Psychotropic medication discussion thread

redranger2 said:It might be worth looking into some sedative-type antidepressants, perhaps something like Lariam or Faverin.

Or maybe just a heavy blow to the head for some real sedation.😂I told her I’m still weighing whether I'll even bother seeing a psychiatrist again. That Lariam didn't do much for my anxiety when I was taking it with Luxe. Wouldn't that just leave me sleeping all day anyway? Sometimes I wish I could just disappear to a desert island for two months where nobody asks me for anything. But that's not happening.

Paul Newman5 said:Or maybe just a heavy blow to the head for some real sedation.😂I told her I’m still weighing whether I'll even bother seeing a psychiatrist again. That Lariam didn't do much for my anxiety when I was taking it with Luxe. Wouldn't that just leave me sleeping all day anyway? Sometimes I wish I could just disappear to a desert island for two months where nobody asks me for anything. But that's not happening.

Right, because you can always get that kind of sedation covered by Medicare. 😂
Maybe you could try combining two different antidepressants—taking one in the morning to give you an energy boost and another at night to knock you out. I've heard people pull off those kinds of combinations... personally, I take two stimulants during the day, and it works perfectly for me.🤷
And that remote island? I've been dreaming about it for years, too... but I can never quite make it happen.

I find myself staring at this empty space where a thought should be, much like I stare at an empty prescription bottle on a Tuesday morning. It is quite a peculiar thing, isn't it? To have nothing to say, yet feel the heavy, lingering pressure to say something of substance. One spends half a lifetime waiting for a meaningful conversation only to realize that most of what passes for discourse in this digital age is little more than static. There is a certain exhaustion that comes with expecting depth from a shallow pool.

Paul Newman5 said:Or maybe just a heavy blow to the head for some real sedation.😂I told her I’m still weighing whether I'll even bother seeing a psychiatrist again. That Lariam didn't do much for my anxiety when I was taking it with Luxe. Wouldn't that just leave me sleeping all day anyway? Sometimes I wish I could just disappear to a desert island for two months where nobody asks me for anything. But that's not happening.

I am under the impression that this specific course of treatment would prove beneficial to all of us, offering particular effectiveness for those struggling with chronic insomnia as well as the various manifestations of panic attacks. 🤣

redranger2 said:I find myself staring at this empty space where a thought should be, much like I stare at an empty prescription bottle on a Tuesday morning. It is quite a peculiar thing, isn't it? To have nothing to say, yet feel the heavy, lingering pressure to say something of substance. One spends half a lifetime waiting for a meaningful conversation only to realize that most of what passes for discourse in this digital age is little more than static. There is a certain exhaustion that comes with expecting depth from a shallow pool.

I am under the impression that this specific course of treatment would prove beneficial to all of us, offering particular effectiveness for those struggling with chronic insomnia as well as the various manifestations of panic attacks. 🤣

I couldn't agree more! 😁 It feels like almost every struggle we're facing would just melt away. 😉 🙂

Gerald Torres2 said:Right, because you can always get that kind of sedation covered by Medicare. 😂
Maybe you could try combining two different antidepressants—taking one in the morning to give you an energy boost and another at night to knock you out. I've heard people pull off those kinds of combinations... personally, I take two stimulants during the day, and it works perfectly for me.🤷
And that remote island? I've been dreaming about it for years, too... but I can never quite make it happen.

What's the point of talking to this shrink? Even went private thinking I'd actually get "better treatment," maybe someone who'd listen and believe what I was going through. When I told her the Luxe was driving me crazy and giving me chest pains all day, she basically said she hadn't heard a single patient complain in 25 years and that everyone loves Luxe. Guess I'm just special. Then she suggested I check into the hospital so she could experiment with combinations there—she works both private practice and at the hospital—and ended up prescribing Wellbutrin, which I never even picked up. It's strictly for depression, and I have anxiety and restlessness. That's what the labels say, anyway. Some people on here say it makes them feel like they're being electrocuted, and even psychiatrists writing articles online say it's no good for anxiety. So what's the point of arguing about mixing two different meds? She even told me there are 500 psychiatrists in the country, so I can pick someone else if she doesn't believe me. But really, she didn't believe me; she just insisted Luxe was perfect for me. As if I wouldn't be thrilled if Luxe actually worked, or if Cipralex hadn't caused the same issues and left me feeling better by now. I started the Luxe in November last year, so I should have seen some progress by now, but she just wouldn't listen. So, yeah... we're "friends."

