Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Jason Vaughn482 said: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.

Ugh, what an ungrateful question to ask!🙄
Who on earth knows?
For me, one specific benzo might feel incredibly heavy, like I can barely tolerate it, while for you, it might act just like a cup of chamomile tea.🙂
And vice versa!
It's up to a doctor to decide which medication might work for your specific situation and whether such a solution is even appropriate for you in the first place.
Personally, I take Q-pin... because I feel good and I get enough (and high-quality) sleep. No one in this world can guarantee that any medication will work the exact same way for you.
We really can't just categorize benzos by "strength." It depends entirely on the condition being treated.

Hi there.
Does anyone here have experience with this specific combination: Citram 10 mg, Misar 0.25 mg, and Mirzaten 15 mg? I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I’m mainly looking to hear about potential side effects—specifically weight gain and similar issues. Thanks in advance.

Jason Vaughn482 said: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.

Seroquel at 25 to 50 mg.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Seroquel at 25 to 50 mg.

—or maybe the Qpin version at those same doses

Kevin Bailey2 said:Seroquel at 25 to 50 mg.

No. Please, just don't go suggesting pills that might actually make her feel even worse than she does right now.
Seroquel is a heavy hitter; I mean, is it even possible for someone to sleep for 20 hours straight without ever waking up? Because it happens... it really does.
Seroquel is intended for schizophrenia.
For anything else? It isn't the right tool for the job.
Qpin is a much milder option and generally easier to tolerate, though you have to remember the dosages aren't comparable.
A 200 mg dose of Qpin is significantly lighter than taking 100 mg of Seroquel.
She has a doctor, doesn't she? So let them decide what they think is best.

Does anyone have the scoop on the 25mg Modiodol Depo injection? My brother just started it today because nothing from the Zypadhera we've been using for months has actually worked. He’s dealing with extreme delusions and aggression, and honestly, even though doctors rave about these "new generation" meds, nothing he's tried over the last year has helped him for more than five days a month. I know Modiodol is an "old school" drug and can come with side effects, but I'd love to hear what your experiences have been like. On top of this, he's taking 30mg of Azolar daily and a total of 250mg of Lamictal per day. Those two stay the same, but the Modiodol is the new addition to the mix.

Harold Harris20 said:Does anyone have the scoop on the 25mg Modiodol Depo injection? My brother just started it today because nothing from the Zypadhera we've been using for months has actually worked. He’s dealing with extreme delusions and aggression, and honestly, even though doctors rave about these "new generation" meds, nothing he's tried over the last year has helped him for more than five days a month. I know Modiodol is an "old school" drug and can come with side effects, but I'd love to hear what your experiences have been like. On top of this, he's taking 30mg of Azolar daily and a total of 250mg of Lamictal per day. Those two stay the same, but the Modiodol is the new addition to the mix.

I honestly wish I could be more helpful, but you really need to stick to the doctor—specifically the one who actually wrote the prescription. Speaking from my own experience, it is all too easy to turn into a literal vegetable that just sits there existing. Don't ever mess with this stuff on your own; that was my mistake, and look where it landed me. You end up in the ER, seizing and contorted into some strange shape. Don't trust those internet "doctors." Knowing which chemical is inside a pill doesn't mean you actually understand the impact. God knows if I hadn't stopped taking it, I'd still be struggling; even a cup of coffee feels like too much now. I can feel my heart racing, and I'm still not fully recovered... and that was just from taking a couple at a time during the day and a few more at night to sleep.😁

mistyskipper90 said:I honestly wish I could be more helpful, but you really need to stick to the doctor—specifically the one who actually wrote the prescription. Speaking from my own experience, it is all too easy to turn into a literal vegetable that just sits there existing. Don't ever mess with this stuff on your own; that was my mistake, and look where it landed me. You end up in the ER, seizing and contorted into some strange shape. Don't trust those internet "doctors." Knowing which chemical is inside a pill doesn't mean you actually understand the impact. God knows if I hadn't stopped taking it, I'd still be struggling; even a cup of coffee feels like too much now. I can feel my heart racing, and I'm still not fully recovered... and that was just from taking a couple at a time during the day and a few more at night to sleep.😁

