Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Gregory Alvarez83 said:Has anyone here actually managed to wean themselves off these types of pills—or even break away from their psychiatrist entirely?
I’ve seen a few different doctors, and honestly, my impression is that they just exploit the situation by endlessly renewing prescriptions.
I’ve been on Xanax for about 4 or 5 years now, usually taking between 2 and 4 mg.
I want to get off this stuff so badly, but I just can't. It’s absolute hell when I miss a dose.
Does anyone have experience using herbal remedies, maybe some St. John's Wort or something similar, just to help me stop the Xanax? I feel like a total addict.
How did I end up becoming so dependent on Xanax?!!?

Well, my friend, welcome to the club.🙂
I mean, it’s easy to say how great those Elon Musks felt, isn't it? No one can tell you otherwise because you're so relaxed—everything feels fine until... well, once you're hooked, it gets ugly, and you really have to figure out a way out. Honestly, the withdrawal from this stuff is worse than heroin, if you ask me, and it absolutely shreds your nervous system.
If you want, I could show you a video on YouTube of someone who went cold turkey... but ugh, it’s so nauseating I think I'll pass.

Look... maybe try my approach, because I was stuck in that same loop and eventually managed to get clean. The real issue is that most people don't realize how addictive it is, so whenever I talked to doctors, they just looked at me like I was crazy with their little questionnaires.

The way I handled it was by tapering down by 1mg every single week until I hit zero; it took me about six months. It’s a grueling process, I won't lie, but it worked.
I know it sounds like a long haul... and please, don't even ask me how much I used to take myself.😁 🤣
But if you think you're strong enough, you could try dropping 2mg a week... good luck to you.

Larry Lewis said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about this—and honestly, life is just one long series of questionable decisions—but I’ve been taking 3mg of Risperdal every single night for about six months now. And, if I’m being totally honest, my headspace has actually improved quite a bit... which is a miracle in itself, given the general state of the world. I didn't exactly get it through the traditional, bureaucratic channels—you know how the healthcare system here can be a total nightmare of red tape and endless paperwork—but I managed to track it down and secure it myself because, frankly, I was already using it and knew I needed it. It's a strange way to navigate things, I know, but sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.
It was about ten years ago—just a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things, really—but I distinctly recall feeling... well, alright. It’s strange how the mind works, isn't it? One minute you're drifting through the fog of time, and the next, a memory surfaces—vivid, clear, and surprisingly pleasant. Back then, life felt manageable—actually, it felt good. I remember it clearly, even if the details have since blurred around the edges like an old photograph left out in the sun.
I’m really not one to second-guess a medical professional—I mean, they spent years in school for a reason, right?—so I won't weigh in on what your doctor is suggesting, but let's assume the guy actually knows his stuff.
Look, it doesn't cost you a dime to give it a shot—I mean, if it doesn't work out, what's the harm? Why not? I’m telling you, it made a massive difference for me.

P.S.—I can’t say I experienced any side effects from it—none at all. Truly.

It seems like that medication is actually quite old.

Kenneth Scott41 said:It seems like that medication is actually quite old.

Abilify is over 50 years old—and it still works wonders—so that shouldn't really mean anything at all.😉

http://www.depression.org/forum/index...172&#entry9172

http://psychologyforum.com/forums/t/3232.aspx

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ugs-prozac.jpg-- just a little something I found online today.

fadedbear92 said:http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ugs-prozac.jpg-- just a little something I found online today.

🤣🤣

Kenneth Scott41 said:🤣🤣

I mean, what's the harm in a little picture...😂

fadedbear92 said:Abilify is over 50 years old—and it still works wonders—so that shouldn't really mean anything at all.😉

http://www.depression.org/forum/index...172&#entry9172

http://psychologyforum.com/forums/t/3232.aspx

The only catch is that it shuts down periods for women. Just like Solian and Rispolept.
That’s why guys don't have an issue with it.

urbanskipper4 said:The only catch is that it shuts down periods for women. Just like Solian and Rispolept.
That’s why guys don't have an issue with it.

Yeah, it's a real shame... I honestly felt a tiny bit better on Seroquel than I do on this Zyprexa, which is nothing.😢
But my doctor refuses to switch up my prescription. I tell her straight up that I'm not doing well, and she just gives me some patronizing line about how I'm "fine, just not feeling my best," when the reality is I'm definitely not okay.

Does anyone know what the newest ADs hitting our market are, besides Wellbutrin?

velvetsailor26 said:Yeah, it's a real shame... I honestly felt a tiny bit better on Seroquel than I do on this Zyprexa, which is nothing.😢
But my doctor refuses to switch up my prescription. I tell her straight up that I'm not doing well, and she just gives me some patronizing line about how I'm "fine, just not feeling my best," when the reality is I'm definitely not okay.

