Psychotropic medication discussion thread

hollowtinker8 said:Hey everyone.
So, I’ve been on Xanax for about four years now—and honestly, my body has just gotten so used to it that I don't even feel it anymore, let alone get the same effect I used to.
Because of that, I’m working with my psychiatrist to switch things up and try a different anxiolytic instead.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for something that doesn't come with a ton of nasty side effects, and right now I'm torn between trying Inderal or Paxil. 🤔
Thanks

Tolerance can definitely develop with alprazolam (Xanax, Misar, Helex). After long-term use, you often find yourself needing higher doses just to achieve the initial effect.
Generally, alprazolam doses up to 4mg/day are thought to carry a lower risk of withdrawal symptoms when tapering off or reducing the dose.
In your case, having used it for four years, it sounds like a classic case of diminished efficacy due to tolerance.

-Diazepam (Valium) - a classic, widely used anxiolytic typically prescribed at 5-20mg/day, though inpatient settings may require higher doses.
-Oxazepam (Paxil) - this is weaker than diazepam since it is actually a metabolite of diazepam (the liver breaks diazepam down into oxazepam).
-Bromazepam - offers similar efficacy to diazepam.
-Lorazepam - works quickly to alleviate anxiety, but it has a short duration of action and carries a high likelihood of psychological or physical dependence.

A solid option you might consider is clonazepam—Rivotril. While primarily an antiepileptic, it belongs to the benzodiazepine class and is frequently used for anxiety, social phobias, and other phobic disorders.
Dosages range from 3x0.5mg for milder anxiety up to 3x2mg for more severe cases. It generally tends to be less addictive than standard anxiolytics.

My psychiatrist actually suggested I try Rivotril, but honestly, I’m a little nervous about taking it—especially since I’m already on Lamictal, which is also an antiepileptic. I'm worried about how they might interact. Plus, as someone who's dealt with panic attacks for a long time now, 🙄I know deep down that the anxiety over taking it would just eat at me. But man, I really could use some relief here. 😳
Some of these seem okay, like Norval.

hollowtinker8 said:My psychiatrist actually suggested I try Rivotril, but honestly, I’m a little nervous about taking it—especially since I’m already on Lamictal, which is also an antiepileptic. I'm worried about how they might interact. Plus, as someone who's dealt with panic attacks for a long time now, 🙄I know deep down that the anxiety over taking it would just eat at me. But man, I really could use some relief here. 😳
Some of these seem okay, like Norval.

I'm on Lamictal as well. There aren't any interactions between those two, other than the fact that both raise the seizure threshold.
I was taking Rivotril about six months ago, but I had to taper off all my anxiolytics for a while.
Now I'm on Xanax SR, 1mg three times a day.

Does xanax actually do anything for you? I’m asking because when I first started my treatment, it didn't seem to touch my anxiety at all—I barely felt like I had even taken it, yet the panic attacks kept hitting me just as hard. Eventually, I switched over to taking 3x0.5mg instead.
I honestly have no clue what to expect, though I'm scheduled to swap out the xanax for something else in about a week. My biggest worry is just how I'll handle the transition—trying to taper off one while simultaneously starting the new medication 😢
Hopefully, I can just power through those first week or two until my body adjusts to the change.

Yeah, I’ve been on Helix for over two years now and honestly, I have no idea how I’ll ever get off it. If I cut back even a tiny bit, I can't catch a wink of sleep...

...plus, Calista has its own side effects too. It makes me feel incredibly drowsy during the day and just sort of out of it, so I've started tapering my dose down a little...

none of this really works for me :/

it's wild that some psychiatrists prescribe antipsychotics for depression or insomnia; one doctor actually tried to put me on Modafinil two years ago, and thank god I felt so terrible from it that I stopped. He actually had the nerve to tell me it was all in my head and that I just needed to push through... what an idiot🙄

I actually heard about people my mom knows who were completely destroyed by meds like Modafinil or Prazosin, and now they're suing their doctors... who knows why everyone gets prescribed these things, probably just kickbacks...

Raymond Jackson38 said:Side effects from Celexa??

Man, I tried that for just a week at half my usual dose, and the dizziness was awful... felt like the ground was slipping away from me. They say Prozac has the fewest side effects...

Every antidepressant comes with its own set of baggage. Generally speaking, SSRIs—like Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Faverin, or Prozac—are known for having a more tolerable side effect profile, which usually means patients don't feel the need to ditch them immediately. On the other hand, MAOIs and tricyclics tend to pack a much harder punch with their side effects, leading to much higher dropout rates.
SSRIs are currently the go-to prescription, with sertraline (found in Zoloft, Luvox, or Yasmin) being the most frequently prescribed among them.

hollowtinker8 said:Hey everyone.
So, I’ve been on Xanax for about four years now—and honestly, my body has just gotten so used to it that I don't even feel it anymore, let alone get the same effect I used to.
Because of that, I’m working with my psychiatrist to switch things up and try a different anxiolytic instead.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for something that doesn't come with a ton of nasty side effects, and right now I'm torn between trying Inderal or Paxil. 🤔
Thanks

Maybe give Doxepin a shot? It's technically an antidepressant, but it works as an anxiolytic too, so it might be a solid swap for Xanax...

