Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Hmm, I’m not entirely sure if I could walk into a clinic here in the States with a diagnosis from some private psychiatrist out abroad and expect my local doctor to just hand over the prescription...
It feels like a bit of a stretch, honestly, and besides, I suspect my travel insurance wouldn't even touch the cost of the medication itself, seeing as those policies are usually strictly limited to actual emergencies...

I’m currently on psych meds myself—and honestly, I feel like we really need an official, registered directory for people like us...
Exactly. When we show up on these forums, it feels like everyone is just waiting to judge us—as if being a conscious person shouldn't count for anything. Just because someone is struggling doesn't mean they don't deserve to live their lives with dignity... 🙂☕

Hmm, I'm not sure... if I went to a private psychiatrist in another country and got a diagnosis, could I bring that back to the US and have my local doctor prescribe the medication?

Technically, yeah.

granitefalcon26 said:Fevrier is an antidepressant, while Risperdal is an antipsychotic. That's a pretty odd combo, especially since you mentioned she was previously on Moditen.
Moditen and Risperdal are typically used for chronic schizophrenia. I'm a bit confused why she'd be on Fevrier too.🤷
There isn't any set rule for when someone moves from pills to injections. Some patients end up using both. It really all comes down to how the patient responds to the treatment.
One more thing: "schizophrenic depression" isn't actually a thing. It’s either depression or schizophrenia.

Well, I actually have a question regarding this specific situation.

To give you some context, there is someone currently in the hospital who, following their doctor's recommendation, has started taking both forms of medication. They are on Risperdal via tablets and via injection; the doctor mentioned that they are gradually tapering down the oral dose, so right now they are only taking half a pill.

From what I can gather, the physician is essentially "transitioning" them toward relying entirely on the injections. However, I was previously told that with Risperdal, it can take about five or six weeks before you truly start feeling the effects, so I am wondering if that timeline still applies in a case like this?

Prior to this, the individual had been on 6mg of Risperdal daily for about six months. After that, the doctor lowered the dosage to 3mg daily along with Klonopin, which led to a period where they stopped medication altogether. Following a few months of being off it, we are now at this point where they have been hospitalized.

I spoke directly with the doctor, and he explained that switching to injections is a much better option, particularly because it minimizes the risk of the patient skipping doses again. I certainly see the logic in that, but I am curious how long they will need to be balancing both the tablets and the injections during this phase?😕

I spent months cycling through Zoloft and Paxil before finally deciding to stop. It’s been a few months now since I stepped away from them, and I have to say, I feel significantly better—much better, actually. 🙂
I'm no longer dealing with those ridiculous side effects that used to plague me.
I suppose I just managed to pull myself out of that depressive funk on my own... I don't know... maybe I was just stubborn enough, or perhaps I eventually found a way to shift my perspective on things.
The truth is, you don't necessarily need antidepressants. It is possible to make it through without them! 🙂

I was on Zoloft and Paxil for months before I finally decided to stop. It’s been a couple of months since I stepped away from them, and honestly, I feel better—significantly better, actually. 🙂
I haven't had to deal with any of those ridiculous side effects that used to plague me.
It feels like I managed to pull myself out of that depressive funk entirely on my own... I don't know... maybe I was just stubborn, or perhaps I somehow shifted my perspective on things.
You don't necessarily need antidepressants. It is possible to get through this without them! 🙂

Kenneth Scott41 said:I was on Zoloft and Paxil for months before I finally decided to stop. It’s been a couple of months since I stepped away from them, and honestly, I feel better—significantly better, actually. 🙂
I haven't had to deal with any of those ridiculous side effects that used to plague me.
It feels like I managed to pull myself out of that depressive funk entirely on my own... I don't know... maybe I was just stubborn, or perhaps I somehow shifted my perspective on things.
You don't necessarily need antidepressants. It is possible to get through this without them! 🙂

That is one of the biggest mistakes people with a diagnosis of depressive episodes ever make. The reality is actually quite different... medication is necessary because depression is a legitimate illness caused by an imbalance of chemicals and biological substances in the brain.

I spent about eight years trying to self-medicate my anxiety with various pills. I drifted through several more or less severe bouts of depression without any actual treatment, and eventually, it all blew up in my face because I never sought professional help.

Over the last month, I hit the lowest point of my life. Everything collapsed, both professionally and personally. I ended a four-year relationship—one full of love—that probably would have lasted if I had been treating myself properly.

I finally realized I was at the end of the line and needed help. Today was my first appointment with a psychiatrist, and I was prescribed Prozac and Xanax. I’ve taken the first step. Now comes the fight. Every small shift toward feeling better, every tiny victory, hopefully means something.

