Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Gerald Torres2 said:My therapist actually suggested I take it right before bed, specifically so I could just sleep through that potential nausea. The idea was that after two or three weeks once my body adjusts, I could transition to taking it in the morning... though you can always just stick to nighttime if that works better for you.

I forgot to mention—maybe they told you it has to be in the morning to avoid messing with your sleep schedule. For me, Paxil was actually quite stimulating, so I preferred taking it right before bed. Once I swallowed the pill, I’d just roll over and go straight to sleep.

Gerald Torres2 said:I forgot to mention—maybe they told you it has to be in the morning to avoid messing with your sleep schedule. For me, Paxil was actually quite stimulating, so I preferred taking it right before bed. Once I swallowed the pill, I’d just roll over and go straight to sleep.

Yes, all of that actually makes sense. I honestly have no idea what to expect, so I think I'll stick to taking half doses for a few more days and just see how things progress from there.

David Bishop4 said:Yes, all of that actually makes sense. I honestly have no idea what to expect, so I think I'll stick to taking half doses for a few more days and just see how things progress from there.

Maybe try doing half doses for ten days and switch to taking it in the evening... one time, it actually spiked my therapy sessions, so I ended up taking the full dose at night and then another half in the morning. That was 30mg total, but honestly, that specific antidepressant just didn't sit right with me, even though everyone swears it's one of the best on the market.

Gerald Torres2 said:Maybe try doing half doses for ten days and switch to taking it in the evening... one time, it actually spiked my therapy sessions, so I ended up taking the full dose at night and then another half in the morning. That was 30mg total, but honestly, that specific antidepressant just didn't sit right with me, even though everyone swears it's one of the best on the market.

I'm honestly not sure if I should, given that I'm still taking half a pill of Lexapro in the evening. I think I'll give my doctor a call tomorrow to ask for their professional opinion first. In any case, thank you so much for sharing such helpful advice. 😍

David Bishop4 said:I'm honestly not sure if I should, given that I'm still taking half a pill of Lexapro in the evening. I think I'll give my doctor a call tomorrow to ask for their professional opinion first. In any case, thank you so much for sharing such helpful advice. 😍

Don't sweat it! 🙂
Yeah, it’s a different story once you factor in other medications. Good luck with the adjustment period!!

Gerald Torres2 said:Don't sweat it! 🙂
Yeah, it’s a different story once you factor in other medications. Good luck with the adjustment period!!

Thank you so much; I just really hope this medication turns out to be the right fit for me... Wishing you the best as well! 🙂

I was knocking back half a bottle—maybe five days straight—and honestly? I felt like absolute garbage. Just constant nausea, especially after finishing the whole thing, but hey, that’s just one of those side effects that eventually wears off... I used to take mine first thing in the morning right when I rolled out of bed.🤷

Susan Edwards8 said:I was knocking back half a bottle—maybe five days straight—and honestly? I felt like absolute garbage. Just constant nausea, especially after finishing the whole thing, but hey, that’s just one of those side effects that eventually wears off... I used to take mine first thing in the morning right when I rolled out of bed.🤷

I am well aware that this is a common side effect. Honestly, I can certainly endure that part of the process, provided that the end result proves to be worth the effort.

Susan Edwards8 said:I was knocking back half a bottle—maybe five days straight—and honestly? I felt like absolute garbage. Just constant nausea, especially after finishing the whole thing, but hey, that’s just one of those side effects that eventually wears off... I used to take mine first thing in the morning right when I rolled out of bed.🤷

Does the Seroxat leaflet not say to take it after a meal anymore? Or am I tripping and it’s actually supposed to be on an empty stomach?

I was sipping on it all morning, but honestly? It just gave me these weird wake-ups around 7:00 AM where I couldn't drift back to sleep if I tried. Other than that, nothing really happened—no side effects, but zero positive vibes either. Just kind of a wash.

So, I just got off the phone with my therapist, and she suggested that I stick to taking half my Paxil doses for as long as the nausea persists. We decided to phase out the Prozac at night since sleep hasn't been an issue for me lately. Honestly, I am just counting down the days until this adjustment period is over; right now, it feels like my anxiety is actually peaking rather than settling down. It’s almost as if things have gotten worse, though she reassured me that feeling this way during the initial transition is perfectly normal. I'm only on day six, so I suppose I just have to hang in there.

