Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Gerald Torres2 said:Go ask about Wellbutrin; that stuff has me feeling like I have endless energy!!

Ugh, me tooooooo 🙄

fadedbear92 said:Prazin worked for a bit, but then I hit a wall—tolerance, or saturation, I can't quite recall the term—but honestly, I’d say the Q-pin is better.

I take it three times a day:

75 mg in the morning 25 mg
75 mg at noon 25 mg
100 mg at night 100 mg

In exceptional cases—meaning when I'm under intense stress—I'll take one or two extra 25 mg doses at night to help me sleep. So, my max dose for sleep would be 150 mg, though again, that's only during high-stress or anxious periods.

It's interesting, though—my doctor mentioned there isn't an addictive quality to Q-pin, or rather, that tolerance doesn't develop; I'll have to ask her why, because I'm genuinely curious about that.

Well, thank you so much. She offered it to me once and I turned it down, but now that I’m heading in, I think I might actually agree to it. Between the lack of quality sleep and this lingering anxiety, I am desperate to finally move past the Sanval. So, just to clarify, you aren't taking anything else alongside it, like an antidepressant or perhaps some Rivotril? And tell me, don't those 25 mg doses in the morning leave you feeling drowsy or sluggish? I feel perpetually exhausted, and I suspect it could be the Sanval and Calixte, or perhaps the Xanax—it's hard to tell which is the culprit at this point.

restlesstiger49 said:I have a question for anyone who has used Lexapro. I'm curious if you experienced anything beyond just nausea—which seems to be a pretty common side effect—such as heightened anxiety, intense psychomotor agitation (like being unable to sit still), trouble concentrating, or dizziness. Based on your experience, how long does this usually last? Everything hit me all at once, and honestly, it's becoming unbearable. I'd love to stop taking this medication as soon as possible.

Me too. Took Lexapro for a few days back in the fall of 2012 and the psychomotor agitation was so bad I could barely settle down, even with extra doses of Inderal and Ativan. That was my first antidepressant. It was impossible, so my doctor pulled me off it after about 5 or 6 days. Had the same issue with Luxet. Definitely talk to your doctor, though. But yeah, those were the exact symptoms I got from Lexapro.

Jason Vaughn482 said:Well, thank you so much. She offered it to me once and I turned it down, but now that I’m heading in, I think I might actually agree to it. Between the lack of quality sleep and this lingering anxiety, I am desperate to finally move past the Sanval. So, just to clarify, you aren't taking anything else alongside it, like an antidepressant or perhaps some Rivotril? And tell me, don't those 25 mg doses in the morning leave you feeling drowsy or sluggish? I feel perpetually exhausted, and I suspect it could be the Sanval and Calixte, or perhaps the Xanax—it's hard to tell which is the culprit at this point.

I'm on Effexor, which actually keeps me wide awake during the day.
Klonopin helps keep my mood steady.
I don't feel tired at all—Effexor really "does its job" quite well.😍
As for Calixta, I've only heard rumors that it makes you super sleepy, but I don't have any real info.

fadedbear92 said:What do you mean "high and mighty"? I'm just passing along some info—it's up to you whether you actually use it or not.

To clarify, a primary care physician can actually face penalties from Medicare if they prescribe a medication for which there is no established diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that require treatment, yet those specific illnesses aren't included in Medicare's approved list of indications.
I have mentioned this before regarding my own experience with Lyric; both my psychiatrist for anxiety and my neurologist for neuropathic pain prescribed it, but then the doctor told me, "Look, I can't write this prescription for you because the guidelines state it can only be issued if you suffer from epilepsy."
One really needs to check the official drug formulary regarding Quetiapine. If I recall correctly, it is only listed for psychosis. If someone, like Rejica, manages to get it covered by Medicare, they are quite lucky, as it means their GP simply doesn't care what the insurance guidelines say.
As for the criticisms directed at psychiatrists, they are no different from the critiques leveled at any other medical specialists. I was on Sanval for a long time—perhaps it was a mistake on my previous psychiatrist's part—but after trying everything else live and feeling absolutely terrible, she referred me to the Sleep Disorders Center in Sparrow to see if they could devise a better therapy.
When I explained my situation there, they essentially told me there was no third option: it was either stay on Sanval or accept living like a zombie all day.
That said, the doctor there didn't seem particularly invested in my case, though I had only gone there seeking pharmacological advice anyway.