And it isn't as addictive. At least, not nearly as much.

David Kern14 said:When I'm manic, everyone can just go jump in a lake
but when the depression hits, I just grab my Zoloft and deal with it.

What does mania actually feel like? Does it stay pretty much the same every time, or is there no real pattern to it? Can you give an objective description of what it's like? How does it feel internally, and how would someone watching or listening to you perceive it? In my experience, I get similar states, though they're much milder. It’s like I’ll suddenly fixate on one specific idea and just run with it; I know perfectly well that what I'm doing makes zero sense, but I simply can't stop myself. I'm not talking about going on a rampage through the neighborhood, but more like feeling this sudden urge to just drive away and not come home for a few days, or impulsively buying something and then selling it 24 hours later for $333 less than I paid at Target—like I do with my phone all the time.

David Nelson74 said:What does mania actually feel like? Does it stay pretty much the same every time, or is there no real pattern to it? Can you give an objective description of what it's like? How does it feel internally, and how would someone watching or listening to you perceive it? In my experience, I get similar states, though they're much milder. It’s like I’ll suddenly fixate on one specific idea and just run with it; I know perfectly well that what I'm doing makes zero sense, but I simply can't stop myself. I'm not talking about going on a rampage through the neighborhood, but more like feeling this sudden urge to just drive away and not come home for a few days, or impulsively buying something and then selling it 24 hours later for $333 less than I paid at Target—like I do with my phone all the time.

Luckily, it usually lasts about two months at most, maybe twice a year.
Honestly, I feel amazing, and I don't even realize how unhinged I'm acting until the antipsychotics kick in and bring me down. Then I eventually stop taking them once things settle and they aren't needed anymore.
The people around me find it exhausting because I'm basically on speed.
That's how it goes for me, though everyone is different.
There are no rules; the last time it just hit me out of nowhere.
We were just driving a little ways out to pick some stuff up and everything was fine, but two days later, it started.
Five days in, I was already at the psychiatrist's office getting an antipsychotic. Once it starts wearing off, I start feeling crappy and restless, but then I quickly need an antidepressant... it's always something, God knows.

hollowtinker8 said:Hey everyone.
So, I’ve been on Xanax for about four years now—and honestly, my body has just gotten so used to it that I don't even feel it anymore, let alone get the same effect I used to.
Because of that, I’m working with my psychiatrist to switch things up and try a different anxiolytic instead.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for something that doesn't come with a ton of nasty side effects, and right now I'm torn between trying Inderal or Paxil. 🤔
Thanks

Look, no replacement anxiolytic is going to help you here—not even a benzodiazepine neuroleptic like Klonopin.

The only real way out of this is to—assuming you have the job security for it—take four weeks of vacation. You work with your doctor to slowly taper down your Xanax doses, and yeah, you're going to deal with withdrawal crises... you absolutely have to push through it. Because, honestly, no matter how much some idiot claims that switching to a different anxiolytic will make the transition easy, that's just not true—they're all remarkably similar.

Once those four weeks are up, if you're still feeling terrible, they'll just put you back on your old dose and you'll be fine again for another 6 or 7 months.

Can someone walk me through how sleep aids actually work? Like, what’s the deal with the mechanics of them, and how long does it usually take before you're wide awake in the morning? Also, I was wondering—can you just pick some up at a local CVS or Walgreens without needing a prescription from a doctor? Thanks!
and if anyone has any recommendations... please...
I am dealing with some really heavy-duty sleep issues lately.

You've got more than enough stuff posted here about insomnia

I honestly think if you're dealing with serious sleep issues, you really ought to go see a doctor, since you can't just pick up prescription-strength stuff over the counter at a drugstore.

Personally, I’m on Valium at 30mg. I used to take 15mg, but they didn't exactly do much for me, so my doctor bumped me up to something a bit stronger. The issue with the lower dose was that while it would knock me out initially, I’d end up waking up in the middle of the night—which was honestly the worst part. Now, with this higher dose, it puts me right out, and I sleep like a baby until morning. Every once in a while, I feel a little groggy when I wake up, but hey, at least I actually get some rest.
The instructions on the packaging usually mention that you need to have at least 7 or 8 hours to dedicate to sleep after you take them, and so on...

If you're struggling with sleep issues, Ambien is usually the go-to—but just so you know, you'll definitely need a prescription for it.
Here’s the deal with that medication. It’s classified as a hypnotic, which basically means it helps you knock out fast and keeps you from tossing and turning all night. You really have to take it right before you hit the sack, otherwise, it won't work quite like it's supposed to.
http://www.tegobe.com/vademecumi/lek/sanval.html

