Psychotropic medication discussion thread

graniteorca6 said:Hey everyone!

I’m sure there’s been a ton of chatter about St. John's Wort already, but honestly, I just don't have the bandwidth to scroll through every single thread...

So, here's the deal: lately, I haven't been able to catch any Z's without using Praxiteles. Since I’m super wary of pills and that whole addiction thing, I decided to try some St. John's Wort tea instead. But then... someone told me I shouldn't mix it with antidepressants! Now I'm spiraling because I'm not even sure which category Praxiteles falls into. Can I safely take Praxiteles if I'm sipping on this tea?

You guys would be absolute lifesavers if you could help me out. Thanks! 🙂

The pharmacist told me that St. John's Wort can only be mixed with anti-anxiety meds if you're only taking them once in a while. You're better off just calling your doctor to get their take, because if you're on Paxil every day, that doesn't exactly count as "as needed." Better to ask a hundred times than to skip the question and totally screw things up.😉

fadedbear92 said:Look, you're ultimately responsible for your own health here—I really hope things don't take a turn for the worse.

So, when does the fallout usually actually hit?

So, I totally gave up on that St. John's Wort thing. Apparently, you have to chug it three times a day for like two whole weeks before you even feel a difference. And honestly? I just can't afford to go another two weeks without sleep because my job is killing me right now.

Has anyone here actually tried those over-the-counter sleep aids—you know, the daytime and nighttime combo ones they always run commercials for? Like ZzzQuil or whatever? Does that stuff actually work or is it just hype?

It’s pretty clear Zoloft isn't doing anything for me, so I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has other recommendations. I'm looking for something for someone who's really struggling to find a reason to keep going, but I'd prefer to avoid Paxil, Effexor, or Wellbutrin.

Zachary Stewart2 said:So, when does the fallout usually actually hit?

I've never actually gone through this myself—so I can't say for sure—but I have seen others post about it. There were people who decided to quit their antidepressants cold turkey while dealing with major depression, and they hit a much darker phase really quickly. I can't recall exactly how long after stopping the meds it happens, so maybe do a little digging through the old threads... someone here might have been through it.🤷

restlesstiger49 said:It’s pretty clear Zoloft isn't doing anything for me, so I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has other recommendations. I'm looking for something for someone who's really struggling to find a reason to keep going, but I'd prefer to avoid Paxil, Effexor, or Wellbutrin.

You mentioned somewhere else that you were taking it for anxiety.
I was on Paxil back in the day—it's a specific SSRI that also works as an anti-anxiety med. During that first week, I was basically a zombie, sleeping through everything, but once my body adjusted, it was fine. I am just confused about one thing, though—do you think you could just walk into a doctor's office with a wad of cash and tell them exactly which prescription you want?😕

About three years ago, I thought I was being really smart and decided to just quit my antipsychotics, anti-anxiety meds, and all my other psychotropic drugs cold turkey. Honestly, things felt amazing for maybe two weeks, but then everything went south so fast that I ended up spending two and a half months in a psychiatric ward.

So, yeah... I definitely wouldn't recommend trying that at home.

Hi there.
I've been on Xanax for 12 days now—feeling better, side effects are tapering off, and overall I'm doing pretty well! I haven't touched my Klonopin before bed for three days straight and it feels great...
Question for the group: since my buddy's wedding is coming up, I wanted to know if it's okay to have maybe two beers? What would that look like? Is it alright to have a tiny amount, or is even a single drop of alcohol strictly off-limits? I'm not talking about getting drunk—just a quick toast...
Thanks for the input.
☺

fadedbear92 said:You mentioned somewhere else that you were taking it for anxiety.
I was on Paxil back in the day—it's a specific SSRI that also works as an anti-anxiety med. During that first week, I was basically a zombie, sleeping through everything, but once my body adjusted, it was fine. I am just confused about one thing, though—do you think you could just walk into a doctor's office with a wad of cash and tell them exactly which prescription you want?😕

Why not? At the end of the day, it’s all about trial and error. Honestly, he isn't exactly a genius when it comes to this stuff—certainly not any smarter than I am.

Zachary Stewart2 said:So, when does the fallout usually actually hit?

I just quit my AD on my own because it was killing me more than the depression did. The fallout hit a few months later—got a stomach ulcer, started drinking every single day just to stay level, and ended up mixing it all with Xanax. Real fun. It led to waking up in the middle of the night with these massive bouts of derealization, feeling totally disconnected from reality for about three months... So I switched to a different AD that actually works. No more drinking, cut back on the Xanax, and I'm tapering off the Zoloft now. Just take it once in a while.

restlesstiger49 said:Why not? At the end of the day, it’s all about trial and error. Honestly, he isn't exactly a genius when it comes to this stuff—certainly not any smarter than I am.

