Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Yeah, maybe just as a precaution since she was having those episodes... We don't have the full story yet.

Does anyone have any insight into what the side effects of Coaxil are like? Brenda Carter prescribed it to me to help manage some mental health issues.
I’ve been taking it for about four days now, and my jaw feels completely locked up—it's a bizarre sensation. I can barely string a sentence together because I feel so physically blocked. My head feels numb, too. I'm not having any dark or intrusive thoughts, thankfully, but I am incredibly drowsy.

"More leveled"—if that’s even a real way to put it.

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

Walter Fowler5 said:Does anyone have any insight into what the side effects of Coaxil are like? Brenda Carter prescribed it to me to help manage some mental health issues.
I’ve been taking it for about four days now, and my jaw feels completely locked up—it's a bizarre sensation. I can barely string a sentence together because I feel so physically blocked. My head feels numb, too. I'm not having any dark or intrusive thoughts, thankfully, but I am incredibly drowsy.

Sonalia is basically the same thing as Halea—it's a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It can definitely cause symptoms like that, so you should probably mention it to your doctor right away. Some side effects are manageable, but that jaw tension might mean you need a different medication entirely. There are plenty of options out there, so just talk to your psychiatrist ASAP. Besides, four days isn't really enough time to judge; maybe the side effects will settle down... You also tend to get drowsiness, constipation, or just a general sense of being "foggy." Usually, that clears up after a few weeks. Also, you're supposed to titrate it—meaning you ease into it over a week or two, slowly bumping up the dose until you hit the target amount. If you jumped straight into a full dose, it’s no wonder things feel off. You can't just start at 50mg; you have to start with a fraction of that...

Thanks a million. I’ve had to scale my dosage back, taking half a pill one day and then a full one the next. Honestly, I feel a bit better today, though I'm mostly just feeling incredibly dull and numb from the pain.

Walter Fowler5 said:Thanks a million. I’ve had to scale my dosage back, taking half a pill one day and then a full one the next. Honestly, I feel a bit better today, though I'm mostly just feeling incredibly dull and numb from the pain.

That’s pretty much how it goes at first. The whole trick is just to let your brain chill out for a second and give your thoughts a rest. Everything will settle in eventually, don't sweat it. Just get some fresh air, stay out of the direct sun, maybe go for a little walk...

Brian Wells said:"More leveled"—if that’s even a real way to put it.

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍
Personally, I can't stand yoga, but I have noticed my appetite has finally subsided, which is a relief.

I used to struggle with binge eating episodes, so it seems this helps with that as well.
Hang in there. 🙂

The sun has come out, so everything feels a bit brighter.
Until we hit the first black hole. 😬

cosmictinker21 said:You're comparing apples to oranges here. Sorry, but look at how insulin acts as a glucose transporter for cells; without it, you'd be in serious trouble. Or consider heart medication—without it, someone could face a massive cardiac event in no time. Without thyroid hormone replacement, vital functions just shut down, leading to long-term misery. In much the same way, certain psychotropic drugs compensate for, stimulate, or suppress what is either in excess or lacking in the system. Without psychiatric meds, some schizophrenic patients or those dealing with paranoia might cause total devastation in their communities and themselves (I'm not being hyperbolic; it’s a deeply traumatic reality)... and many people struggling with depression or anxiety would find life completely unmanageable. Some people do achieve improvement through psychotherapy, which targets attitudes, character, traits, perspectives, and behavior—essentially working on the personality itself. I don't have the time to explain the mechanics of how or why, though I did write a lengthy post about it in another thread once...

The way you put it is honestly pretty irresponsible, suggesting to people that they shouldn't even bother trying medication. You really should have clarified that this is strictly your own opinion. An opinion, which, by the way, you haven't backed up with a single actual argument. Instead of hiding behind empty platitudes, maybe try gathering some actual knowledge and life experience first. Sorry, kid, but it's just...🤷

And I have zero intention of debating this with you indefinitely.☕

How many times do I have to report a post before the moderators realize that the rules explicitly forbid calling each other "sorry, kid"? Or does cosmictinker21 have special privileges? If I had said something even half as stupid as this idiot who knows nothing yet calls me a child, I would have been slapped with a penalty. Is anyone going to regulate the moderators? And what exactly are the super-mods doing when the same message has to be reported ten times and the offensive content still isn't removed? Are they supervising the mods? Or are they just supervising my client?

Just delete his entire post. He hasn't said anything intelligent, and his "argumentation" for why I'm wrong is laughable even to a child. It's painfully obvious that cosmictinker21 is a deeply naive and morally bankrupt imbecile.

Jason Hughes51 said:I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍

I guess I partially agree, even though I've only been on this for two weeks. It's a really precise description of how it feels in the body.
For anyone curious, I've noticed that taking Coaxil alongside yoga—specifically poses that help regulate hormones like cortisol, which impact brain function—makes the effects feel much more intense. They sort of feed into each other. You get a chemical boost for the physical practice, and the movement probably helps all those different neurotransmitters flow through your system faster.
I'm pretty happy with the results, but I realize everything is working together in synergy.
Without psychotherapy, yoga, and changing my diet, I don't think Coaxil would reach its full potential, or if it did, it might take forever.
I'm glad things are looking up for you...
Thanks to Brenda Carter for the advice.👍
Personally, I can't stand yoga, but I have noticed my appetite has finally subsided, which is a relief.

