Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Gerald Torres2 said:Look, here’s the deal: take the one you have, but pack the other one in your pocket just in case you hit a wall and need it. That said, you've been on Seroxat for about four or five weeks now, so honestly, you shouldn't be leaning on Misar anymore... that's just a trap. Seriously, try to move away from it.

I hear you, and you're absolutely right. That's exactly what I plan to do—take it one step at a time and see how it goes.

David Bishop4 said:I hear you, and you're absolutely right. That's exactly what I plan to do—take it one step at a time and see how it goes.

It doesn't hurt to try. If this works—and I really hope it does—you might finally be able to start tapering off the Misar.😍

David Bishop4 said:I agree, every medication affects people differently. Though, I have to admit, what your psychiatrist mentioned regarding Misar actually gave me a bit of anxiety. I’ve already been taking Misar at 0.5 mg once a day for about a month now.

Honestly, there is no reason to be intimidated by a 0.5 mg daily dose. My previous point was directed at those taking multiple pills a day, which is where you start seeing that tolerance build up
where the dosage has to keep climbing just to achieve the same level of anxiety relief. When it comes to panic attacks, nothing quite beats Misar or similar medications.
Are you also taking any kind of antidepressant?

redranger2 said:Honestly, there is no reason to be intimidated by a 0.5 mg daily dose. My previous point was directed at those taking multiple pills a day, which is where you start seeing that tolerance build up
where the dosage has to keep climbing just to achieve the same level of anxiety relief. When it comes to panic attacks, nothing quite beats Misar or similar medications.
Are you also taking any kind of antidepressant?

In that case, that sounds promising. 😉 I am currently taking Paxil, exactly 4mg today. It has been three weeks now, and while I definitely feel better, I still struggle with the idea of going out anywhere, especially by myself. My mind keeps telling me that this part will pass too, if I just give the medicine enough time to work. What is your take on that? Because honestly, I have seen a significant shift; I was a total wreck just three weeks ago.

It’s kind of hilarious watching someone who’s popping Lexapro try to lecture people about being against antipsychotics.

Brandon Lopez6 said:It’s kind of hilarious watching someone who’s popping Lexapro try to lecture people about being against antipsychotics.

Hey Brandon, where have you been hiding? How are things going with you? Are you feeling any better lately?

Yeah, totally. Since I stopped taking Cipralex, those heavy side effects—the suicidal thoughts and the deep depression—have cleared up. But man, I’m still left with this stupid morning "hangover." It hits me so hard I feel like I'm about to pass out almost every single damn day. 🙂

I went back to my usual dose of Xanax, just 4x0.25mg like before. 👋

Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’ll bother looking for new meds right now. Based on how things are going, probably not. Everyone kept raving about Paxil and Cipralex, but for me? They just made everything worse. 🙄

I guess I'll wait until May rolls around and see how I'm feeling then. That's when I'll make a call on what to do next. 🙂

How are you doing? Looks like you settled into the Paxil routine pretty well. Really happy to hear that. 👍

Well, they just took me off Prazina.
Now I'm on Cymbalta 60mg, Olandix 15mg, Haldol 3mg, Akineton 3mg, and about 2mg of Misar.
My focus is pretty much non-existent right now; I just feel incredibly drowsy all day.
The psychiatrist mentioned she wants to keep me on this exact regimen for at least another month.
Yay.

Does Cogentin mess with your stomach too? It always absolutely wrecked my digestion whenever I took it..

David Bishop4 said:In that case, that sounds promising. 😉 I am currently taking Paxil, exactly 4mg today. It has been three weeks now, and while I definitely feel better, I still struggle with the idea of going out anywhere, especially by myself. My mind keeps telling me that this part will pass too, if I just give the medicine enough time to work. What is your take on that? Because honestly, I have seen a significant shift; I was a total wreck just three weeks ago.

