Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Kate James21 said:Look, I take Xanax in small amounts and strictly on an as-needed basis, exactly as I was instructed...

Two months ago, I stopped taking it entirely; my ex-girlfriend came back into my life, we spent a month together traveling for summer vacation, and I didn't take a single Xanax and truly felt no craving for them...

Even though I feel incredibly scattered right now and things are going terribly, I am not overdoing it or increasing the dosage, but rather continuing to use it only when necessary...

Right now, I'm unable to take any time off because of the current situation at the firm, which makes things a bit difficult...

I'll wait a little longer for the chaos at work to die down. I'm functioning normally at the office because I'm not relying on Xanax and my focus is entirely on my tasks, which keeps the anxiety at bay. It’s only when I get home and find myself alone that it hits me...

In any case, I'll monitor how things unfold for a while, and if I decide I can't manage without them, I'll start the tapering process and force myself through it, no matter how much it hurts...

As for alcohol, I'm abstaining for now and it's going remarkably well. I found a colleague from work to hit the gym with, and even when we hang out on weekends, seeing beer bottles sitting on tables fills me with nothing but disgust...

That garbage brought me to all these problems, and I never want to face those kinds of issues again in my entire life, so I believe I am completely finished with alcohol for good...

It looks like you're having some trouble getting your Velafax dosage right.
Think of it like a lift—it provides that upward momentum, much like the Wellbutrin I’m currently on. Actually, if we’re being honest, Wellbutrin is a much more powerful engine. And just like what you described, you can't exactly just quit cold turkey; mine is on a gradual release formula. I had to jump straight to the full dose from the start. Those first four or five days were rough, though—I was incredibly irritable and dealing with some serious anxiety. But once it finally kicked in, those issues just vanished. They recently bumped my dosage up to 300 mg, and surprisingly, I haven't felt any side effects at all.

Do you think it’s a mistake to hold off on starting the AD for just a moment, perhaps until I can finally get my head straight and this absolute chaos at work settles down? I really don't want to make some catastrophic error that might actually cost me my job... Yesterday, I was a complete wreck at the office, barely managing to pull off even the most basic tasks expected of me.

Gerald Torres2 said:It looks like you're having some trouble getting your Velafax dosage right.
Think of it like a lift—it provides that upward momentum, much like the Wellbutrin I’m currently on. Actually, if we’re being honest, Wellbutrin is a much more powerful engine. And just like what you described, you can't exactly just quit cold turkey; mine is on a gradual release formula. I had to jump straight to the full dose from the start. Those first four or five days were rough, though—I was incredibly irritable and dealing with some serious anxiety. But once it finally kicked in, those issues just vanished. They recently bumped my dosage up to 300 mg, and surprisingly, I haven't felt any side effects at all.

For me, taking just one pill sent me into a complete tailspin. I'm talking intense paranoia about whether my ex would find someone else, wondering what I'd ever do without her, dealing with these horrific nightmares, and then waking up thinking everything was fine—that we hadn't even broken up—only to be slammed by heavy depression and anxiety all over again.

I felt absolutely terrible. If this is just how the first few days go, then fine, maybe I could power through it somehow...
But what happens down the road? How does it actually work? What am I realistically looking at here? Is my mood actually going to lift? Will I finally be able to get back to doing the things I love?

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect or how my headspace is going to settle...

Some actual firsthand experience would be incredibly helpful right about now...

Kate James21 said:For me, taking just one pill sent me into a complete tailspin. I'm talking intense paranoia about whether my ex would find someone else, wondering what I'd ever do without her, dealing with these horrific nightmares, and then waking up thinking everything was fine—that we hadn't even broken up—only to be slammed by heavy depression and anxiety all over again.

I felt absolutely terrible. If this is just how the first few days go, then fine, maybe I could power through it somehow...
But what happens down the road? How does it actually work? What am I realistically looking at here? Is my mood actually going to lift? Will I finally be able to get back to doing the things I love?

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect or how my headspace is going to settle...

Some actual firsthand experience would be incredibly helpful right about now...