I used to struggle with binge eating episodes, so it seems this helps with that as well.
Hang in there. 🙂

The sun has come out, so everything feels a bit brighter.
Until we hit the first black hole. 😬
Personally, I can't stand yoga, but I have noticed my appetite has finally subsided, which is a relief.

I used to struggle with binge eating episodes, so it seems this helps with that as well.
Hang in there. 🙂

The sun has come out, so everything feels a bit brighter.
Until we hit the first black hole. 😬
Alright, alright, I won't bug you about yoga anymore 🙂...
To be honest, I'm curious about how antidepressants work, including this unusual Xanax. There's always been that idea that they start working around the third week.
So, my question for Brenda Carter and anyone else on different ADs or maybe Xanax—does the effect continue to build if you feel it after just two or three days?

How fixed are those timelines? In my experience, everything that happened over these three weeks is that I can metaphorically say I’m "leaning less into heavy winds" than usual.

Can I expect an even better response or less turbulence over time, or is this as good as it gets with Xanax? 😲

To cut a long story short. It reaches its full effectiveness after three weeks, and that needs to be maintained. And
Or perhaps anxiety and depression can continue to decrease with ongoing use. Of course, that's assuming you don't abandon other ways of managing these disorders.

Anyway, I'm rambling, and maybe someone will chime in with their own experience.
🙏
These emojis are great... heheheh🙂🙂 Going to eat now..

After a few days, you really start feeling that anti-anxiety effect. It’s pretty intense, too. I’d say it’s roughly on par with 2mg of Xanax. But the downside? Most anxiolytics start causing dependency after just two weeks, which isn't the case with Xanax. As for the antidepressant side of things, you’re looking at maybe 2 to 3 weeks before it kicks in. It’s not some exact science, though.
Regarding how it feels—man, that’s such a touchy subject. Everyone reacts differently, I guess. But all I can tell you is that Xanax is super balanced. You shouldn't judge an antidepressant based on whether it makes you feel wired or totally sedated, because Xanax doesn't really do either. In my opinion, that's actually the best part about it; you can actually function like a normal person.

Brian Wells said:Personally, I can't stand yoga, but I have noticed my appetite has finally subsided, which is a relief.

I used to struggle with binge eating episodes, so it seems this helps with that as well.
Hang in there. 🙂

The sun has come out, so everything feels a bit brighter.
Until we hit the first black hole. 😬

Alright, alright, I won't bug you about yoga anymore 🙂...
To be honest, I'm curious about how antidepressants work, including this unusual Xanax. There's always been that idea that they start working around the third week.
So, my question for Brenda Carter and anyone else on different ADs or maybe Xanax—does the effect continue to build if you feel it after just two or three days?

How fixed are those timelines? In my experience, everything that happened over these three weeks is that I can metaphorically say I’m "leaning less into heavy winds" than usual.

Can I expect an even better response or less turbulence over time, or is this as good as it gets with Xanax? 😲

To cut a long story short. It reaches its full effectiveness after three weeks, and that needs to be maintained. And
Or perhaps anxiety and depression can continue to decrease with ongoing use. Of course, that's assuming you don't abandon other ways of managing these disorders.

Anyway, I'm rambling, and maybe someone will chime in with their own experience.
🙏
These emojis are great... heheheh🙂🙂 Going to eat now..
Xanax is basically the only antidepressant with proven neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
Which basically means it actually helps repair (given enough time) the damage caused by glutamate.

Brenda Carter said:Xanax is basically the only antidepressant with proven neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
Which basically means it actually helps repair (given enough time) the damage caused by glutamate.

I suppose I might need a fleet of semi-trucks to fix my own damage, though. 😁

I finally managed to taper off the Xanax. I can actually sleep now. 👋

copperharbor47 said:Anyone here taking Lennon? Just curious about when you guys dose it and how much you're actually on. Also—has anyone dealt with any weight gain?

Half a tablet at night is plenty for me. I actually experienced clinical death—saw the tunnel and Jesus Christ. Then my mother woke me up and sent me straight to the General Motors psychiatric ward.😠

Jason Hughes51 said:I suppose I might need a fleet of semi-trucks to fix my own damage, though. 😁

I finally managed to taper off the Xanax. I can actually sleep now. 👋

If it’s just a matter of getting a truck in a few years, you’ll be like new again. Hopefully you get some good rest.
I want to thank Brenda Carter once more for the encouraging words. When things are this hard, those words feel like a necessary part of the medication and the whole recovery process.

I'm entering my fourth week and I don't quite have the nerve to taper down my dose of 2+2+1 mg of Lorazepam yet. But I guess my ship isn't rocking nearly as much. I'm in a better mood, I handle life's stressors a bit more rationally, and I'm not overreacting. Even when the low moods hit, they don't last long, so that constant "fear of fear" feeling isn't really there anymore.

