Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Paul Newman5, don't sweat it, it’s never too late to turn things around. You'll be an expert on all this before you know it. Honestly, blacx hit the nail on the head with everything they said.
If everyone actually understood what we needed, how to get it, how much it costs, and when to act... well, we probably wouldn't even need doctors in the first place.
Seriously, you can ask a shrink about pretty much anything under the sun. Just do yourself a favor and write your questions down beforehand—it’s funny how once you actually sit down in their office, your brain just goes totally blank...
Don't beat yourself up, though. You didn't do anything wrong. The important thing is that you're heading to see a psychiatrist, and once you coordinate with them, you can finally kick off some real therapy. Sending love.

Matthew White4 said:Paul Newman5, don't sweat it, it’s never too late to turn things around. You'll be an expert on all this before you know it. Honestly, blacx hit the nail on the head with everything they said.
If everyone actually understood what we needed, how to get it, how much it costs, and when to act... well, we probably wouldn't even need doctors in the first place.
Seriously, you can ask a shrink about pretty much anything under the sun. Just do yourself a favor and write your questions down beforehand—it’s funny how once you actually sit down in their office, your brain just goes totally blank...
Don't beat yourself up, though. You didn't do anything wrong. The important thing is that you're heading to see a psychiatrist, and once you coordinate with them, you can finally kick off some real therapy. Sending love.

Thanks, but I haven't even seen a therapist yet. The first one I had, besides taking my $67, wasn't much of a talker. She mostly just hated that I couldn't stand Luxottica, which was our main point of friction. Not sure when I'll be in New York City. Work is slammed next week, so I don't want to deal with scheduling right now. Plus, New York City is a good two-hour drive away; it's not like I can just pop in. And honestly, I feel miserable and drugged out. Woke up this morning with stomach pain and nausea, and my head feels heavy—not dizzy, just that dull ache you get with the flu. Feels like I'm starting from zero after those two drinks last night. I just want to stay in bed.

Good grief, don't you have anything closer to home?

Matthew White4 said:Good grief, don't you have anything closer to home?

I do, but the wait times for an appointment are brutal... unless you know someone, you'll be sitting there until you're old and gray. There aren't any private clinics besides the one I've already used. We'll see, thinking about hitting up Lowe's today if I can make it out.

Is it safe to mix St. John's Wort with Helex? 🤔
I've been digging through a few different sites, and I only found one mention saying you shouldn't take them together, but it didn't actually explain why. Since I'm planning on starting a St. John's Wort regimen, I want to be 100% sure about what's safe to pair with it and what isn't.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Is it safe to mix St. John's Wort with Helex? 🤔
I've been digging through a few different sites, and I only found one mention saying you shouldn't take them together, but it didn't actually explain why. Since I'm planning on starting a St. John's Wort regimen, I want to be 100% sure about what's safe to pair with it and what isn't.

By any sort of rational logic, those two ought to work in tandem.
If someone can manage antidepressants alongside Lexapro, then surely St. John's
wort, which acts as an antidepressant itself, should play nice with Lexapro.

Just ask a pharmacist or your psychiatrist.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Is it safe to mix St. John's Wort with Helex? 🤔
I've been digging through a few different sites, and I only found one mention saying you shouldn't take them together, but it didn't actually explain why. Since I'm planning on starting a St. John's Wort regimen, I want to be 100% sure about what's safe to pair with it and what isn't.

It's fine 🙂. I've taken it alongside Xanax before without any issues. Just don't mix it with antidepressants. It's kind of like how you wouldn't want to drink valerian root tea if you're already taking prescription sedatives.

redranger2 said:By any sort of rational logic, those two ought to work in tandem.
If someone can manage antidepressants alongside Lexapro, then surely St. John's
wort, which acts as an antidepressant itself, should play nice with Lexapro.

Just ask a pharmacist or your psychiatrist.

frozenorca63 said:It's fine 🙂. I've taken it alongside Xanax before without any issues. Just don't mix it with antidepressants. It's kind of like how you wouldn't want to drink valerian root tea if you're already taking prescription sedatives.

I was using that same logic—that St. John's Wort is basically just a natural antidepressant—but then I stumbled onto this one random link saying you shouldn't mix them, and now I'm kind of overthinking it.🙄

But since I see frogy took it with Normabrel, maybe I'll give it a shot. I'll hit up the pharmacy first just to be safe, though.

