Psychotropic medication discussion thread

I had the exact same experience when I was put on Risperdal; it just didn't sit right with me.
It’s one of those newer medications, whereas I personally seem to respond much better to Haldol..
If you end up having to stay on medication, isn't it true that you'll eventually just have to find a way to manage certain side effects?

Well, look—if this isn't some deep-seated internal issue but more about just... I don't know, struggling to navigate certain situations, there are actual techniques out there used by Gestalt psychologists and whatnot. And honestly? The common thread for everyone is simply changing how you act.
The whole idea of therapy is basically learning how to shift those flawed perspectives that keep landing you in unnecessary conflicts in the first place.

If you want to dive deeper into that, you should probably talk to @Neli on Twitter; she’s really the one here who actually deals with those kinds of therapeutic methods.

crimsonhound80 said:Well, if it isn't some deep internal issue but just struggling to handle certain situations, there are actually techniques used by Gestalt psychologists and others that focus on one thing everyone shares: changing how you act.
Therapy helps you swap out those bad attitudes that keep landing you in fights.

For more on that, check out our friend on Twitter, @Neli. She's really into those therapeutic methods.

I get it. I totally knew you'd say that. 🙂
Fair enough...
thanks

Zyprexa and Zoloft are basically next-gen antipsychotics🙄

Zyprexa is super trendy 🙄 so psychiatrists just toss it out there like it's nothing. Apparently, it doesn't cause those nasty movement side effects because the way it hits the receptors is super selective.

The whole mechanism behind how Zoloft works on receptors isn't totally figured out yet, but usually, it's used for psychotic states where hallucinations and delusions are the main issue.

Regarding that "mild sedation" thing, that’s usually more of a Zoloft side effect rather than Zyprexa, but honestly, if you're already stuck taking antipsychotics, you probably already know which one actually works for you.

As for the cost, yeah, Zoloft is priced exactly how you'd expect since Pfizer makes it, but from what I can tell, Zyprexa is sitting right up there with it.

That's getting pretty pricey, isn't it?

So, I started popping these pills about ten days ago, but man, the side effects are hitting me like a freight train. I’m feeling drowsy for like 20 hours a day—if you can even call it that—because even though I'm exhausted, I can't actually fall asleep. Is this coming from the Risperdal or the Misar?
I literally feel like a walking zombie, just totally sluggish and slowed down. Does anyone know how long it takes to actually get used to this crap? I stopped taking the Misar the day before yesterday, but the drowsiness is still hanging on like a bad habit. Please, someone, give me some advice.

You’re probably feeling that heavy sedation on the second day because of how much the Risperdal makes you sleep.
It was the exact same thing for me back when I was on Zyprexa—it's an antipsychotic just like Risperdal, so they have similar effects and, clearly, similar side effects.
Maybe talk to your doctor about lowering the dose, or see if you can switch to another medication in the same class.
In my case, I swapped Zyprexa for Moodstar and I feel great—I'm sleeping less, I don't feel wiped out on the second day, and I can actually function normally.
As for the Misar—or rather the Xanax—I take that too (0.5mg three times a day), and I really don't think the Misar is causing such intense sedation.
Based on what I've been through, I'm pretty sure the Risperdal is the culprit.😉

hollowtinker8 said:You’re probably feeling that heavy sedation on the second day because of how much the Risperdal makes you sleep.
It was the exact same thing for me back when I was on Zyprexa—it's an antipsychotic just like Risperdal, so they have similar effects and, clearly, similar side effects.
Maybe talk to your doctor about lowering the dose, or see if you can switch to another medication in the same class.
In my case, I swapped Zyprexa for Moodstar and I feel great—I'm sleeping less, I don't feel wiped out on the second day, and I can actually function normally.
As for the Misar—or rather the Xanax—I take that too (0.5mg three times a day), and I really don't think the Misar is causing such intense sedation.
Based on what I've been through, I'm pretty sure the Risperdal is the culprit.😉

Man, this Risperdal is knocking me out, but I can't even actually fall asleep. I'm just walking around like a total zombie. Like, I'm physically exhausted, but the second I try to close my eyes for three minutes, something just jolts me awake.
And the anxiety? It's through the roof.
So yeah, it's definitely not the Misar. Whatever.

