Psychotropic medication discussion thread

wiredharbor18 said:The reason you're being directed to Effexor is because that’s the generic name for this medication. It belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ICD), just like Zoloft.
It's actually quite common to "trial" different antidepressants until you find the right fit. As for when you'll feel the full effects, it really varies from person to person—in my own case, I didn't start feeling better until about two months in.

As for the psychiatrist, it's hard to judge if they're the right fit immediately.
My advice would be to stick with the current doctor for a little while longer, at least until you can see whether the treatment starts working.

Hey! Thanks!
So, are Zoloft and Effexor basically the same thing, or is there actually a difference?
I ask because these last three days have been great—no depression, no dark thoughts, no stomach acid issues... He’s actually in a good mood, we can hold a conversation, he’s out working in the fields, giving us a solid 5/5 score, except he can't sleep.🤷 At least, that’s what he tells me, though I’m not sure if it’s true—I find it hard to believe someone could go 3 or 4 days without any sleep at all. To be fair, even on his old meds, he had these good phases followed by crashes. I'm praying to God this lasts a little longer (if we can get him sleeping), because it was honestly heartbreaking watching him look so helpless.

How are you doing? And once you finally find the right medication, is it just constant stability, or do you still deal with ups and downs?

silverranger10 said:Hey! Thanks!
So, are Zoloft and Effexor basically the same thing, or is there actually a difference?
I ask because these last three days have been great—no depression, no dark thoughts, no stomach acid issues... He’s actually in a good mood, we can hold a conversation, he’s out working in the fields, giving us a solid 5/5 score, except he can't sleep.🤷 At least, that’s what he tells me, though I’m not sure if it’s true—I find it hard to believe someone could go 3 or 4 days without any sleep at all. To be fair, even on his old meds, he had these good phases followed by crashes. I'm praying to God this lasts a little longer (if we can get him sleeping), because it was honestly heartbreaking watching him look so helpless.

How are you doing? And once you finally find the right medication, is it just constant stability, or do you still deal with ups and downs?

Those are two completely different medications.
Zoloft is sertraline (which falls under the SSRI category), whereas Effexor is a relatively newer drug. At higher doses, it also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine (essentially making it an SNRI, a dual inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake). It has proven to be very effective, and the side effects tend to be less pronounced than those seen with "classic" SSRIs.

I'm doing alright now, aside from occasional crises (nothing too major). I've been on antidepressants for seven years, and I've been on this specific regimen for about five years now, allowing me to function normally.

Look, everything is highly individual, but generally speaking, most therapies (both psychotherapy and antidepressants) show good results for the vast majority. You might experience short-term episodes occasionally, but they aren't nearly as severe as those initial struggles. Honestly, I think even "normal" people have crises like that sometimes.

Just give it a little time, and I truly believe things will settle down.

wiredharbor18 said:Those are two completely different medications.
Zoloft is sertraline (which falls under the SSRI category), whereas Effexor is a relatively newer drug. At higher doses, it also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine (essentially making it an SNRI, a dual inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake). It has proven to be very effective, and the side effects tend to be less pronounced than those seen with "classic" SSRIs.

I'm doing alright now, aside from occasional crises (nothing too major). I've been on antidepressants for seven years, and I've been on this specific regimen for about five years now, allowing me to function normally.

Look, everything is highly individual, but generally speaking, most therapies (both psychotherapy and antidepressants) show good results for the vast majority. You might experience short-term episodes occasionally, but they aren't nearly as severe as those initial struggles. Honestly, I think even "normal" people have crises like that sometimes.

Just give it a little time, and I truly believe things will settle down.

As far as time goes, my family and I are incredibly patient—we kind of have to be, since we're a bit different from the crowd. But today, the anxiety and dark thoughts are back in full swing (if you'll excuse my choice of words), even though he actually managed to sleep last night after being up for a few days straight.
I actually messed up in my last post when I said he was already taking Effexor; he’s still on Zoloft. We're still waiting for the pharmacy to get the Effexor in stock.

He ended up switching psychiatrists because the first one (even though he’s in private practice) was pretty condescending. My dad called him on a Saturday because he wasn't feeling well, and apparently, the doctor doesn't work Saturdays—we had no idea. He basically snapped at us about why we were calling outside of business hours.