Thanks, girl. 🙏

So, I’m currently on Coax, taking one pill three times a day. For the first two weeks, my psychiatrist had me starting on half doses and slowly ramping up to the full amount. I just hit day seven of being on the full dose (3x1 daily), and honestly? It’s rough. I’m dealing with these brutal dizzy spells and constant anxiety. I have to force myself to eat, but everything just tastes like nothing. They told me the side effects would taper off after about a week, but right now, I feel like a total zombie. The dark circles under my eyes are deep enough to reach my chin. I can't even get anything done, and I genuinely admire people who manage to hold down jobs while on antidepressants—especially when the side effects are this bad. I’m basically a wreck at home. I’ve been taking some Xanax to take the edge off, which I cleared with my psychiatrist, whom I see $83 once a week. Since I read that this is supposed to be one of the milder options, that’s why I went with it. I couldn't handle Effexor or Lexapro, so I'm pretty skeptical about whether this will actually touch my moderate-to-severe depression. Has anyone here tried Coax? If it actually worked for you, please let me know. I know everyone reacts differently, but I just need a little bit of hope. I’m fighting an uphill battle every single day, and if this doesn't work, I’ll be back to square one, switching meds and restarting the whole miserable cycle. I know I need to be patient, but man, you guys know how hard this really is. Thanks in advance if anyone can help me out

Tricyclic antidepressants—which includes
Coax
—are honestly outdated; they carry way more side effects than the modern stuff we have now. I really don't get why anyone would still prescribe them when there are much higher quality, safer options available with far fewer downsides.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianeptine

2. Tricyclics belong to one of the oldest classes of depression meds and you still see them used quite a bit today. But in modern medicine, SSRIs have largely taken their place because patients generally tolerate them much better—plus, they're significantly safer in case of an accidental overdose.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007

It’s really not all doom and gloom 🙂, so let's not scare everyone off right away.
So, I actually started out on Zoloft and stuck with it for about a year—I can be pretty stubborn like that, I guess—but the whole time, I just felt like I was constantly sleeping. It’s part of that "newer generation" of meds, you know? I was basically dragging myself through life and just couldn't snap out of it, even though I did feel a little less blue or tense. Then, I eventually switched over to 3mg of Coax (that unfortunate "older" generation stuff). And honestly, I've been on Coax for years now! I don't get that heavy exhaustion I had on Zoloft, and there are almost zero side effects. There really is hope out there. I don't quite remember how those first couple of weeks felt, but everything is fine now, almost like I'm not even taking an antidepressant at all.

I really think we should try our best to follow what the doctor says if we've already made the decision to give medication a fair shot.
I mean, obviously, I get why we're all feeling anxious and depressed—otherwise, we wouldn't be posting all over 🙂 like this—but we have to remember that being terrified or skeptical of the meds we're taking is actually just another symptom of the issues we're dealing with. Meds aren't the only way, of course. It actually makes me think of this friend of mine whose psychiatrist wouldn't even tell him which specific meds he was starting during that first week, just so he wouldn't spend the whole time Googling side effects 😉. I'm not saying that's a genius move, but it's definitely something to chew on. If we're living in constant fear of what one specific pill might do to us, then something is bound to trigger that anxiety, and we really need to consider other options too.

Drew Bennett21 said:It’s really not all doom and gloom 🙂, so let's not scare everyone off right away.
So, I actually started out on Zoloft and stuck with it for about a year—I can be pretty stubborn like that, I guess—but the whole time, I just felt like I was constantly sleeping. It’s part of that "newer generation" of meds, you know? I was basically dragging myself through life and just couldn't snap out of it, even though I did feel a little less blue or tense. Then, I eventually switched over to 3mg of Coax (that unfortunate "older" generation stuff). And honestly, I've been on Coax for years now! I don't get that heavy exhaustion I had on Zoloft, and there are almost zero side effects. There really is hope out there. I don't quite remember how those first couple of weeks felt, but everything is fine now, almost like I'm not even taking an antidepressant at all.