Brenda Allen2 said:Man, this Risperdal is knocking me out, but I can't even actually fall asleep. I'm just walking around like a total zombie. Like, I'm physically exhausted, but the second I try to close my eyes for three minutes, something just jolts me awake.
And the anxiety? It's through the roof.
So yeah, it's definitely not the Misar. Whatever.

Look, you have to give your body some actual time to adjust to the Risperdal before things settle down—once that happens, you'll be fine. And honestly, I agree with what my colleague said; it’s probably got nothing to do with the Misar.

Antipsychotics essentially "attack"—if that's the right word—dopamine and serotonin levels, which is why you're feeling so weird right now, but that's usually just during the first week or two... after that, you won't even realize you've taken it. 😉

crimsonhound80 said:Look, you have to give your body some actual time to adjust to the Risperdal before things settle down—once that happens, you'll be fine. And honestly, I agree with what my colleague said; it’s probably got nothing to do with the Misar.

Antipsychotics essentially "attack"—if that's the right word—dopamine and serotonin levels, which is why you're feeling so weird right now, but that's usually just during the first week or two... after that, you won't even realize you've taken it. 😉

I've been on the Risperdal for 13 days straight and there is absolutely zeroooooo improvement. The side effects are still hitting me hard; I'm just constantly exhausted, and then I can't even sleep through the night because I'm wide awake by 1 or 2 AM. Please, someone help me out here. My follow-up appointment isn't until Tuesday and I feel like I'm about to lose my mind.

Brenda Allen2, your sleeping issues are definitely coming from the Risperdal... unfortunately... I was on Moodstar once and felt great, but it gave me EPS (tremors, stiffness)...
then they switched me to Risperdal. For a while, things were actually better, but then the auditory hallucinations started, along with these intense, obsessive suicidal thoughts. Even at the highest dose, Risperdal just wasn't strong enough...
after that, they put me on Zyprexa. As far as meds go, it’s an excellent drug, except for the fact that I felt like a literal zombie (that's basically what all antipsychotics do). The reason I quit as soon as I felt even slightly better was because I gained almost 😲 33 lbs. Everything spiraled out of control; I didn't even realize it was happening... antipsychotics stabilize you, but weight gain comes right along with it...
I was struggling to shed those extra pounds until just a little while ago...

I went a long time without any antipsychotics, but now they've started me on Seroquel. I am terrified of gaining weight again. I weigh myself every single day... I've already put on two pounds. If I hit three, I'm stopping this stuff, no matter how much better I feel...

My advice? Be completely honest with your psychotherapist. If the side effects are really messing with you, tell them. Make them switch your meds until you find one that actually works for you...

That's how it went for me with antidepressants... I've cycled through Zoloft, Anafranil, Prozac, Fevarin, and Celexa, and now I'm taking Mirtazapine hoping it helps... Celexa was the only one that actually worked, but after two years, it just stopped working for me...

It takes time to figure out a solid medication regimen. Everyone is so different; there is absolutely no way to predict how a person will react to any specific psychotropic drug...

Things will get better. Hang in there! 👍

bluecyclist28 said:Brenda Allen2, your sleeping issues are definitely coming from the Risperdal... unfortunately... I was on Moodstar once and felt great, but it gave me EPS (tremors, stiffness)...
then they switched me to Risperdal. For a while, things were actually better, but then the auditory hallucinations started, along with these intense, obsessive suicidal thoughts. Even at the highest dose, Risperdal just wasn't strong enough...
after that, they put me on Zyprexa. As far as meds go, it’s an excellent drug, except for the fact that I felt like a literal zombie (that's basically what all antipsychotics do). The reason I quit as soon as I felt even slightly better was because I gained almost 😲 33 lbs. Everything spiraled out of control; I didn't even realize it was happening... antipsychotics stabilize you, but weight gain comes right along with it...
I was struggling to shed those extra pounds until just a little while ago...

I went a long time without any antipsychotics, but now they've started me on Seroquel. I am terrified of gaining weight again. I weigh myself every single day... I've already put on two pounds. If I hit three, I'm stopping this stuff, no matter how much better I feel...

