Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Just a friendly suggestion here... try going out for a run tomorrow—maybe 30 or 45 minutes straight, whatever you can handle—then check back in after a day or two and let us know how your heart feels. Not cycling, not hitting the gym... just pure running.

I guarantee you won't even feel it. And that’s without needing any beta blockers 😉

restlesstrucker15 said:I am not taking it anymore. I took it for ten days a while back, but I wouldn't even know my own name until five in the afternoon, so I decided to stop because that sedation just wouldn't let up. Perhaps I should have pushed through it, but my doctor told me that if it doesn't work initially, it won't work later. It was the exact same situation with Calixt.

That's great that it isn't covered; I know that Q-pin won't be covered by insurance unless you have a specific diagnosis for it, and my anxiety and depression diagnosis doesn't cover that.

Skickas FR

It isn't covered, so don't worry about that. You might want to try Vair; it might not leave you feeling so completely wiped out. For me,
it worked perfectly, and I never dealt with any daytime grogginess. I sincerely hope you have better luck with it.

With Calixt, I suffered from terrible headaches and a constant hangover sensation, and it altered my temperament so much that I became incredibly argumentative—which is strange, because I'm a pretty easygoing person.😍

Mark Nelson said:I guess it varies from person to person. It's weird to me because I've been taking it for almost a year now and it doesn't actually help me sleep. As for side effects, the only thing I've really noticed is weight gain, but honestly, I'm not even sure about that—I've just been eating a whole lot lately.🤷

You can't be serious. 😲
It's clear there's no consistency here. My doctor keeps insisting that Lopressor knocks you right out.
Most people probably do sleep heavily on this medication, but who really knows anymore.
It's quite possible that Lopressor increases your appetite, which would explain why you're eating more.

mistyjackal842 said:redranger2

Thanks for getting back to me. I’ll definitely make sure to mention taking antidepressants before any dental work next time. I guess I put myself at risk by not speaking up last time, even though the surgeon was honestly wonderful and I could have easily just told him.

As for Dr. J., I felt like she was being really guarded with me... maybe we just didn't click? I'm planning to ask this other doctor about Prozac tomorrow. I definitely need some kind of antidepressant for two main reasons. My only real worry is those side effects, specifically the frequent urination. I'm just not sure how much time I'll actually get with the doctor tomorrow. Sometimes I feel like I need extra support just to get through the summer holidays. I had a massive crisis back in August, right when everyone else was away on vacation. Someone recommended a male physician to me, but I really wanted to wait and see this doctor since I trust her more. I'm actually glad I'm seeing her tomorrow. I really hope she can help me, and I plan on sticking with her. Maybe, eventually, I'll be able to stop the ADs altogether.

Honey, don't mention it. You've been struggling for far too long. I am truly sorry about your mother, but since your grief is still so overwhelming, you need support—whether that's through psychotherapy, medication, or both.
It doesn't necessarily mean that switching to different antidepressants will cause frequent urination. Don't let that scare you. And you'll stay on them for exactly as long as you need to. Right now, the priority is simply finding the right fit for you. Let me know how it goes.

redranger2 said:You can't be serious. 😲
It's clear there's no consistency here. My doctor keeps insisting that Lopressor knocks you right out.
Most people probably do sleep heavily on this medication, but who really knows anymore.
It's quite possible that Lopressor increases your appetite, which would explain why you're eating more.

Could be. But honestly, even without that stuff, I've always had a massive appetite. 😁 🤣

redranger2 said:It isn't covered, so don't worry about that. You might want to try Vair; it might not leave you feeling so completely wiped out. For me,
it worked perfectly, and I never dealt with any daytime grogginess. I sincerely hope you have better luck with it.

With Calixt, I suffered from terrible headaches and a constant hangover sensation, and it altered my temperament so much that I became incredibly argumentative—which is strange, because I'm a pretty easygoing person.😍

Thank you, I really should try it out and see how it goes. 🙂

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To my fellow sleep-deprived zombies out there, I feel your pain. 🙂

Has anyone here tried Benadryl (diphenhydramine)?