I really think we should try our best to follow what the doctor says if we've already made the decision to give medication a fair shot.
I mean, obviously, I get why we're all feeling anxious and depressed—otherwise, we wouldn't be posting all over 🙂 like this—but we have to remember that being terrified or skeptical of the meds we're taking is actually just another symptom of the issues we're dealing with. Meds aren't the only way, of course. It actually makes me think of this friend of mine whose psychiatrist wouldn't even tell him which specific meds he was starting during that first week, just so he wouldn't spend the whole time Googling side effects 😉. I'm not saying that's a genius move, but it's definitely something to chew on. If we're living in constant fear of what one specific pill might do to us, then something is bound to trigger that anxiety, and we really need to consider other options too.

I took 5mg of Zoloft and it actually gave me a real boost
and besides, it's common knowledge that everyone reacts to antidepressants differently.

Drew Bennett21 said:It’s really not all doom and gloom 🙂, so let's not scare everyone off right away.
So, I actually started out on Zoloft and stuck with it for about a year—I can be pretty stubborn like that, I guess—but the whole time, I just felt like I was constantly sleeping. It’s part of that "newer generation" of meds, you know? I was basically dragging myself through life and just couldn't snap out of it, even though I did feel a little less blue or tense. Then, I eventually switched over to 3mg of Coax (that unfortunate "older" generation stuff). And honestly, I've been on Coax for years now! I don't get that heavy exhaustion I had on Zoloft, and there are almost zero side effects. There really is hope out there. I don't quite remember how those first couple of weeks felt, but everything is fine now, almost like I'm not even taking an antidepressant at all.

I really think we should try our best to follow what the doctor says if we've already made the decision to give medication a fair shot.
I mean, obviously, I get why we're all feeling anxious and depressed—otherwise, we wouldn't be posting all over 🙂 like this—but we have to remember that being terrified or skeptical of the meds we're taking is actually just another symptom of the issues we're dealing with. Meds aren't the only way, of course. It actually makes me think of this friend of mine whose psychiatrist wouldn't even tell him which specific meds he was starting during that first week, just so he wouldn't spend the whole time Googling side effects 😉. I'm not saying that's a genius move, but it's definitely something to chew on. If we're living in constant fear of what one specific pill might do to us, then something is bound to trigger that anxiety, and we really need to consider other options too.

Been on Coax for 15 days. Feeling pretty sluggish, kind of like I have the flu, and my appetite is down, though not as bad as the first few days. I messed up my dosage because I didn't know better, but I won't dwell on it since we covered my situation on the previous pages. Just wanted to jump in here because I agree with some points regarding how side effects hit me personally. I also need a psychiatrist who would just give me the meds without telling me the names, because as soon as I read the side effects, I start experiencing them all and end up spiraling into research, making myself more confused than before. But again, I think that's just my anxiety talking (plus a bad experience with Lexapro and Lexus). Medication is so individual anyway; we can offer support here, but advice isn't always "correct" because what works for one person won't necessarily work for me.

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:So, I’m currently on Coax, taking one pill three times a day. For the first two weeks, my psychiatrist had me starting on half doses and slowly ramping up to the full amount. I just hit day seven of being on the full dose (3x1 daily), and honestly? It’s rough. I’m dealing with these brutal dizzy spells and constant anxiety. I have to force myself to eat, but everything just tastes like nothing. They told me the side effects would taper off after about a week, but right now, I feel like a total zombie. The dark circles under my eyes are deep enough to reach my chin. I can't even get anything done, and I genuinely admire people who manage to hold down jobs while on antidepressants—especially when the side effects are this bad. I’m basically a wreck at home. I’ve been taking some Xanax to take the edge off, which I cleared with my psychiatrist, whom I see $83 once a week. Since I read that this is supposed to be one of the milder options, that’s why I went with it. I couldn't handle Effexor or Lexapro, so I'm pretty skeptical about whether this will actually touch my moderate-to-severe depression. Has anyone here tried Coax? If it actually worked for you, please let me know. I know everyone reacts differently, but I just need a little bit of hope. I’m fighting an uphill battle every single day, and if this doesn't work, I’ll be back to square one, switching meds and restarting the whole miserable cycle. I know I need to be patient, but man, you guys know how hard this really is. Thanks in advance if anyone can help me out

How long exactly have you been on Coax and what were your starting doses? I didn't catch if you've been on the full dose for 7 days total, or if that's just when you reached the full amount? And how much were you taking before that? I don't feel great on it either, but I'll give it a few more days. I'm dealing with headaches and muscle weakness. Yesterday was brutal, but today feels better—honestly, I can't tell if it's the med or just my own mood shifting regarding the side effects.

