals—forget them. Personally, I don't buy into it. Good luck!

Thanks, dear... for the friendly advice. Unfortunately, so many women endure the tragedy of losing a baby, but they just stay silent about it (something you really have to process internally). I hope that one day I'll hold my own angel in my arms, and as for this little angel who never made it into this world—they'll be watching over me (watching over their mom), and they are someone I will always pray for.

Kisses

Susan Diaz91 said:Thank you, dear... for the kind advice. Unfortunately, so many women go through the tragedy of losing a child, but they tend to stay silent about it (it's something you just have to process internally). I suppose I hope that one day I will hold my own little angel in my arms, and perhaps this angel who didn't make it into this world will watch over me—protecting their mother—and someone for whom I will always offer a prayer.

Sending love,

Oh, Susan, this truly touched my heart. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult all of this has been for you. It's just heartbreaking.
From the bottom of my heart, I hope you get to hold your little angel very soon.

Lara, I’ve been following your story, but I haven't jumped into your threads because, honestly, I didn't have anything particularly brilliant to contribute.

But I had to chime in here. Seriously, please don't start popping that junk. What kind of god is going to bless you with those pathetic little pills? Half the garbage doctors shove at us just to get us out of their office works on nothing more than a placebo effect anyway. Reading through your posts, it's pretty obvious you're a tough one, and I really don't think you need those kinds of mental "adjusters." Give me a break. You'll get through this on your own without relying on candy. Doctors prescribe heavy stuff like Normabel, Leksaurin, or Praksitene mostly out of pure habit... just to get rid of you... offering a little comfort to the weak-willed who lack any real backbone.
I don't see you being one of those types, so just skip it.

I know way too many people who tried to fix their entire lives with a pill and ended up making everything a hell of a lot worse. Don't do it. You don't need to be numbed out; you need total clarity instead.
Time. Time is what actually helps; time heals everything.

brisktinker15 said:Lara, I’ve been reading through your story—and look, I haven't jumped into your other threads because, honestly, I didn't feel like I had anything profound to contribute.

But here? Here, I have to say something. For the love of God, please don't start popping that junk. What is some random deity going to do for you with those pathetic little pills?! Half the garbage doctors shove at us just to get us out of their offices works on nothing more than a placebo effect anyway. Reading your posts, it’s crystal clear that you're a tough person—you've got backbone—and I seriously doubt you need those mental "adjusters." Give me a break. You're going to pull through this on your own without relying on little candy-coated crutches. Doctors prescribe heavy hitters like Normabel, Leksaurin, or Praksitene almost by reflex... just to get rid of you... as a sort of consolation prize for people who lack actual grit.
I don't see you being one of those types, so just—don't.

I know way too many people who tried to fix their entire lives with a pill bottle, only to end up in a much deeper hole. Don't do it. You don't need to be numbed out; you need the exact opposite—absolute, razor-sharp clarity.
Time. Time is what does the work. It heals everything eventually.

I am 100% with this.

I am so incredibly sorry about the baby. 😢

Hang in there. 🙂