Anyone here dealt with urinary retention from meds? Like, you literally can't empty your bladder? If you have—how did you fix it?

Paul Newman5 said:What's the point of talking to this shrink? Even went private thinking I'd actually get "better treatment," maybe someone who'd listen and believe what I was going through. When I told her the Luxe was driving me crazy and giving me chest pains all day, she basically said she hadn't heard a single patient complain in 25 years and that everyone loves Luxe. Guess I'm just special. Then she suggested I check into the hospital so she could experiment with combinations there—she works both private practice and at the hospital—and ended up prescribing Wellbutrin, which I never even picked up. It's strictly for depression, and I have anxiety and restlessness. That's what the labels say, anyway. Some people on here say it makes them feel like they're being electrocuted, and even psychiatrists writing articles online say it's no good for anxiety. So what's the point of arguing about mixing two different meds? She even told me there are 500 psychiatrists in the country, so I can pick someone else if she doesn't believe me. But really, she didn't believe me; she just insisted Luxe was perfect for me. As if I wouldn't be thrilled if Luxe actually worked, or if Cipralex hadn't caused the same issues and left me feeling better by now. I started the Luxe in November last year, so I should have seen some progress by now, but she just wouldn't listen. So, yeah... we're "friends."

A supposedly "great doctor" with all that experience really ought to know that medication affects everyone differently. Most people handle Paxil fine, but it nearly drove me over the edge when I was on it. Wellbutrin works for me, but it does almost nothing for my panic attacks or anxiety, so I take Zoloft alongside it. That combination works for me. You need to find another doctor—and honestly, they don't have to be a private specialist to be more rational than this one. I hope you find something that works...

Daniel Doyle7 said:Anyone here dealt with urinary retention from meds? Like, you literally can't empty your bladder? If you have—how did you fix it?

I don't have full-blown retention, but it definitely takes me much longer to get things moving, and it feels like a struggle to go... ever since I started my meds. As for actual retention, though, I can't say I've experienced that.😲

Daniel Doyle7 said:Anyone here dealt with urinary retention from meds? Like, you literally can't empty your bladder? If you have—how did you fix it?

Yeah, I definitely had that happen with Celexa. It didn't really clear up until I stopped taking it, though—not ideal, I guess.

Hey everyone, does anyone else here deal with chronic constipation caused by medication? And I mean truly chronic—where nothing seems to work without a heavy-duty laxative.
How are you all managing this?
I've tried eating plenty of fruit, veggies, and high-fiber foods, but they don't seem to make a dent. Glycerin suppositories only help occasionally, drinking massive amounts of water doesn't do much, and even starting my morning with a big glass of water hasn't helped. I've even tried herbal teas and other blends, but nothing works... so what's left? Has anyone ever tried at-home enemas? You can pick up a kit for them at any pharmacy.

Here’s my routine: just a spoonful or two of Probiotic mixed into some milk or yogurt in the morning, then I finish the day with some herbal tea from the local drugstore.
Since I started using Probiotic regularly, honestly, those nasty issues I was dealing with have finally cleared up...

Enemas aren't a long-term fix, and neither are laxatives.

Have you tried a Magnesium supplement?

Gerald Torres2 said:A supposedly "great doctor" with all that experience really ought to know that medication affects everyone differently. Most people handle Paxil fine, but it nearly drove me over the edge when I was on it. Wellbutrin works for me, but it does almost nothing for my panic attacks or anxiety, so I take Zoloft alongside it. That combination works for me. You need to find another doctor—and honestly, they don't have to be a private specialist to be more rational than this one. I hope you find something that works...

I guess there's just no stopping them. I'll look for someone else eventually, but for now, I'm sticking with alternatives. Also, does anyone here know if taking Advil helps reduce the need for General Mills? Or has anyone tried that herbal Advil? (I know this is a psych med thread, but maybe someone has experience with that stuff). One more thing—for those of you dealing with anxiety while on antidepressants, how do you handle work? I'm working, so I'm terrified of starting new meds. The first time around was a nightmare, and my biggest fear is someone at the office finding out and firing me. Please, share your stories, I just need to feel a little better.