Honestly, I don't get psychiatrists who just tune out their patients when they're clearly struggling.
My psychiatrist is actually pretty cool about it. If I tell her things are getting worse, she either bumps up the dose or swaps the prescription entirely. I've been through the ringer with different meds, though. Seroquel has been working fairly well for me lately—my OCD is under control and my thoughts feel less cluttered. The only catch is the appetite; it's insane, especially for sweets. I've put on a few pounds and now I'm staring down a diet, but when those cravings hit, it's a losing battle. Not sure how I'm going to manage the hunger.
At least it’s not as aggressive as what I felt on Zyprexa. With that stuff, I used to get these shakes, almost like my blood sugar was crashing. I'd be trembling until I finally ate something. And I don't even have diabetes or anything.

I’ve actually lost quite a bit of weight since I started taking Zyprexa

velvetsailor26 said:I’ve actually lost quite a bit of weight since I started taking Zyprexa

Well, you’re definitely the exception to the rule. Everyone else I know ends up packing on the pounds from Zyprexa.

Maybe it’s just because I’m sticking to a tiny dose, like 5 mg,🤷

velvetsailor26 I can't even begin to process this. It’s like... what am I even reading? Honestly, it feels like someone just threw a bunch of random thoughts at a wall and hoped they'd stick. It’s messy, it’s confusing, and frankly, it's kind of driving me up the wall. I mean, look at how people talk online these days. You think you're getting a straight answer, and then—bam—you're lost in some weird, circular logic loop. It's exhausting. I'm sitting here trying to make sense of it all, and my head is spinning. Is anyone else feeling this? Or is it just me being overly sensitive about everything? Probably both. Anyway, I'm just venting. My brain is fried.
Maybe it’s just because I’m only on a tiny dose, like 5 mg.🤷

I was on the 5 mg dose too, and man, I couldn't stop eating. Just constant, relentless hunger. It was brutal. How long have you been walking it off? It’s pretty wild how it doesn't even hit everyone the same way—interesting that you aren't dealing with that side effect at all.

urbanskipper4 said:

velvetsailor26 I can't even begin to process this. It’s like... what am I even reading? Honestly, it feels like someone just threw a bunch of random thoughts at a wall and hoped they'd stick. It’s messy, it’s confusing, and frankly, it's kind of driving me up the wall. I mean, look at how people talk online these days. You think you're getting a straight answer, and then—bam—you're lost in some weird, circular logic loop. It's exhausting. I'm sitting here trying to make sense of it all, and my head is spinning. Is anyone else feeling this? Or is it just me being overly sensitive about everything? Probably both. Anyway, I'm just venting. My brain is fried.
Maybe it’s just because I’m only on a tiny dose, like 5 mg.🤷

I was on the 5 mg dose too, and man, I couldn't stop eating. Just constant, relentless hunger. It was brutal. How long have you been walking it off? It’s pretty wild how it doesn't even hit everyone the same way—interesting that you aren't dealing with that side effect at all.

I’ve been on this stuff for nine months now and have only dropped about four pounds.
Honestly, this medication is a total joke. It hasn't done a single thing for me, but my doctor refuses to try anything else.

velvetsailor26 said:I’ve been on this stuff for nine months now and have only dropped about four pounds.
Honestly, this medication is a total joke. It hasn't done a single thing for me, but my doctor refuses to try anything else.

Zyprexa used to make me feel amazing, but I guess it just doesn't work for you. And honestly, it’s totally messed up that your doctor keeps pushing stuff that clearly isn't helping.
But hey, I bet you're thinking, "is it really worth switching doctors?"
Having to go to some new doc and explain your entire life story all over again from scratch??? Ugh.
I've been seeing the same practitioner for almost 8 years now. She knows me inside and out, but look, she isn't some kind of wizard either. She’s done what she can with the meds and just talking things through.
At some point, you just have to start actual psychotherapy.

fadedbear92 said:Does anyone know what the newest ADs hitting our market are, besides Wellbutrin?

Cymbalta

I can't tell if it’s just the adjustment period or the Zoloft, but the drowsiness is getting unreal. I’ve already drifted off for a nap three times today—each one lasting about an hour and a half.
I've been on it for a week now, and (so far) there aren't any other side effects, except that for the last two or three days, I've been practically begging to pass out every couple of hours. 🙂

silverharbor18 said:I can't tell if it’s just the adjustment period or the Zoloft, but the drowsiness is getting unreal. I’ve already drifted off for a nap three times today—each one lasting about an hour and a half.
I've been on it for a week now, and (so far) there aren't any other side effects, except that for the last two or three days, I've been practically begging to pass out every couple of hours. 🙂

Zoloft did absolutely nothing for me; felt like I was swallowing plain water. I didn't feel a thing. Personally, I'm just constantly exhausted from the Seroquel. But hey, I love sleeping, haha. 🙂

So, I'm currently taking Xanax... about 3 times a day, and I was just wondering, is there supposed to be a specific amount of time that needs to pass between doses, or does it really not matter much?