Solid take.

Brenda Lee9 said:Hi there.
I've been on Xanax for 12 days now—feeling better, side effects are tapering off, and overall I'm doing pretty well! I haven't touched my Klonopin before bed for three days straight and it feels great...
Question for the group: since my buddy's wedding is coming up, I wanted to know if it's okay to have maybe two beers? What would that look like? Is it alright to have a tiny amount, or is even a single drop of alcohol strictly off-limits? I'm not talking about getting drunk—just a quick toast...
Thanks for the input.
☺

Personally, I wouldn't mix meds and booze, especially this early on.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Solid take.

Personally, I wouldn't mix meds and booze, especially this early on.

I wouldn't do it either, at least not while I'm still getting adjusted, even though I have started drinking occasionally. It really comes down to the individual. For me, the combination would hit me like I was on ecstasy, but with a terrible aftereffect.
So, it is best to avoid it, since you can't predict how your body will react.
Once you are more stable on your regimen, you might be able to enjoy a drink here and there.
In my experience, my psychiatrist has cleared me for occasional drinks while on Ellie, and I haven't noticed any negative side effects.

Best regards,

Brandon Lopez6 said:Solid take.

Personally, I wouldn't mix meds and booze, especially this early on.

It’s just an impression at this point. I could very well be off base. Look, all I really want is to improve, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions to get things right...

restlesstrucker15 said:I wouldn't do it either, at least not while I'm still getting adjusted, even though I have started drinking occasionally. It really comes down to the individual. For me, the combination would hit me like I was on ecstasy, but with a terrible aftereffect.
So, it is best to avoid it, since you can't predict how your body will react.
Once you are more stable on your regimen, you might be able to enjoy a drink here and there.
In my experience, my psychiatrist has cleared me for occasional drinks while on Ellie, and I haven't noticed any negative side effects.

Best regards,

I'm not even touching a drop right now. 😊😊
I have zero interest in dealing with a total mental breakdown!
I've had enough anxiety to last a lifetime!
Thanks anyway 😉

Justin Rogers5 said:I just quit my AD on my own because it was killing me more than the depression did. The fallout hit a few months later—got a stomach ulcer, started drinking every single day just to stay level, and ended up mixing it all with Xanax. Real fun. It led to waking up in the middle of the night with these massive bouts of derealization, feeling totally disconnected from reality for about three months... So I switched to a different AD that actually works. No more drinking, cut back on the Xanax, and I'm tapering off the Zoloft now. Just take it once in a while.

I went three days without my meds. On the first night, I woke up with this killer headache, but it cleared up by the next day. The second day was rough—I felt wired and anxious at the same time and couldn't catch a wink of sleep, though maybe that was just the stress from landing a new job? Not sure if it was the withdrawal or the job. Anyway, I'm back on them now. My main issue is that I can't tell if the emotional numbness is lifting or not, because it definitely still feels like it's there. I'm honestly terrified that if I try to taper off, this numbness is just going to stick around forever.

restlesstiger49 said:It’s just an impression at this point. I could very well be off base. Look, all I really want is to improve, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions to get things right...

Realistically, if you think you know more than your doctor, you can always just buy stuff on the street. Why even bother seeing someone you don't trust?

Brandon Lopez6 said:Realistically, if you think you know more than your doctor, you can always just buy stuff on the street. Why even bother seeing someone you don't trust?

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I know better than a professional. And it’s not that I lack trust. I'm sorry if my previous posts gave off that impression. As I mentioned before, I just feel that because antidepressants affect everyone so differently, it's necessary to trial various medications within that class. I assume a shrink might not immediately know which specific drug would work best next. It's also my mistake for overlooking his clinical experience and the statistical data. Plus, I'll admit I was writing while a bit worked up.

I have one question: in a situation like this (after taking an antidepressant for a month and a half), does the protocol usually involve increasing the dose or switching to a different medication altogether?

Thanks!

Hey everyone 🙂
I’m pretty active over on the OCD forums, but I have some specific questions regarding medication experiences.
So, to my fellow OCD warriors—if you have any advice, I am all ears!!!!

To give you some background, I was previously on a cocktail of antidepressants—Effexor—alongside Klonopin and an antipsychotic, Zyprexa. Before that, I was taking Anafranil and Seroquel. My doctor also tried putting me on Solanax, but let’s just say the side effects were... intense. No comment!

I managed to taper off the Zyprexa, but it was brutal; I was hitting a wall both physically and emotionally for about three weeks.