Your therapist is absolutely right.
You’ve only been on the medication for four weeks and you’re already seeing improvement, which is an excellent sign.
And yes, that fear of heading out the door alone will fade away, no matter
how impossible that mission feels to you right now.
For instance, it took me two full months before the panic attacks finally receded, though for some people it
moves much faster since everyone reacts differently and we aren't all on the exact same prescriptions. After
six months, I could finally say I had moved past all that bullshit.😁
So, just be patient; you are still in the early stages. Just deal with Misar when you feel a surge
of panic or anxiety hitting you; once the antidepressant fully kicks in, you won't need it nearly as much.🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Yeah, totally. Since I stopped taking Cipralex, those heavy side effects—the suicidal thoughts and the deep depression—have cleared up. But man, I’m still left with this stupid morning "hangover." It hits me so hard I feel like I'm about to pass out almost every single damn day. 🙂

I went back to my usual dose of Xanax, just 4x0.25mg like before. 👋

Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’ll bother looking for new meds right now. Based on how things are going, probably not. Everyone kept raving about Paxil and Cipralex, but for me? They just made everything worse. 🙄

I guess I'll wait until May rolls around and see how I'm feeling then. That's when I'll make a call on what to do next. 🙂

How are you doing? Looks like you settled into the Paxil routine pretty well. Really happy to hear that. 👍

Just please, whatever you do, don't try to quit antidepressants cold turkey. You have to taper off gradually—maybe go half a pill for a few days, then move to a quarter for at least ten days, then every other day, and eventually every third day until
you're completely off them.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Does Cogentin mess with your stomach too? It always absolutely wrecked my digestion whenever I took it..

I haven't had any issues with it so far, honestly.
It does a great job helping with the muscle spasms and jaw tension, and even when I deal with a little extra drooling here and there, taking another dose of Cogentin usually settles things right back down...
The only thing is my hands still shake constantly; even the Cogentin doesn't seem to touch that part.

Mark Nelson said:Ugh, yeah, the physical stuff can be absolutely brutal. :/

Regarding the actual mental symptoms of depression—you know, that heavy, low mood—how did it actually help you? And is it possible caffeine plays a role in how the meds work? I mean, just up to two cups a day.

Thanks, Mark Nelson. I'm hoping Zoloft eventually pulls its weight.🙂
It worked wonders for me once I started taking it consistently.👍
Anyway, you really have to listen completely to your psychiatrist when it comes to adjusting doses. I learned that the hard way, unfortunately.

The golden rule is to listen to yourself—to what your body is telling you and what your needs are—and then you have to be able to describe all of that very accurately to your psychiatrist so they can actually help you. Tell your doctor everything, even the things you think are trivial.
COFFEE, CAKE, NUTS, WALNUTS, and so on... these things can seriously mess with anxiolytics (like Xanax or Helex) by essentially neutralizing them. In other words, if you have coffee or a handful of walnuts and then take your Helex, you might as well forget the Helex is even working. It took me years of experience and trial and error to finally realize that.
Also, the summer heat—that heavy, sweltering humidity from the South or those hot winds from the West—can significantly decrease your need for anxiolytics because the heat effectively doubles their impact, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, and similar issues by dropping your blood pressure too much.

Justin Rogers5 said:When my anxiety kicks in, I get this intense urge to throw up, especially in the morning. Had to head out today to drop off a seasonal job application and the urge hit me so hard—not even nausea, just a sudden, violent impulse to vomit. Dealing with GERD and stomach ulcers doesn't help either, but lately, it's been getting worse. Even when I take xanax or some kind of relaxant, it eventually settles down. That morning urge is pretty much a constant for me; my grandmother used to deal with the same thing every single morning. Plus, my fear of pregnancy isn't helping the stress levels. Any advice on what might help?

Try practicing diaphragmatic breathing—focus on your belly, not your chest;
inhale slowly and count to five while letting your abdomen expand
then exhale even more slowly, counting to ten as your belly settles
YOU HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY PRECISE WITH THIS

In about a minute or two, you'll feel like a whole new person.

Kenneth Scott41 said:If you feel like that depression is starting to creep back in—and I notice quite a few people here mentioning they’re struggling with relapses, sometimes even feeling worse than before—I can't help but wonder why you stopped doing the things that actually helped you get through it in the first place.
Personally, I don't see any issue with someone just taking a single AD indefinitely if that's what works for them.
I mean, look at my elderly mother; she’s been taking her heart medication for years now without anyone batting an eye...

A healthy person experiences emotions on a scale from 1 to 10, whereas someone on antidepressants usually finds themselves stuck somewhere between a 3 and a 6 at most.
Without those meds, everything has a scent, a flavor, a certain warmth or a sense of love, but when you're on them, you're left with nothing but hollow memories of what those feelings used to be like. Taking ADs is like living your entire life inside a sheet of plastic.

