Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Kevin Bailey2 said: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.

What a thoughtful post. 😍
That’s pretty much how I’ve thought and acted too. Though, do you have a specific reason for mentioning that one shouldn't consume alcohol? (I obviously know it's harmful).
Did you have a bad experience with it?
Because when I was trying to taper off Effexor and was only at half a dose, I had this intense craving for alcohol, even though I don't usually drink—especially since I started taking AD-ove.

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.

If you aren't happy with who you are, then you haven't truly found your real self yet—it's hard to explain. Maybe take a day, go for a walk, and reflect on your life. Take a few hours to just lie in bed and think about your existence... the good parts and the bad ones, and where you see yourself in it all. If you don't have that clear picture yet of where you see yourself in the future—happy and whole—that's okay too... it will come eventually. Or, you could try writing things down: list the positives under one heading and the negatives under another. 🙂

Eventually, you'll find it, or you'll realize, "Yes, this is exactly how I want to live," within your own limits and possibilities, of course. I actually heard about a colleague of a friend who moved to India! He loved it at first and decided to stay there... far away from our country, which feels like it's falling apart, where more and more people are losing their jobs and naturally becoming depressed. I guess when you truly want something, not even a tank could stop you! 😉

Kenneth Scott41 said:If you aren't happy with who you are, then you haven't truly found your real self yet—it's hard to explain. Maybe take a day, go for a walk, and reflect on your life. Take a few hours to just lie in bed and think about your existence... the good parts and the bad ones, and where you see yourself in it all. If you don't have that clear picture yet of where you see yourself in the future—happy and whole—that's okay too... it will come eventually. Or, you could try writing things down: list the positives under one heading and the negatives under another. 🙂

Eventually, you'll find it, or you'll realize, "Yes, this is exactly how I want to live," within your own limits and possibilities, of course. I actually heard about a colleague of a friend who moved to India! He loved it at first and decided to stay there... far away from our country, which feels like it's falling apart, where more and more people are losing their jobs and naturally becoming depressed. I guess when you truly want something, not even a tank could stop you! 😉

Everything you said hits the mark.
I know exactly what I want, and I'm hitting my goals one step at a time.

As long as I'm on these meds.

Bryan Rodriguez7 said:What a thoughtful post. 😍
That’s pretty much how I’ve thought and acted too. Though, do you have a specific reason for mentioning that one shouldn't consume alcohol? (I obviously know it's harmful).
Did you have a bad experience with it?
Because when I was trying to taper off Effexor and was only at half a dose, I had this intense craving for alcohol, even though I don't usually drink—especially since I started taking AD-ove.

Look... a little alcohol isn't going to kill you.
But heaven forbid you mix it with an antipsychotic while you're out somewhere, because you could end up having a total blackout.
Not from my own experience, thank God. I always knew I could have a couple of beers at home with friends after taking my antipsychotics, and honestly, I can't even remember how I fell asleep.

I have a different bad experience involving mixing psych meds and antidepressants. But it wasn't just about the alcohol; it was being in the wrong situation where a few beers definitely wasn't the answer.
When you're on medication, alcohol hits you way harder. A couple of beers and you're done for.

Still, I'm saying... two or three beers won't kill you. But... if you absolutely have to drink, make sure you're under someone's supervision.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Look... a little alcohol isn't going to kill you.
But heaven forbid you mix it with an antipsychotic while you're out somewhere, because you could end up having a total blackout.
Not from my own experience, thank God. I always knew I could have a couple of beers at home with friends after taking my antipsychotics, and honestly, I can't even remember how I fell asleep.

I have a different bad experience involving mixing psych meds and antidepressants. But it wasn't just about the alcohol; it was being in the wrong situation where a few beers definitely wasn't the answer.
When you're on medication, alcohol hits you way harder. A couple of beers and you're done for.

Still, I'm saying... two or three beers won't kill you. But... if you absolutely have to drink, make sure you're under someone's supervision.

I'm only on an AD, and even then, it's the lowest possible dose. But sometimes I'll indulge and have quite a bit to drink. It's not that I can't get drunk, it's more that I enter this state that isn't even intoxication, it's just... strange. My head feels perfectly clear. My fear is that this might leave some kind of lasting trace on my brain; I know the liver takes a hit, too. That's why I was asking.
Thanks for the response. 🙂

Bryan Rodriguez7 said:I'm only on an AD, and even then, it's the lowest possible dose. But sometimes I'll indulge and have quite a bit to drink. It's not that I can't get drunk, it's more that I enter this state that isn't even intoxication, it's just... strange. My head feels perfectly clear. My fear is that this might leave some kind of lasting trace on my brain; I know the liver takes a hit, too. That's why I was asking.
Thanks for the response. 🙂