Scott Alvarez22 said:wiredskipper45

No, I’ve actually gone back on Zoloft again. It’s been six years, and honestly, I’m just sitting here enduring those same old adjustment symptoms; the only difference is that I recognize them now, which makes them feel slightly less overwhelming.
I’m right there with you—for those entire six years, the medication managed to keep the depression somewhat in check, though the anxiety would dip at least once a day. It wasn't much, just enough of a reprieve to keep me constantly questioning if it was actually working or if I was just imagining things.
"Great," right? I’ll admit, during that ten-day stretch when I was off Zoloft, I felt completely fine—full of warmth and a sense of security—but it all popped like a cheap balloon the second the withdrawal symptoms started kicking in.

I’m seriously considering making the switch from Zoloft to Effexor. Everyone seems to say that Mirtazapine just knocks you out, and I can't deal with being a zombie. From what I hear, Effexor is basically like a hybrid of Zoloft and Mirtazapine.

Quote: I'm replying to your post because I want to hear from someone who was on Zoloft for a long time. You were on it for six years; I've only been on it for a year or so.

In what sense did the depression and anxiety pull back? Like, how specifically did it help, or maybe make things harder?
And regarding that sudden withdrawal—does everything eventually settle back to normal
once you start the therapy again?

I stopped my 100mg dose about 20 days ago after taking it consistently, mostly because I messed up with another medication and ended up being terrified to take anything at all.

Since yesterday, I've been taking 50mg on my doctor's advice (I won't tell you how horrified she was 🤣), but in a week, I'll be back to my old 100mg dose. For the most part, the med helped me; I became more open, more carefree... and I could actually focus on my responsibilities. 😍

Look, nobody asks me, but I'm dying to know how everyone else is handling this stuff, so I figured we might as well be on equal footing. 🙂

Remeron's got my bones and muscles aching like hell, joints too.

Justin Rogers5 said:Remeron's got my bones and muscles aching like hell, joints too.

Now this is getting interesting. Ever since I GOT OFF Remeron, my muscles and bones have been aching every single night. I've been sitting here wondering if there’s actually a link to withdrawal syndrome... 😢

What are you taking Remeron for exactly, and how does it usually affect you?

I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences regarding side effects from taking Zeldox. I realize we aren't exactly a massive group here, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask... I've been having these moments where I think I might be experiencing hallucinations, though I can't say for certain if they're actually happening or if my mind is just playing tricks on me.

😉

Does anyone know if they still carry Efexor? I used that antidepressant about 7 or 8 years ago, and the name just popped into my head...😁It worked wonders for my depression back then. No side effects whatsoever.
Now I'm on Effexor, and honestly, it’s not doing much for me.

David Bishop4 said:So, I just got off the phone with my therapist, and she suggested that I stick to taking half my Paxil doses for as long as the nausea persists. We decided to phase out the Prozac at night since sleep hasn't been an issue for me lately. Honestly, I am just counting down the days until this adjustment period is over; right now, it feels like my anxiety is actually peaking rather than settling down. It’s almost as if things have gotten worse, though she reassured me that feeling this way during the initial transition is perfectly normal. I'm only on day six, so I suppose I just have to hang in there.

Did she mention whether you should take it in the morning or at night? Did you guys go over that timing? I didn't deal with any nausea at all because I took mine in the evening, and it actually left me feeling super rested and hyperactive when I woke up in the morning.😕

I think I’m about to start taking Remeron along with my Zoloft.
Has anyone actually tried this combo before? Any experiences?

wiredskipper45 said:Now this is getting interesting. Ever since I GOT OFF Remeron, my muscles and bones have been aching every single night. I've been sitting here wondering if there’s actually a link to withdrawal syndrome... 😢

What are you taking Remeron for exactly, and how does it usually affect you?

