Psychotropic medication discussion thread

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.

Are you doing okay now? And why stay on it for years? I've only been on it for eight days... Can you drive while taking Coaxial? Does it mess with your skin in the sun during the summer? Sorry for hitting you with all these questions, but it's my first time ever taking an AT&T and I'm just feeling so overwhelmed with everything... I just really need this to work because this depression is making it impossible to live my life like I used to... I hope you'll get back to me... best wishes.

Dennis Turner6 said:I’ve got some lemon verbena tea on hand, and honestly, it’s not bad—it helps me chill out a bit.

But I think I'll give that motherwort a shot too.

You mentioned Aktivin H? Alright, I'm adding that to my list.😬

Anything else you guys recommend?

By the way, Brandon Lopez6... is that sleepiness from Helex or something else? I just want to be able to sleep normally.😢

Aktivin is basically just St. John's Wort in pill form, so just a heads up—don't take both at once. Stick to either the tea or the tablets. Fingers crossed it works for you! Personally, I'm on day 10 of my antidepressants right now, and so far, so good. But honestly, St. John's Wort almost totally cleared up my anxiety for me—cut it down by at least 80%.

frozenorca63 said:Aktivin is basically just St. John's Wort in pill form, so just a heads up—don't take both at once. Stick to either the tea or the tablets. Fingers crossed it works for you! Personally, I'm on day 10 of my antidepressants right now, and so far, so good. But honestly, St. John's Wort almost totally cleared up my anxiety for me—cut it down by at least 80%.

Thanks for the tip! 😁

What’s your diagnosis, though? If St. John's Wort did the trick for your anxiety, why are you on antidepressants? Is it for depression or something else?

Dennis Turner6 said:Thanks for the tip! 😁

What’s your diagnosis, though? If St. John's Wort did the trick for your anxiety, why are you on antidepressants? Is it for depression or something else?

I deal with anxiety and panic attacks. Honestly, I started taking AT&T specifically for those attacks because I read somewhere that Lexapro works wonders. My neurologist actually prescribed it about six months ago, but back then, my anxiety was through the roof, and since I have a massive phobia of swallowing pills, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. To be fair, the herbal stuff really did help, but I feel like I’m still just missing that final piece of the puzzle to completely kill off this anxiety—especially those panic attacks. They don't happen all the time, maybe once a week late at night, but they absolutely drain me for days afterward 😢. So, I decided to finally give AT&T a shot and see how things go over the next couple of months. Since I feel like I'm already mostly on the mend, I'm hoping the treatment won't have to last nearly as long as if I were starting from rock bottom.
Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I really can't afford to be sick or stuck in this headspace right now. I'm getting my kid enrolled in school and hunting for a job, so I just need to power through everything. I've got people counting on me—my little one depends on me, and with the rest of the family dealing with mortgage payments, finding work is pretty much my top priority.

frozenorca63 said:I deal with anxiety and panic attacks. Honestly, I started taking AT&T specifically for those attacks because I read somewhere that Lexapro works wonders. My neurologist actually prescribed it about six months ago, but back then, my anxiety was through the roof, and since I have a massive phobia of swallowing pills, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. To be fair, the herbal stuff really did help, but I feel like I’m still just missing that final piece of the puzzle to completely kill off this anxiety—especially those panic attacks. They don't happen all the time, maybe once a week late at night, but they absolutely drain me for days afterward 😢. So, I decided to finally give AT&T a shot and see how things go over the next couple of months. Since I feel like I'm already mostly on the mend, I'm hoping the treatment won't have to last nearly as long as if I were starting from rock bottom.
Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I really can't afford to be sick or stuck in this headspace right now. I'm getting my kid enrolled in school and hunting for a job, so I just need to power through everything. I've got people counting on me—my little one depends on me, and with the rest of the family dealing with mortgage payments, finding work is pretty much my top priority.

Anyone else feeling like this? Impatient and drowning in responsibilities. I don't have a toddler, but I've got two kids in school—one in college, one in high school—plus others, though I won't get into all that here. Mortgages, a big house, working two jobs... it's not weird that I'm anxious and on edge. It's a cycle: I'm frustrated that I can't shake the fear, I'm overwhelmed by work, and then I just spin my wheels. Which AT&T are you on? And when does the anxiety usually hit? Maybe you mentioned it before, I forget.