I truly believe once the meds kick in, he’ll find his footing and stay steady, but I'm just stuck wondering how to help him through this transition. Right now, he’s convinced this feeling is permanent...

silverranger10 said:As far as time goes, my family and I are incredibly patient—we kind of have to be, since we're a bit different from the crowd. But today, the anxiety and dark thoughts are back in full swing (if you'll excuse my choice of words), even though he actually managed to sleep last night after being up for a few days straight.
I actually messed up in my last post when I said he was already taking Effexor; he’s still on Zoloft. We're still waiting for the pharmacy to get the Effexor in stock.

He ended up switching psychiatrists because the first one (even though he’s in private practice) was pretty condescending. My dad called him on a Saturday because he wasn't feeling well, and apparently, the doctor doesn't work Saturdays—we had no idea. He basically snapped at us about why we were calling outside of business hours.

I truly believe once the meds kick in, he’ll find his footing and stay steady, but I'm just stuck wondering how to help him through this transition. Right now, he’s convinced this feeling is permanent...

Unfortunately, what you're describing isn't anything new.

During my own difficult phases, talking things through with a close friend was a lifesaver; I would call her whenever I felt a spiral coming on (being alone during those moments was terrifying) and she would always gently remind me that I was okay and that these fears weren't reality...

I also found it incredibly helpful to journal my feelings during those lows so that I could read them back when I was feeling more stable (something I still do today). It helps me realize just how irrational my anxiety and depression can be in the moment.

Additionally, realizing how widespread this issue actually is—that there are so many people struggling just as much as I am, if not more—offered a strange kind of comfort. I know that might sound a bit grim, but knowing I wasn't alone made the burden feel slightly lighter.

I really hope sharing my experience provides even a little bit of solace to you.

silverranger10 said:As far as time goes, my family and I are incredibly patient—we kind of have to be, since we're a bit different from the crowd. But today, the anxiety and dark thoughts are back in full swing (if you'll excuse my choice of words), even though he actually managed to sleep last night after being up for a few days straight.
I actually messed up in my last post when I said he was already taking Effexor; he’s still on Zoloft. We're still waiting for the pharmacy to get the Effexor in stock.

He ended up switching psychiatrists because the first one (even though he’s in private practice) was pretty condescending. My dad called him on a Saturday because he wasn't feeling well, and apparently, the doctor doesn't work Saturdays—we had no idea. He basically snapped at us about why we were calling outside of business hours.

I truly believe once the meds kick in, he’ll find his footing and stay steady, but I'm just stuck wondering how to help him through this transition. Right now, he’s convinced this feeling is permanent...

Zoloft can cause a ton of side effects. Insomnia is definitely one of them.

crimsonheron80 said:I lost my pills and my primary care doctor is out for the next three days, so I can't get a refill. How am I supposed to get my meds?

I don't know what you're on, but the same thing happened to me with Lexapro. I basically just paid full price upfront to the pharmacy. Like, without insurance, it was maybe $150, but with my co-pay, it’s usually like $40. So I just paid the whole $150 at once, and then after I finally got my prescription sent over, the pharmacist gave me back the difference.
Now, I have no clue what you're taking or if that works for your specific stuff. I mean, I doubt you could pull that move with something like Xanax or whatever. 🤷 But hey, might be worth asking.

Linda Taylor11 said:I don't know what you're on, but the same thing happened to me with Lexapro. I basically just paid full price upfront to the pharmacy. Like, without insurance, it was maybe $150, but with my co-pay, it’s usually like $40. So I just paid the whole $150 at once, and then after I finally got my prescription sent over, the pharmacist gave me back the difference.
Now, I have no clue what you're taking or if that works for your specific stuff. I mean, I doubt you could pull that move with something like Xanax or whatever. 🤷 But hey, might be worth asking.

I need Sanval, and I'm pretty sure it requires a prescription.

Linda Taylor11 said:I don't know what you're on, but the same thing happened to me with Lexapro. I basically just paid full price upfront to the pharmacy. Like, without insurance, it was maybe $150, but with my co-pay, it’s usually like $40. So I just paid the whole $150 at once, and then after I finally got my prescription sent over, the pharmacist gave me back the difference.
Now, I have no clue what you're taking or if that works for your specific stuff. I mean, I doubt you could pull that move with something like Xanax or whatever. 🤷 But hey, might be worth asking.

Fine. I'll try it. If it works, it works. If not... well, we'll see. 🤷 thanks 😉

Linda Taylor11 said:I don't know what you're on, but the same thing happened to me with Lexapro. I basically just paid full price upfront to the pharmacy. Like, without insurance, it was maybe $150, but with my co-pay, it’s usually like $40. So I just paid the whole $150 at once, and then after I finally got my prescription sent over, the pharmacist gave me back the difference.
Now, I have no clue what you're taking or if that works for your specific stuff. I mean, I doubt you could pull that move with something like Xanax or whatever. 🤷 But hey, might be worth asking.

