Psychotropic medication discussion thread

So, is it possible for someone to pick up prescription meds using just their medical history records?

Gary Diaz3 said:So, is it possible for someone to pick up prescription meds using just their medical history records?

I don't think you can have both—it's usually one or the other.

fadedbear92 said:I don't think you can have both—it's usually one or the other.

Probably so. That would sound a little too much like a dream come true for those folks hooked on pills.

Gary Diaz3 said:Probably so. That would sound a little too much like a dream come true for those folks hooked on pills.

And honestly, now that everyone is constantly online and all your data is being logged—it’s just not going to happen.

Gary Diaz3 said:So, is it possible for someone to pick up prescription meds using just their medical history records?

me

redpilot37 said:Can you just walk into a pharmacy and pick up Rivotril to help stabilize your mood? I know you can get Xanax if you show them your medical history, but what about Zoloft? Can that be prescribed based on your records too? thanks

Yeah, you can do that with refills if they're already in your history—like Xanax or Ativan. They just ask for your name, your doctor's info, and you show them your medical records.

I'm not sure about antidepressants or anticonvulsants, though. Or mood stabilizers. Does anyone here know?

Can a regular family doctor actually prescribe Xanax?

Hannah Myers3 said:Can a regular family doctor actually prescribe Xanax?

Yes, they absolutely can.

Morphine? 😁

I'm wondering if I can list Zoloft on my medical history for a primary care doctor

redpilot37 said:I'm wondering if I can list Zoloft on my medical history for a primary care doctor

Why would they put that in there? Usually, it’s the psychiatrist who handles the medical history updates—your GP can just write the prescription, or even just email it over if your shrink already cleared it.

My dear friends, I have finally started my journey with antidepressants—specifically Pfizer's Escitalopram. I’m fully aware of the potential side effects, and having been on it for three days now, I’ve already been dealing with some lightheadedness and a bit of nausea. To manage the transition, I’ve been taking Helix alongside it, though I only plan to continue that for a few more days until my body adjusts to the antidepressant itself... Has anyone here used or perhaps currently uses Escitalopram? Most importantly, does it lead to weight gain? I’m already carrying about 20 pounds more than I’d like... and while I realize my mental health is far more critical than the number on the scale, I can't help but worry... thank you all so much in advance!

For those of you seeing private doctors—do you actually buy your own meds, or do you just take your test results back to a primary care physician to get them prescribed? I’ve heard rumors that a GP can only write prescriptions if they're coming from a "public" doctor. Just curious how you all handle it...

Lisa Myers said:For those of you seeing private doctors—do you actually buy your own meds, or do you just take your test results back to a primary care physician to get them prescribed? I’ve heard rumors that a GP can only write prescriptions if they're coming from a "public" doctor. Just curious how you all handle it...

I went to a private specialist once, and yeah, they handed over a prescription just like any doctor at the VA would. Honestly, pretty sure you can't even pick up anxiety meds or sedatives without a script anyway.

Brandon Lopez6 said:I went to a private specialist once, and yeah, they handed over a prescription just like any doctor at the VA would. Honestly, pretty sure you can't even pick up anxiety meds or sedatives without a script anyway.

Private doctors write scripts too, you just pay full price. Some people do it because they don't want their insurance records showing they see a psychiatrist. Probably at places like Lowe's. Even when I saw a specialist, my insurance still covered the antidepressants, unless everything changed after that September 1st healthcare reform.

Paul Newman5 said:Private doctors write scripts too, you just pay full price. Some people do it because they don't want their insurance records showing they see a psychiatrist. Probably at places like Lowe's. Even when I saw a specialist, my insurance still covered the antidepressants, unless everything changed after that September 1st healthcare reform.

That’s exactly what I’m asking about. I know specialists can write them, but I have no intention of paying full out-of-pocket, which is why I'm checking....

driftingtiger5 said:My dear friends, I have finally started my journey with antidepressants—specifically Pfizer's Escitalopram. I’m fully aware of the potential side effects, and having been on it for three days now, I’ve already been dealing with some lightheadedness and a bit of nausea. To manage the transition, I’ve been taking Helix alongside it, though I only plan to continue that for a few more days until my body adjusts to the antidepressant itself... Has anyone here used or perhaps currently uses Escitalopram? Most importantly, does it lead to weight gain? I’m already carrying about 20 pounds more than I’d like... and while I realize my mental health is far more critical than the number on the scale, I can't help but worry... thank you all so much in advance!

Took Escitalopram in split doses—short term Cipralex first, then two months of Citram this summer. Neither worked for me, and neither caused weight gain. Don't know how it affects others.
By the way, quick question for someone else. I've been on Effexor for 3 weeks now, 37.5mg in the morning. It's working great. Just had some sweating and nausea the first few days, but after two weeks, I feel physically better. Not napping during the day, feeling less irritable and a bit more cheerful. More energetic. But when I have to leave the house, that fear of something happening still hits me, and I get anxiety going to work, even though it's better at home and I need less Helix than before. For those on Effexor long-term, did it actually lower your anxiety? I'm mostly anxious rather than depressed, so I want to know if it helps with that specifically.