I didn't realize he was taking anything without guidance.😕
Where on earth did you see that?🤷
I assume we are dealing with schizophrenia here (maybe some paranoia too), but since the improper treatment caused a bad episode to resurface, he needs Modiodol.
Azolar is an antipsychotic, and he takes it because of the hallucinations, the voices, and those kinds of things.
Lamictal is primarily an antiepileptic, which is why he takes such a relatively high dose. He can go up to 400 mg...
He will be getting Modiodol until the doctor decides otherwise.
There are some side effects, sure, but nothing catastrophic.
As for Azolar—I don't know, I've never actually heard of anyone taking it, even though I am aware of it.
Lamictal is an excellent medication. It has minimal side effects and is easy to tolerate.
It's taken to prevent seizures, because combining certain medications can lead to that kind of state.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:No. Please, just don't go suggesting pills that might actually make her feel even worse than she does right now.
Seroquel is a heavy hitter; I mean, is it even possible for someone to sleep for 20 hours straight without ever waking up? Because it happens... it really does.
Seroquel is intended for schizophrenia.
For anything else? It isn't the right tool for the job.
Qpin is a much milder option and generally easier to tolerate, though you have to remember the dosages aren't comparable.
A 200 mg dose of Qpin is significantly lighter than taking 100 mg of Seroquel.
She has a doctor, doesn't she? So let them decide what they think is best.

Don't spread misinformation. Seroquel and Qpin are bioequivalent drugs.

Timothy Wood38 said:Don't spread misinformation. Seroquel and Qpin are bioequivalent drugs.

Well.
Could you perhaps point out exactly what I got wrong?
And consider one more little detail—the lived experience of someone who has actually taken both medications, which means I can say, quite obviously, from a subjective standpoint, what the difference between them is.
What does "bioequivalence" in pharmacology actually signify?
You are using an ego-driven term where it simply doesn't apply.
Yes, they contain the same active ingredient at the same dosage, but that just means they have SIMILAR biological actions, so one might expect similar properties or effects.
That is absolutely not the same thing.

Loquen and Seroquel both mess with the Qpin, don't they?
I've been on both myself—started out on Loquen before eventually switching over to Seroquel.

Mark Nelson said:Loquen and Seroquel both mess with the Qpin, don't they?
I've been on both myself—started out on Loquen before eventually switching over to Seroquel.

Actually, we are looking at three distinct types here. They all rely on Quetiapine as the foundation.
Loquen and Qpin share quite a few characteristics, don't they? They act almost identically (aside from some minor differences in coloring that barely touch the actual properties).
However, Seroquel stands somewhat apart.
It actually carries a HIGHER concentration of what we call Quetiapine fumarate—that is, the primary active ingredient.
Take 100 mg of Seroquel; it actually delivers 115.13 mg of the fumarate.
The math isn't exactly difficult to work out, is it?
But with Loquen and Qpin, you get exactly what is printed on the label in milligrams. (100 equals 100).

When you add it all up, what this tells us is that if you take two 100 mg tablets of Seroquel, you are actually ingesting 31 mg more of the core active substance than if you took the exact same dose of Loquen or Qpin.
And believe me, that is not the same thing at all!

Kevin Nguyen3

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Actually, we are looking at three distinct types here. They all rely on Quetiapine as the foundation.
Loquen and Qpin share quite a few characteristics, don't they? They act almost identically (aside from some minor differences in coloring that barely touch the actual properties).
However, Seroquel stands somewhat apart.
It actually carries a HIGHER concentration of what we call Quetiapine fumarate—that is, the primary active ingredient.
Take 100 mg of Seroquel; it actually delivers 115.13 mg of the fumarate.
The math isn't exactly difficult to work out, is it?
But with Loquen and Qpin, you get exactly what is printed on the label in milligrams. (100 equals 100).

When you add it all up, what this tells us is that if you take two 100 mg tablets of Seroquel, you are actually ingesting 31 mg more of the core active substance than if you took the exact same dose of Loquen or Qpin.
And believe me, that is not the same thing at all!

Anyway, both of them made me feel absolutely wiped out, but Seroquel was the one that actually made me put on weight.

fadedbear92 said:—or maybe the Qpin version at those same doses

I truly appreciate the input, but here’s the situation: I went in today, and the doctor suggested I try 50 mg of Prazosin first. She told me that if it doesn't do the trick, I should head back to the acute care clinic this Sunday since there's an on-call physician available... have you ever personally experimented with Prazosin?