I take Faverin + Xanax in small amounts every single day. I find myself constantly wondering if having one beer or a glass of wine would make a difference. Lately, there seems to be a social gathering or a party every weekend; everyone is drinking, and frankly, it’s difficult to watch 😁, but I have no desire to trigger some unexpected reaction or worsen my condition. I read somewhere that frequent alcohol consumption might neutralize the effects of AD-ove, though I’m not certain if that's accurate 😕. Given that my current medication is working well for me, the last thing I want to do is jeopardize that stability.

copperheron18 said:I take Faverin + Xanax in small amounts every single day. I find myself constantly wondering if having one beer or a glass of wine would make a difference. Lately, there seems to be a social gathering or a party every weekend; everyone is drinking, and frankly, it’s difficult to watch 😁, but I have no desire to trigger some unexpected reaction or worsen my condition. I read somewhere that frequent alcohol consumption might neutralize the effects of AD-ove, though I’m not certain if that's accurate 😕. Given that my current medication is working well for me, the last thing I want to do is jeopardize that stability.

I’m following the exact same treatment plan... I've had a drink here and there, and I’ve even gone out and had a bit more than just one, but nothing ever seemed particularly bad or caused any issues for me, so 🙂

I actually gave up drinking about six months ago. It wasn't some massive life overhaul or anything, it just sort of happened... I think I eventually just got tired of it, and lately, even the smell of alcohol has started to turn my stomach.

So, I definitely wouldn't recommend mixing booze with medication!
Every once in a while, I might have a Radley that's only around 2%, but when I take it alongside my prescription pills, it hits me like I’ve had a full-strength beer... people might laugh at me for saying that, I guess, but even that little bit of Radley makes my head start spinning.😁

Bryan Rodriguez7 said:I'm only on an AD, and even then, it's the lowest possible dose. But sometimes I'll indulge and have quite a bit to drink. It's not that I can't get drunk, it's more that I enter this state that isn't even intoxication, it's just... strange. My head feels perfectly clear. My fear is that this might leave some kind of lasting trace on my brain; I know the liver takes a hit, too. That's why I was asking.
Thanks for the response. 🙂

Man, back when I was only taking antidepressants... and on a pretty high dose at that... I could drink quite a bit and feel the exact same way. Like I was drunk, yet totally sharp.

But once they added anxiolytics to my prescription, everything changed.

Antidepressants and alcohol aren't such a lethal combo.

But mixing anxiolytics or antipsychotics with booze? Yeah, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. Right now. 😁

Hmm, I suppose I tend to have a glass of wine after lunch regardless of whether I've taken my anxiolytic or not. I wonder, is that actually all that dangerous?
Personally, I don't seem to notice any side effects myself.
It feels more like coffee is what really gets to me, since it makes me feel unusually jittery and nervous lately.

I’m not going to answer that question, since you’ve already answered it yourself😛
As for the coffee, I couldn't tell you—to my mind, caffeine seems more effective because of the ritual itself rather than any legendary physiological impact.

I was on Coax for five weeks—two weeks at one pill daily, then three weeks at two. My doctor switched things up and told me to taper off by just taking one pill for a few days before stopping entirely. I’m taking that single dose in the morning, but my muscles, especially my legs, are aching like crazy and I feel exhausted. Honestly, I feel worse on the one pill than I did on two. Is this just because I lowered the dose, or am I just psyching myself out? Only been on it for five weeks. If anyone has experience or advice, let me know.

Paul Newman5 said:I was on Coax for five weeks—two weeks at one pill daily, then three weeks at two. My doctor switched things up and told me to taper off by just taking one pill for a few days before stopping entirely. I’m taking that single dose in the morning, but my muscles, especially my legs, are aching like crazy and I feel exhausted. Honestly, I feel worse on the one pill than I did on two. Is this just because I lowered the dose, or am I just psyching myself out? Only been on it for five weeks. If anyone has experience or advice, let me know.

I guess I could try to theorize about it here. Coax is an SSRE, and since serotonin plays a role in signaling pain along with everything else, maybe the Coax shifted your pain threshold a little bit... though, I don't know, I'm not totally sure if that's really how it works...

Anyway, just from my own experience, I didn't really feel much of anything... I played around with the dosages quite a bit, too. I'd take 6 or 7 at once, sometimes 15 in a single day, or I'd do 6 a day for two weeks and then 4 a day for another two weeks, and all sorts of things like that... eventually, I just quit cold turkey...
I didn't really notice any major side effects... I might have felt a little more upbeat at the very beginning, but that passed after just a couple of days...

So, I'd say that since you were only at one or two pills, you really shouldn't be having side effects, and if you are feeling things, it might just be that anxiety about lowering the dose.

In the end, personally, I concluded it wasn't doing much for my mental state... the only thing it actually helped with was my asthma and IBS.

From what I've read about it, you shouldn't be having issues; it's probably the safest antidepressant out there when it comes to the typical side effect profile...

Jessica Fowler4 said:I guess I could try to theorize about it here. Coax is an SSRE, and since serotonin plays a role in signaling pain along with everything else, maybe the Coax shifted your pain threshold a little bit... though, I don't know, I'm not totally sure if that's really how it works...