With Wellbutrin, you should start feeling a shift in your mood and energy levels after about a week; you might even find it easier to fall asleep at night. But you have to give it time. You generally need at least two weeks before any antidepressant really kicks in, and axanax can help bridge that gap. During those first five days, I was taking 0.5 mg of Xanax three times a day... after that, I didn't need it daily anymore, just as needed. Eventually, I moved off Xanax entirely and now just take Klonopin occasionally.
If 0.25 mg feels too strong, try breaking a Xanax pill in half and taking that instead. Give it a shot. You're the one living in your body, so you know best how to handle it—just make sure you're doing all of this under your psychiatrist's supervision.

Gerald Torres2 said:With Wellbutrin, you should start feeling a shift in your mood and energy levels after about a week; you might even find it easier to fall asleep at night. But you have to give it time. You generally need at least two weeks before any antidepressant really kicks in, and axanax can help bridge that gap. During those first five days, I was taking 0.5 mg of Xanax three times a day... after that, I didn't need it daily anymore, just as needed. Eventually, I moved off Xanax entirely and now just take Klonopin occasionally.
If 0.25 mg feels too strong, try breaking a Xanax pill in half and taking that instead. Give it a shot. You're the one living in your body, so you know best how to handle it—just make sure you're doing all of this under your psychiatrist's supervision.

The issue isn't the Xanax, it's the Effexor. I was prescribed capsules, which means I can't exactly split them up to take half today and half tomorrow. That doesn't seem like a great way to go about it. Or am I missing something?

Xanax is what keeps me relaxed enough to actually survive the day, or rather, the night. Getting decent sleep is my priority. Once I've slept, I can manage to function somehow...

Will this Effexor actually help me wean myself off the Xanax? And has anyone else here dealt with depressive episodes after being on an antidepressant for a long stretch?

Don't split the capsule. I ended up back in a depressive episode after taking just 10mg following my first dose

Kate James21 said:The issue isn't the Xanax, it's the Effexor. I was prescribed capsules, which means I can't exactly split them up to take half today and half tomorrow. That doesn't seem like a great way to go about it. Or am I missing something?

Xanax is what keeps me relaxed enough to actually survive the day, or rather, the night. Getting decent sleep is my priority. Once I've slept, I can manage to function somehow...

Will this Effexor actually help me wean myself off the Xanax? And has anyone else here dealt with depressive episodes after being on an antidepressant for a long stretch?

Don't even think about breaking that capsule open. You need to take the whole thing at once. The Xanax is just there to bridge the gap—it'll handle the anxiety while you're getting adjusted to the Effexor. Once you've settled into the new medication, you won't be needing the Xanax anymore.

Gerald Torres2 said:Don't even think about breaking that capsule open. You need to take the whole thing at once. The Xanax is just there to bridge the gap—it'll handle the anxiety while you're getting adjusted to the Effexor. Once you've settled into the new medication, you won't be needing the Xanax anymore.

Fine, thanks a lot for the advice 🙂

restlesstiger102 said:Today marks the day I finally took my first dose of Ada
I feel like I'm in a complete fog. This depression is just brutal... I suppose this is just what the adjustment period feels like.

Bitchy, and anyone else who mentioned those brutal side effects when starting ADA—I really hope you guys are feeling at least a little better by now. Regarding things getting worse before they get better, my psychiatrist argued that my depression was actually spiking during the first ten days, though she wasn't sure if that was the meds kicking in or just the illness progressing. She also insisted Zoloft wouldn't cause weight gain, but honestly? I'm gaining weight. I eat the same stuff, but the scale keeps moving up. So, what I’m trying to say is: doctors are great and we need them, but I think we help each other out way more by sharing advice—especially those of us who have actually made it through the worst of it.

Today, I’m feeling a bit more stable than I did yesterday. I’ve only been on this medication for three days, so I suppose it remains to be seen how things will progress over time.

One significant change I have noticed is a noticeable decrease in my appetite. Normally, I would find myself constantly snacking or eating late into the evening. I always viewed my relationship with food as a way to bury sadness, stress, and every other form of negativity under a layer of sustenance. My pattern was typically to skip meals during the day and then overindulge once night fell.

Now, I tend to eat very light lunches, small portions for dinner, and generally feel much less driven by an urge to eat.

The one struggle is that sleep has become elusive; I couldn't fall asleep last night, and tonight is proving to be just as difficult. I am going to attempt to rest now, though sleep has started to become quite a struggle for me.

When I do manage to drift off, the dreams I experience are rather unsettling.

I am still trying to navigate the process of finding a suitable psychotherapist through my health insurance provider.