Furthermore, I disagree with the notion that anxiety can be cured without medication; rather, medication can assist in the healing process. These drugs are not prescribed just because we feel a bit uneasy; they are prescribed long-term when you describe physical symptoms to a psychiatrist, which then constitutes a valid indication for tablets.

Skickas fr

restlesstrucker15 said:To clarify, a primary care physician can actually face penalties from Medicare if they prescribe a medication for which there is no established diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that require treatment, yet those specific illnesses aren't included in Medicare's approved list of indications.
I have mentioned this before regarding my own experience with Lyric; both my psychiatrist for anxiety and my neurologist for neuropathic pain prescribed it, but then the doctor told me, "Look, I can't write this prescription for you because the guidelines state it can only be issued if you suffer from epilepsy."
One really needs to check the official drug formulary regarding Quetiapine. If I recall correctly, it is only listed for psychosis. If someone, like Rejica, manages to get it covered by Medicare, they are quite lucky, as it means their GP simply doesn't care what the insurance guidelines say.
As for the criticisms directed at psychiatrists, they are no different from the critiques leveled at any other medical specialists. I was on Sanval for a long time—perhaps it was a mistake on my previous psychiatrist's part—but after trying everything else live and feeling absolutely terrible, she referred me to the Sleep Disorders Center in Sparrow to see if they could devise a better therapy.
When I explained my situation there, they essentially told me there was no third option: it was either stay on Sanval or accept living like a zombie all day.
That said, the doctor there didn't seem particularly invested in my case, though I had only gone there seeking pharmacological advice anyway.

Furthermore, I disagree with the notion that anxiety can be cured without medication; rather, medication can assist in the healing process. These drugs are not prescribed just because we feel a bit uneasy; they are prescribed long-term when you describe physical symptoms to a psychiatrist, which then constitutes a valid indication for tablets.

Skickas fr

Wait, restlesstrucker15, what on earth are you talking about?! Seriously, because of this debate, I’m going to shoot a quick text to my doctor—she already told me that Q-pin is now officially on the list for anxiety.

Well, it finally happened—I just got the notification that I’m officially registered for anxiety treatment. Voila!😛

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Well, there’s always going to be some debate regarding weight gain and certain antidepressants. But if you ask me? I don't believe the medication itself is the culprit behind the scale moving up. Rather, isn't it more likely that the weight change is just a byproduct of shifts happening within the brain? We end up gaining—or losing—weight because our subconscious habits shift, leading us to either overeat or eat poorly.
The drugs themselves aren't capable of making someone gain or lose weight on their own.
I mean, if you were swallowing 18 pounds of pills, sure, that would explain something! But at the dosages we are actually prescribed? It’s simply impossible.
Certain antipsychotics can trigger intense cravings for sweets or salty snacks, and people just start devouring everything in sight—just like I do, for instance, with ice cream. 🙂
I have been on various antidepressants for nearly twenty years now—some of them have been around practically forever and aren't even on the market anymore—and yet, my weight has remained relatively stable throughout the whole ordeal.
Ultimately, the variable is us, isn't it? It’s about our own behavior, not the medicine.

Sure, a pill doesn't contain calories, but there are theories that some antidepressants slow down your metabolism or mess with your appetite. So, it’s hard to say the medication has zero connection to the scale and that it's strictly about food intake. It’s a bit like telling someone with hypothyroidism that it's purely a matter of what they eat... which isn't quite right.