Hang in there, everyone. I'm new to this forum, but I'm here to stay.

Best,

Good luck 8!

feraldrifter12 said:That is one of the biggest mistakes people with a diagnosis of depressive episodes ever make. The reality is actually quite different... medication is necessary because depression is a legitimate illness caused by an imbalance of chemicals and biological substances in the brain.

I spent about eight years trying to self-medicate my anxiety with various pills. I drifted through several more or less severe bouts of depression without any actual treatment, and eventually, it all blew up in my face because I never sought professional help.

Over the last month, I hit the lowest point of my life. Everything collapsed, both professionally and personally. I ended a four-year relationship—one full of love—that probably would have lasted if I had been treating myself properly.

I finally realized I was at the end of the line and needed help. Today was my first appointment with a psychiatrist, and I was prescribed Prozac and Xanax. I’ve taken the first step. Now comes the fight. Every small shift toward feeling better, every tiny victory, hopefully means something.

Hang in there, everyone. I'm new to this forum, but I'm here to stay.

Best,

I'm on Prozac myself and it's working fine; hopefully, you find the right balance too. This was a really honest, important post for those who might be doubting the process.http://imdoc.fr/forum/images/perso/adriane.gif

Kenneth Scott41 said:I was on Zoloft and Paxil for months before I finally decided to stop. It’s been a couple of months since I stepped away from them, and honestly, I feel better—significantly better, actually. 🙂
I haven't had to deal with any of those ridiculous side effects that used to plague me.
It feels like I managed to pull myself out of that depressive funk entirely on my own... I don't know... maybe I was just stubborn, or perhaps I somehow shifted my perspective on things.
You don't necessarily need antidepressants. It is possible to get through this without them! 🙂

I have to tell you, you're mistaken. 😉

You didn't pull yourself out of depression entirely on your own; rather, the antidepressants you took for months—two different ones at that—are what pulled you out. Their chemical influence doesn't simply vanish the moment you stop taking them; the effect lingers, and they provided your brain with the necessary serotonin supply it needed. That is precisely why you feel so much better right now, and I truly hope it stays that way forever.
If you hadn't taken any medication at all, then you could claim you did it without help, which does happen occasionally, though usually only in cases of milder depression.

I’m not sure if this has been discussed yet; I really don't have the energy to comb through every single previous post again...

I am also taking Viibryd for anxiety, primarily due to insomnia. It's been two years. I actually tried to stop about a month after tapering my dose, but the insomnia came rushing back. On my doctor's advice, I started back on half a tablet, occasionally using Ambien very rarely. That is all I take...

Now, regarding sleep—it has improved significantly (the Viibryd kicked in after just two weeks)—but I’ve noticed a direct impact on my sex life. Specifically, I find it impossible to reach orgasm, even though I feel like I'm constantly right on the edge. Before I started this, or when I was on a much lower dose of 1/4 tablet, I never had any issues at all...

What has your experience been? Does anyone have any advice?

feraldrifter12 said:That is one of the biggest mistakes people with a diagnosis of depressive episodes ever make. The reality is actually quite different... medication is necessary because depression is a legitimate illness caused by an imbalance of chemicals and biological substances in the brain.

I spent about eight years trying to self-medicate my anxiety with various pills. I drifted through several more or less severe bouts of depression without any actual treatment, and eventually, it all blew up in my face because I never sought professional help.

Over the last month, I hit the lowest point of my life. Everything collapsed, both professionally and personally. I ended a four-year relationship—one full of love—that probably would have lasted if I had been treating myself properly.

I finally realized I was at the end of the line and needed help. Today was my first appointment with a psychiatrist, and I was prescribed Prozac and Xanax. I’ve taken the first step. Now comes the fight. Every small shift toward feeling better, every tiny victory, hopefully means something.

Hang in there, everyone. I'm new to this forum, but I'm here to stay.

Best,

good luck 8 😉
Eight years might seem like a long time to some, but it is truly never too late to wake up and start doing something right for yourself.

I have a question. I've been on Paxil for three years, mostly at 20mg. About a year ago, I decided to stop, so I dropped down to 10mg for a month, but I fell straight back into depression, even though I was originally being treated for panic attacks.
So, I ended up back on 20mg, and while the panic attacks stopped, depression has surfaced—and lately, I've been dealing with agoraphobia too.😕
I don't get it.
It feels like I cured one thing only to have two new issues pop up in its place.
Since I felt better regarding the panic attacks, my doctor told me to just reach out whenever I felt the need, but I didn't feel that need for an entire year.🙄
Now, I can't seem to get a hold of him. Am I allowed to start tapering off the dosage on my own since I've decided I want to stop taking these? Should I just cut the dose in half tomorrow and slowly scale down over a few weeks?
It doesn't make sense to stay on Paxil if the symptoms that triggered the prescription are gone, only for new ones to take their place.
I honestly don't know what to do.
To be honest, I don't even want to see the psychiatrist because I'm afraid they'll just push a new antidepressant on me, and I've already had enough of these pills—I've gained 22 pounds from them.🙂
Any advice?