Anyway, just from my own experience, I didn't really feel much of anything... I played around with the dosages quite a bit, too. I'd take 6 or 7 at once, sometimes 15 in a single day, or I'd do 6 a day for two weeks and then 4 a day for another two weeks, and all sorts of things like that... eventually, I just quit cold turkey...
I didn't really notice any major side effects... I might have felt a little more upbeat at the very beginning, but that passed after just a couple of days...

So, I'd say that since you were only at one or two pills, you really shouldn't be having side effects, and if you are feeling things, it might just be that anxiety about lowering the dose.

In the end, personally, I concluded it wasn't doing much for my mental state... the only thing it actually helped with was my asthma and IBS.

From what I've read about it, you shouldn't be having issues; it's probably the safest antidepressant out there when it comes to the typical side effect profile...

I thought the same thing, so you've either reassured me or not. For me, Coax always caused muscle weakness and left me feeling totally sedated. I guess I'm just sensitive when it comes to medication. Thanks anyway. I don't feel great—anxiety is killing me—but every time someone prescribes something, I immediately start feeling all the side effects.

Jessica Fowler4 said:I guess I could try to theorize about it here. Coax is an SSRE, and since serotonin plays a role in signaling pain along with everything else, maybe the Coax shifted your pain threshold a little bit... though, I don't know, I'm not totally sure if that's really how it works...

Anyway, just from my own experience, I didn't really feel much of anything... I played around with the dosages quite a bit, too. I'd take 6 or 7 at once, sometimes 15 in a single day, or I'd do 6 a day for two weeks and then 4 a day for another two weeks, and all sorts of things like that... eventually, I just quit cold turkey...
I didn't really notice any major side effects... I might have felt a little more upbeat at the very beginning, but that passed after just a couple of days...

So, I'd say that since you were only at one or two pills, you really shouldn't be having side effects, and if you are feeling things, it might just be that anxiety about lowering the dose.

In the end, personally, I concluded it wasn't doing much for my mental state... the only thing it actually helped with was my asthma and IBS.

From what I've read about it, you shouldn't be having issues; it's probably the safest antidepressant out there when it comes to the typical side effect profile...

To set the record straight, Coax isn't actually an SSRI; it belongs to those early tricyclic antidepressants, and it wouldn't be accurate to claim it has the fewest side effects—in fact, it’s often quite the opposite. But that's beside the point for Maggi; there is no way you are feeling worse simply because you took a single pill. That window of time is far too brief, and even if you had been on it longer, you wouldn't feel an immediate impact after just one dose.

Jason Vaughn482 said:To set the record straight, Coax isn't actually an SSRI; it belongs to those early tricyclic antidepressants, and it wouldn't be accurate to claim it has the fewest side effects—in fact, it’s often quite the opposite. But that's beside the point for Maggi; there is no way you are feeling worse simply because you took a single pill. That window of time is far too brief, and even if you had been on it longer, you wouldn't feel an immediate impact after just one dose.

You probably mixed up Paxil with something else entirely. It's a relatively newer medication and has nothing to do with those old tricyclics or even the standard SSRIs. There's actually plenty of debate regarding how it works—it acts completely differently than an SSRI does. That said, generally speaking, it does have a pretty decent side effect profile.

Paxil isn't actually an SSRI; it falls under those early tricyclic antidepressants, and honestly, saying it has the fewest side effects is kind of backwards... it’s almost the opposite of that. But, I guess that doesn't really change what Maggi was asking. You definitely aren't feeling worse just because you took one single pill. That's way too short of a timeframe for the medication to kick in, and even if you had been on it longer, you wouldn't feel that shift after just one dose.

Yeah, Paxil isn't an SSRI (and it's not a tricyclic either), it's an SSRE—the only drug in that specific category. So, no, the first time wasn't a typo.

It definitely has the best side effect profile, though. I mean, I once took 15 in a single day, and I remember reading somewhere that the record is over 2,000 pills (apparently, it gives some people a slight "high," which I suppose is why certain groups, like those guys from Eastern Europe, might try to chase a real high)... anyway, so even 2,000 pills a day isn't necessarily fatal, and there was this case where a woman was detoxed in just four days and sent home from the hospital...

So, yeah... let's see which other antidepressant you can take 500 times a day at the recommended dosage...

Paul Newman5 said:I thought the same thing, so you've either reassured me or not. For me, Coax always caused muscle weakness and left me feeling totally sedated. I guess I'm just sensitive when it comes to medication. Thanks anyway. I don't feel great—anxiety is killing me—but every time someone prescribes something, I immediately start feeling all the side effects.

I’m terrible about meds too. Now that I’ve been prescribed Eli Lilly, I can’t even bring myself to take it, especially after reading that it can cause heart issues and that people with a racing heart shouldn't use it. My pulse has been sitting around 100 lately.😢

Maybe try starting with something milder... like Lexapro or Paxil...

I've been through episodes just like this before, and honestly, I'm a little worried that things won't really get better without an antidepressant.😢