Psychotropic medication discussion thread

George Allen71 said:As far as I know, APs aren't meant for insomnia at all. There is a massive difference between an anxiolytic and an antipsychotic—they are completely different diagnoses... we're talking about two totally distinct classes of medication here. APs are for psychosis...
Some people say that an anxiolytic like Ativan is good for sleeping because of its long-lasting effects.
There's also that newer medication based on melatonin that specifically targets insomnia, Valdoxan... I don't know, it didn't do much for my depression, but I slept like a baby when I took it. 🙂
Your best bet is to talk to your doctor. They'll give you the most reliable answer on this.

While antipsychotics are primarily for psychosis, they are sometimes prescribed in lower doses to address insomnia.
I had a discussion with my physician yesterday regarding whether it would be "healthier" to increase the dosage of a hypnotic or simply add a sedative to improve sleep maintenance. She maintains that increasing the hypnotic dose is the better approach, and she noted that medications like hydroxyzine or Xanax shouldn't be used as primary sleep aids. While they might induce drowsiness in some, that isn't their intended purpose, and she consistently advocates for using a dedicated hypnotic. Of course, depending on the duration of the insomnia, one might attempt treatment with either Calixt or an antipsychotic. I also inquired about Trintellix, but she mentioned that none of her patients have reported improvements regarding their sleep issues while taking it. I sincerely hope you find some restful sleep, unlike myself.🙂

restlesstrucker15 said:While antipsychotics are primarily for psychosis, they are sometimes prescribed in lower doses to address insomnia.
I had a discussion with my physician yesterday regarding whether it would be "healthier" to increase the dosage of a hypnotic or simply add a sedative to improve sleep maintenance. She maintains that increasing the hypnotic dose is the better approach, and she noted that medications like hydroxyzine or Xanax shouldn't be used as primary sleep aids. While they might induce drowsiness in some, that isn't their intended purpose, and she consistently advocates for using a dedicated hypnotic. Of course, depending on the duration of the insomnia, one might attempt treatment with either Calixt or an antipsychotic. I also inquired about Trintellix, but she mentioned that none of her patients have reported improvements regarding their sleep issues while taking it. I sincerely hope you find some restful sleep, unlike myself.🙂

Well, I suppose I should just present these options to her and let her give me her professional opinion... I'm counting down the days until the 25th.😳

But how does one even take "more" hypnotics? Like, could they prescribe me something like Ambien plus another one at the same time? Personally, I don't mind using a sedative, except for the fact that it runs out so quickly...
I completely empathize with you. Yesterday and today I had to use some Ativan just to sleep like a normal human being, and tomorrow I’m heading out to pick up some Ambien. Before this, I hadn't slept properly for two weeks—I was barely getting three hours a night when I desperately needed twelve. 😢 It's absolutely horrific...

I switched from Mirzaten to the Mirzaten Q-Tab version and honestly, things have gone downhill since the change. Has anyone else dealt with this?

The ingredients are identical—it's just that the Q-Tab is designed for extended release.

shadowbear9 said:Well, I suppose I should just present these options to her and let her give me her professional opinion... I'm counting down the days until the 25th.😳

But how does one even take "more" hypnotics? Like, could they prescribe me something like Ambien plus another one at the same time? Personally, I don't mind using a sedative, except for the fact that it runs out so quickly...
I completely empathize with you. Yesterday and today I had to use some Ativan just to sleep like a normal human being, and tomorrow I’m heading out to pick up some Ambien. Before this, I hadn't slept properly for two weeks—I was barely getting three hours a night when I desperately needed twelve. 😢 It's absolutely horrific...

I don't know, I'm really just speaking from my own personal experience here... Trintellix helped me fall asleep okay... but it didn't actually do anything about the depression. I had a similar experience with Paxil where sleep was fine too. It’s all very individual...
The only thing I've really noticed regarding myself is that I dealt with some insomnia during those first couple of months... but after starting the medication, that insomnia finally cleared up. My other issues and this heavy, new depression are still very much there, but despite all of that, I am sleeping soundly now.
I really hope this clears up for you guys soon, too... having one less thing to worry about would definitely make life a whole lot easier. 🙂

I find it hard to believe this will just disappear. For me, the core issue has always been insomnia, which started when I was only 15. That eventually spiraled into anxiety and social phobia; I’ve basically retreated from the person I used to be, while everyone else seems to just power through the depression. And yeah, there's plenty of that too, obviously. But honestly, who wouldn't be depressed? It's impossible not to be when you're failing your classes because you can't make it to lectures. You finally manage to fall asleep in the morning, and then instead of studying for a midterm, you're spending the night before lying in bed just desperately trying to catch some sleep. Most days I feel like a total zombie, or I'm just playing catch-up with my sleep schedule, so I don't even have the energy to maintain a social life.

