Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Eric Mitchell55 said:Has anyone here actually used Velafax before? I'm curious to hear if it's worth it.

It hasn't been anything life-changing for me personally... I’m still feeling pretty low, just like I did when I was on Lexapro and Alice. So many people swear by it, but let's be honest—medication isn't one-size-fits-all. You won't really know if it works until you're actually in the thick of it. Since you've been through this before, you probably already know that it takes more than three weeks to even start seeing a difference...

Eric Mitchell55 said:I'm kind of in the dark too. 😁
Basically, I was prescribed this for my mood, so I was wondering if anyone has any real-world experience with it? I tried Zoloft for a while and it seemed fine at first, but eventually, it just felt like it was making my depression worse and worse. :\
And does it actually help with anxiety?

Hmm, what should I even write that might be useful to you?

Generally speaking, it's a good medication. It’s easy to tolerate—it doesn't mess with my stomach too much, which was a huge deal for me.
I take 75 mg every night from Maria Theresa and I haven't noticed my body building up a tolerance to it yet, which is important to me, though I suppose that's true of all antidepressants, even if we like to claim otherwise.
I don't struggle with anxiety myself, so I can't say for sure, but I highly doubt it wouldn't help.
For depressive moods? It's excellent. For me, it's been the best one so far.
Of course, you have to look at everything over a long period of time; things were rough at the start and I had to wait quite a while, but once it finally kicked in... everything has been much better since then.
For someone like me, who was completely consumed by suicidal thoughts before this, it has been a true revelation.😉

So, that’s pretty much exactly what I was looking to figure out. Thanks so much for the help, guys! 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:Are you trying to poison yourself or just knock yourself out? 😕

I suppose when you finally find yourself stuck in the same nightmare we insomniacs deal with, you won't care whether you're poisoning yourself or just sedating yourself. 😉

restlesstrucker15 said:Go look into Q-pin or Seroquel; those options seem much 'healthier' than Prazosin when you're dealing with insomnia.
Please stop taking so much Praxiten and Normabel; it is clearly not working for you.
You still have Cerson as an option, though I highly doubt it will provide the relief you need.

Sending prayers,

Pearson is out of the question, but what about Dormicum? Also, does that Quincie or Seroquel stuff cost a fortune? And how strong are they really?

shadowbear9 said:I suppose when you finally find yourself stuck in the same nightmare we insomniacs deal with, you won't care whether you're poisoning yourself or just sedating yourself. 😉

I'm a girl.
I think you’re looking at this from the wrong angle. It's like saying someone dealing with massive panic attacks could justify popping ten Xanax just because they're thinking, "well, I'll need them when the next attack hits..." Or someone hearing voices—they'd have their own reasons too.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to lecture you, but I just wanted to point out that what you're doing isn't exactly healthy. Between the insomnia and everything else, the last thing you need is some other physical issue cropping up on top of it all. 🙂

shadowbear9 said:Pearson is out of the question, but what about Dormicum? Also, does that Quincie or Seroquel stuff cost a fortune? And how strong are they really?

I think Dormicum would definitely work for you, but the catch is that your body will quickly build a tolerance to it. My advice is to avoid looking for it.

As for Q-pin or Seroquel, they will certainly knock you out, I can say that for sure. You should just ask your psychiatrist during your next appointment. I am not entirely certain if there is a co-pay involved. When I was given a trial dose, my doctor provided me with an insurance card, so it was covered. It shouldn't cost you anything, though I am unsure if major insurance providers cover it for insomnia since it is technically classified as an antipsychotic.

Skickas fr

shadowbear9 said:Pearson is out of the question, but what about Dormicum? Also, does that Quincie or Seroquel stuff cost a fortune? And how strong are they really?

If you want the heavy hitters, Dormicum is easily the most powerful sleep aid on the market today.
Now, Seroquel and Q-pin are technically classified as antipsychotics, but when all other options fail, can they be used to facilitate a more "normal," prolonged sleep? Yes, they can.
Don't worry, you'll certainly sleep soundly on those... perhaps even longer than necessary.

brighthawk0 said:Hey everyone.

Has anyone actually found success using 20mg of Zoloft for social anxiety?

Thanks.

Fevarin (fluvoxamine) is usually the go-to for social phobia.
Unlike Prozac, it tends to have way fewer side effects
—specifically regarding libido or tremors.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:If you want the heavy hitters, Dormicum is easily the most powerful sleep aid on the market today.
Now, Seroquel and Q-pin are technically classified as antipsychotics, but when all other options fail, can they be used to facilitate a more "normal," prolonged sleep? Yes, they can.
Don't worry, you'll certainly sleep soundly on those... perhaps even longer than necessary.

The strongest thing out there for sleep is actually Circadin (extended-release melatonin).
Unlike other meds that just stretch out the duration without touching quality or depth, melatonin helps normalize the NREM phase—that's when the body actually recovers.
Pairing Fevarin with Circadin is the best way to drastically boost NREM sleep.