Melissa Sanchez59 said:Yeah, I definitely had that happen with Celexa. It didn't really clear up until I stopped taking it, though—not ideal, I guess.

So how long were you even on that stuff?

@ Paul Newman5
Seriously, you should probably check in with your doctor about mixing Advil with AD meds or any kind of anti-anxiety stuff. From what I’ve gathered, you really shouldn't be taking them at the same time...

Paul Newman5 said:I guess there's just no stopping them. I'll look for someone else eventually, but for now, I'm sticking with alternatives. Also, does anyone here know if taking Advil helps reduce the need for General Mills? Or has anyone tried that herbal Advil? (I know this is a psych med thread, but maybe someone has experience with that stuff). One more thing—for those of you dealing with anxiety while on antidepressants, how do you handle work? I'm working, so I'm terrified of starting new meds. The first time around was a nightmare, and my biggest fear is someone at the office finding out and firing me. Please, share your stories, I just need to feel a little better.

Hey, look right here; it says you definitely need to let your doctor know if you're mixing Advil and General Mills..

Matthew White4 said:@ Paul Newman5
Seriously, you should probably check in with your doctor about mixing Advil with AD meds or any kind of anti-anxiety stuff. From what I’ve gathered, you really shouldn't be taking them at the same time...

I reached out to Johnson & Johnson directly via email. They told me it might be okay with anxiolytics, but not with antidepressants. Honestly, who knows if they were actually being helpful or just trying to get me off their back. Even the instructions on General Mills products don't mention any issues, unlike the warning on the Advil label. Better to just ask my doctor.

Paul Newman5 said:I guess there's just no stopping them. I'll look for someone else eventually, but for now, I'm sticking with alternatives. Also, does anyone here know if taking Advil helps reduce the need for General Mills? Or has anyone tried that herbal Advil? (I know this is a psych med thread, but maybe someone has experience with that stuff). One more thing—for those of you dealing with anxiety while on antidepressants, how do you handle work? I'm working, so I'm terrified of starting new meds. The first time around was a nightmare, and my biggest fear is someone at the office finding out and firing me. Please, share your stories, I just need to feel a little better.

I'm a freelancer, so I have a bit more flexibility. I actually took about ten days off when I started a new antidepressant because, man, the side effects were so bad both times that I could barely walk, let alone work. I don't know, maybe it isn't that intense for everyone, but if I had a steady full-time gig, I'd probably just take a week of vacation and bridge it with a couple of weekends—just enough time for the worst of it to pass. After two weeks, I wasn't feeling those debilitating side effects anymore. As for the anxiety itself, I guess you can always lean on an anxiolytic if things get really overwhelming.

Daniel Doyle7 said:So how long were you even on that stuff?

For a few months, and then I switched over to a different antidepressant.

Paul Newman5 said:I reached out to Johnson & Johnson directly via email. They told me it might be okay with anxiolytics, but not with antidepressants. Honestly, who knows if they were actually being helpful or just trying to get me off their back. Even the instructions on General Mills products don't mention any issues, unlike the warning on the Advil label. Better to just ask my doctor.

Back in the day, my psychiatrist handed me some herbal supplements alongside my usual Xanax; apparently, the combination is permissible, though in my experience, those plant-based remedies are about as effective as a placebo when things get heavy.

Donna Torres5 said:Hey everyone, does anyone else here deal with chronic constipation caused by medication? And I mean truly chronic—where nothing seems to work without a heavy-duty laxative.
How are you all managing this?
I've tried eating plenty of fruit, veggies, and high-fiber foods, but they don't seem to make a dent. Glycerin suppositories only help occasionally, drinking massive amounts of water doesn't do much, and even starting my morning with a big glass of water hasn't helped. I've even tried herbal teas and other blends, but nothing works... so what's left? Has anyone ever tried at-home enemas? You can pick up a kit for them at any pharmacy.

Honestly, honey, I’m at a total loss myself; my only reliable strategy seems to be sitting on the toilet and popping three Dulcolax tablets just to get things moving.
I’m currently on a course of antibiotics for bronchitis, and I was foolishly hoping they might trigger some movement since they usually cause diarrhea in most people, but in my case, there isn't a single sign of life.