God, I hate Big Pharma. What are you supposed to do if you don't have health insurance but urgently need an antidepressant, a hypnotic, or a sedative? You end up dropping over a hundred dollars just like that. (Usually, benzodiazepine sedatives are relatively inexpensive.)

Just get yourself some health insurance, for goodness' sake.

Nicole Barrett76 said:God, I hate Big Pharma. What are you supposed to do if you don't have health insurance but urgently need an antidepressant, a hypnotic, or a sedative? You end up dropping over a hundred dollars just like that. (Usually, benzodiazepine sedatives are relatively inexpensive.)

Do you really think you can buy any of that without a prescription?

It’s unlikely, but I assume private practitioners issue their own private prescriptions, and that's just how the system works.

James Ramirez10 said:Just get yourself some health insurance, for goodness' sake.

Oh, I certainly have my own coverage. However, isn't it truly heartbreaking to think of all those people struggling through gig work and freelance contracts, where nobody is contributing even a single cent toward their medical coverage? Surely, there must be so many left behind in such a precarious position.

crimsonheron80 said:Do you really think you can buy any of that without a prescription?

I cannot say for certain what my thoughts might be, yet I shall certainly take the opinion of Nicole Barrett76 into consideration.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Oh, I certainly have my own coverage. However, isn't it truly heartbreaking to think of all those people struggling through gig work and freelance contracts, where nobody is contributing even a single cent toward their medical coverage? Surely, there must be so many left behind in such a precarious position.

I guess they’re just supposed to pay for it themselves then... right? That's an option too.🤷

crimsonheron80 said:Fine. I'll try it. If it works, it works. If not... well, we'll see. 🤷 thanks 😉

No worries. 🙂
If there's some local CVS or Walgreens in your neighborhood where they actually know your face, maybe try asking them nicely. But honestly, if they won't budge without a prescription, I doubt they'll give in. People are way more paranoid about this stuff nowadays. 🤷

Nicole Barrett76 said:God, I hate Big Pharma. What are you supposed to do if you don't have health insurance but urgently need an antidepressant, a hypnotic, or a sedative? You end up dropping over a hundred dollars just like that. (Usually, benzodiazepine sedatives are relatively inexpensive.)

Yeah, true. But right now, I need it just as much as, I don't know, water. I can barely function without my antidepressants.

For those of you who are truly struggling with your mental health, I have a thought to share.

Is there any way to actually measure the concentration of serotonin within the brain, or perhaps gauge how ready the receptors are to release that serotonin at the regular intervals required for stability?

Could it be that your mental illness is rooted in pure physiology?

Nicole Barrett76 said:For those of you who are truly struggling with your mental health, I have a thought to share.

Is there any way to actually measure the concentration of serotonin within the brain, or perhaps gauge how ready the receptors are to release that serotonin at the regular intervals required for stability?

Could it be that your mental illness is rooted in pure physiology?

Unfortunately, that isn't something done routinely; you'd only see it in specialized research studies specifically designed for that purpose. Certainly not in standard clinics here in the States. The thing is, the requirements for hormones, neurotransmitters, glucose, and all those other substrates depend entirely on immediate needs—basically, whether the cells have the capacity to produce them and dump them into the bloodstream at that exact moment. We're talking nanogram quantities over very short windows of time. So, if you're constantly feeling depressed, implying a lack of serotonin, it's probably better to get more through medication so you have what you need available in your system when necessary. (To be clear, you aren't taking a pill to ingest serotonin directly; rather, you're taking a substance that ensures the unused surplus doesn't just dissipate into the intercellular tissue, but instead gets recycled back into the cell). You can't even regulate insulin perfectly, even when you're on an IV drip...🤷

Nicole Barrett76 said:What kind of psychological impact might a mentally healthy individual face if they were to take—or be forced to take—an antipsychotic medication?

I mean, first off, how on earth do you even go about defining what a "mentally healthy" person looks like in this day and age?😕

My specific, granular struggle right now is this persistent serotonin deficit, though my bloodwork shows I’m sitting at a lithium level of 0.79 mmol/L; once I follow that up by taking
my lithium carbonate from a pharmacy over in Chicago, I sleep like a baby after a long night on the bathroom floor.
Honestly, thank God we live in the 21st century, because having access to these kinds of stabilizers to actually keep a person upright is a blessing.😍