Alright folks... I'm back on Cipralex again.
I was on it back in July but quit cold turkey—not because of the meds, really, but because I had a massive Bender and decided to blame the pills instead of my own drinking habits! Heh. Anyway, after talking things over with my doctor, I’ve restarted... but I'm hitting those same symptoms. Everything electricorca13 mentioned is happening—plus I'm constantly exhausted and my hands won't stop shaking. electricorca13 suggested taking some Ativan to settle down, but I'm getting absolutely hammered by side effects right now. Should I try a little Xanax? Or what?
Please, give me some actual advice here. I'm incredibly jittery and just don't know how to deal with myself... even a month after I stopped, my hands were still shaking.
When does this stuff actually start working?!
Thanks, everyone!

urbanmason10 said:Alright folks... I'm back on Cipralex again.
I was on it back in July but quit cold turkey—not because of the meds, really, but because I had a massive Bender and decided to blame the pills instead of my own drinking habits! Heh. Anyway, after talking things over with my doctor, I’ve restarted... but I'm hitting those same symptoms. Everything electricorca13 mentioned is happening—plus I'm constantly exhausted and my hands won't stop shaking. electricorca13 suggested taking some Ativan to settle down, but I'm getting absolutely hammered by side effects right now. Should I try a little Xanax? Or what?
Please, give me some actual advice here. I'm incredibly jittery and just don't know how to deal with myself... even a month after I stopped, my hands were still shaking.
When does this stuff actually start working?!
Thanks, everyone!

It’s been nearly two months since I restarted mine... I can see some improvement. I'm not doing great right now, but that's due to life circumstances that no amount of Lexapro could fix. I was supposed to get married this fall, but my fiancée walked out on me right before the wedding in June... so I'm probably not the best person to offer life advice.
No matter what medication you take, depression is going to hit hard during a "failed wedding" phase like this. Those side effects, like the tremors, will taper off eventually. However, if your doctor bumps up your dosage, they'll likely pop back up... it's an ongoing cycle until your body adjusts. I looked it up online, and apparently, it can take 3 or 4 months for the Lexapro to truly stabilize and for those side effects to vanish.

electricorca13 said:It’s been nearly two months since I restarted mine... I can see some improvement. I'm not doing great right now, but that's due to life circumstances that no amount of Lexapro could fix. I was supposed to get married this fall, but my fiancée walked out on me right before the wedding in June... so I'm probably not the best person to offer life advice.
No matter what medication you take, depression is going to hit hard during a "failed wedding" phase like this. Those side effects, like the tremors, will taper off eventually. However, if your doctor bumps up your dosage, they'll likely pop back up... it's an ongoing cycle until your body adjusts. I looked it up online, and apparently, it can take 3 or 4 months for the Lexapro to truly stabilize and for those side effects to vanish.

I mean, should I take something to calm down? I have to work and everything... so I'm pretty wired... maybe a little Xanax or Paxil (though I have no idea why my doctor put me on Paxil!?).
I'm trying not to overdo it, but honestly... damn it... sometimes you just have to push through. It's a shame—for the marriage, at least... but hey, there aren't many of us guys left, so demand is high... haha.😁
Also... what kind of "improvement" are we talking about? Like, becoming indifferent to everything, or...?

urbanmason10 said:I mean, should I take something to calm down? I have to work and everything... so I'm pretty wired... maybe a little Xanax or Paxil (though I have no idea why my doctor put me on Paxil!?).
I'm trying not to overdo it, but honestly... damn it... sometimes you just have to push through. It's a shame—for the marriage, at least... but hey, there aren't many of us guys left, so demand is high... haha.😁
Also... what kind of "improvement" are we talking about? Like, becoming indifferent to everything, or...?

I was taking Ativan until my Lexapro finally kicked in. I don't want to scare you, but it was brutal. When I first started, I dealt with blood pressure issues, insomnia, tremors... the works. I was taking up to four 5mg doses of Ativan a day just to cope, right up until the Lexapro started working after about four weeks. Even though they say it takes a few months to reach "full effect," once that happened, the tension and anxiety finally eased off. Eventually, I scaled the Ativan back to just one or two 5mg doses a day max.

Lately, around the anniversary of my failed wedding, I was temporarily prescribed Lorazepam to help settle things down, since I've been wrestling with this cocktail of sadness, rage, and tears.

Anyway, I think when you're "adjusting" to Lexapro, having a sedative on hand as a crutch is necessary. The side effects can be nasty and they really grind your daily life to a halt. As for whether Ativan worked for me, or if you should try Xanax or Paxil—you'll have to see what works for you with your doctor. Seriously, I'm hardly an expert here, so I shouldn't be giving medical advice.

I thought I’d jump in here and share my experience after being on Lexapro for about ten months now.
We all know how much this varies from person to person—side effects and progress aren't one-size-fits-all—but personally, I didn't deal with anything too intense, aside from some shaking and sweating that lasted for maybe three or four weeks while I was on the 10 mg dose. I wasn't seeing much of an improvement at first, so we bumped the dosage up to 20 mg, and that’s when things finally started looking up. In the beginning, my episodes were pretty frequent, but now they've practically vanished, leaving me with just a little bit of anxiety every once in a while.
I've actually been back down to 10 mg for about four or five months now.
As for using sedatives, I honestly think it’s best to lean on them until you start feeling more stable on the antidepressant. Some people even choose to take their meds in the evening specifically to help mitigate those side effects or just to dull them down a bit.