So, I just got diagnosed with mild anxiety and depression, along with a tendency toward physical symptoms. My doctor put me on Prozac, and I’m five days in. My biggest issue by far is insomnia. Honestly, I feel a bit better already—though I doubt it's the medication since it's still so early—but the sleep issues are still hitting me hard. I tried taking Lunesta at 10 mg, but it doesn't really do much for me. Xanax helps more, but I know I can't rely on that long-term because of the addiction risk. I haven't had any other side effects, so I'm wondering: is it possible the insomnia is being caused by the Prozac, or does the antidepressant just need more time to settle in? Last night, for instance, my heart started racing out of nowhere in the middle of the night, and I couldn't get back to sleep for ages. Has anyone else dealt with this? During the day, I'm doing okay, but this damn insomnia is the main struggle. 🙂I'm honestly terrified I'll never get back to a normal sleep schedule. 😲

brighttrucker10 said:So, I just got diagnosed with mild anxiety and depression, along with a tendency toward physical symptoms. My doctor put me on Prozac, and I’m five days in. My biggest issue by far is insomnia. Honestly, I feel a bit better already—though I doubt it's the medication since it's still so early—but the sleep issues are still hitting me hard. I tried taking Lunesta at 10 mg, but it doesn't really do much for me. Xanax helps more, but I know I can't rely on that long-term because of the addiction risk. I haven't had any other side effects, so I'm wondering: is it possible the insomnia is being caused by the Prozac, or does the antidepressant just need more time to settle in? Last night, for instance, my heart started racing out of nowhere in the middle of the night, and I couldn't get back to sleep for ages. Has anyone else dealt with this? During the day, I'm doing okay, but this damn insomnia is the main struggle. 🙂I'm honestly terrified I'll never get back to a normal sleep schedule. 😲

Lunesta doesn't work?! Well, I have a very severe case of insomnia myself, but 30mg of Lunesta would knock me out whether I liked it or not—it basically forces my brain to shut down. 🤷

The 10 mg dose isn't really doing much for me... honestly, I've been cutting my pills in half lately because the thought of getting hooked just terrifies me. But 30 mg? Wow. That would probably knock me sideways too. I keep thinking I just need the ADHD meds to actually kick in and do their job... fingers crossed!

I feel like a total zombie this morning... honestly, this insomnia has been dragging on for about six weeks now. I think it’s just all the built-up stress finally catching up to me. I’ve even been knocking back liters of chamomile tea every single night, just praying it'll actually help me drift off for once.

brighttrucker10 said:I feel like a total zombie this morning... honestly, this insomnia has been dragging on for about six weeks now. I think it’s just all the built-up stress finally catching up to me. I’ve even been knocking back liters of chamomile tea every single night, just praying it'll actually help me drift off for once.

That isn't exactly a "wow" solution, and frankly, it’s pretty sad that there isn't any other way to handle it. For me, nothing works unless I use actual medication. I tried the herbal teas too, but they were useless. I mean, if someone tells you, "Oh, just drink more tea and you'll sleep," well, I could say the exact same thing about how my 0.5mg dose doesn't work for me. So, what do I do? I take three 0.5mg tablets instead, and then it actually works. Everyone's tolerance is different, I suppose, and a doctor isn't going to prescribe a massive dosage until the patient determines for themselves what they can actually handle. And people whining about addiction? Please. I've been taking my meds regularly for two years now, and I can function just fine without them whenever I need to.div>

Sorry, I didn't mean "wow" like I was impressed or shocked—don't take it the wrong way. I truly am sorry you're dealing with all of that.

brighttrucker10 said:Sorry, I didn't mean "wow" like I was impressed or shocked—don't take it the wrong way. I truly am sorry you're dealing with all of that.

Well, I'm certainly not angry.

feralstag72 said:I switched from Mirzaten to the Mirzaten Q-Tab version and honestly, things have gone downhill since the change. Has anyone else dealt with this?

The ingredients are identical—it's just that the Q-Tab is designed for extended release.

I personally tried the 15 mg Q-Tabs, but they did absolutely nothing for my anxiety—they only helped me sleep. Ultimately, I had to give them up because they contain aspartame, which I try to avoid. Now, if I’m really struggling to drift off despite taking Ambien, I’ll just take half of a 15 mg Calixte—which is essentially the exact same medication anyway.

