Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Robert Kim6 said:Yeah, I probably should've mentioned it... I was just second-guessing myself on whether I should keep asking about him.
Has anyone actually had any experience with it?

You could always shoot an email over to Johnson & Johnson; they usually get back to you on stuff like this. Unless, of course, someone here decides to weigh in first.

I'll definitely send it over... I'm just a little unsure if they'll respond since the Aktivin H is from Belupovac.

Robert Kim6 said:I'll definitely send it over... I'm just a little unsure if they'll respond since the Aktivin H is from Belupovac.

Belupovac will probably get back to you by the day after tomorrow. A few months ago, I asked if it was okay to take Aktivin with Misara and two people replied right away. Haven't actually tried it myself, so I can't say for sure. If you scroll back a few pages, someone else mentioned using it here, but I can't recall their name. Just find them and ask; if I remember correctly, she was on it for a long time.

Paul Newman5 said:Belupovac will probably get back to you by the day after tomorrow. A few months ago, I asked if it was okay to take Aktivin with Misara and two people replied right away. Haven't actually tried it myself, so I can't say for sure. If you scroll back a few pages, someone else mentioned using it here, but I can't recall their name. Just find them and ask; if I remember correctly, she was on it for a long time.

frogy

Thanks... I sent them an email, so now we'll just see if they get back to me.

Brandon Lopez6 said:That's usually how it goes with people who aren't actually drowning. Most of the time, the folks who are truly struggling would swallow anything just to feel even a little bit better, let alone a couple of pills.🙂

rejoflajt said:Signed.

Quinn:

I can't believe I'm even saying this out loud, but honestly? It’s happening. Everything we thought was set in stone is shifting right under our feet. It feels like we're all just trying to keep our heads above water while the ground moves. Who else is feeling this? kaže: So, what’s your experience been like? And do you actually have an official diagnosis for a mental health condition? I think you're totally off base with that comment.

Andrew Doyle said:Your "impression" is completely worthless. I am talking about reality here. Without my medication, I suffered from panic attacks so severe I ended up in the ER because doctors thought I was having a stroke. With my meds? I literally got my life back. Period.

And let me be clear: I am the type of person who would swallow pure poison if it meant I’d never have to deal with what I went through again. I don't even want to go into the details of the agoraphobia, the social anxiety, the endless cycle of phobias, and all that other garbage that made it impossible to breathe or perform basic daily tasks. It left me paralyzed. I'm not interested in debating the merits of being "natural" when my quality of life depends on this.

I dealt with my own bouts of panic attacks about five years ago, followed by social anxiety, and I managed to push through all of it without ever needing any meds. 🤷

I definitely struggled at first—it was such a headache trying to figure out which Xanax dose would actually work for me. But things turned around eventually. I finally managed to tackle my social anxiety through psychotherapy, and honestly, I feel great now.

So, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about two months ago. Honestly, I’m sitting here wondering why this is hitting me again. If I had to guess, it’s because my entire life has been flipped upside down over the last year. I've just been dealing with one massive stressor after another.
I’m honestly at my breaking point. I haven’t slept a wink, and trying to function like a normal human being has been impossible. I ended up reaching for the benzodiazepines again—but strictly as a last resort, just to deal with the insomnia.

I mean, don't even get me started on working a job you absolutely loathe. It’s a massive, soul-crushing source of stress, and honestly? It's just exhausting.

I finally started CBT, and I’ve made up my mind: I am going to crush this bullshit once and for all. Fear is nothing more than a damn shadow in my head. 🙂

Goodnight, everyone! 😘

Dennis Turner6 said:Quinn:

I can't believe I'm even saying this out loud, but honestly? It’s happening. Everything we thought was set in stone is shifting right under our feet. It feels like we're all just trying to keep our heads above water while the ground moves. Who else is feeling this? kaže: So, what’s your experience been like? And do you actually have an official diagnosis for a mental health condition? I think you're totally off base with that comment.

I dealt with my own bouts of panic attacks about five years ago, followed by social anxiety, and I managed to push through all of it without ever needing any meds. 🤷

I definitely struggled at first—it was such a headache trying to figure out which Xanax dose would actually work for me. But things turned around eventually. I finally managed to tackle my social anxiety through psychotherapy, and honestly, I feel great now.

So, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about two months ago. Honestly, I’m sitting here wondering why this is hitting me again. If I had to guess, it’s because my entire life has been flipped upside down over the last year. I've just been dealing with one massive stressor after another.
I’m honestly at my breaking point. I haven’t slept a wink, and trying to function like a normal human being has been impossible. I ended up reaching for the benzodiazepines again—but strictly as a last resort, just to deal with the insomnia.

I mean, don't even get me started on working a job you absolutely loathe. It’s a massive, soul-crushing source of stress, and honestly? It's just exhausting.

I finally started CBT, and I’ve made up my mind: I am going to crush this bullshit once and for all. Fear is nothing more than a damn shadow in my head. 🙂

Goodnight, everyone! 😘

That's awesome!😉

Robert Kim6 said:I'll definitely send it over... I'm just a little unsure if they'll respond since the Aktivin H is from Belupovac.

It is perfectly safe to drink; my doctor actually prescribed it to me alongside some valium, though I never ended up taking the medication itself.

New meds 🙂

Cymbal 60mg 1,0,0
Ativan 0.5mg 3x1
Haldol 2mg, 2mg, 5mg
Cogentin 2mg 1,0,0 + 1 pp
Prazosin 25mg 3x1 + 1 pp

Hey everyone! I wanted to jump in here and share a little bit about my experience with AT&T. About two years ago, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and my psychiatrist prescribed me Alice. Honestly, once I started taking it, it felt like a total reset—I haven’t felt this much energy in years. I stayed on the AT&T for about five full months. My doctor told me I could stop whenever I felt ready, so over the next two months, I slowly tapered off the dose until I was completely off it. Things were actually going great for about two months, but then the old problems started creeping back in, so I went back on Alice. It’s been over a year since then, and I've been taking one pill every single day without fail.
I'm feeling a bit stuck on what to do next. I'm 24, and man, I really don't want to be on medication for the rest of my life. But at the same time, I'm terrified of stopping because I don't want to fall back into those dark places—once I'm down there, I honestly don't know how to climb back out. I'm also wondering if taking Alice long-term ends up causing any lasting effects on my body?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated 🙂

Robin Myers91 said:Has anyone here tried that new schizophrenia med that hit the US market about two months ago?
I finally managed to get my psychiatrist to prescribe it—had to fight tooth and nail because Zyprexa, Everbio, Risperdal, and Seroquel made me pack on over 90 pounds.
So far, I haven't noticed any side effects other than some mild drowsiness (which I don't even really feel), though apparently, people with heart conditions should stay away from it.
It doesn't cause weight gain at all; in fact, it actually kills my appetite so much that I’ve already dropped 11 pounds in just seven days. I'm still taking Zeldox 120 mg on the side.

Look, I’m not against medication, especially when it provides that strong, measurable impact needed for immediate results.
But generally speaking, I think we should try to avoid them whenever possible.
The reason is kind of simple—we live in such a fast-paced, high-energy world that demands you stay physically alert, which basically means being fully "present" in the moment.
Psychotropic drugs tend to dull that edge.
There are certain situations you just can't dodge—whether because of where you are or what's happening around you—but in every other scenario, I feel like you should try to be gentle and unobtrusive toward the world around you.
Take something that happened today—I was talking to someone dear to me, and we were actually sharing a good laugh, when suddenly this wave of aggression hits—and they start yelling at me to get out of the way.
In that split second, I was completely physically calm and alert—so I moved, watched the person (who was incredibly furious, honestly, I thought they might actually swing at me), as they stormed past me, probably not even hearing the quick apology I tossed their way.
It’s weird why they chose to pass right through that specific spot given how much open space there was, but that's beside the point.
Also, when you find yourself facing an dangerous person who is pushing things to the limit—using verbal or physical aggression against you (and often getting the crowd to back them up, since people usually side with the aggressor)—and you can't avoid the confrontation, it isn't really your physical strength that matters most (though that counts, of course). It's your mental fortitude—the ability to mentally crush an opponent so thoroughly that they won't even dream of trying that again with someone else.
I used real-life examples there just to make the point hit harder.
The same logic applies to life's general struggles and non-human problems that land in our laps.
Almost any psychiatric med, especially over the long haul, tends to blunt your reaction to the relationship between yourself and your environment.
I think it's healthy to feel the full spectrum—bravery and fear, victory and defeat, and yeah, even neurosis. You shouldn't run away from those mental and emotional states; you should experience them individually... without causing harm to the people around you.
😉