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:Are you doing okay now? And why stay on it for years? I've only been on it for eight days... Can you drive while taking Coaxial? Does it mess with your skin in the sun during the summer? Sorry for hitting you with all these questions, but it's my first time ever taking an AT&T and I'm just feeling so overwhelmed with everything... I just really need this to work because this depression is making it impossible to live my life like I used to... I hope you'll get back to me... best wishes.

I've been on Coaxial for about 16 days now. Driving is fine; I drove to work this morning without any issues, even though I'm also on Prozac. Maybe I wouldn't dare drive to another city right now, but the daily commute to the store or work is totally normal. And why wouldn't you sunbathe? Summer is still a ways off. By then, you'll either switch from AT&T or the Coaxial will have kicked in. The instructions don't even mention avoiding the sun, or at least I haven't noticed anything...🤷Some people just have to stay on these things for years. If it works for me, or if something else does, I won't be asking how long I have to take it. Mornings are a bit rough for me—waking up around 7:00, feeling off until maybe 9:00—but if I have to drive, I drive. If you're actually getting that dizzy, you really should, sorry, call your doctor back. I get slight headaches in the morning too, but an Advil fixes it. No muscle weakness today, even though I'm still taking two; I just have to cut back on the Prozac. I'm giving it more time.

Dennis Turner6 said:Ugh, I used to love sleeping so much, but ever since my anxiety kicked in... I can barely even remember what a good night's rest feels like anymore.

Everyone's different. I'm high-strung as hell, but I sleep fine. Too fine. Morning comes way too fast. I hit the sack around 10 PM and get up at 7 AM, mostly because I force myself to. I take about 4.5mg of Lexapro for sleep—mix of 1mg and 1.5mg tabs—and it feels like I never even hit the pillow. I’m pretty calm at night. Mornings just suck. At least for me. I stay busy all day; don't really look like the depressed type, more just jittery and anxious. But sleep? I can do that.

Paul Newman5 said:Anyone else feeling like this? Impatient and drowning in responsibilities. I don't have a toddler, but I've got two kids in school—one in college, one in high school—plus others, though I won't get into all that here. Mortgages, a big house, working two jobs... it's not weird that I'm anxious and on edge. It's a cycle: I'm frustrated that I can't shake the fear, I'm overwhelmed by work, and then I just spin my wheels. Which AT&T are you on? And when does the anxiety usually hit? Maybe you mentioned it before, I forget.

I just sent you a DM 🙂. For the most part, I'm on Lexapro. In the beginning, the anxiety was pretty much constant throughout the day, but lately, it mostly hits me in the mornings and evenings, while I actually felt somewhat steady during the daytime...

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:Are you doing okay now? And why stay on it for years? I've only been on it for eight days... Can you drive while taking Coaxial? Does it mess with your skin in the sun during the summer? Sorry for hitting you with all these questions, but it's my first time ever taking an AT&T and I'm just feeling so overwhelmed with everything... I just really need this to work because this depression is making it impossible to live my life like I used to... I hope you'll get back to me... best wishes.

Since you're taking it three times a day, how does it affect your sleep? Anyone else want to chime in? I'm starting three doses tonight, so I'm wondering about sleep. It’s not usually an issue for me, so I'm curious if Xarelto disrupts it. Are you feeling any improvement?

Paul Newman5 said:Since you're taking it three times a day, how does it affect your sleep? Anyone else want to chime in? I'm starting three doses tonight, so I'm wondering about sleep. It’s not usually an issue for me, so I'm curious if Xarelto disrupts it. Are you feeling any improvement?

In the beginning, I was barely crashing until 3 or 4 in the morning. Last night, I managed to hit the hay around 2... maybe things are slightly better, but I’ve got this restlessness during the day. It's like I'm not even in my own skin—I don't know how to put it. Honestly, I barely made it through today; I had to take some Ativan just to settle down. I don't know... I'm basically stuck in my backyard right now. Two months ago, I felt like I could take on the world. This whole state of mind scares me. I'm on day 10 of Xarelto... how's it treating you? And why are you even on it if you say you aren't depressed? Hang in there... hopefully, things turn around soon.