That’s really why people fight so hard to taper off; they just want to feel something real again—whether it's the bond with a child, a partner, a parent, a grandparent, or even just a hobby. It doesn't matter what it is, they just want to feel that spark one more time.

ironotter5 said:Just wanted to jump in here and share my own experience with meds, and while I'm at it, maybe pick your brains on a few things. Right now, I’m taking one 0.25 mg xanax pill three times a day, plus half a 10 mg Lexapro tablet, and after seven days, I have to move up to a full pill. I can definitely say things are looking up, but honestly, I still don't feel quite 100%. People keep telling me the therapy doesn't even really kick in for two weeks?!?!?! Is there a real risk of getting hooked on these, and what am I actually looking at once they decide to taper me off?

First off: yes, they are addictive, especially if you're using them for three to six months.
The most important thing to understand—and it’s explicitly stated in the prescribing information—is that xanax isn't something you take on a schedule like an antibiotic, whether that's three times a day or twice a day.
Xanax is strictly intended for as-needed use; essentially, you take it only when you actually feel the panic or anxiety hitting you.
Furthermore, xanax has a significant impact on blood pressure, which means its effects can fluctuate depending on atmospheric pressure—it'll hit much harder during low-pressure systems than during high-pressure ones. That's why you can't just follow a rigid routine every few hours like you're finishing a course of penicillin; you use it when necessary, just like the instructions clearly state.

Gerald Torres2 said:Go ahead and look. My boyfriend is incredibly happy with them; xanax doesn't even touch him.😕😕😕😕!!!

honestly, maybe your boyfriend doesn't even need medication at all?
from what I've seen regarding what works and what doesn't, my take is this:
things like xanax or Ativan just don't cut it sometimes; you really need something like Valium or Paxil to see any actual effect

Brandon Lopez6 said:Yeah, totally. Since I stopped taking Cipralex, those heavy side effects—the suicidal thoughts and the deep depression—have cleared up. But man, I’m still left with this stupid morning "hangover." It hits me so hard I feel like I'm about to pass out almost every single damn day. 🙂

I went back to my usual dose of Xanax, just 4x0.25mg like before. 👋

Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’ll bother looking for new meds right now. Based on how things are going, probably not. Everyone kept raving about Paxil and Cipralex, but for me? They just made everything worse. 🙄

I guess I'll wait until May rolls around and see how I'm feeling then. That's when I'll make a call on what to do next. 🙂

How are you doing? Looks like you settled into the Paxil routine pretty well. Really happy to hear that. 👍

The main thing is that you're feeling better. How are you managing with going out and being on your own lately? Personally, I force myself to get out of the house just to survive, so I suppose that's progress in its own way. As for me, the Paxil is okay for now, but I definitely still have some work to do. 😉

redranger2 said:Your therapist is absolutely right.
You’ve only been on the medication for four weeks and you’re already seeing improvement, which is an excellent sign.
And yes, that fear of heading out the door alone will fade away, no matter
how impossible that mission feels to you right now.
For instance, it took me two full months before the panic attacks finally receded, though for some people it
moves much faster since everyone reacts differently and we aren't all on the exact same prescriptions. After
six months, I could finally say I had moved past all that bullshit.😁
So, just be patient; you are still in the early stages. Just deal with Misar when you feel a surge
of panic or anxiety hitting you; once the antidepressant fully kicks in, you won't need it nearly as much.🙂

Thank you so much, you've truly encouraged me. But you haven't told me anything about how you're doing?

Scott Alvarez22 said:First off: yes, they are addictive, especially if you're using them for three to six months.
The most important thing to understand—and it’s explicitly stated in the prescribing information—is that xanax isn't something you take on a schedule like an antibiotic, whether that's three times a day or twice a day.
Xanax is strictly intended for as-needed use; essentially, you take it only when you actually feel the panic or anxiety hitting you.
Furthermore, xanax has a significant impact on blood pressure, which means its effects can fluctuate depending on atmospheric pressure—it'll hit much harder during low-pressure systems than during high-pressure ones. That's why you can't just follow a rigid routine every few hours like you're finishing a course of penicillin; you use it when necessary, just like the instructions clearly state.

Just let the person follow the treatment plan they were prescribed; can't you see they're only halfway through their dosage of Lexapro?

It is perfectly standard to utilize higher doses of anxiolytics during the initial stages of therapy.