Roger Rodriguez said:good luck 8 😉
Eight years might seem like a long time to some, but it is truly never too late to wake up and start doing something right for yourself.

I have a question. I've been on Paxil for three years, mostly at 20mg. About a year ago, I decided to stop, so I dropped down to 10mg for a month, but I fell straight back into depression, even though I was originally being treated for panic attacks.
So, I ended up back on 20mg, and while the panic attacks stopped, depression has surfaced—and lately, I've been dealing with agoraphobia too.😕
I don't get it.
It feels like I cured one thing only to have two new issues pop up in its place.
Since I felt better regarding the panic attacks, my doctor told me to just reach out whenever I felt the need, but I didn't feel that need for an entire year.🙄
Now, I can't seem to get a hold of him. Am I allowed to start tapering off the dosage on my own since I've decided I want to stop taking these? Should I just cut the dose in half tomorrow and slowly scale down over a few weeks?
It doesn't make sense to stay on Paxil if the symptoms that triggered the prescription are gone, only for new ones to take their place.
I honestly don't know what to do.
To be honest, I don't even want to see the psychiatrist because I'm afraid they'll just push a new antidepressant on me, and I've already had enough of these pills—I've gained 22 pounds from them.🙂
Any advice?

Don't touch your dosage before seeing your psychiatrist. They need to set the taper schedule for you; don't try to handle this solo unless you want things to get ugly. As for those other symptoms you mentioned, they'll probably just switch you to a different antidepressant and maybe give you an anxiolytic to start with.

What exactly is the purpose of lithium medication? And how is it even possible that such a substance—which isn't exactly something you stumble upon growing on trees in nature—can actually work within the human body?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium

Lithium carbonate is recognized for its distinct anti-manic properties. It works by reducing the frequency of manic episodes, and even if an episode
actually occurs, it tends to mitigate the severity.
It acts as a stabilizer to prevent relapse without causing heavy sedation, memory loss, or any kind of cognitive fogging.
The therapeutic mechanism of lithium carbonate is generally thought to be linked to how it influences electrolyte balance within the central
nervous system and affects neurotransmitter metabolism.
Essentially, lithium ions interfere with the sodium ions found in extracellular fluid.
During membrane depolarization, lithium ions enter the cell in place of sodium ions, but because of the way they interact, the sodium
pumps can't move them back out quite as efficiently.
Furthermore, once inside the cells of the central nervous system, lithium ions help stabilize the enzymatic systems responsible for regulating the synthesis
of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and others.
In clinical practice, lithium carbonate is used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and various other manic conditions.
For patients dealing with mania or similar disorders, it is also frequently administered as a preventative measure during psychotic phases.

rustyskipper7 said:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium

Lithium carbonate is recognized for its distinct anti-manic properties. It works by reducing the frequency of manic episodes, and even if an episode
actually occurs, it tends to mitigate the severity.
It acts as a stabilizer to prevent relapse without causing heavy sedation, memory loss, or any kind of cognitive fogging.
The therapeutic mechanism of lithium carbonate is generally thought to be linked to how it influences electrolyte balance within the central
nervous system and affects neurotransmitter metabolism.
Essentially, lithium ions interfere with the sodium ions found in extracellular fluid.
During membrane depolarization, lithium ions enter the cell in place of sodium ions, but because of the way they interact, the sodium
pumps can't move them back out quite as efficiently.
Furthermore, once inside the cells of the central nervous system, lithium ions help stabilize the enzymatic systems responsible for regulating the synthesis
of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and others.
In clinical practice, lithium carbonate is used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and various other manic conditions.
For patients dealing with mania or similar disorders, it is also frequently administered as a preventative measure during psychotic phases.

Congrats on the deep dive and the scientific breakdown of lithium at this hour...
I’ve been on it for 10 years. My doctors didn't give me a lecture, but I figured out over time that I'll be on this for life due to my neurological issues, taken alongside Carbamazepine.
Every six months, they run blood work to check my lithium levels and make sure I'm in the right range.
Now, having to see a psychiatrist every other month just to get a refill and have them check
how I'm doing is becoming a lot.
Lithium changed my entire life. It taught me how to listen to my gut and stay in control—it doesn't always happen instantly, but I can fix my mistakes over time without the crushing guilt and other baggage. For me, that's huge. I used to be afraid of everything and would do anything for anyone just so they'd leave me alone, even though I was rebelling against everyone—including myself—deep down. That's how it started. Then my whole world collapsed.
I finally learned how to look after myself and actually love myself. Because of that, I can genuinely love the people in my life and give more than I ever could before. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know how to live.