I take it alongside my Ambien. For those who aren't in the loop, when you use Benadryl for insomnia, you stick to a tiny dose—like a quarter of a 25mg pill or even less. At that level, it just hits the histamine receptors without any of that heavy antidepressant side effect.

I’ve been on this routine for two months now, taking about a sixth of a pill, and honestly, I’ve been sleeping like a baby since day one. I’m getting at least 8 hours, sometimes even 9.

The Ambien used to wreck me with middle-of-the-night wakeups; I’d bolt upright at 3 AM and just stare at the ceiling, unable to drift back off. Adding the Benadryl fixed that within five days. Now, I don't wake up until my alarm actually goes off. 🙂

I won't lie, at first I felt pretty zombie-ish during the day. It would linger until about 4 PM—just this weird, groggy, half-drunk feeling where you can't quite shake the fog. But after two or three weeks, my body adjusted. Now I feel great from the second I open my eyes. No more drugged-out feeling, just solid sleep.

My only real fear is the "what if" regarding quitting. I've read threads on American forums where people claim they hit a wall of horrific insomnia once they stopped taking it. But hey, I'm not going to obsess over that right now. If it's working, it's working. 🙂

hollowcrane95 said:So, I finally picked up that Calixta supplement today to see if it actually helps with my insomnia, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out for me... I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous now after reading your comments about feeling like total zombies after taking it, so I'm really hoping I don't end up with that same experience.

Look, I don't know what dosage your doctor prescribed, but maybe start with the smallest amount that actually works. For me, an 1/8th of a 15 mg pill did the trick, then I moved up to 1/6th and that's where I stay now.

I’d suggest taking it on a Friday or any day when you don't have to clock in the next morning. The first time I took it, I slept for about 10 hours straight, plus another five hours spread out in naps during the day. It didn't hit me until 7 PM. But honestly, since I was so chronically sleep-deprived, I wasn't even mad about it—I just enjoyed finally getting some shut-eye.😍

It’s not like you can't function or anything. I managed to get through my workday and everything; I just felt a little woozy and groggy at first.

Just hang in there for two or three weeks once you start. Right now, I don't feel that morning heaviness at all, and I'm sleeping better than I ever have in my life.🙂

Oh, and yeah, I read about this on some US forums too. I had that side effect for the first month—insane dreams. Like, full-on cinematic experiences. Everything was vivid and interesting, almost like lucid dreaming. I actually looked forward to bedtime just to see what movie would be playing in my head that night.

That phase passed, though. Now it's just regular, boring dreams. Meh.😉

Man, is there any remedy left that we haven't already tried? (Aside from the ones they haven't even invented yet, obviously.)😁

Lady, you act like you're perfectly healthy... why on earth are you drinking all that stuff? 🤣

Mark Nelson said:Where exactly are you seeing a pregnancy here? 😕

I just spiraled a bit—saw the nine-month mark listed and totally panicked 🙄

casualgardener17 said:Lady, you act like you're perfectly healthy... why on earth are you drinking all that stuff? 🤣

Heh, I’m actually doing great right now, thank God. Never better, really.

I don't even take that much. Between the Adderall and Calixta for sleep, it's not like I'm popping them every single day. If it were, I wouldn't even realize I was on meds :-D

It’s just that over the years, anxiety and some pretty messy thought patterns kind of built up until I hit a point where I had to go get professional help. Luckily, I caught it early.

It’s not just a pill habit, either. I’m in therapy and doing a lot of actual work on myself.