My doctor won't even touch Coax because, in her experience, it’s just been a dud. Plus, it feels a bit counterintuitive to me—why would you want to actually lower serotonin levels? Anyway, if you’re really struggling with side effects from everything else, I might suggest looking into Lexapro. It’s a relatively newer antidepressant and isn't prescribed quite as widely as the old staples, but generally speaking, it seems to have the cleanest side effect profile on the market. Of course, that’s not a rule—everyone reacts differently, obviously. But, honestly, it’s worth a shot to see how you respond. That’s usually just how the whole psychiatric med game works, isn't it? You trial and error your way through.

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor won't even touch Coax because, in her experience, it’s just been a dud. Plus, it feels a bit counterintuitive to me—why would you want to actually lower serotonin levels? Anyway, if you’re really struggling with side effects from everything else, I might suggest looking into Lexapro. It’s a relatively newer antidepressant and isn't prescribed quite as widely as the old staples, but generally speaking, it seems to have the cleanest side effect profile on the market. Of course, that’s not a rule—everyone reacts differently, obviously. But, honestly, it’s worth a shot to see how you respond. That’s usually just how the whole psychiatric med game works, isn't it? You trial and error your way through.

Honestly, I'm confused. Good for you that your doctor actually listens, though I know it varies. Personally, I wouldn't even know how to ask for a specific alternative. What would my doctor say? I'm a layman; how am I supposed to know what will work for me? When I see a doctor, I trust them to know their stuff. As a Plan B to Nexium, I was prescribed Wellbutrin. A few months ago, I asked around on this forum and everyone was trashing it, but then I have a friend who's been on it for three months and loves it—zero side effects. I was too scared to try it because of everything I read here. If it lowers serotonin, why are we even taking it? Look, I don't know who you are, and while I trust your knowledge, I'm just a novice. I can't demand specific meds from my doctor, and I can't switch psychiatrists every month. I just take what I'm given.

Paul Newman5 said:Honestly, I'm confused. Good for you that your doctor actually listens, though I know it varies. Personally, I wouldn't even know how to ask for a specific alternative. What would my doctor say? I'm a layman; how am I supposed to know what will work for me? When I see a doctor, I trust them to know their stuff. As a Plan B to Nexium, I was prescribed Wellbutrin. A few months ago, I asked around on this forum and everyone was trashing it, but then I have a friend who's been on it for three months and loves it—zero side effects. I was too scared to try it because of everything I read here. If it lowers serotonin, why are we even taking it? Look, I don't know who you are, and while I trust your knowledge, I'm just a novice. I can't demand specific meds from my doctor, and I can't switch psychiatrists every month. I just take what I'm given.

I don't know what kind of dynamic you have with your physician, but look, a huge part of modern psychotherapy is trust—and, of course, countertransference. My doctor actually told me she lets me participate in the medication decisions because the mere fact that I'm showing interest shows I actually want to get better. There were times in the past where I insisted on drugs she didn't think were effective, but honestly, the power of autosuggestion is incredibly strong. Everything is so individual. I'd much rather deal with a placebo than a nocebo effect, right? Of course, at the end of the day, the final call on what gets prescribed rests with the doctor. But please, don't be afraid to suggest things or talk through the pharmacotherapy. We're all human, after all—doctors and patients alike—and we all make mistakes. As for Nexium, there are studies proving it works; that's why it's on the market. Don't get too hung up on the exact mechanics of how antidepressants function. Most psychiatric disorders are based on theories, and frankly, we don't fully understand the precise mechanism of action for any psychotropic drug. And those comments on the forum? Try not to let them weigh on you too heavily. It's all so deeply personal.

Timothy Wood38 said:My doctor won't even touch Coax because, in her experience, it’s just been a dud. Plus, it feels a bit counterintuitive to me—why would you want to actually lower serotonin levels? Anyway, if you’re really struggling with side effects from everything else, I might suggest looking into Lexapro. It’s a relatively newer antidepressant and isn't prescribed quite as widely as the old staples, but generally speaking, it seems to have the cleanest side effect profile on the market. Of course, that’s not a rule—everyone reacts differently, obviously. But, honestly, it’s worth a shot to see how you respond. That’s usually just how the whole psychiatric med game works, isn't it? You trial and error your way through.

