Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Kevin Brown5 said:Does anyone here have any firsthand experience taking Cipla's 2.5 mg Olanzapine?

What exactly are you looking to find out?
That antipsychotic can be pretty heavy-duty. You really ought to share some details about the specific diagnosis or whatever you're dealing with.
What’s the situation... sch?

Kevin Nguyen3 said:What exactly are you looking to find out?
That antipsychotic can be pretty heavy-duty. You really ought to share some details about the specific diagnosis or whatever you're dealing with.
What’s the situation... sch?

To be honest, I don't even know myself...
Mostly, I'm just interested in everything... how it works, the side effects, all of it...

Kevin Brown5 said:To be honest, I don't even know myself...
Mostly, I'm just interested in everything... how it works, the side effects, all of it...

http://www.fda.gov/media/example-medication-info.pdf

It is all documented right there.😉

Kevin Nguyen3 said:http://www.fda.gov/media/example-medication-info.pdf

It is all documented right there.😉

alright. thanks🙂

It seems to hit pretty hard—is this even the lowest dose available for this kind of medication?
I suspect there isn't anything lower than this.

Kevin Brown5 said:alright. thanks🙂

It seems to hit pretty hard—is this even the lowest dose available for this kind of medication?
I suspect there isn't anything lower than this.

The 2.5 mg dose is the minimum.
You didn't even mention what the actual problem is. 🤷

Kevin Nguyen3 said:The 2.5 mg dose is the minimum.
You didn't even mention what the actual problem is. 🤷

regarding switching medications and eventually stopping treatment altogether

Kevin Brown5 said:regarding switching medications and eventually stopping treatment altogether

Hmm.
What is your actual diagnosis... the F-classification code?
What were you taking previously?
Could you please describe the situation just a little bit more?

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Hmm.
What is your actual diagnosis... the F-classification code?
What were you taking previously?
Could you please describe the situation just a little bit more?

Look, I'm really just trying to see if anyone else here has actually dealt with this before.

As for the situation itself, I can handle my own business.🙂))))))))

My doctor informed me today that he can no longer prescribe Sanval for me, as his medical board insists it’s strictly intended for short-term use. Apparently, following a recent audit, they’ve tightened the reins; now, it can only be issued via a private prescription, and the suggested alternative is Cerson. Personally, I find Cerson to be utterly ineffective—Sanval actually does the job, though, truth be told, I am eager to move past it. Now I find myself in a bit of a bind, staring down an uncertain path, wondering what on earth I should start using to finally get some decent sleep.

Jason Vaughn482 said:My doctor informed me today that he can no longer prescribe Sanval for me, as his medical board insists it’s strictly intended for short-term use. Apparently, following a recent audit, they’ve tightened the reins; now, it can only be issued via a private prescription, and the suggested alternative is Cerson. Personally, I find Cerson to be utterly ineffective—Sanval actually does the job, though, truth be told, I am eager to move past it. Now I find myself in a bit of a bind, staring down an uncertain path, wondering what on earth I should start using to finally get some decent sleep.

Well, there you go.
Think of this as your golden opportunity to finally kick the habit.🙂
I mean, you've been popping those Adderall pills for as long as I can remember, haven't you?
Those are supposed to help regulate things so your sleep patterns actually normalize.
If they aren't doing the trick... well, then what are you waiting for? Just bolt straight to the psychiatrist and tell them exactly how it's going.

Is 100mg of Lopressor considered a high dose?
I’m currently taking 50mg in the morning and another 50mg at night.
How does that stack up against 20mg of Zyprexa (splitting it into 10mg doses, morning and night)?
Edit—just trying to compare them because I recently switched from one over to the other.