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:In the beginning, I was barely crashing until 3 or 4 in the morning. Last night, I managed to hit the hay around 2... maybe things are slightly better, but I’ve got this restlessness during the day. It's like I'm not even in my own skin—I don't know how to put it. Honestly, I barely made it through today; I had to take some Ativan just to settle down. I don't know... I'm basically stuck in my backyard right now. Two months ago, I felt like I could take on the world. This whole state of mind scares me. I'm on day 10 of Xarelto... how's it treating you? And why are you even on it if you say you aren't depressed? Hang in there... hopefully, things turn around soon.

I know that restless feeling... felt the same way on Lexapro and Luxe. I'm doing relatively okay. It’s more anxiolytic for me, so my legs and muscles feel heavy in the mornings. Honestly, I probably need to taper off the anxiolytics—I've been on high doses for 6 months, so maybe that's why. Get a little nauseous too, but I carry Pepto-Bismol since I have gastritis. It was prescribed for depression, but since I'm anxious and jittery, it helps settle the nerves quite a bit. If you're feeling this bad, though, you should probably check in with your doctor. I took three around 8 last night, but slept normally. Good sleep. I'll stick to 3x1 this week and see. It's not terrible so far, but the goal is to cut down the fear. We'll see if it actually does anything.

Paul Newman5 said:I know that restless feeling... felt the same way on Lexapro and Luxe. I'm doing relatively okay. It’s more anxiolytic for me, so my legs and muscles feel heavy in the mornings. Honestly, I probably need to taper off the anxiolytics—I've been on high doses for 6 months, so maybe that's why. Get a little nauseous too, but I carry Pepto-Bismol since I have gastritis. It was prescribed for depression, but since I'm anxious and jittery, it helps settle the nerves quite a bit. If you're feeling this bad, though, you should probably check in with your doctor. I took three around 8 last night, but slept normally. Good sleep. I'll stick to 3x1 this week and see. It's not terrible so far, but the goal is to cut down the fear. We'll see if it actually does anything.

I've got a psychiatry appointment coming up this week... everything feels a bit heavy lately because I'm home alone all day. My daughter is away at college, my sister-in-law only stops by whenever she can, and my mom was here for ten days but lives on the other side of town, so she headed back home. I noticed you're taking quite a bit to stay calm, and honestly, I admire you for being able to drive; I'm too terrified to get behind the wheel. Xarelto used to make me sleepy when I first started, but now, eleven months in, I'm just feeling this restlessness. It started again just yesterday—this constant dread and racing thoughts. I'm actually scared I'm going to lose my mind if I don't get this sorted out... it's such a struggle. To be blunt, my psychiatrist isn't helping much; her go-to answer is "well, there's always the hospital," which honestly just scares the hell out of me. Let me know what your dosage looks like. I took some Xarelto and an Ativan this morning. It's raining outside, I'm sitting here alone, and my head is just spinning with thoughts. It's a tough fight, and I don't even know what else to say.

Elizabeth Alvarez5 said:I've got a psychiatry appointment coming up this week... everything feels a bit heavy lately because I'm home alone all day. My daughter is away at college, my sister-in-law only stops by whenever she can, and my mom was here for ten days but lives on the other side of town, so she headed back home. I noticed you're taking quite a bit to stay calm, and honestly, I admire you for being able to drive; I'm too terrified to get behind the wheel. Xarelto used to make me sleepy when I first started, but now, eleven months in, I'm just feeling this restlessness. It started again just yesterday—this constant dread and racing thoughts. I'm actually scared I'm going to lose my mind if I don't get this sorted out... it's such a struggle. To be blunt, my psychiatrist isn't helping much; her go-to answer is "well, there's always the hospital," which honestly just scares the hell out of me. Let me know what your dosage looks like. I took some Xarelto and an Ativan this morning. It's raining outside, I'm sitting here alone, and my head is just spinning with thoughts. It's a tough fight, and I don't even know what else to say.