Still, most people feel like they are gaining weight because of them. 🤷

I think Rejica mentioned that AP is sometimes prescribed for anxiety,
but I suppose those of you pointing out that Medicare doesn't actually cover that specific use are right. It’s not like it’s covered under insurance if your diagnosis is just anxiety. You'd have to pay out of pocket. Unless, of course, you have a primary care doctor who's willing to take the risk of getting flagged for prescribing it off-label.
There are these official Medicare formularies that dictate exactly which medications can be billed for which diagnosis.

fadedbear92 said:Well, it finally happened—I just got the notification that I’m officially registered for anxiety treatment. Voila!😛

That is excellent news. 🙂
In that case, please forgive me 😢 but I was under the impression it was strictly indicated for psychosis; they must have updated the guidelines recently, which is certainly a positive development.
At this point, there really should be no reason for a patient to pay out of pocket or for a primary care physician to refuse a prescription.
It is possible that Darren's psychologist hasn't reviewed the latest updates. In my experience, my doctor would always take a moment to check if coverage had changed before adjusting anything—she actually did that specifically when she looked into Pfizer for me.

Send FR

feralmarlin5 said:Man, I am in the exact same boat. Dealing with anxiety and depression, I've been on Lexapro for the last two years, and for the past two months, I've added Xanax to the mix.
I also drink green tea—especially when I'm out at a coffee shop—because coffee honestly makes me want to barf. Now, I just ordered some green coffee bean capsules because I'm trying to drop some weight (and please, don't come at me with the "just go for a run" or "watch your portions" lecture). Plus, I read they provide a boost of energy, which is desperately needed since I'm constantly exhausted, sleepy, and sleeping way too much. I'm low-key counting down the days until these arrive, hoping for some magic weight loss 😍 and a bit of alertness. (Just a heads up: nothing has worked for me before, from Guaraná and Red Bull to some expensive stuff I bought $33 at CVS to help me focus while studying.)

Now that I've dumped all that on you, what are the side effects of mixing caffeine with the meds I'm on? The only thing I can think of is even worse jitters and shaky hands.
Thanks for any insight.🤷

I'm not sure, so you should probably check with your doctor. Generally, it's recommended to avoid stimulants...

It’s certainly not inexpensive to seek private care, as some have pointed out, but I believe it is worth the investment if you can afford it—particularly when it comes to psychotherapy. There are also certain advantages to working privately, such as having more flexibility to reach out when things are actually going poorly.
I am not necessarily advocating for a private healthcare system; rather, it is simply unfortunate that the government doesn't hire enough doctors, which would allow the public sector to dedicate much more time to us.
My primary care physician—and please excuse me for bringing this up repeatedly—strictly follows all the official regulations; she limits my visits to a maximum of 15 minutes, whereas a psychologist should really have at least 30.
I once saw a specialist who could barely spare 10 minutes for me.😢

Send FR

restlesstrucker15 said:It’s certainly not inexpensive to seek private care, as some have pointed out, but I believe it is worth the investment if you can afford it—particularly when it comes to psychotherapy. There are also certain advantages to working privately, such as having more flexibility to reach out when things are actually going poorly.
I am not necessarily advocating for a private healthcare system; rather, it is simply unfortunate that the government doesn't hire enough doctors, which would allow the public sector to dedicate much more time to us.
My primary care physician—and please excuse me for bringing this up repeatedly—strictly follows all the official regulations; she limits my visits to a maximum of 15 minutes, whereas a psychologist should really have at least 30.
I once saw a specialist who could barely spare 10 minutes for me.😢

Send FR

I pay $100 for a 45-minute session once a week, though in reality, it’s more like two or three times a month because either the doctor isn't available or life just gets in the way.
Yeah, it's a lot of money, but honestly? It's worth every cent to me. I sacrifice quite a bit to make it happen.

brighthawk0 said:I pay $100 for a 45-minute session once a week, though in reality, it’s more like two or three times a month because either the doctor isn't available or life just gets in the way.
Yeah, it's a lot of money, but honestly? It's worth every cent to me. I sacrifice quite a bit to make it happen.

Yes, those are the standard rates you see in New York City; nobody finds it easy to swallow, but I find myself in a similar position.

When a plumber charges you a premium just to look at a leaky faucet or a washing machine, we don't typically complain—perhaps because we don't have many "charity" contractors out there anymore. I do not believe they should be working for $17, but in my opinion, they have priced themselves far beyond what is reasonable.

Sent from my iPhone

restlesstrucker15 said:Yes, those are the standard rates you see in New York City; nobody finds it easy to swallow, but I find myself in a similar position.