Jeremy Brooks6 said:Look, I’m not against medication, especially when it provides that strong, measurable impact needed for immediate results.
But generally speaking, I think we should try to avoid them whenever possible.
The reason is kind of simple—we live in such a fast-paced, high-energy world that demands you stay physically alert, which basically means being fully "present" in the moment.
Psychotropic drugs tend to dull that edge.
There are certain situations you just can't dodge—whether because of where you are or what's happening around you—but in every other scenario, I feel like you should try to be gentle and unobtrusive toward the world around you.
Take something that happened today—I was talking to someone dear to me, and we were actually sharing a good laugh, when suddenly this wave of aggression hits—and they start yelling at me to get out of the way.
In that split second, I was completely physically calm and alert—so I moved, watched the person (who was incredibly furious, honestly, I thought they might actually swing at me), as they stormed past me, probably not even hearing the quick apology I tossed their way.
It’s weird why they chose to pass right through that specific spot given how much open space there was, but that's beside the point.
Also, when you find yourself facing an dangerous person who is pushing things to the limit—using verbal or physical aggression against you (and often getting the crowd to back them up, since people usually side with the aggressor)—and you can't avoid the confrontation, it isn't really your physical strength that matters most (though that counts, of course). It's your mental fortitude—the ability to mentally crush an opponent so thoroughly that they won't even dream of trying that again with someone else.
I used real-life examples there just to make the point hit harder.
The same logic applies to life's general struggles and non-human problems that land in our laps.
Almost any psychiatric med, especially over the long haul, tends to blunt your reaction to the relationship between yourself and your environment.
I think it's healthy to feel the full spectrum—bravery and fear, victory and defeat, and yeah, even neurosis. You shouldn't run away from those mental and emotional states; you should experience them individually... without causing harm to the people around you.
😉

The AP reports have clear evidence, and schizophrenia is exactly the kind of condition that demands that level of intervention. Anything else is just wishful thinking.

Please, let's not revisit outdated threads. Anything from six years ago falls into that category.
Also, I'd suggest everyone review the forum rules before jumping in. Consider this a friendly heads-up... 🙂

Best regards!

I’ve been a part of this community for quite some time now, which is something I actually take a certain amount of pride in. 🙂
I haven't really felt the need to check in on this thread lately because, well, I suppose I’ve finally found a sense of contentment... it’s hard to explain, but something just shifted. People keep telling me I look refreshed, more clear-headed, or just generally happier.

And before anyone asks, no, it wasn't the medication that did it. It was actually the tapering process.
I eventually realized I didn't need to rely on such heavy doses anymore, and when my therapist saw me last, she actually remarked that I seemed like a completely different person—that I was practically glowing with happiness. 🙂

I don't have that bloated, medicated look about me anymore, and I've managed to drop about 13 pounds... so, I guess you could say things are looking up. 😁

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’ve been a part of this community for quite some time now, which is something I actually take a certain amount of pride in. 🙂
I haven't really felt the need to check in on this thread lately because, well, I suppose I’ve finally found a sense of contentment... it’s hard to explain, but something just shifted. People keep telling me I look refreshed, more clear-headed, or just generally happier.

And before anyone asks, no, it wasn't the medication that did it. It was actually the tapering process.
I eventually realized I didn't need to rely on such heavy doses anymore, and when my therapist saw me last, she actually remarked that I seemed like a completely different person—that I was practically glowing with happiness. 🙂

I don't have that bloated, medicated look about me anymore, and I've managed to drop about 13 pounds... so, I guess you could say things are looking up. 😁

Spill it. What’s your secret for tapering? I’ve only been in this for a few months. Still digging through the info on AD-oves, but nothing's working yet. It’s not that I’m deeply depressed, but this anxiety is killing me. Naturally, everything just feels like one big nervous wreck because of it. Come on, give me some hope with your own story. What actually happened that made you start glowing again? Honestly, good for you.

Paul Newman5 said:Spill it. What’s your secret for tapering? I’ve only been in this for a few months. Still digging through the info on AD-oves, but nothing's working yet. It’s not that I’m deeply depressed, but this anxiety is killing me. Naturally, everything just feels like one big nervous wreck because of it. Come on, give me some hope with your own story. What actually happened that made you start glowing again? Honestly, good for you.