I take the lowest dose just to sleep. It doesn't do anything for my depression, but it helps the anxiety. Problem is, I get memory gaps from it. Sometimes I'll accidentally double up on the dose and have zero recollection of it. Then my joints, muscles, and bones just throb in the middle of the night. Basically, whenever I realize I doubled up, the pain starts hitting me the next day when I go back to my regular dose.🤷

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately reflecting on the subtle shifts in my mental landscape, trying to find some sense of equilibrium amidst all the noise. It’s a process that feels both incredibly slow and unexpectedly intense at times. I was reading through some of the recent discussions here, and I found myself nodding along to what Mark Nelson mentioned regarding the difficulty of finding a consistent routine when you're feeling particularly low. There is such a profound exhaustion that comes with simply trying to maintain a baseline of normalcy, isn't there? I also wanted to touch upon what Justin Rogers5 was saying earlier about the way certain medications seem to settle in after a few weeks. It’s rarely a sudden epiphany; rather, it's more like a gradual clearing of the fog, though even then, one must remain cautious and observant of how their body responds. I’m currently navigating those middle stages where things aren't necessarily "bad," but they certainly don't feel entirely "right" yet either. It requires a certain level of patience—an earnest, almost stubborn persistence—to keep moving forward when the progress feels so incremental. I truly believe that being mindful of these small, quiet changes is just as important as tracking the major fluctuations. kaže:
Did she happen to mention whether you should be taking it in the morning or at night? I'm curious if that was part of your conversation. Personally, I didn't experience any of that nausea because I made sure to take mine in the evening; on the flip side, when I took it in the morning, I’d wake up feeling incredibly rested, yet almost hyperactive. 😕

The nausea was a bit more manageable today, thankfully. However, if things take a turn for the worse again—especially once I transition to the full dosage—I think I’ll start taking my medication right before bed. From what I've gathered, Seroxat doesn't really interfere with my sleep patterns regardless of when I take it, so I can drift off quite easily. Taking it at night seems like it would be a much smoother way to handle the side effects.

David Bishop4 said:

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately reflecting on the subtle shifts in my mental landscape, trying to find some sense of equilibrium amidst all the noise. It’s a process that feels both incredibly slow and unexpectedly intense at times. I was reading through some of the recent discussions here, and I found myself nodding along to what Mark Nelson mentioned regarding the difficulty of finding a consistent routine when you're feeling particularly low. There is such a profound exhaustion that comes with simply trying to maintain a baseline of normalcy, isn't there? I also wanted to touch upon what Justin Rogers5 was saying earlier about the way certain medications seem to settle in after a few weeks. It’s rarely a sudden epiphany; rather, it's more like a gradual clearing of the fog, though even then, one must remain cautious and observant of how their body responds. I’m currently navigating those middle stages where things aren't necessarily "bad," but they certainly don't feel entirely "right" yet either. It requires a certain level of patience—an earnest, almost stubborn persistence—to keep moving forward when the progress feels so incremental. I truly believe that being mindful of these small, quiet changes is just as important as tracking the major fluctuations. kaže:
Did she happen to mention whether you should be taking it in the morning or at night? I'm curious if that was part of your conversation. Personally, I didn't experience any of that nausea because I made sure to take mine in the evening; on the flip side, when I took it in the morning, I’d wake up feeling incredibly rested, yet almost hyperactive. 😕

The nausea was a bit more manageable today, thankfully. However, if things take a turn for the worse again—especially once I transition to the full dosage—I think I’ll start taking my medication right before bed. From what I've gathered, Seroxat doesn't really interfere with my sleep patterns regardless of when I take it, so I can drift off quite easily. Taking it at night seems like it would be a much smoother way to handle the side effects.

Well, it's definitely a win if the nausea is letting up, though I do worry it might come back in full force once you transition to the full dosage. Doubling the dose is no small jump. Just take it slow and everything will turn out fine; the main thing is don't try to play doctor and do anything on your own. Make sure you clear everything with your psychiatrist first so you're both on the same page. Those first two weeks are usually the absolute worst. My anxiety was totally unbearable at first, so I had to rely on anti-anxiety meds until the antidepressant actually kicked in, and then they gradually tapered me off those. I just really hope you've found the right medication, because some people spend years searching for the one that actually works for them. Hang in there and keep us posted on how you're doing!🙂