My advice? Be completely honest with your psychotherapist. If the side effects are really messing with you, tell them. Make them switch your meds until you find one that actually works for you...

That's how it went for me with antidepressants... I've cycled through Zoloft, Anafranil, Prozac, Fevarin, and Celexa, and now I'm taking Mirtazapine hoping it helps... Celexa was the only one that actually worked, but after two years, it just stopped working for me...

It takes time to figure out a solid medication regimen. Everyone is so different; there is absolutely no way to predict how a person will react to any specific psychotropic drug...

Things will get better. Hang in there! 👍

Meanwhile, I'm skin and bones and can barely eat anything. I'm down in Miami right now, but I have to head up to see my therapist in Atlanta this Tuesday to figure things out. I actually walked out of the hospital the first time, so they didn't even follow up with me properly—they just left the pills and told me to check back in two weeks for a follow-up.
God, I'm such a mess when it comes to these meds.
I really wonder if I can ever just stop taking this stuff altogether.

Brenda Allen2 said:Meanwhile, I'm skin and bones and can barely eat anything. I'm down in Miami right now, but I have to head up to see my therapist in Atlanta this Tuesday to figure things out. I actually walked out of the hospital the first time, so they didn't even follow up with me properly—they just left the pills and told me to check back in two weeks for a follow-up.
God, I'm such a mess when it comes to these meds.
I really wonder if I can ever just stop taking this stuff altogether.

Brenda Allen2, sorry if this is intrusive, but are you maybe a minor talking about Kukuljević?? If not, no big deal.

I only asked because I was hospitalized there twice. Now I'm just going in for outpatient therapy sessions...

bluecyclist28 said:Brenda Allen2, sorry if this is intrusive, but are you maybe a minor talking about Kukuljević?? If not, no big deal.

I only asked because I was hospitalized there twice. Now I'm just going in for outpatient therapy sessions...

I'm 22, and I'm heading to the psych ward at Bellevue if you've heard of it.

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.

I’ve been feeling pretty frustrated lately.
Watching everyone rushing through the streets while I feel like I'm just dragging myself along is tough.
It doesn't matter how much I try, I usually don't start feeling like myself until late at night.
I’m honestly grateful that medical science has come so far and developed all these medications
but man, it's still a struggle.
Between the antipsychotics, sleep aids, antidepressants, and even grabbing some Xanax if things get hairy...
it’s just a daily grind, some days harder than others.
How are you guys holding up?

I’m currently on Zyprexa, and man, I have gained weight like crazy. Every now and then my hand or some other part of my body just starts twitching; it isn't that intense shaking you get from Moodstar, it's more like 😬
. I don't really feel exhausted, though... even if I do have to sleep for 12 hours straight just to feel somewhat human again. But hey, that's just how it goes, I guess.

Ashley Morgan said:I’m currently on Zyprexa, and man, I have gained weight like crazy. Every now and then my hand or some other part of my body just starts twitching; it isn't that intense shaking you get from Moodstar, it's more like 😬
. I don't really feel exhausted, though... even if I do have to sleep for 12 hours straight just to feel somewhat human again. But hey, that's just how it goes, I guess.

Stop lying, man, there's no way you're taking Zyprexa and Moodstar at the same time.

David Kern14 said:Stop lying, man, there's no way you're taking Zyprexa and Moodstar at the same time.

Look, I was on Moditen before, but I actually switched over to Zyprexa recently. I honestly thought I made it pretty clear earlier. 😲

Ashley Morgan said:I’m currently on Zyprexa, and man, I have gained weight like crazy. Every now and then my hand or some other part of my body just starts twitching; it isn't that intense shaking you get from Moodstar, it's more like 😬
. I don't really feel exhausted, though... even if I do have to sleep for 12 hours straight just to feel somewhat human again. But hey, that's just how it goes, I guess.

Unknown... my former boss actually went through the exact same thing; she gained a massive amount of weight specifically because of those medications. A good friend of mine dealt with it too. It's honestly pretty awful.
There was this one single time when my doctor tried to prescribe me something for anxiety, and because I was so terrified of the weight gain, I actually ended up snapping at him! Honestly, the guy was being totally irresponsible!