In about a week, I plan to attend a local youth group therapy session to see if that kind of environment might offer some sense of relief.

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restlesstiger102 said:I found that taking Xanax at night worked wonders for me. I would fall asleep like a baby, though I’d have an incredibly hard time dragging myself out of bed the next morning. On those nights when I had to get up to use the restroom, I felt completely groggy, almost as if I were still under the influence of something.😍

That said, I didn't rely on it constantly; I only reached for it during those specific moments when my mind just wouldn't shut off and sleep felt impossible.
Unfortunately, my struggles aren't the kind you can fix with a quick boost of self-esteem, or by getting over a breakup, or dealing with body image issues, or feeling lonely without friends. My situation is much more profound and painful—two major life events have hit me within the last year alone—and I am left trying to figure out how to reconcile with what happened, how to accept this reality, and how to somehow move forward while carrying this persistent ache with me.

This is precisely why I feel the need to sit down with a professional. My psychiatrist prescribes pills just to keep me calm enough to drift off, but my doctor at the VA suggested I should try to find some sense of purpose again because I seem to have lost all motivation to actually live. I spend my entire day cooped up inside my house, and I'm not truly "living" in any meaningful sense of the word.

Think of the medication like crutches. You're broken right now, so you have to lean on them just to take one step at a time.
Right now, they're keeping you afloat so your emotions and your head can find some sort of balance. Once things stabilize, you'll hopefully reach a point where therapy or finding a hobby can help lift you back up.

Is anyone else taking LeBron James? What dosages are you on?

I'm prescribed 50mg in the morning, afternoon, and at night.

It makes me thirsty as hell constantly. I'm drinking water all day and running to the bathroom every hour—and I mean a lot of fluid.
At night, it puts me right out. It’s not like Seroquel, which hits me like a freight train and leaves me feeling wired; this just relaxes me. The catch is I have to get up a few times during the night to pee.
And here I am... typing this at 5 AM. I woke up at 4:30. Honestly, I don't mind because I actually feel rested despite the early start. On Seroquel, there was no way I could wake up that early and actually function.

The doctor put me on this because I couldn't handle Seroquel during the day, and daytime was a total wreck for me. On the surface, everything looked fine. I had mastered that fake smile so well that people kept coming up to me, complimenting how friendly, chatty, and positive I seemed... blah, blah, blah... while inside, I was completely falling apart.
LeBron James just settles me down without making me feel drugged. I just feel normal. Now, people think I'm being too serious... they keep asking what's wrong or why I've suddenly become so stoic. But for the first time in ages, I actually feel good on the inside. I'm just done with the constant need to smile through the pain and fight, fight, fight.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not a zombie, I'm just... calm.
But I was used to being that hyperactive, crazy version of myself that everyone liked... and now, suddenly, I'm not that person anymore. So I've lost my patience for hearing, "What's up with you? Are you mad at something? Why are you so grumpy?"
I'm not grumpy, I'm not mad, and I'm not frustrated... I'm just okay.
But in the short term, it's completely flipped my personality.

And I have no clue why it dehydrates me so much...

How's it going for you guys?

Kevin Bailey2 said:Is anyone else taking LeBron James? What dosages are you on?

I'm prescribed 50mg in the morning, afternoon, and at night.

It makes me thirsty as hell constantly. I'm drinking water all day and running to the bathroom every hour—and I mean a lot of fluid.
At night, it puts me right out. It’s not like Seroquel, which hits me like a freight train and leaves me feeling wired; this just relaxes me. The catch is I have to get up a few times during the night to pee.
And here I am... typing this at 5 AM. I woke up at 4:30. Honestly, I don't mind because I actually feel rested despite the early start. On Seroquel, there was no way I could wake up that early and actually function.

The doctor put me on this because I couldn't handle Seroquel during the day, and daytime was a total wreck for me. On the surface, everything looked fine. I had mastered that fake smile so well that people kept coming up to me, complimenting how friendly, chatty, and positive I seemed... blah, blah, blah... while inside, I was completely falling apart.
LeBron James just settles me down without making me feel drugged. I just feel normal. Now, people think I'm being too serious... they keep asking what's wrong or why I've suddenly become so stoic. But for the first time in ages, I actually feel good on the inside. I'm just done with the constant need to smile through the pain and fight, fight, fight.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not a zombie, I'm just... calm.
But I was used to being that hyperactive, crazy version of myself that everyone liked... and now, suddenly, I'm not that person anymore. So I've lost my patience for hearing, "What's up with you? Are you mad at something? Why are you so grumpy?"
I'm not grumpy, I'm not mad, and I'm not frustrated... I'm just okay.
But in the short term, it's completely flipped my personality.

