Psychotropic medication discussion thread

fadedbear92 said:That isn't great—usually, as you start feeling the effects of the antidepressant, your symptoms should ease up, which would naturally lower your need for anxiolytics.
Are you planning on starting psychotherapy?

Honestly, I don't feel like the AT&T has even started working yet.
My doctor wants me back for therapy once all my tests are cleared, but I don't have my brain CT scheduled until April 24th. By the time those results actually land on her desk... I won't see any real relief until May. Just my luck..

David Bishop4 said:Once the AT&T medication fully takes effect, you'll find yourself tapering down those doses little by little.
For me, 0.25mg doesn't really do much right now, whereas 0.5mg knocks me right out. Even so, I don't feel like it's fully settling my nerves. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the Paxil kicks in soon.

That's the goal. To get the dosage down. I managed to taper from two 0.5 mg pills down to just one dose before settling at 0.25 mg being enough. I really don't want to mess up this progress.

Gerald Torres2 said:I’m just asking again because it feels like I’ve been completely ghosted here. Seriously, people, I need some help over here.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

I would love to be able to provide a clear answer, but I honestly don't know. In the past, I've used Paxil and Lexapro; the former seemed to be most effective for my panic attacks, but lately, the anxiety has been hitting me pretty hard again, so I've gone back on the Paxil. I am really hoping someone with more experience or expertise might chime in soon.

Gerald Torres2 said:I’m just asking again because it feels like I’ve been completely ghosted here. Seriously, people, I need some help over here.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Honestly, I don't feel like the AT&T has even started working yet.
My doctor wants me back for therapy once all my tests are cleared, but I don't have my brain CT scheduled until April 24th. By the time those results actually land on her desk... I won't see any real relief until May. Just my luck..

That's the goal. To get the dosage down. I managed to taper from two 0.5 mg pills down to just one dose before settling at 0.25 mg being enough. I really don't want to mess up this progress.

No, that sounds like a good plan. Just try to be mindful of your dosage and how much you are actually taking; once AT&T provides the details, hopefully, those requirements will continue to decrease.

David Bishop4 said:I would love to be able to provide a clear answer, but I honestly don't know. In the past, I've used Paxil and Lexapro; the former seemed to be most effective for my panic attacks, but lately, the anxiety has been hitting me pretty hard again, so I've gone back on the Paxil. I am really hoping someone with more experience or expertise might chime in soon.

My doctor, who’s been practicing for over 30 years, tends to lean toward Paxil for anxiety, though, well, everyone's biology is different, isn't it? For me personally, a combo of Paxil and Prozac actually worked wonders. I’ve recently restarted that exact pairing, and I'm crossing my fingers because it completely cleared my anxiety the first time around. Now, mind you, mixing Paxil and Prozac isn't exactly standard practice—it's quite a heavy-duty approach. The thing is, both medications inhibit the same enzyme involved in their own metabolism, so when you take them together, the concentration of both drugs in your system ends up climbing higher than usual.

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor, who’s been practicing for over 30 years, tends to lean toward Paxil for anxiety, though, well, everyone's biology is different, isn't it? For me personally, a combo of Paxil and Prozac actually worked wonders. I’ve recently restarted that exact pairing, and I'm crossing my fingers because it completely cleared my anxiety the first time around. Now, mind you, mixing Paxil and Prozac isn't exactly standard practice—it's quite a heavy-duty approach. The thing is, both medications inhibit the same enzyme involved in their own metabolism, so when you take them together, the concentration of both drugs in your system ends up climbing higher than usual.

Ugh, I personally couldn't handle Paxil. It nearly wrecked me during the two months I was on it. Honestly, these pills are such a roll of the dice; everyone reacts so differently...🤷

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor, who’s been practicing for over 30 years, tends to lean toward Paxil for anxiety, though, well, everyone's biology is different, isn't it? For me personally, a combo of Paxil and Prozac actually worked wonders. I’ve recently restarted that exact pairing, and I'm crossing my fingers because it completely cleared my anxiety the first time around. Now, mind you, mixing Paxil and Prozac isn't exactly standard practice—it's quite a heavy-duty approach. The thing is, both medications inhibit the same enzyme involved in their own metabolism, so when you take them together, the concentration of both drugs in your system ends up climbing higher than usual.

Well, that sounds like great news! 🙂 I know it's effective for panic attacks as well, so I am hopeful that it will work for me too. Did you experience any significant side effects when you first started taking it?