Kevin Nguyen3 said:No. Please, just don't go suggesting pills that might actually make her feel even worse than she does right now.
Seroquel is a heavy hitter; I mean, is it even possible for someone to sleep for 20 hours straight without ever waking up? Because it happens... it really does.
Seroquel is intended for schizophrenia.
For anything else? It isn't the right tool for the job.
Qpin is a much milder option and generally easier to tolerate, though you have to remember the dosages aren't comparable.
A 200 mg dose of Qpin is significantly lighter than taking 100 mg of Seroquel.
She has a doctor, doesn't she? So let them decide what they think is best.

suggested I switch from Ambien to 25-50 mg of Prazin instead.

Mark Nelson said:Kevin Nguyen3

Anyway, both of them made me feel absolutely wiped out, but Seroquel was the one that actually made me put on weight.

Well, look at that! For me, it was the exact opposite—the Seroquel made me lose a massive amount of weight.
And I felt like a total zombie the entire time.
Then there was the Loquen, which gave me constant nausea all day long.
But... ugh, the Qpin is making me gain weight. Grrr..🙂

Harold Harris20 said:Does anyone have the scoop on the 25mg Modiodol Depo injection? My brother just started it today because nothing from the Zypadhera we've been using for months has actually worked. He’s dealing with extreme delusions and aggression, and honestly, even though doctors rave about these "new generation" meds, nothing he's tried over the last year has helped him for more than five days a month. I know Modiodol is an "old school" drug and can come with side effects, but I'd love to hear what your experiences have been like. On top of this, he's taking 30mg of Azolar daily and a total of 250mg of Lamictal per day. Those two stay the same, but the Modiodol is the new addition to the mix.

I took that 2.5mg version of Modiodol for a very brief window—maybe ten days—and it was absolutely terrifying (which is exactly why I steer clear of APs). At one point, I physically couldn't speak; it felt as though my tongue had dropped into my throat, leaving me only able to sputter and mumble incoherently. I genuinely feared I was having a stroke, but after the fact, I was told it was simply the drug's effect... I stopped taking it immediately.

Jason Vaughn482 said:suggested I switch from Ambien to 25-50 mg of Prazin instead.

That should be fine. I truly believe it’ll help you get some sleep. It isn't exactly a massive dose, so you should still be able to function normally tomorrow.
Prazin is one of those universal antipsychotics—not overly heavy-handed, perhaps? But then again, it can certainly carry its fair share of side effects.
A small word of caution: please, don't mix it with other medications. It can lead to some rather unpleasant interactions.
Well, aside from anxiolytics... that could happen.😉

Kevin Nguyen3 said:That should be fine. I truly believe it’ll help you get some sleep. It isn't exactly a massive dose, so you should still be able to function normally tomorrow.
Prazin is one of those universal antipsychotics—not overly heavy-handed, perhaps? But then again, it can certainly carry its fair share of side effects.
A small word of caution: please, don't mix it with other medications. It can lead to some rather unpleasant interactions.
Well, aside from anxiolytics... that could happen.😉

It feels as though at low doses, it acts somewhat like an anxiolytic, but personally, I don't find myself needing an extra anti-anxiety med when I have my Xanax, which works perfectly well for me. Honestly, I'm just relieved to be staying on a consistent dose. I am fully aware that it isn't a "cure," but now that I have started taking Coaxil seriously, we shall see how things unfold... and if I could finally resolve this insomnia, it would be a godsend. As for psychotherapy, I feel like this doctor is just wasting my time. We'll sit down to talk about something, maybe discuss medications today, and fifteen minutes later, I'm ushered out the door. Then she schedules me for December 13th, and then again for the following month... I mean, does any of this even make sense? She isn't even the one prescribing the medication or handling my follow-up appointments anyway.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Well.
Could you perhaps point out exactly what I got wrong?
And consider one more little detail—the lived experience of someone who has actually taken both medications, which means I can say, quite obviously, from a subjective standpoint, what the difference between them is.
What does "bioequivalence" in pharmacology actually signify?
You are using an ego-driven term where it simply doesn't apply.
Yes, they contain the same active ingredient at the same dosage, but that just means they have SIMILAR biological actions, so one might expect similar properties or effects.
That is absolutely not the same thing.

I don't owe you an explanation. Your subjective experience is practically irrelevant when you factor in your own unique pharmacogenetics. And "bioequivalence"? It's hardly some exotic concept in generic drug manufacturing. What you're calling "SIMILAR" is actually strictly defined by science. Claiming that 100 mg of Seroquel is stronger than 200 mg of Qpin is, to put it mildly, completely nebulous. Honestly, I won't even dignify your claims about which medication is "good" for what.