I've looked at polysomnography results from people taking all sorts of stuff—like Sanval—and those drugs just force shallow sleep.
People sleep for long stretches but never feel rested because stages 3 and 4 of NREM are basically non-existent. Melatonin, alone or paired with Fevarin, brings those deep phases (delta sleep, the actual restorative kind) back to baseline. You could potentially use another antidepressant alongside melatonin, but you really shouldn't be slamming benzodiazepines or zolpidem; they just increase quantity, not quality. The Japanese seem to understand better than anyone that five hours of deep, quality sleep beats ten hours of shallow tossing and turning.😉

Brandon Lopez6 said:I'm a girl.
I think you’re looking at this from the wrong angle. It's like saying someone dealing with massive panic attacks could justify popping ten Xanax just because they're thinking, "well, I'll need them when the next attack hits..." Or someone hearing voices—they'd have their own reasons too.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to lecture you, but I just wanted to point out that what you're doing isn't exactly healthy. Between the insomnia and everything else, the last thing you need is some other physical issue cropping up on top of it all. 🙂

Excuse me, but I get it—really, I do—but sometimes it feels like I'd rather kill myself than endure this level of exhaustion...

Look, if anyone actually knows whether Q-pin and Seroquel are covered by insurance, please speak up... and I might just start taking Fevarin as soon as I hear it's actually effective for sleep...

shadowbear9 said:Excuse me, but I get it—really, I do—but sometimes it feels like I'd rather kill myself than endure this level of exhaustion...

Look, if anyone actually knows whether Q-pin and Seroquel are covered by insurance, please speak up... and I might just start taking Fevarin as soon as I hear it's actually effective for sleep...

Please, don't talk like that—don't even think about it!
You should go see a psychiatrist as soon as possible; once you speak with them and get those prescriptions, you'll finally be able to 🙂
As for the cost... honestly, I suspect you would give anything just to get a decent night's sleep, so don't let the price tag weigh on your mind right now.

Skickas fr

Kevin Nguyen3 said:All in all, things seem okay.🙂
At least you aren't being completely crushed by depression, which is a great first step, isn't it?
What I meant was regarding how long you stay on the Xanax. Unless your medical records specifically say "as needed," that's usually the concern.
Do some reading on Xanax, or Helix, or those types of medications.
I assume you'll eventually taper off the Prosper in the near future.

To be honest, you won't find much concrete information out there regarding BPD and emotional blunting. There are some articles discussing a reduced emotional response to people and situations, but even if they describe it crudely, we are all different individuals, right?
Given the diagnosis you're dealing with, having suicidal thoughts is actually quite common. If you look into Borderline Personality Disorder just a little bit, everything will start to make sense.
There is an entire, excellent thread dedicated to this topic, so why not go take a look?😉

Look, I know a fair amount about borderline, but that's not actually what's eating at me. I'm still stuck in that same rut—everything feels dull, and I just feel totally listless and drained. Whether I'm out or just hanging at home, it's the same. I sleep, and then when I'm awake, I'm just counting down the hours until I can go back to bed—not because I'm tired, mind you, but because there's absolutely nothing I feel like doing or interested in. My folks are complaining about my lack of focus too, saying I'm becoming more forgetful. They think I'm losing my edge. I can't help but wonder if it's the meds—even though I don't really "feel" them working anymore—or if I'm just overthinking it.
Xanax works so quickly that you end up needing a higher dose just to get the same effect... I'm torn on whether I should bump it up myself or wait until I talk to my psychiatrist, and honestly, the fear of getting hooked is definitely hovering in the back of my mind.
Also, does Citram cause drowsiness? Because when I take it in the morning, I sleep great, which makes it a total nightmare to actually get out of bed later.

Amanda Vaughn3 said:The strongest thing out there for sleep is actually Circadin (extended-release melatonin).
Unlike other meds that just stretch out the duration without touching quality or depth, melatonin helps normalize the NREM phase—that's when the body actually recovers.
Pairing Fevarin with Circadin is the best way to drastically boost NREM sleep.

I've looked at polysomnography results from people taking all sorts of stuff—like Sanval—and those drugs just force shallow sleep.
People sleep for long stretches but never feel rested because stages 3 and 4 of NREM are basically non-existent. Melatonin, alone or paired with Fevarin, brings those deep phases (delta sleep, the actual restorative kind) back to baseline. You could potentially use another antidepressant alongside melatonin, but you really shouldn't be slamming benzodiazepines or zolpidem; they just increase quantity, not quality. The Japanese seem to understand better than anyone that five hours of deep, quality sleep beats ten hours of shallow tossing and turning.😉

So, I maintain that Dormicum remains the absolute strongest actual MEDICATION for sleep.
Circadin is such a strange hybrid—part drug, part supplement—it's relatively new to the scene and hasn't been studied nearly enough. (If I recall correctly, it only hit the market last year...)
It’s quite curious, isn't it? Why don't hospitals start using Circadin instead of all those standard medications they rely on... you know, things like Sanval, Zan, Cerson, and so on.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why?!
The one real upside is that you practically can't overdose on it... even taking 300 mg won't trigger any major adverse reactions.