I believe we need to take a moment to step back and look at the broader implications of this discussion. It isn't just about the immediate surface-level arguments, but rather how these shifts impact our long-term stability here in the States. When I listen to what wiredskipper45 is suggesting, I can't help but feel there's a significant piece of the puzzle missing from that perspective. While I respect the intensity of the debate, I find myself leaning toward a more cautious approach, much like how one might navigate a complex regulatory change in Washington. We have to consider the ripple effects on everyday Americans before we jump to conclusions. kaže:
Ugh, I honestly can't deal with Zoloft anymore. It nearly wiped me out over the course of just two months while I was on it. It’s wild how much these medications can vary—it feels like they affect every single person in such a completely different way.🤷

What exactly happened there? Was it just some minor side effects, or did you feel like the medication wasn't actually working for you?

David Bishop4 said:Well, that sounds like great news! 🙂 I know it's effective for panic attacks as well, so I am hopeful that it will work for me too. Did you experience any significant side effects when you first started taking it?

Nothing too terrifying on my end regarding side effects—just feeling a bit drowsy for a few hours after taking the meds, which eventually turns into this restless energy and a slight tremor. And, well, there are the sexual side effects, but since I'm single, I can't really complain about that part. I've been on 60 mg of Prozac and 30 mg of Paxil for about two weeks now, and things are looking up slightly.

David Bishop4 said:

I believe we need to take a moment to step back and look at the broader implications of this discussion. It isn't just about the immediate surface-level arguments, but rather how these shifts impact our long-term stability here in the States. When I listen to what wiredskipper45 is suggesting, I can't help but feel there's a significant piece of the puzzle missing from that perspective. While I respect the intensity of the debate, I find myself leaning toward a more cautious approach, much like how one might navigate a complex regulatory change in Washington. We have to consider the ripple effects on everyday Americans before we jump to conclusions. kaže:
Ugh, I honestly can't deal with Zoloft anymore. It nearly wiped me out over the course of just two months while I was on it. It’s wild how much these medications can vary—it feels like they affect every single person in such a completely different way.🤷

What exactly happened there? Was it just some minor side effects, or did you feel like the medication wasn't actually working for you?

I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I ended up having sex multiple times a day just to cope. The anxiety was absolutely unbearable—it was constant for two months straight. Basically, instead of the "adjustment period" people talk about when starting an AT&T medication, it felt like everything just went south immediately. I was taking 3mg of Xanax a day just to be able to walk without shaking uncontrollably. To make matters worse, I can't even remember most of what happened during those two months. Here’s a true story: I was driving through San Francisco with my boyfriend, and he suddenly goes, "Hey, look! The Colosseum!" I hadn't even noticed the building until he actually stopped the car and pointed his finger at the massive structure right in front of us. 😂
In short: Seroxat is definitely not for me. 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:Nothing too terrifying on my end regarding side effects—just feeling a bit drowsy for a few hours after taking the meds, which eventually turns into this restless energy and a slight tremor. And, well, there are the sexual side effects, but since I'm single, I can't really complain about that part. I've been on 60 mg of Prozac and 30 mg of Paxil for about two weeks now, and things are looking up slightly.

That sounds like progress. For me, the drowsiness wore off pretty quickly and the nausea has subsided significantly, but I dealt with some intense anxiety and restlessness yesterday and the day before. Honestly, I shouldn't have tried to tough it out for so long; I should have just taken my Xanax right away. I'm only on day eight of the AD, and I recently increased my dosage to a full tablet.

Gerald Torres2 said:I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I ended up having sex multiple times a day just to cope. The anxiety was absolutely unbearable—it was constant for two months straight. Basically, instead of the "adjustment period" people talk about when starting an AT&T medication, it felt like everything just went south immediately. I was taking 3mg of Xanax a day just to be able to walk without shaking uncontrollably. To make matters worse, I can't even remember most of what happened during those two months. Here’s a true story: I was driving through San Francisco with my boyfriend, and he suddenly goes, "Hey, look! The Colosseum!" I hadn't even noticed the building until he actually stopped the car and pointed his finger at the massive structure right in front of us. 😂
In short: Seroxat is definitely not for me. 🙂

Oh, it definitely sounds like it wasn't for you! 🙂 But I really have to commend you, though—given how rough things were, the fact that you were still functioning and getting out and about is impressive. Seriously, bravo. I tend to be a bit of a homebody myself, and when I'm feeling under the weather, I just want to hide from the world. That's why, as soon as my meds wear off (God willing, they work), I head straight to psychotherapy.

David Bishop4 said:Oh, it definitely sounds like it wasn't for you! 🙂 But I really have to commend you, though—given how rough things were, the fact that you were still functioning and getting out and about is impressive. Seriously, bravo. I tend to be a bit of a homebody myself, and when I'm feeling under the weather, I just want to hide from the world. That's why, as soon as my meds wear off (God willing, they work), I head straight to psychotherapy.