I accepted that my nervous breakdown was severe enough that I'll be on these meds for the rest of my life, and honestly, I don't have any regrets about it.

Hey everyone.

I’ve been on Lexapro for about six months now to deal with anxiety and panic attacks, and I’m also taking Mecliz to help with the nausea and dizziness.
The nausea hits me constantly. It’s not like I’m throwing up or dealing with diarrhea or anything—it’s just this persistent, nagging feeling of being sick to my stomach. I know that nausea is pretty common when you first start an antidepressant, but is it actually normal for it to keep happening even after all this time? What have you guys been going through?

It is my understanding that this particular medication is utilized in the treatment of bipolar disorder..

I've been on Lexapro for about six months now to manage anxiety and panic attacks, and I'm also taking Mecliz because the dizziness and vertigo are driving me crazy.
The nausea hits me constantly. It’s not like I'm throwing up or dealing with diarrhea—it's just this persistent, nagging nausea. I know that feeling sick is common when you first start an antidepressant, but is it normal for it to linger this long? What have you guys dealt with?

Maybe the panic attacks just haven't fully cleared out yet.

Sandra Nguyen3 said:So my neighbor—she’s a doctor—had some guy prescribe her Tramadol, but then another MD caught on because she was acting so sluggish. When she spilled what she was taking, he basically lost it—like, "Who even gave you this? Why?" Apparently, Tramadol is such a heavy hitter it's practically a narcotic, and the addiction potential is massive. They hand it out to patients who are already fading away just so they don't suffer quite as much while they're dying. Sort of like morphine, I guess.

Here's a little breakdown of the side effects:

Among the antidepressants, note that Trazodone (Desyrel) causes severe drowsiness that Paxil (Deroxat, Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are known to promote the kilos that venlafaxine (Effexor) causes nausea and sertraline (Zoloft) frequently causes diarrhea.

http://desyrel.instablogs.com/entry/md-talks/

Trazodone (Desyrel) hits you with intense drowsiness, while Paxil (Deroxat, Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) make you pack on the weight; venlafaxine (Effexor) triggers nausea, and sertraline (Zoloft) is famous for causing diarrhea. Hm... SERTRALIN... honestly, the name fits perfectly. You almost don't even need to be sick if you're taking stuff like this—the meds alone make you feel unwell. So what kind of misery must you be dealing with for these things to seem like the "lesser evil"??!

And then there's the impact on your sex life. I saw someone posting on Lumber Liquidators saying Desyrel and Paxil don't affect anything, which is total nonsense. Generally, SSRIs—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors—tank your libido. But for some women, Trazodone (Desyrel) does the exact opposite—it can trigger PSAS - persistent sexual arousal syndrome, which people joke about, but it means even a tiny vibration—say, from a subway train or a vacuum cleaner—can trigger an orgasm. Some women report having 200 orgasms a day. Trust me, that's not exactly a dream scenario.😍 For guys, Desyrel can cause priapism—which sounds great, like a permanent version of Viagra, but the issue is the body isn't built to stay like that indefinitely; it starts hurting after a few hours and you end up needing surgery.

Not to even get started on antipsychotics that wreck your liver so you drop dead before 60, or the ones that make you gain so much weight you're basically waddling around like a 330-pound human keg. That's a classic. Anyway, it's all great for you—definitely better than being in a psychotic break and bothering everyone around you. Just remember lobotomies and electroshock therapy—this is way more "humane," right?😁😁😁😉

😲😲
guys, I need help 😲.... I just Googled "Tramadol" and ended up here.

My husband has been taking Tramadol for his pain for a while now because Advil, Motrin, and all that other stuff just doesn't touch it anymore. He has this leg issue and the pain is absolutely brutal.

But, for the last few days, I’ve started noticing that he looks... addicted.🤷

Yesterday, he actually admitted to me that something is wrong, because if he misses a dose, he starts feeling really weird.

And look, JUST SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION;( and so it doesn't look like he's some kind of junkie—before this whole leg thing happened, he probably wouldn't have taken more than two pills in his entire life.
His leg got worse and he couldn't function normally because of the pain..

so now what? 🤷 What do I do? 🤷

How do we get past this?
Please, someone give me some actual advice—he’s clearly in shock but he's also totally aware of what's happening to him.