I suppose I was also at the very beginning, cycling through a mountain of different AD-ove just to find something that wouldn't make me feel like a wreck.
Effexor eventually worked for me, and since I started it, the depression has stayed away; I'm currently taking it alongside 50mg of Zoloft in the morning and, of course, my daily dosage of Ativan. That's my current regimen. But before that—🙂😲🤣 I was taking way, way more pills, including massive doses of antipsychotics... it honestly felt like I was walking around like some bloated, drowsy bear 😂. As for the secret behind my sudden happiness and this much brighter outlook on life... I don't think I can really explain it here 🙂. I could send you a private message about it if you're interested? 🙂

It hasn't been very long for me either, as I am currently preoccupied with a different health issue.
Alik, if I may, I have to express my confusion here.
My primary care physician suggested switching me from Sanval to Lunat, which was quite a surprise. She mentioned that some patients find it significantly more effective than Sanval. I found myself wondering, who is actually being fooled here? The composition is identical—zolpidem—and it isn't even the extended-release version, which is a shame. They are even the exact same color and size...
Perhaps she simply wanted to create the illusion that I was taking something different. 🙂

On another note, I have a question for those of you who understand the complexities of pharmaceutical approvals. For instance, why would two additional zolpidem brands enter the market when there are already three available? In terms of pricing, they are all essentially equal. Why wouldn't a company expand its hypnotic lineup to include triazolam or zopiclone, as is standard in most other parts of the world?

I am also genuinely curious: has anyone ever actually found success using Zan to fall asleep? I have experimented with various options under my psychiatrist's guidance, but it often feels as though certain drugs are approved only to sit on the shelf unused, much like Circadin.

The secret is actually quite simple. You just have to find who you truly are in this life and learn to embrace that version of yourself!😁😁🙂
I think I finally know what my greatest source of happiness will be—though, I suppose, I can only hope it actually comes to fruition in the future—and because of that, I find myself heading out the door every single day with a smile on my face. 🙂

That being said, it certainly doesn't mean I can manage without my AD-ove just yet. No, absolutely not,

Kenneth Scott41 said:The secret is actually quite simple. You just have to find who you truly are in this life and learn to embrace that version of yourself!😁😁🙂
I think I finally know what my greatest source of happiness will be—though, I suppose, I can only hope it actually comes to fruition in the future—and because of that, I find myself heading out the door every single day with a smile on my face. 🙂

That being said, it certainly doesn't mean I can manage without my AD-ove just yet. No, absolutely not,

Well, I found myself, and even Jesus Christ couldn't force me to accept who I am.
I'm terrified of everything. From ants to the dark.

All that fear eventually turned into a defense mechanism where I became an aggressive person. Not physically, just my whole vibe... loud, pushy... always fighting windmills. Anything to mask the fear.

Medication cleared all that away.
It wasn't instant, and the start was rough. It took me a year of cycling through a billion different phases before I finally learned how to actually manage myself while on meds.
Bottom line... the pills didn't do the work by themselves.
But did they help me tackle things? Oh yeah... absolutely.
Meds plus self-work... that’s the winning combo.
Just letting the drugs manipulate you and do whatever they want? That's not a solution, and it's definitely not high-quality therapy.
I know plenty of people who take handfuls of pills every single day for years... for nothing.
They choke them down, and then what? I don't get it. They still have their own issues. They expect the meds to solve their problems automatically?
Funny.
Not really funny.
It's tragic.
If you're going to poison your body anyway, you might as well do it for a purpose. Don't just spin your wheels. Move forward.

Just because you're on medication doesn't mean you can stop working on yourself every day or stop questioning your own actions.

It's just... being self-critical is easier when you're medicated than when you aren't. Makes you more productive in every aspect of life.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Well, I found myself, and even Jesus Christ couldn't force me to accept who I am.
I'm terrified of everything. From ants to the dark.

All that fear eventually turned into a defense mechanism where I became an aggressive person. Not physically, just my whole vibe... loud, pushy... always fighting windmills. Anything to mask the fear.