When a plumber charges you a premium just to look at a leaky faucet or a washing machine, we don't typically complain—perhaps because we don't have many "charity" contractors out there anymore. I do not believe they should be working for $17, but in my opinion, they have priced themselves far beyond what is reasonable.

Sent from my iPhone

Or when a stylist charges a massive amount for highlights $100?
Or getting tires swapped in fifteen minutes $67?

When you look at it that way, three hundred bucks isn't actually that crazy. But somehow, it’s still treated like a luxury. Taking care of your mental health, I guess.

magdalena1967 said:Besides, not everyone is lucky enough to have a psychiatrist they can be on a first-name basis with—someone you can just text whenever or drop in on whenever you feel the need.

You're talking nonsense here. What made you think I'm on a first-name basis with my doctor? Even if I were, what does that have to do with our actual topic? I was simply trying to pass along some information—if that's not relevant to you, then there's really nothing left for us to discuss.

restlesstrucker15 said:That is excellent news. 🙂
In that case, please forgive me 😢 but I was under the impression it was strictly indicated for psychosis; they must have updated the guidelines recently, which is certainly a positive development.
At this point, there really should be no reason for a patient to pay out of pocket or for a primary care physician to refuse a prescription.
It is possible that Darren's psychologist hasn't reviewed the latest updates. In my experience, my doctor would always take a moment to check if coverage had changed before adjusting anything—she actually did that specifically when she looked into Pfizer for me.

Send FR

I'm heading to see my regular doctor on the 29th, so I'll ask her again. The one I saw last time was just a temp... I'm definitely going to tell her to check the list and explain how much these damn filler drugs are failing me. Neither Xanax nor Ambien are doing anything at all; I'm absolutely not sleeping.

magdalena1967 said:Back when I first mentioned that my psychiatrist diagnosed me with bipolar disorder specifically because of the Lamictal, I was absolutely torn apart by people here. They branded our doctors as charlatans and labeled me a fraud trying to mislead the rest of the community.
Even my own doctor insists there are clinical boundaries—for instance, she can't just prescribe an AP without also noting psychosis in the records.
But since there are folks here who simply refuse to believe that reality, I’ve learned it’s futile to try and explain myself. Besides, we aren't all lucky enough to have psychiatrists we can be on a first-name basis with, or people we can just shoot a quick text to or visit whenever the mood strikes.

To be perfectly honest, I've been prescribed Seroquel—which is an AP—several times, yet my official charts always list nothing more than an anxiety disorder without any mention of psychosis... though I can't speak for everyone else since they haven't used it on me.
I suppose I should count myself fortunate to have a cell phone provided by my family and access to email, which allows us to stay in constant contact. Most of our conversations involve me venting, but even then, it feels somewhat hollow when I still haven't found the right medication—or perhaps I just haven't wanted to find it, who can truly say?

restlesstrucker15 said:Yes, those are the standard rates you see in New York City; nobody finds it easy to swallow, but I find myself in a similar position.

When a plumber charges you a premium just to look at a leaky faucet or a washing machine, we don't typically complain—perhaps because we don't have many "charity" contractors out there anymore. I do not believe they should be working for $17, but in my opinion, they have priced themselves far beyond what is reasonable.

Sent from my iPhone

But look, when a contractor actually shows up, you pay them and move on, which is a rare luxury. With a psychiatrist, however, you’re expected to trek in several times a month, and since I don't have a steady paycheck coming in, that kind of recurring expense is simply out of the question for me.

fadedbear92 said:You're talking nonsense here. What made you think I'm on a first-name basis with my doctor? Even if I were, what does that have to do with our actual topic? I was simply trying to pass along some information—if that's not relevant to you, then there's really nothing left for us to discuss.

Thanks for the info, but when you can text your doctor at 9 PM and actually get a reply, that’s a privilege. Just stating a fact—not everyone has that kind of access, and they can't. That was just my take, or maybe a clumsy comment, but calling me stupid for it is unnecessary. It feels like you're calling me an idiot, which isn't nice, especially since I wasn't even attacking you directly.