In a weird way, I'm actually glad the insomnia happened. If it hadn't, I probably would have never stepped foot in a psychologist's office or seen a psychiatrist. I would've just kept sweeping my anxiety under the rug until one day I just popped like a kernel of popcorn :-D

So, I finally picked up that Calixta supplement today to see if it actually helps with my insomnia, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out for me... I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous now after reading your comments about feeling like total zombies after taking it, so I'm really hoping I don't end up with that same experience.

hollowcrane95 said:So, I finally picked up that Calixta supplement today to see if it actually helps with my insomnia, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out for me... I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous now after reading your comments about feeling like total zombies after taking it, so I'm really hoping I don't end up with that same experience.

I'm not sure what dosage your doctor cleared you for, but honestly? Start with the smallest effective dose. For me, that was about 1/8 of a 15 mg tablet. I actually feel better on 1/6, so that's my current sweet spot.

My advice? Take it on a Friday or whenever you have zero responsibilities the next day. The first time I took it, I slept for ten hours straight, then napped for another five hours in chunks throughout the day. I didn't really feel human again until 7 PM. But hey, since I was so chronically sleep-deprived anyway, I wasn't even mad about it. I was just happy to finally shut my eyes for a bit.😍

It’s not quite the "unable to function" thing. I managed to get through my workday and everything; I was just feeling a bit woozy and groggy at first.

Just hang in there for two or three weeks once you start. Right now, I don't feel any morning grogginess at all, and I'm sleeping better than I ever have in my life.🙂

Oh, and yeah—I read about that on some US forums too. I had those side effects during the first month. My dreams were freaking intense. Like, full-on cinematic experiences. Everything was vivid, interesting, total lucid dreaming territory. I actually looked forward to bedtime just to see what movie would be playing in my head that night.

That phase passed, though. Now it's just regular, boring dreams. Blah.😉

Michael Hill2 said:Heh, I’m actually doing great right now, thank God. Never better, really.

I don't even take that much. Between the Adderall and Calixta for sleep, it's not like I'm popping them every single day. If it were, I wouldn't even realize I was on meds :-D

It’s just that over the years, anxiety and some pretty messy thought patterns kind of built up until I hit a point where I had to go get professional help. Luckily, I caught it early.

It’s not just a pill habit, either. I’m in therapy and doing a lot of actual work on myself.

In a weird way, I'm actually glad the insomnia happened. If it hadn't, I probably would have never stepped foot in a psychologist's office or seen a psychiatrist. I would've just kept sweeping my anxiety under the rug until one day I just popped like a kernel of popcorn :-D

That is such a beautiful way to put it; I spent so much time sweeping things under the rug that I ended up being that "popcorn" moment... they helped patch me back together, and now I'm also working hard on myself. Do you happen to have any recommendations for a good psychotherapist? Thanks!

redranger2 said:It isn't covered, so don't worry about that. You might want to try Vair; it might not leave you feeling so completely wiped out. For me,
it worked perfectly, and I never dealt with any daytime grogginess. I sincerely hope you have better luck with it.

With Calixt, I suffered from terrible headaches and a constant hangover sensation, and it altered my temperament so much that I became incredibly argumentative—which is strange, because I'm a pretty easygoing person.😍

Everyone, please, let's be serious here.
Vair, which I used back in the day, is absolutely no joke. In certain doses, it can actually shift your perception of reality—it can make your surroundings feel completely unreal—so honestly, experimenting with it is probably the worst thing you could do.
And besides, Vair doesn't exactly promote sleep, so there is really no point in trying it for that.

Calixta is also a very specific antidepressant and isn't right for everyone; in fact, I very rarely hear of anyone else taking it. Its main advantage is that it works well when combined with another antidepressant, but that’s really it. Beyond that, it's just like any other antidepressant.
For what it's worth, I take 45 mg, so I know exactly how it hits.

As for Q-pin, it is primarily prescribed for psychotic episodes, and strictly for that reason. It wasn't designed to help with sleep, even though so many people use it because they struggle to rest.
I have no idea what the side effects might be if someone takes Q-pin when psychosis isn't the underlying issue.
That isn't something to mess around with either.