And I have no clue why it dehydrates me so much...

How's it going for you guys?

Actually, it's probably not the dehydration from that, but from the Seroquel. I used to take the real deal—Lamictal—which is a mood stabilizer, so that's why you feel "normal" instead of being hyper or hypo.
Now, instead, I'm on Klonopin.
From what I can tell, LeBron James doesn't typically cause frequent urination or dehydration.🤔

fadedbear92 said:Actually, it's probably not the dehydration from that, but from the Seroquel. I used to take the real deal—Lamictal—which is a mood stabilizer, so that's why you feel "normal" instead of being hyper or hypo.
Now, instead, I'm on Klonopin.
From what I can tell, LeBron James doesn't typically cause frequent urination or dehydration.🤔

How much Rivotril are you taking, Rej?

Kyle Sanchez88 said:How much Rivotril are you taking, Rej?

Three 0.5 mg tablets—that's 3 mg total per day.

fadedbear92 said:Actually, it's probably not the dehydration from that, but from the Seroquel. I used to take the real deal—Lamictal—which is a mood stabilizer, so that's why you feel "normal" instead of being hyper or hypo.
Now, instead, I'm on Klonopin.
From what I can tell, LeBron James doesn't typically cause frequent urination or dehydration.🤔

Why did you switch from Lamictal to Rivotril?

Rivotril works for me alongside Lamictal.
Even though they both act as stabilizers and fall under the anticonvulsant umbrella... Rivotril totally wires me up. I can barely sit still for three minutes.
The upside is my motor skills are actually great after I take it. I don't walk around looking like a newborn deer; I actually feel... sharp. Not sure how else to put it.

As for Lamictal, it’s just a solid, steady stabilizer.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Why did you switch from Lamictal to Rivotril?

Rivotril works for me alongside Lamictal.
Even though they both act as stabilizers and fall under the anticonvulsant umbrella... Rivotril totally wires me up. I can barely sit still for three minutes.
The upside is my motor skills are actually great after I take it. I don't walk around looking like a newborn deer; I actually feel... sharp. Not sure how else to put it.

As for Lamictal, it’s just a solid, steady stabilizer.

That's pretty much my experience too. I use Klonopin to calm down, but it doesn't actually sedate me; it just clears my head and makes me feel great. As for the Lamotrigine, I take 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. I don't really "feel" it working, but it has definitely smoothed out my mood swings, which is a win in my book.🎉

Gerald Torres2 said:That's pretty much my experience too. I use Klonopin to calm down, but it doesn't actually sedate me; it just clears my head and makes me feel great. As for the Lamotrigine, I take 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. I don't really "feel" it working, but it has definitely smoothed out my mood swings, which is a win in my book.🎉

Oh, absolutely... Klonopin totally clears the brain fog. Honestly, my ability to multitask probably jumps by like 300%. I can handle physical chores, process deep thoughts, and listen to five different people talking all at once without missing a beat.

Besides, I've always been a total ball of nervous energy. Probably because I skipped the crawling stage when I was a baby. 😁

Kevin Bailey2 said:Oh, absolutely... Klonopin totally clears the brain fog. Honestly, my ability to multitask probably jumps by like 300%. I can handle physical chores, process deep thoughts, and listen to five different people talking all at once without missing a beat.

Besides, I've always been a total ball of nervous energy. Probably because I skipped the crawling stage when I was a baby. 😁

Me too!! Hahaha, I never crawled either! 🤔

Kevin Bailey2 said:Why did you switch from Lamictal to Rivotril?

Rivotril works for me alongside Lamictal.
Even though they both act as stabilizers and fall under the anticonvulsant umbrella... Rivotril totally wires me up. I can barely sit still for three minutes.
The upside is my motor skills are actually great after I take it. I don't walk around looking like a newborn deer; I actually feel... sharp. Not sure how else to put it.

As for Lamictal, it’s just a solid, steady stabilizer.

Honestly, I have no clue—it was ages ago, and my treatment plan has shifted several times since then.