Is there any kind of cure for when a woman "stabs" you right in the heart?
Look, I’m talking about a woman I wanted to give everything to—to fully commit myself to (I know, I know, sounds incredibly pathetic)—but she just toyed with my emotions until my soul actually aches. It’s honestly embarrassing to even think about mentioning this to my colleagues, describing the sheer misery I'm enduring. It feels like I’ve been brought to my knees by her, and I’ve been stuck in this agonizing, uncomfortable position for over a year now. It’s constant friction; it’s restless; it’s debilitating. But I’m completely obsessed with the very feeling she put me through. It’s reached a point where I find myself seeking out other women just to try and bolster a sense of self-worth that she absolutely crushed with her rejection. I feel terrible 😢
It was especially brutal today, hearing the rumors that she’s been telling people how disappointed she was in me—claiming I was some aggressive guy who was just trying to force himself on her. It’s a complete disaster. Anyone who actually knows me knows I’m the type of guy who wouldn't even step on an ant. When I heard that, I started physically shaking, as if I were actually guilty of something. Am I really supposed to fall ill from the woman I was meant to love?

Mark Nelson said:Is 100mg of Lopressor considered a high dose?
I’m currently taking 50mg in the morning and another 50mg at night.
How does that stack up against 20mg of Zyprexa (splitting it into 10mg doses, morning and night)?
Edit—just trying to compare them because I recently switched from one over to the other.

That would be roughly an equivalent dosage, though... well, it's actually quite difficult to draw direct comparisons between Lopressor and any atypical antipsychotic. Most people consider Lopressor to be one of the most effective options out there. Also, just a heads-up: when you first start on Lopressor, you really need to have your blood work monitored every two weeks for the first three months, or whatever your doctor suggests.

Timothy Wood38 said:That would be roughly an equivalent dosage, though... well, it's actually quite difficult to draw direct comparisons between Lopressor and any atypical antipsychotic. Most people consider Lopressor to be one of the most effective options out there. Also, just a heads-up: when you first start on Lopressor, you really need to have your blood work monitored every two weeks for the first three months, or whatever your doctor suggests.

Does it really have to be every two weeks?

Mark Nelson said:Does it really have to be every two weeks?

I'm not entirely sure how the medical protocols work here in the States, but generally speaking, you'd expect a check-in every single week during those first six months of therapy. Honestly, though? Most doctors aren't quite that cautious. It's actually much more common to see this every two weeks. Best bet is just to run it by your doctor.

Mark Nelson said:Does it really have to be every two weeks?

Well, if your doctor recommends it, then even more often!
For those first 3 to 4 months, wouldn't it be best to go every single week?!
There is such a massive risk for agranulocytosis—you know, that huge drop in white blood cell counts.
If you're at risk, isn't it just better to do regular checkups?
They even perform an EKG for the heart.
Lopressor is a hell of a drug. I took it ages ago and honestly, I don't even remember it anymore.
After that initial 3 to 4 month period, they do monthly white blood cell checks.
Once you stop the therapy, you have to do blood tests again around the 4-week mark.
Sometimes they run lipid panels too, checking sugar levels, liver function, and monitoring for low blood pressure (which is actually why I stopped taking it myself).
It is absolutely vital to tell your physician if you are on any other medications, because certain drugs simply cannot be combined with Lopressor.
And there's also the possibility of weight gain.
Zyprexa is peculiar in its own way; it carries quite a few unpleasant side effects that tend to pop up frequently.
Of course, it doesn't happen to everyone—for some people, it's perfectly fine.
Then there is that famous "Lilly" phobia.🙂
If there are signs of persistent behavior issues—hallucinations, mania, sudden loss of speech, and things like that—then Zyprexa is usually pushed. If those aren't present, one looks into changing the therapy.
In your specific situation, it would be Lopressor.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Well, if your doctor recommends it, then even more often!
For those first 3 to 4 months, wouldn't it be best to go every single week?!
There is such a massive risk for agranulocytosis—you know, that huge drop in white blood cell counts.
If you're at risk, isn't it just better to do regular checkups?
They even perform an EKG for the heart.
Lopressor is a hell of a drug. I took it ages ago and honestly, I don't even remember it anymore.
After that initial 3 to 4 month period, they do monthly white blood cell checks.
Once you stop the therapy, you have to do blood tests again around the 4-week mark.
Sometimes they run lipid panels too, checking sugar levels, liver function, and monitoring for low blood pressure (which is actually why I stopped taking it myself).
It is absolutely vital to tell your physician if you are on any other medications, because certain drugs simply cannot be combined with Lopressor.
And there's also the possibility of weight gain.
Zyprexa is peculiar in its own way; it carries quite a few unpleasant side effects that tend to pop up frequently.
Of course, it doesn't happen to everyone—for some people, it's perfectly fine.
Then there is that famous "Lilly" phobia.🙂
If there are signs of persistent behavior issues—hallucinations, mania, sudden loss of speech, and things like that—then Zyprexa is usually pushed. If those aren't present, one looks into changing the therapy.
In your specific situation, it would be Lopressor.