I have been reflecting quite a bit on the recent developments regarding Dayria. It is one of those situations that demands a certain level of patience and careful consideration before jumping to any hasty conclusions. One cannot simply look at the surface level of these events; there is a deeper complexity involved that requires us to step back and evaluate the broader implications for everyone involved. I recall a similar instance years ago when I was working in Chicago, and much like that experience, the initial impression often differs significantly from the eventual reality once all the facts are laid bare. We must remain steady and observant. kaže:
I think it would be best if I simply present the idea to her first and let her offer her own perspective. I am looking forward to the 25th.😳

How exactly does one go about getting more hypnotics prescribed? I wonder if a doctor could realistically write me a script for Sanval alongside another sedative. To be honest, I don't have an issue with the sedatives themselves, though my only real concern is how quickly they seem to run out.
I truly empathize with your situation. Honestly, I had to take some Ambien yesterday and today just to feel like a functioning human being again. I’m planning to head downtown tomorrow to pick up some Sanval, but before all this, I haven't had a decent night's rest in two weeks. I've been surviving on maybe three hours of sleep a night when I desperately need twelve. 😢 Good grief... what a disaster.

I feel for you; you’re in the same boat. It all really comes down to the individual, though. I don't think she intended to suggest mixing hypnotics; her point was more about adjusting the dosage. Regarding Sanval, she advised me against bumping my dose up from 15 mg. She mentioned that while taking a higher dose might be acceptable if someone is dealing with a temporary bout of insomnia lasting a month or two, it isn't a viable solution for those of us facing chronic sleep issues to simply increase our Sanval to 20 mg or more. Anyway, I have an appointment downtown this February, so we'll see if they decide to design a specific therapy plan for me first.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I personally tried the 15 mg Q-Tabs, but they did absolutely nothing for my anxiety—they only helped me sleep. Ultimately, I had to give them up because they contain aspartame, which I try to avoid. Now, if I’m really struggling to drift off despite taking Ambien, I’ll just take half of a 15 mg Calixte—which is essentially the exact same medication anyway.

The trick with those is the extended release—it doesn't knock you out fast enough, then you're left feeling like a zombie the next day.

I picked up some 15 mg Lipitor 20 mg from my psychiatrist today.

Everything just seems to be sliding downhill lately... I suspect my dose of Valtrex might be a bit too low, though I suppose I've just grown accustomed to it.
I'm thinking about getting back on Zoloft, but I need to be careful—not the 80mg version because that just leaves me in a permanent sleep state, maybe the 60mg would be better. As for Zyprexa, it’s honestly terrible; it feels like you just put on fifty pounds the moment you touch it.

Has anyone here actually messed around with Effexor XR 150 mg? Because honestly, for me, it’s been a total lifesaver...

Matthew White4 said:Has anyone here actually messed around with Effexor XR 150 mg? Because honestly, for me, it’s been a total lifesaver...

I actually made the switch from the standard Effexor over to those capsules once upon a time, and let me tell you, I felt absolutely terrible—to the point where I genuinely thought I was facing some serious physical illness. The moment I transitioned back to the tablets (taking 4x75mg), I suddenly felt "cured." To this day, I can't quite wrap my head around what happened... Is it possible I simply can't tolerate a specific ingredient used in those capsules? 😕

I really need some advice here!
After about a month on Zoloft 100 mg, I started feeling totally manic. To help balance things out, I began taking Tegretol 200 split between morning and night. It worked like a charm—honestly, Tegretol feels like a total lifesaver!
Now, since I didn't want to go cold turkey on the Zoloft, I've tapered down to 50mg a day.

Is it actually common to take Tegretol and Zoloft at the same time? It feels like one handles the depression while the other manages the mania... 🙄

I know I should be checking in with my psychiatrist, but I just can't make it to an appointment right now....

Frank Campbell said:I really need some advice here!
After about a month on Zoloft 100 mg, I started feeling totally manic. To help balance things out, I began taking Tegretol 200 split between morning and night. It worked like a charm—honestly, Tegretol feels like a total lifesaver!
Now, since I didn't want to go cold turkey on the Zoloft, I've tapered down to 50mg a day.

Is it actually common to take Tegretol and Zoloft at the same time? It feels like one handles the depression while the other manages the mania... 🙄

I know I should be checking in with my psychiatrist, but I just can't make it to an appointment right now....

you can
Tegretol acts as a stabilizer—maybe she could have eased up on the Zoloft a bit more.
I used to take Tegretol to help me sleep, while using Zoloft at a low dose as an add-on.