Anyway, thanks Jason Hughes51—no matter how it sounds—and thanks Brenda Carter too. I'd also love to hear from anyone else who feels like sharing their own experience.

Brian Wells said:If it’s just a matter of getting a truck in a few years, you’ll be like new again. Hopefully you get some good rest.
I want to thank Brenda Carter once more for the encouraging words. When things are this hard, those words feel like a necessary part of the medication and the whole recovery process.

I'm entering my fourth week and I don't quite have the nerve to taper down my dose of 2+2+1 mg of Lorazepam yet. But I guess my ship isn't rocking nearly as much. I'm in a better mood, I handle life's stressors a bit more rationally, and I'm not overreacting. Even when the low moods hit, they don't last long, so that constant "fear of fear" feeling isn't really there anymore.

Anyway, thanks Jason Hughes51—no matter how it sounds—and thanks Brenda Carter too. I'd also love to hear from anyone else who feels like sharing their own experience.

Ugh, well, I have decided—my psychiatrist suggested it was possible—that I can finally wean myself off Xanax.
I’ve kept one box tucked away just in case of an emergency, but I am trying my best to ensure such an emergency never arises.

Honestly, I am almost at a loss for words. It isn't that I'm dramatic or moody, per se, but I used to be incredibly sluggish and completely uninterested in anything happening around me.
🙂

Brenda Carter is 👍.

Thanks, 🙂

I took it a few years back. I was on 100mg for a while, then switched to the 25mg ones. I couldn't even eat because I wasn't conscious. I have never encountered a pill more brutal in my entire life. Chemical formula. Never again..

Donna Sullivan7 said:I mean, that stuff is one of the heaviest hitters out there. It’s such a powerful, broad-spectrum antipsychotic... honestly, it trips me out how some psychiatrists just toss it around like it's nothing. Just one time, my dose—since I was on a cocktail of other meds along with that Lennon—was like... 100mg in the morning...
Taking 100mg in the afternoon... hmmm...
Taking 300mg at night... just riding that heavy wave from the pills along with everything else...

Jesus' mother... man, you must have been sleeping like Sleeping Beauty, for God's sake..

I went on Google and saw that Xanax was actually a milder psychotropic drug. I guess I just got my threads mixed up.

My apologies to everyone: please, could you check if a similar thread already exists before starting a new one? Maybe try using the search bar first. Thanks. 🙂

Jerry Martinez5 said:I went on Google and saw that Xanax was actually a milder psychotropic drug. I guess I just got my threads mixed up.

My apologies to everyone: please, could you check if a similar thread already exists before starting a new one? Maybe try using the search bar first. Thanks. 🙂

Technically, they both fall under the "psychotropic" umbrella, just with different mechanisms, different symptoms, and different diagnoses. With Lexapro, you'll sleep like a log. Beyond that, though, one is an antipsychotic while tiagabine is one of those newer antidepressants...

cosmictinker21 said:Technically, they both fall under the "psychotropic" umbrella, just with different mechanisms, different symptoms, and different diagnoses. With Lexapro, you'll sleep like a log. Beyond that, though, one is an antipsychotic while tiagabine is one of those newer antidepressants...

What are your thoughts or experiences with Tianeptine (ExxonMobil)? Maybe share a bit about how it works or what you've heard. I've been on it for three weeks now and I feel more balanced, but the goal of tapering off my current dose of 2+2+1 Ativan still feels pretty far away.

Just to clarify, I was taking 14 mg of Ativan daily a few months ago. I reached that level over a 15-year period dealing with anxiety and depression. Even without an antidepressant, I managed to drop down to 5 mg without facing severe withdrawal. My doctor put me on an antidepressant to help lower the Ativan, but it seems like the withdrawal symptoms actually get worse every time I try to taper down.

Do you have any suggestions or personal experience? Thanks.

Brian Wells said:What are your thoughts or experiences with Tianeptine (ExxonMobil)? Maybe share a bit about how it works or what you've heard. I've been on it for three weeks now and I feel more balanced, but the goal of tapering off my current dose of 2+2+1 Ativan still feels pretty far away.

Just to clarify, I was taking 14 mg of Ativan daily a few months ago. I reached that level over a 15-year period dealing with anxiety and depression. Even without an antidepressant, I managed to drop down to 5 mg without facing severe withdrawal. My doctor put me on an antidepressant to help lower the Ativan, but it seems like the withdrawal symptoms actually get worse every time I try to taper down.

Do you have any suggestions or personal experience? Thanks.

If you’ve already managed to get down to 5 mg of Lorazepam a day, you could probably be completely off it within the next few weeks. Mind you, I don't know your full diagnosis or specific symptoms, so maybe you actually need to stay on the tianeptine for a while longer. That’s ultimately for your doctor to decide, but a treatment plan aimed at totally weaning off benzos is often the right move. That feeling where you think you can't function without them and it just drags you into a dark place... it isn't ideal. Just try to ignore that sensation...