Thanks for the reply 🙂
Zyprexa really did a number on me; I gained almost 45 pounds, and my psychiatrist told me Lopressor wouldn't cause weight gain. The list of tests for Lopressor is honestly pretty exhausting, though my doctor only mentioned basic blood work and didn't say anything about the rest.
Do you happen to know if Paxil can be taken along with Lopressor?
I took one last night and one this morning, which is why I'm asking.

Timothy Wood38 said:I'm not entirely sure how the medical protocols work here in the States, but generally speaking, you'd expect a check-in every single week during those first six months of therapy. Honestly, though? Most doctors aren't quite that cautious. It's actually much more common to see this every two weeks. Best bet is just to run it by your doctor.

Thanks, you too. 😉

Mark Nelson said:Thanks for the reply 🙂
Zyprexa really did a number on me; I gained almost 45 pounds, and my psychiatrist told me Lopressor wouldn't cause weight gain. The list of tests for Lopressor is honestly pretty exhausting, though my doctor only mentioned basic blood work and didn't say anything about the rest.
Do you happen to know if Paxil can be taken along with Lopressor?
I took one last night and one this morning, which is why I'm asking.

It can be combined.
But now, the real question is: why?
Because it is generally understood that anxiolytics—you know, things like sedatives or hypnotics—shouldn't be taken long-term, but rather for a strictly defined period.
Four weeks. After that, they can trigger dependency. And once that happens, you can no longer say with any certainty how a benzodiazepine (any kind... like Praxiten) will react when mixed with an antipsychotic.
As for all those other tests, it really just depends on your medical history, previous treatments, allergies, and so on.
If you aren't in one of those high-risk groups, then the main thing is just getting blood work done to monitor your white blood cell count.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Well, if your doctor recommends it, then even more often!
For those first 3 to 4 months, wouldn't it be best to go every single week?!
There is such a massive risk for agranulocytosis—you know, that huge drop in white blood cell counts.
If you're at risk, isn't it just better to do regular checkups?
They even perform an EKG for the heart.
Lopressor is a hell of a drug. I took it ages ago and honestly, I don't even remember it anymore.
After that initial 3 to 4 month period, they do monthly white blood cell checks.
Once you stop the therapy, you have to do blood tests again around the 4-week mark.
Sometimes they run lipid panels too, checking sugar levels, liver function, and monitoring for low blood pressure (which is actually why I stopped taking it myself).
It is absolutely vital to tell your physician if you are on any other medications, because certain drugs simply cannot be combined with Lopressor.
And there's also the possibility of weight gain.
Zyprexa is peculiar in its own way; it carries quite a few unpleasant side effects that tend to pop up frequently.
Of course, it doesn't happen to everyone—for some people, it's perfectly fine.
Then there is that famous "Lilly" phobia.🙂
If there are signs of persistent behavior issues—hallucinations, mania, sudden loss of speech, and things like that—then Zyprexa is usually pushed. If those aren't present, one looks into changing the therapy.
In your specific situation, it would be Lopressor.

Which AP would be considered the mildest option for anxiety or perhaps as a sleep aid to replace Ambien, assuming it doesn't come with debilitating side effects or a laundry list of required lab tests? They always seem to suggest 25-50 mg of Prazosin to me; is that truly the gentlest option, or is there something else?
I'm mostly asking about sleep options for when I can no longer rely on Ambien.