My husband basically had to physically drag me everywhere just to keep me from losing my mind completely. There were times when I could barely even speak; I'd be mid-sentence and realize I was drooling without even noticing. It was incredibly embarrassing...
And he wouldn't let me stay stuck in that cycle until I hit another wave of severe depression. I mean, there were days where I couldn't even get out of bed; I just sat there crying...
Eventually, my husband pushed me to stop spiraling, and I did, but the underlying illness didn't just vanish.

Gerald Torres2 said:My husband basically had to physically drag me everywhere just to keep me from losing my mind completely. There were times when I could barely even speak; I'd be mid-sentence and realize I was drooling without even noticing. It was incredibly embarrassing...
And he wouldn't let me stay stuck in that cycle until I hit another wave of severe depression. I mean, there were days where I couldn't even get out of bed; I just sat there crying...
Eventually, my husband pushed me to stop spiraling, and I did, but the underlying illness didn't just vanish.

You really went through the ringer... I have no doubt you'll eventually find the right medication that works for you, but I know how terrifying that period of waiting and trial-and-error can be when you're feeling this unwell. Just please, don't give up. I had a similar experience during my first panic attack; I completely shut myself inside the house and curled up in bed, unable to even step out into the yard by myself. After starting medication, I was fine for about five or six years—I didn't need any anti-anxiety pills and could manage my nervousness on my own. Clearly, therapy was also necessary, because here I am, right back at the beginning.

David Bishop4 said:You really went through the ringer... I have no doubt you'll eventually find the right medication that works for you, but I know how terrifying that period of waiting and trial-and-error can be when you're feeling this unwell. Just please, don't give up. I had a similar experience during my first panic attack; I completely shut myself inside the house and curled up in bed, unable to even step out into the yard by myself. After starting medication, I was fine for about five or six years—I didn't need any anti-anxiety pills and could manage my nervousness on my own. Clearly, therapy was also necessary, because here I am, right back at the beginning.

Yeah, that's exactly it. There was a stretch where I thought I was doing okay—like, manageable—but it doesn't last forever. Life always finds a way to knock you sideways again eventually.🙂

Gerald Torres2 said:Yeah, that's exactly it. There was a stretch where I thought I was doing okay—like, manageable—but it doesn't last forever. Life always finds a way to knock you sideways again eventually.🙂

Joe, I hear you, but at the end of the day, we're all fighters, and we'll find our way through this too. 😉

David Bishop4 said:Joe, I hear you, but at the end of the day, we're all fighters, and we'll find our way through this too. 😉

Unless things go sideways—then life just keeps moving on without us. 🙂

Gerald Torres2 said:Unless things go sideways—then life just keeps moving on without us. 🙂

Haha, that's true, but I'm telling you, we have to overcome this—it's simply a necessity. We have to keep our heads up!

Here goes nothing...

After eight grueling years of relying on AD, I finally pulled the plug... completely, and it’s been about two months now.
To be fair, it wasn't some sudden, reckless decision to quit cold turkey; I spent all of 2012 slowly tapering myself off.

But even then—good grief—it feels like I've hit a wall again. The anxiety is back, the stress is relentless, my stomach is in constant knots, and the panic attacks are just... there.
It is honestly exhausting how much I have had to fight just to break free from that entire cycle.

I am planning to start psychotherapy soon, hoping it might actually provide some semblance of relief.

Does anyone here have actual experience navigating life after quitting AD?

I need help.

Please, give me some advice....

I went off my antidepressant about two months ago after being on it for nearly three years. It didn't take long, either—just a blink and suddenly the depression came roaring back, worse than it ever was before. 😢
Now I’m back on it for the second day, but it feels completely different. It used to knock me right out, which helped, but now? Now it’s actually giving me insomnia.
Can anyone make sense of this? I get that everyone reacts differently to medication, but how did I turn into a totally different person in just eight weeks?

wiredskipper45 said:I went off my antidepressant about two months ago after being on it for nearly three years. It didn't take long, either—just a blink and suddenly the depression came roaring back, worse than it ever was before. 😢
Now I’m back on it for the second day, but it feels completely different. It used to knock me right out, which helped, but now? Now it’s actually giving me insomnia.
Can anyone make sense of this? I get that everyone reacts differently to medication, but how did I turn into a totally different person in just eight weeks?

Man... I am right there with you, friend.....
🙂🙂
So, what’s the move here?
Has anyone actually found success with alternative treatments?