Just wanted to get this out there. Personally, I'm wound up like a spring. Since last fall, I haven't been able to control this nervousness, and my biggest fear is just snapping. One day I'll have a breakdown at work or in public and end up hospitalized, losing my job and everything else. Maybe no antidepressant works for me because depression isn't even the main issue. I work three jobs, take care of a family of five, manage a big house, and stay busy all day, but doctors won't listen to any of that. The anxiety is running me, not the other way around. I looked up those new options, but if the side effects include nervousness or irritability, I'm out—that's already happened twice with Lexapro and Luvox. For me, "increased anxiety" is an understatement. So, now that I've explained what's going on, what would you recommend? I feel like I'm redlining without meds, and sometimes it feels like these drugs just step on the gas instead of calming me down. Nexium helps the nerves, but then I deal with morning muscle weakness and headaches. Let me know what you think about my situation, since you seem to know your pharmacology. Sorry for the long post.

Timothy Wood38 said:I don't know what kind of dynamic you have with your physician, but look, a huge part of modern psychotherapy is trust—and, of course, countertransference. My doctor actually told me she lets me participate in the medication decisions because the mere fact that I'm showing interest shows I actually want to get better. There were times in the past where I insisted on drugs she didn't think were effective, but honestly, the power of autosuggestion is incredibly strong. Everything is so individual. I'd much rather deal with a placebo than a nocebo effect, right? Of course, at the end of the day, the final call on what gets prescribed rests with the doctor. But please, don't be afraid to suggest things or talk through the pharmacotherapy. We're all human, after all—doctors and patients alike—and we all make mistakes. As for Nexium, there are studies proving it works; that's why it's on the market. Don't get too hung up on the exact mechanics of how antidepressants function. Most psychiatric disorders are based on theories, and frankly, we don't fully understand the precise mechanism of action for any psychotropic drug. And those comments on the forum? Try not to let them weigh on you too heavily. It's all so deeply personal.

We didn't have a "relationship." She just took my $67 and insisted Luvox was made up and I was just hallucinating. Instead, she gave me suicidal thoughts I'd never had before or since. Finally, she handed me those two drugs I wanted and basically told me there are 500 other psychiatrists in the country and I shouldn't be hounding her. So from December to late March, I was off everything except Misar, and then my GP prescribed Nexium based on her note. If it doesn't work, I guess I'll find a new shrink. I saw a psychologist once a week for five months $67 and nothing. I can't change anything right now due to money, so we both just wasted time—me wasting a lot of cash. In the end, she "nicely" told me we need distance so I don't become dependent on her. Yeah, right. There aren't any psychiatrists near me who actually do therapy, and New York City is too far and too expensive.

Paul Newman5 said:We didn't have a "relationship." She just took my $67 and insisted Luvox was made up and I was just hallucinating. Instead, she gave me suicidal thoughts I'd never had before or since. Finally, she handed me those two drugs I wanted and basically told me there are 500 other psychiatrists in the country and I shouldn't be hounding her. So from December to late March, I was off everything except Misar, and then my GP prescribed Nexium based on her note. If it doesn't work, I guess I'll find a new shrink. I saw a psychologist once a week for five months $67 and nothing. I can't change anything right now due to money, so we both just wasted time—me wasting a lot of cash. In the end, she "nicely" told me we need distance so I don't become dependent on her. Yeah, right. There aren't any psychiatrists near me who actually do therapy, and New York City is too far and too expensive.

It’s such a shame you don't have a therapist nearby, because it really feels like that's what you need most right now. Look, I'm no doctor—I work in the pharmaceutical industry, so it would be totally out of line for me to start tossing around diagnoses or suggesting specific meds—but I can share what worked for me. When they first added an antipsychotic to my regimen, a low dose of sulpiride helped immensely with the nerves. In smaller doses, it has this antidepressant effect that just... settles you down. Some people even say it works better than standard anxiolytics. Usually, they prescribe somewhere between 150 and 300 mg daily, and personally, I didn't hit any side effects at all. Plus, it’s actually quite gentle on the stomach. It is technically an antipsychotic, sure, but once you get up to 800 mg or higher, that's when the side effects really start to kick in.