Restlessness, nerves, fear—I get it too, felt it since last October. Started on Lexapro, then in December my doctor switched me to Miser. Miser made me sleepy at first, too, but I guess the body adjusts. Ever think that the fear itself is causing the restlessness? You don't have to go to the hospital if you don't want to. My doctor brought up the hospital once, too, so I decided to switch doctors. Don't think for a second that I'm not afraid to drive or that I won't crack and quit my job. Every time I head into work, I want to call and quit; I'd rather just hide in a hole somewhere, but luckily I haven't folded yet. I take 0.5mg of Miser three times a day, plus a little Lexapro occasionally—with Xarelto, it doesn't hit me as hard as before, and I take 4.5mg of Lexapro to sleep. If Xarelto isn't working, there are other ADs; why jump straight to the hospital after one failed attempt? Dark thoughts are familiar territory, but I've noticed they sometimes depend on my own headspace, not just the meds. Yesterday was a total disaster for me... nervous as a dog. Today I'm a different person, even though it's the same medication. Try to stay busy if you can. Clean the house or something. I'll stick to my dose this week and then consult my psychiatrist based on how I feel. Also, check pages 23 or 24 of this forum; there are a few threads about Xarelto-extreme where people discuss it. Do you work? And yeah, this is hell—this time last year, I was a machine, never touched a sedative, could handle three jobs at once, and then... boom. A few panic attacks in the spring and summer, then anxiety, fatigue, and fear hitting in the fall... my OB-GYN said it's all perimenopause, but I can't take hormone therapy. So, is it that, or not? Who knows.

Paul Newman5 said:Restlessness, nerves, fear—I get it too, felt it since last October. Started on Lexapro, then in December my doctor switched me to Miser. Miser made me sleepy at first, too, but I guess the body adjusts. Ever think that the fear itself is causing the restlessness? You don't have to go to the hospital if you don't want to. My doctor brought up the hospital once, too, so I decided to switch doctors. Don't think for a second that I'm not afraid to drive or that I won't crack and quit my job. Every time I head into work, I want to call and quit; I'd rather just hide in a hole somewhere, but luckily I haven't folded yet. I take 0.5mg of Miser three times a day, plus a little Lexapro occasionally—with Xarelto, it doesn't hit me as hard as before, and I take 4.5mg of Lexapro to sleep. If Xarelto isn't working, there are other ADs; why jump straight to the hospital after one failed attempt? Dark thoughts are familiar territory, but I've noticed they sometimes depend on my own headspace, not just the meds. Yesterday was a total disaster for me... nervous as a dog. Today I'm a different person, even though it's the same medication. Try to stay busy if you can. Clean the house or something. I'll stick to my dose this week and then consult my psychiatrist based on how I feel. Also, check pages 23 or 24 of this forum; there are a few threads about Xarelto-extreme where people discuss it. Do you work? And yeah, this is hell—this time last year, I was a machine, never touched a sedative, could handle three jobs at once, and then... boom. A few panic attacks in the spring and summer, then anxiety, fatigue, and fear hitting in the fall... my OB-GYN said it's all perimenopause, but I can't take hormone therapy. So, is it that, or not? Who knows.

Yes, that is certainly a possibility. The decline in estrogen levels directly impacts one's emotional stability, which explains why many women navigating perimenopause and menopause face frequent bouts of anxiety
and depression.
During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations are notoriously erratic, characterized by unpredictable spikes and sudden drops.

redranger2 said:Yes, that is certainly a possibility. The decline in estrogen levels directly impacts one's emotional stability, which explains why many women navigating perimenopause and menopause face frequent bouts of anxiety
and depression.
During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations are notoriously erratic, characterized by unpredictable spikes and sudden drops.