Lisa Myers said:That’s exactly what I’m asking about. I know specialists can write them, but I have no intention of paying full out-of-pocket, which is why I'm checking....

Honestly, I haven't seen my doctor since last spring. Best bet is to just ask your primary care physician if nobody here actually knows what they're talking about.

I actually posted this over on the depression thread, but maybe I should've just come here instead 🤷
Anyway, here goes nothing

Hey everyone,
I’m honestly feeling a bit lost on where to vent or ask stuff, so I figured I'd just try my luck here...

So, long story short:
Things have finally hit a breaking point. After some people close to me kept nudging me, I had to face the fact that sometimes—just sometimes—willpower isn't enough to fix everything.
The diagnosis is F41.2, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.
That's what Dr. Kramarić from Mayo Clinic wrote down.
He also prescribed: Prozac 20 mg in the morning, Lexapro 2mg (split 0.5+0.5+1-2), and Prazosin 25 mg before bed.
I picked up all the meds today and just set them on the table... now I'm just sitting here staring at them, and it feels like they're staring right back at me
I've never taken anything like this before, so yeah, I'm pretty terrified... but I know I have to do this because I can't keep going like this anymore.

A few questions:
If I take one Lexapro and one Prazosin tonight, how many alarms am I gonna have to set to actually make it to work on time tomorrow?
I read through all the fine print in the boxes (honestly, why did I do that to myself?), but what's the actual reality when it comes to side effects?
Since this therapy is a long-term thing, how hard does it actually hit your liver?
And seriously... how do you deal with people who just won't stop telling you that you don't need this or that "it's all in your head"?

Thanks...

Jack Johnson47 said:I actually posted this over on the depression thread, but maybe I should've just come here instead 🤷
Anyway, here goes nothing

Hey everyone,
I’m honestly feeling a bit lost on where to vent or ask stuff, so I figured I'd just try my luck here...

So, long story short:
Things have finally hit a breaking point. After some people close to me kept nudging me, I had to face the fact that sometimes—just sometimes—willpower isn't enough to fix everything.
The diagnosis is F41.2, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.
That's what Dr. Kramarić from Mayo Clinic wrote down.
He also prescribed: Prozac 20 mg in the morning, Lexapro 2mg (split 0.5+0.5+1-2), and Prazosin 25 mg before bed.
I picked up all the meds today and just set them on the table... now I'm just sitting here staring at them, and it feels like they're staring right back at me
I've never taken anything like this before, so yeah, I'm pretty terrified... but I know I have to do this because I can't keep going like this anymore.

A few questions:
If I take one Lexapro and one Prazosin tonight, how many alarms am I gonna have to set to actually make it to work on time tomorrow?
I read through all the fine print in the boxes (honestly, why did I do that to myself?), but what's the actual reality when it comes to side effects?
Since this therapy is a long-term thing, how hard does it actually hit your liver?
And seriously... how do you deal with people who just won't stop telling you that you don't need this or that "it's all in your head"?

Thanks...

I'll try to encourage you a bit. I spent forever agonizing over whether to start antidepressants or not, wasting so much time and feeling miserable. If you aren't working weekends, why not wait until tomorrow to start the Normabel and Prazina? If Saturday is free, you'll see how you feel in the morning. As for the Normabel, one regular alarm should be plenty, but since I haven't tried Prazina, I can't say for sure.
Regarding side effects, none of us on this forum can give you a straight answer because everyone reacts differently; one med works for one person and fails for another. This is my fourth antidepressant, and it's the first one where the side effects were minor and cleared up in about 5 or 6 days. I'm currently on Effexor, while others write about how awful it was for them. You just have to experience it yourself, and I truly hope this one clicks for you right away.
My liver seems fine for now, but who knows about the future? Honestly, nobody knows what might happen to them or when, and people get sick even if they never touch antidepressants. That's just my take.
I talk about my situation with my family, who understand and support me as best they can. Here, I find understanding and swap experiences by messaging people privately. I don't mention my diagnosis at work or to anyone else, which helps me avoid those "know-it-alls" who think we can just snap out of it or that it's all made up. I tried handling it on my own without meds—tried bioenergy and everything else—but things only got worse. My diagnosis is the same as yours.
There's my input. Hope it helps a little. Good luck.

Thanks so much, Paul Newman5, for putting all this work into your post—you really nailed it.
I’m working through the whole weekend anyway, so honestly, it doesn't even matter which day I decide to kick things off. I’ve got a follow-up appointment next week, so I'll probably just play it by ear once I see how things are going...
Oh, and one more thing... psychotherapy... Is that usually part of the deal when you're dealing with these kinds of diagnoses alongside medication? My doctor only mentioned the check-up for now, and I totally (obviously 😁) blanked on asking him a million other questions...