Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Michelle Thomas45 said:Well, great—so it’s working exactly how the manual says it should! What was the original reason your doctor put you on this stuff anyway? And how exactly did that "better" feeling start creeping in?

It says right here—mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. :/
I've been in a deep depression for a long time now. A total slump. I have a feeling this might actually be pulling me out of the grave...

So, I’ve been thinking about this lately—what does it actually look like from the outside when someone is taking Lexapro? Like, how can you even tell if someone is on it just by looking at them?

Joseph Perez5 said:So, I’ve been thinking about this lately—what does it actually look like from the outside when someone is taking Lexapro? Like, how can you even tell if someone is on it just by looking at them?

Spot someone on it? It’s not like they’re using street drugs or drowning themselves in whiskey; there aren't going to be obvious "symptoms" to look for. You really can't tell. Usually, you might see some minor side effects during the first month while the body adjusts—things like a slight tremor, maybe some sleep issues, or sexual dysfunction in men—but that's about it.
The thing is, those "signs" usually only pop up when the person is having an especially high-stress day at work, so...

electricorca13 said:So, here’s the situation: I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder quite a while ago. For a long stretch, Paxil actually worked well for me. But after my seven-year relationship fell apart, things took a turn for the worse. My doctor switched me over to Celexa. He advised against jumping straight from one to the other, so I waited ten days after stopping the Paxil before starting the new stuff.
To be specific, I’ve been on 10 mg of Celexa since last Friday—not even a full week yet. Everywhere I look online, people are talking about those initial side effects: the sweating, the insomnia, all of it.
I have no intention of giving up on it. Both my doctor and most people I've talked to say this is totally normal for this medication and that most folks feel significantly better once they get past the hump.
My real struggle is just surviving this "adjustment period." How long does that actually last? Is we talking 10, 15, or maybe 30 days? When can I realistically expect the Celexa to actually kick in and start doing its job?
Honestly, I feel like absolute crap right now. I’ve been trying to manage with some Normabells—up to three 5 mg doses—but they aren't doing a thing for the insomnia, and all these other side effects are hitting me hard.
Tingling in my hands, a slight tremor, sweaty palms... 😕
I’m 27 years old right now, but the thought of heading back to work like this terrifies me. You know how it is—if your coworkers notice your hand shaking while you're holding a coffee spoon, they immediately label you an alcoholic or a junkie. People can be incredibly judgmental like that.

Look, I know nobody has a crystal ball, but is there any chance the Celexa will start working all at once?

Just for the record, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't touch any opioids or any other junk.
I realize that goes without saying when someone is on an antidepressant, but I wanted to clear that up so there's no confusion.

From what I've experienced, Celexa starts working after about two weeks. But seriously, you really do feel much better later on. 🙂

electricorca13 said:Spot someone on it? It’s not like they’re using street drugs or drowning themselves in whiskey; there aren't going to be obvious "symptoms" to look for. You really can't tell. Usually, you might see some minor side effects during the first month while the body adjusts—things like a slight tremor, maybe some sleep issues, or sexual dysfunction in men—but that's about it.
The thing is, those "signs" usually only pop up when the person is having an especially high-stress day at work, so...

For me, there were literally zero side effects. Like, nothing at all. It was almost like I wasn't even taking anything. It just boosted my mood and totally killed my anxiety. Celexa is actually pretty good.🙂

Greetings from Aldina over in Canada. Could someone please let me know what the typical price for Celexa is in the States, and if it’s generally easy to find at most pharmacies? I currently have to source my medication from places like Germany or Mexico because it isn't really available on our local market. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide

Donna Booth3 said:Greetings from Aldina over in Canada. Could someone please let me know what the typical price for Celexa is in the States, and if it’s generally easy to find at most pharmacies? I currently have to source my medication from places like Germany or Mexico because it isn't really available on our local market. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide

Hey, Aldina. Last time I picked some up, it was like under ten bucks. 😢

When did that happen?
I think it was around $43 here in the States...

It really all boils down to the pack size, though the difference isn't massive. For instance, when I was traveling through Germany, I ended up paying about $135 for a three-and-a-half-month supply, whereas in places like Mexico, it’s a bit more budget-friendly at around $85 for that same duration. It would probably make sense to stock up while I'm down in a coastal spot like Miami during the summer, assuming they even carry it there—I'd have to check if it's available in a place like Clearwater, for example. Anyway, my daily dose is 10 mg.

Hey everyone, I wanted to pull all our discussions about psychotropic medications into one dedicated thread. I’d really love for this space to be used primarily by folks who actually know their stuff—whether that's through professional training or just years of navigating these meds personally.

I think it would be incredibly helpful if we could pool our experiences, observations, and actual scientific findings here. That way, all this valuable "intel" doesn't get scattered across dozens of different threads where good advice gets buried—you know how it goes, most topics get pushed to page two so fast you can barely find them.

Since I'm kicking this off, I can definitely offer some guidance—I have a background in pharmacology and related fields, so to speak—and I genuinely want to help out. However, I'd really prefer not to get flooded with a mountain of private messages where half the problems can't even be solved through a screen anyway.

Thanks, and please, don't be shy about sharing what you know! 👍

If I recall correctly from one of those old threads about antipsychotics, I really don't have a clue...

Eric Jackson11 said:When did that happen?
I think it was around $43 here in the States...

There is just no way it was a hundred and thirty bucks. I bought it a year ago, and the last time I picked one up was like six months back. It was forty-eight dollars then.
Maybe it's because I have that copay thing, plus I'm still a student. 🤷

I wonder if anyone else here is currently taking them? Personally, I find them to be quite effective, though I must admit I have become somewhat dependent on them myself.

Yet another stabilizer... though, if I’m being perfectly honest with myself, I’m really not even certain if it's truly necessary at this stage.

It is an incredibly old medication, though I must admit it remains remarkably effective for many. My one lingering concern, however, is that it can unfortunately lead to the development of diabetes.

I wonder if anyone else has ever found themselves reaching for even a tiny 2mg dose just to find some semblance of peace. As for me, I am currently taking 20mg, and yet, quite embarrassingly, sleep still remains an elusive stranger to me. Yes, truly. ☕

14 days

How does it actually work?
In what way does it help?
Or does it just get you high?

Linda Taylor11 said:There is just no way it was a hundred and thirty bucks. I bought it a year ago, and the last time I picked one up was like six months back. It was forty-eight dollars then.
Maybe it's because I have that copay thing, plus I'm still a student. 🤷

I actually swung by the CVS a couple days ago to check, and they said it’s $49, or maybe around $50 with a prescription. Of course, even for these $49, you still need a script; it just won't be covered by Medicare, so you end up paying full price anyway.

Lexapro is honestly a lifesaver! 🙂 I was on it for just under two years, and I can tell you from experience—it really worked wonders for me. I’ve actually been off it for over ten months now, and I’m feeling fantastic. Seriously, cheers to Lexapro!