I assume that's the case too, but it sucks regardless. I've read plenty of explanations from gynecologists online saying tons of women take AD instead of hormone therapy. I tried Premarin once, but I was vomiting for like 20 days straight. Between my thyroid antibodies and that prolactin tumor I had back in the day, plus the history of cancer in my family, my endocrinologist suggested AD was a better bet than HRT. It's a lose-lose situation. My subconscious just wouldn't accept this as perimenopause; it felt like a mental breakdown, and then I started panicking about having a nervous collapse at work and losing my job. That's how my anxiety kicked in, and it's always at its worst when I have to head into the office.

Paul Newman5 said:I assume that's the case too, but it sucks regardless. I've read plenty of explanations from gynecologists online saying tons of women take AD instead of hormone therapy. I tried Premarin once, but I was vomiting for like 20 days straight. Between my thyroid antibodies and that prolactin tumor I had back in the day, plus the history of cancer in my family, my endocrinologist suggested AD was a better bet than HRT. It's a lose-lose situation. My subconscious just wouldn't accept this as perimenopause; it felt like a mental breakdown, and then I started panicking about having a nervous collapse at work and losing my job. That's how my anxiety kicked in, and it's always at its worst when I have to head into the office.

It is certainly better to go with AD than HRT. Personally, I don't experience any menopause symptoms while on AD, so it effectively solves two problems with one stone.😁

The dread of losing one's livelihood is a constant companion for many, myself included. There are four of us in my household, and I am the sole provider, working on a freelance basis at that. Eventually, that income will dry up, and then
the real agony begins.
In your case, however, we are dealing with anxiety, and you have simply—whether consciously or subconsciously—latched onto a reason to justify its existence. If it weren't the fear of losing your job, you would inevitably find something else to pin it on.

redranger2 said:It is certainly better to go with AD than HRT. Personally, I don't experience any menopause symptoms while on AD, so it effectively solves two problems with one stone.😁

The dread of losing one's livelihood is a constant companion for many, myself included. There are four of us in my household, and I am the sole provider, working on a freelance basis at that. Eventually, that income will dry up, and then
the real agony begins.
In your case, however, we are dealing with anxiety, and you have simply—whether consciously or subconsciously—latched onto a reason to justify its existence. If it weren't the fear of losing your job, you would inevitably find something else to pin it on.

I just hope the search for the right AD doesn't drag on forever.
With my situation, there's almost zero chance I'll actually lose my job, but I'm terrified my nerves will snap and I'll have some kind of outburst that gets me fired.
Maybe you're right, though. I'm anxious, and I've just latched onto this... if it wasn't this, it would be something else. Sorry, I can't remember which AD you're on, how long you've been taking it, or if you deal with anxiety too... damn, I always forget.

Don’t get mad at me for saying this, but reading through this thread, I’m getting the feeling that it’s the exact same mess whether people are taking their meds or not. That’s just my take on it.

Dennis Turner6 said:Don’t get mad at me for saying this, but reading through this thread, I’m getting the feeling that it’s the exact same mess whether people are taking their meds or not. That’s just my take on it.

I won't. At least, I won't lose it, because honestly, I feel the exact same way sometimes. Yesterday was a total disaster, today feels okay, yet I'm taking the same pills both days. We just keep swallowing them and hope they actually work. Sometimes I second-guess everything—total Hamlet vibes—but when I skipped three months, things went south fast. There are days when taking these feels like nothing more than giving in to the path of least resistance... just taking them so I don't have to deal with anything. And why get angry? You're entitled to your opinion. We took our doses, so now we're all being peaceful.🤣But by tomorrow morning, once the anxiety kicks back in, you'll be "ready" for a comment like that.😂

Paul Newman5 said:I just hope the search for the right AD doesn't drag on forever.
With my situation, there's almost zero chance I'll actually lose my job, but I'm terrified my nerves will snap and I'll have some kind of outburst that gets me fired.
Maybe you're right, though. I'm anxious, and I've just latched onto this... if it wasn't this, it would be something else. Sorry, I can't remember which AD you're on, how long you've been taking it, or if you deal with anxiety too... damn, I always forget.

Your fear is centered on losing self-control, specifically at the moment
when you have an audience at work. Personally, I find it highly unlikely that such a thing would ever
actually happen, but it remains a compulsive thought, which falls squarely within the realm of anxiety.