Looking back, when I was on all three medications at once, I went through some dark times and practically hit rock bottom. Now, I'm feeling a bit lost. I don't want to think I know more than my doctor, but I really don't want to take something just for the sake of it if it offers zero results. Has anyone had positive experiences with a specific medication? Specifically, something that actually helped shift your thought patterns? Right now, my logic feels completely distorted, and this sense of guilt is overwhelming. I’m just not sure if any medication can actually change that...

+ Also, the Zyprexa left me feeling totally weighed down and sleeping like a log.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Can anyone tell me if they have any experience with Lexapro? I picked up my prescription yesterday, but I haven't actually started taking it yet. The script says Lexapro 10mg, one tablet in the morning. From what I've been reading, you're supposed to start antidepressants at a lower dose, so I guess I'm wondering if I should just start with half a pill? My doctor didn't mention anything about tapering up gradually. Also, for those of you on Lexapro, does it cause weight gain? I'm not exactly overweight, but I really don't want to put on extra pounds.

I was also prescribed Xanax 0.5mg (half a pill, half a pill, zero) and Valium 15mg, one tablet before bed. I took the Valium for the first time last night, but... I don't know, it feels like I didn't even sleep that much better because of it. I did nap better this afternoon, though, almost like the medication kicked in then. I didn't take the Xanax today. I don't really see the point of it, either. I took half a Xanax yesterday afternoon, and honestly, it felt exactly the same as before I took it.

My issues are mostly stemming from grieving... my mother passed away after suffering from septic shock back in October of last year. I'm planning to start the Lexapro as soon as possible. However, my doctor suggested I deal with a dental issue first—I have an appointment tomorrow, and I might even need an extraction—so he wants me to wait until that's sorted before starting the meds. He did mention that I might run into some digestive issues, but said Lexapro is a really good antidepressant. Reading through this forum, I started thinking maybe Faverin might actually be better for me since it's supposed to be calming and helps with sleep, and I'm struggling so much with insomnia and barely sleeping at all. It just feels... awkward, I guess, to ask for Faverin specifically from a doctor I trust; he definitely knows more than I do. Should I bring up Faverin at my next visit, or should I just stick to the plan and start the Lexapro once my tooth is taken care of?

mistyjackal842 said:Can anyone tell me if they have any experience with Lexapro? I picked up my prescription yesterday, but I haven't actually started taking it yet. The script says Lexapro 10mg, one tablet in the morning. From what I've been reading, you're supposed to start antidepressants at a lower dose, so I guess I'm wondering if I should just start with half a pill? My doctor didn't mention anything about tapering up gradually. Also, for those of you on Lexapro, does it cause weight gain? I'm not exactly overweight, but I really don't want to put on extra pounds.

I was also prescribed Xanax 0.5mg (half a pill, half a pill, zero) and Valium 15mg, one tablet before bed. I took the Valium for the first time last night, but... I don't know, it feels like I didn't even sleep that much better because of it. I did nap better this afternoon, though, almost like the medication kicked in then. I didn't take the Xanax today. I don't really see the point of it, either. I took half a Xanax yesterday afternoon, and honestly, it felt exactly the same as before I took it.

My issues are mostly stemming from grieving... my mother passed away after suffering from septic shock back in October of last year. I'm planning to start the Lexapro as soon as possible. However, my doctor suggested I deal with a dental issue first—I have an appointment tomorrow, and I might even need an extraction—so he wants me to wait until that's sorted before starting the meds. He did mention that I might run into some digestive issues, but said Lexapro is a really good antidepressant. Reading through this forum, I started thinking maybe Faverin might actually be better for me since it's supposed to be calming and helps with sleep, and I'm struggling so much with insomnia and barely sleeping at all. It just feels... awkward, I guess, to ask for Faverin specifically from a doctor I trust; he definitely knows more than I do. Should I bring up Faverin at my next visit, or should I just stick to the plan and start the Lexapro once my tooth is taken care of?

You are navigating quite a chaotic cocktail of medications. Let's approach this methodically. I have been on Lexapro for six years now, and I consider it to be among the superior, more modern antidepressants available. Whatever you do, do not jump straight to a half tablet; in fact, start even lower, with a quarter pill. Take that 1/4 pill for three days. After three days, move up to a half tablet for another three days. Then, transition to a half plus a quarter, and after another three days, move to the full dose. This way, your system acclimates to the medication and the side effects remain manageable. You might experience slight dizziness, mild nausea, yawning, or drowsiness, but in my experience, those subside within a week or two. As for weight, I haven't gained a single ounce while on Lexapro. Regarding the Valium for sleep, try taking it an hour or two before you actually intend to get into bed.
Xanax is an effective medication for anxiety and panic attacks, and it is typically used on an as-needed basis, primarily to bridge the gap until the antidepressant takes full effect.
I would advise against Faverin for now; give the Lexapro a chance first. Faverin belongs to an older generation of drugs and tends to carry much harsher side effects.