Medication cleared all that away.
It wasn't instant, and the start was rough. It took me a year of cycling through a billion different phases before I finally learned how to actually manage myself while on meds.
Bottom line... the pills didn't do the work by themselves.
But did they help me tackle things? Oh yeah... absolutely.
Meds plus self-work... that’s the winning combo.
Just letting the drugs manipulate you and do whatever they want? That's not a solution, and it's definitely not high-quality therapy.
I know plenty of people who take handfuls of pills every single day for years... for nothing.
They choke them down, and then what? I don't get it. They still have their own issues. They expect the meds to solve their problems automatically?
Funny.
Not really funny.
It's tragic.
If you're going to poison your body anyway, you might as well do it for a purpose. Don't just spin your wheels. Move forward.

Just because you're on medication doesn't mean you can stop working on yourself every day or stop questioning your own actions.

It's just... being self-critical is easier when you're medicated than when you aren't. Makes you more productive in every aspect of life.

Unfortunately, I have to pray for some... I take meds... and I feel better than I did. Fewer intrusive thoughts, more livable. (I'm in a bit of a low phase right now, but it's not like my usual depression where I can't even function; I can still get up and head to work)... so they really do help. Without them, I would have gone off the rails a long time ago... but I struggle with this whole "self-work" thing. I can't seem to find any awareness because I can't get into regular therapy—seeing someone once a month is basically nothing. Honestly, my friend keeps me more grounded than any therapist could, but she has her own massive problems and is really struggling herself... I don't want to dump all my baggage on her since she's already in deep. I end up spending more time listening to her.
I honestly don't know what "working on yourself" actually means. When I'm unhappy, I lose all will and motivation to think positively... if you could explain it to me... please. You can even DM me. Thanks.

Gerald Torres2 said:Unfortunately, I have to pray for some... I take meds... and I feel better than I did. Fewer intrusive thoughts, more livable. (I'm in a bit of a low phase right now, but it's not like my usual depression where I can't even function; I can still get up and head to work)... so they really do help. Without them, I would have gone off the rails a long time ago... but I struggle with this whole "self-work" thing. I can't seem to find any awareness because I can't get into regular therapy—seeing someone once a month is basically nothing. Honestly, my friend keeps me more grounded than any therapist could, but she has her own massive problems and is really struggling herself... I don't want to dump all my baggage on her since she's already in deep. I end up spending more time listening to her.
I honestly don't know what "working on yourself" actually means. When I'm unhappy, I lose all will and motivation to think positively... if you could explain it to me... please. You can even DM me. Thanks.

I don't do any therapy. I talked to my psychiatrist a lot at the start... then, once I cleared up my social phobia, I started opening up to people. I let them voice their opinions without taking it as an attack on my character. Basically, if someone has an opinion that doesn't line up with mine... I look at it critically. I take the good, toss the bad. I gather perspectives from one, two, ten different people... then I summarize it all and reach my own conclusion.

Then there's... mental masturbation. 😁 My psychiatrist laughed at the phrase.
For a long time, I practiced mental masturbation to find solutions.
Even while on medication.
Even now, I can sit by the window, smoke a cigarette, and just work through my thoughts... reviewing everything I've done, questioning it all.

But honestly... what's the difference between self-criticism without meds versus with meds?

For me personally... without meds... self-criticism = tears, crying, depression. I am the worst person in the world. Absolute rock bottom... I'll never amount to anything. What can I even do in life like this? Nothing. So I just keep crying. I can't face the world. I can't do anything. It feels pointless.

Self-criticism with meds = "Aha... I screwed up. Dammit. Now what? I'm only human. Can I be perfect all the time?"
No. I can't.
Who can?...
Who did I screw over? Person X? Okay... fine, let's take concrete action and see if it can be fixed.
Who did I mess up with now? Myself... okay... let's go back to CONCRETE ACTION, try something, and see what can be repaired.

Meaning... I ACT. I don't just spin my wheels like some dizzy toddler; I think it through and then I head out... 😁 ...sometimes with more fear, sometimes less, sometimes no fear at all... but I don't lock myself away. I go out... and I do it.
And if the mistake can be fixed... great.
If it can't... damn. What am I gonna do? Let time do its thing. I've got other things to deal with. Like cleaning the apartment, studying for work, passing a college exam... stuff like that.

Interesting... in most cases, mistakes really can be fixed.

One more thing... don't drink alcohol while you're on psychiatric meds.