But then again, just like any other chemical substance, melatonin carries its own side effects and shouldn't be taken without a doctor's supervision.
Furthermore, melatonin shouldn't be mixed with antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or a whole host of other drugs.
Since the people here on Psychosofa are mostly individuals undergoing pharmacotherapy... discussing melatonin feels somewhat pointless.

Hmm, this claim regarding the REM sleep phase seems rather tenuous, given that some studies haven't actually shown those results.
And claiming that Fevarin yields the best results? That's just nonsense.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:So, I maintain that Dormicum remains the absolute strongest actual MEDICATION for sleep.
Circadin is such a strange hybrid—part drug, part supplement—it's relatively new to the scene and hasn't been studied nearly enough. (If I recall correctly, it only hit the market last year...)
It’s quite curious, isn't it? Why don't hospitals start using Circadin instead of all those standard medications they rely on... you know, things like Sanval, Zan, Cerson, and so on.

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why?!
The one real upside is that you practically can't overdose on it... even taking 300 mg won't trigger any major adverse reactions.

But then again, just like any other chemical substance, melatonin carries its own side effects and shouldn't be taken without a doctor's supervision.
Furthermore, melatonin shouldn't be mixed with antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or a whole host of other drugs.
Since the people here on Psychosofa are mostly individuals undergoing pharmacotherapy... discussing melatonin feels somewhat pointless.

Hmm, this claim regarding the REM sleep phase seems rather tenuous, given that some studies haven't actually shown those results.
And claiming that Fevarin yields the best results? That's just nonsense.

Could someone clarify if Circadin just contains 2 mg of melatonin? That’s how I gathered from what I read, anyway. And why on earth would it require a prescription if you can just pick up melatonin over the counter at any drugstore!?

bluesurfer6 said:Could someone clarify if Circadin just contains 2 mg of melatonin? That’s how I gathered from what I read, anyway. And why on earth would it require a prescription if you can just pick up melatonin over the counter at any drugstore!?

Why do you say "just"?
That amount is actually quite sufficient! It is meant to be taken for a maximum of 13 weeks—anything longer than that isn't recommended.
Pfizer made that call based on current FDA regulations regarding medications.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Why do you say "just"?
That amount is actually quite sufficient! It is meant to be taken for a maximum of 13 weeks—anything longer than that isn't recommended.
Pfizer made that call based on current FDA regulations regarding medications.

When I say "only," I’m not talking about the dosage. I mean that this pill just contains melatonin and nothing else. But then again, you can pick up that exact same melatonin at any local CVS or Walgreens, and the box will clearly state "Melatonin, 3mg."

Zachary Stewart2 said:Look, I know a fair amount about borderline, but that's not actually what's eating at me. I'm still stuck in that same rut—everything feels dull, and I just feel totally listless and drained. Whether I'm out or just hanging at home, it's the same. I sleep, and then when I'm awake, I'm just counting down the hours until I can go back to bed—not because I'm tired, mind you, but because there's absolutely nothing I feel like doing or interested in. My folks are complaining about my lack of focus too, saying I'm becoming more forgetful. They think I'm losing my edge. I can't help but wonder if it's the meds—even though I don't really "feel" them working anymore—or if I'm just overthinking it.
Xanax works so quickly that you end up needing a higher dose just to get the same effect... I'm torn on whether I should bump it up myself or wait until I talk to my psychiatrist, and honestly, the fear of getting hooked is definitely hovering in the back of my mind.
Also, does Citram cause drowsiness? Because when I take it in the morning, I sleep great, which makes it a total nightmare to actually get out of bed later.

Never do it on your own. Always, and I mean always, clear it with your doctor first.

I’m wondering if anyone here who’s been on Elice or Cipralex has dealt with some seriously intense side effects like a runny or stuffed-up nose—and I mean really bad. It's gotten to the point where I'm constantly reaching for nasal spray because I can't breathe through my nose at all, and I’ve basically got a tissue glued to my face 24/7 because it feels like someone just turned on a faucet and won't shut it off.
I noticed in the fine print that this is listed as a possible side effect and that things should settle down after about six weeks of treatment.
For context, I’m currently on day five of taking half a 10 mg pill. I’m supposed to bump up to a full pill after a week, but this whole sinus mess started the very first day I took it. It was pretty mild at first, but now it's just getting progressively worse every single day.
Has anyone else gone through this and had it eventually clear up, or is this one of those side effects that means I should probably just call it quits and stop taking them altogether?

At my checkup today, they swapped out my Prozac for Fevarin. Apparently, it’s to deal with these obsessive thoughts and social anxiety. My diagnosis is some kind of generalized anxiety and depressive disorder, I guess.

Has anyone here actually used Fevarin before?