@redranger2... oh, you little troublemaker. 🙂
Well, I suppose since you aren't on Calixta anymore, you aren't being so combative!😁

Robin Reed3 said:That is such a beautiful way to put it; I spent so much time sweeping things under the rug that I ended up being that "popcorn" moment... they helped patch me back together, and now I'm also working hard on myself. Do you happen to have any recommendations for a good psychotherapist? Thanks!

I can. In Washington, D.C., there's the Mayo Clinic, specifically working with Andrej Kostelić-Martić, who's a master of psychology.

I've been seeing her since May, and honestly, the progress has been massive. She taught me how to handle anxiety through specific techniques, and right now we're diving into cognitive restructuring—basically retraining my brain to stop using those broken thought patterns.

Seriously, she's the only one I'd vouch for. 🙂

Robin Reed3 said:That is such a beautiful way to put it; I spent so much time sweeping things under the rug that I ended up being that "popcorn" moment... they helped patch me back together, and now I'm also working hard on myself. Do you happen to have any recommendations for a good psychotherapist? Thanks!

I do. In Washington, D.C., there's the Mayo Clinic, specifically working with Andrej Kostelić-Martić, who's a Master of Psychology.

I've been seeing her since May, and honestly, the progress has been massive. She taught me how to actually handle anxiety, and right now we're tackling cognitive restructuring—basically rewiring my broken thought patterns.

Seriously, she’s top-tier. Highly recommend. 🙂

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Everyone, please, let's be serious here.
Vair, which I used back in the day, is absolutely no joke. In certain doses, it can actually shift your perception of reality—it can make your surroundings feel completely unreal—so honestly, experimenting with it is probably the worst thing you could do.
And besides, Vair doesn't exactly promote sleep, so there is really no point in trying it for that.

Calixta is also a very specific antidepressant and isn't right for everyone; in fact, I very rarely hear of anyone else taking it. Its main advantage is that it works well when combined with another antidepressant, but that’s really it. Beyond that, it's just like any other antidepressant.
For what it's worth, I take 45 mg, so I know exactly how it hits.

As for Q-pin, it is primarily prescribed for psychotic episodes, and strictly for that reason. It wasn't designed to help with sleep, even though so many people use it because they struggle to rest.
I have no idea what the side effects might be if someone takes Q-pin when psychosis isn't the underlying issue.
That isn't something to mess around with either.

@redranger2... oh, you little troublemaker. 🙂
Well, I suppose since you aren't on Calixta anymore, you aren't being so combative!😁

My dear colleague, no antipsychotic is "nothing to trifle with." When I was on Quetiapine, I struggled to swallow food, my heart would race at every turn, and the restless leg syndrome I experienced was absolutely harrowing.
As for me, I am currently on Vair, and it hasn't distorted my sense of reality—because if it had, I would have abandoned it immediately.😁

And you are mistaken regarding Vair and sleep; I suffer from chronic, severe insomnia, and thanks to this medication, I finally sleep like a baby, which is why it remains part of my daily regimen. My point is that there are no universal rules—for some, it disrupts sleep, while for others, it facilitates it.

It is also incorrect to claim that Quetiapine is exclusively for psychotic episodes; I utilized it for insomnia as well, and it worked perfectly for me, provided I hadn't dealt with those debilitating side effects.

Yes, it is true that I am no longer taking Calixta, which nearly turned me into a complete monster. 😍

So, I finally got my hands on the liquid Prozac today. Honestly? The taste is just awful... I can barely even get it down. My doctor mentioned I should take it in the evening, though the prescription itself doesn't actually specify a time. I noticed the packaging says it expires in September of this year. For this first week, I'm sticking to half the dose, but after that, I'll move up to the full 5 ml at night. I really hope I can switch over to capsules soon—it’s the exact same 20 mg dose, but much easier to handle. This syrup has such a bitter, harsh aftertaste. I wonder if it’s always supposed to be this bad? I haven't received any other info yet. My doctor did say it's okay to take half a Lorsilan if I have trouble sleeping, that they can be combined.

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