Psychotropic medication discussion thread

David Jackson22 said:Not me. Honestly, the dose you're taking is so tiny that I'm almost certain it isn't even the Effexor causing this. You're basically below a therapeutic dose at that point. I'm on more than double—actually, five times—your dose and I don't have any side effects. I had them when I first started, but they're gone now. What you're describing might actually just be symptoms of your underlying condition masquerading as medication side effects. Let's be real, we all love to blame our meds for everything that goes wrong, even when it's not the cause. Plus, since illness symptoms and side effects often look identical, it's hard to tell them apart. Usually, we just jump to blaming the pill because it's easier.
By the way, Effexor at lower doses (up to 150 mg) acts like an SSRI, but once you go above 150 mg, it kicks in differently and starts acting like an SNRI. That's the part people don't get, so they end up making up all these wild theories about it. Sometimes you need a lower dose to hit specific targets, and sometimes you need a higher one to engage other receptors. It's really not that deep. Don't stress too much about Effexor; it's a great AD, but if it's just not working for you, why suffer? Just switch it.

You see, I completely agree with your logic regarding how things should work.
However, I am living proof that reality is different. My primary struggles are anxiety and panic attacks. On Effexor, I felt like I was on speed; my sleep was non-existent, and frankly, it became unbearable, so after two months, we discontinued it. And that was on a mere 30-something mg dose in the morning and evening. The positive aspect was that my anxiety vanished, but that level of stimulation was impossible to handle—much like my experience with Cymbalta, where every third night I would find myself cleaning, washing, and cooking frantically because I had no idea what to do with all that excess energy. We stopped that quickly, even though my psychiatrist insisted it was a mistake because neurologists prescribe it for issues involving neurotransmitters rather than purely psychological ones. Her conclusion was that I absolutely must avoid anything that spikes norepinephrine, even though based on research, I shouldn't have reacted that way to Effexor. But I did.😢

And for those who know I struggle with sleep... I was stunned one day while cleaning the house when I stumbled upon some old notes from my former therapist. She was notorious for her love of pills; honestly, it's a miracle she didn't start handing them out on the street. Looking at those notes—which were from nine years ago—I saw that for sleep, she had me on two Ambien and Xanax 2 mg. So, it is hardly surprising that my current psychiatrist is having such a hard time regulating my sleep patterns. There you have it.

Skickas

shadowfox75 said:This is truly fascinating. You would think these newer medications would be superior, yet the older generations often seem to work much better.
I know things aren't easy for you right now, but I am sincerely rooting for this antidepressant to provide the relief you need. You deserve that

I honestly didn't think it would actually work, but here we are.
Thanks, you too. 🙂

restlesstrucker15 said:You see, I completely agree with your logic regarding how things should work.
However, I am living proof that reality is different. My primary struggles are anxiety and panic attacks. On Effexor, I felt like I was on speed; my sleep was non-existent, and frankly, it became unbearable, so after two months, we discontinued it. And that was on a mere 30-something mg dose in the morning and evening. The positive aspect was that my anxiety vanished, but that level of stimulation was impossible to handle—much like my experience with Cymbalta, where every third night I would find myself cleaning, washing, and cooking frantically because I had no idea what to do with all that excess energy. We stopped that quickly, even though my psychiatrist insisted it was a mistake because neurologists prescribe it for issues involving neurotransmitters rather than purely psychological ones. Her conclusion was that I absolutely must avoid anything that spikes norepinephrine, even though based on research, I shouldn't have reacted that way to Effexor. But I did.😢

And for those who know I struggle with sleep... I was stunned one day while cleaning the house when I stumbled upon some old notes from my former therapist. She was notorious for her love of pills; honestly, it's a miracle she didn't start handing them out on the street. Looking at those notes—which were from nine years ago—I saw that for sleep, she had me on two Ambien and Xanax 2 mg. So, it is hardly surprising that my current psychiatrist is having such a hard time regulating my sleep patterns. There you have it.

Skickas

I wasn't generalizing; I was just sharing my own experience and how Effexor is designed to function. At the end of the day, every body is different, and you have to treat them as unique cases. Obviously, if a med isn't working or it makes someone feel terrible after a certain amount of time, they need to switch.
Also, it's well-documented that ADs can trigger hypomania or mania in some patients. It seems to me that Effexor, and even Cymbalta (which, by the way, never worked for me), triggered a mild hypomania for you, which explains your late-night cleaning sprees and insomnia. It's a very real possibility.
So yeah, these are just examples of how much we all differ and why we need an individualized approach to treatment.
What I said about Effexor being an excellent AD still stands, but obviously not for everyone, because there's no such thing as a universal "magic pill" that fits us all perfectly. For me, Effexor didn't actually start working until several months in, whereas for someone else, it might kick in after a month. Someone else in my shoes might have given up thinking the drug wasn't working, but I stuck it out, and it paid off.
The 37.5 mg dose that restlesstiger49 is taking—whom I also replied to in another post—is below the standard therapeutic dose, but that doesn't mean it won't cause side effects. What I was trying to get at is that you have to be sure the anxiety being mentioned is actually a side effect before deciding to quit the meds. I dealt with anxiety for a few months, not because of Effexor side effects, but because of the underlying condition itself; it was only after upping my Effexor dose and being patient that the anxiety finally cleared up. I could have easily blamed my anxiety on the Effexor and stopped taking it, which would have been a massive mistake since the medication ended up helping me so much in the end. Side effects often mimic the symptoms of the illness itself, making it incredibly hard to tell what's the disease and what's the drug.
That's the huge hurdle when you're hunting for that one specific medication that actually "clicks" for you.

David Jackson22 said:I wasn't generalizing; I was just sharing my own experience and how Effexor is designed to function. At the end of the day, every body is different, and you have to treat them as unique cases. Obviously, if a med isn't working or it makes someone feel terrible after a certain amount of time, they need to switch.
Also, it's well-documented that ADs can trigger hypomania or mania in some patients. It seems to me that Effexor, and even Cymbalta (which, by the way, never worked for me), triggered a mild hypomania for you, which explains your late-night cleaning sprees and insomnia. It's a very real possibility.
So yeah, these are just examples of how much we all differ and why we need an individualized approach to treatment.
What I said about Effexor being an excellent AD still stands, but obviously not for everyone, because there's no such thing as a universal "magic pill" that fits us all perfectly. For me, Effexor didn't actually start working until several months in, whereas for someone else, it might kick in after a month. Someone else in my shoes might have given up thinking the drug wasn't working, but I stuck it out, and it paid off.
The 37.5 mg dose that restlesstiger49 is taking—whom I also replied to in another post—is below the standard therapeutic dose, but that doesn't mean it won't cause side effects. What I was trying to get at is that you have to be sure the anxiety being mentioned is actually a side effect before deciding to quit the meds. I dealt with anxiety for a few months, not because of Effexor side effects, but because of the underlying condition itself; it was only after upping my Effexor dose and being patient that the anxiety finally cleared up. I could have easily blamed my anxiety on the Effexor and stopped taking it, which would have been a massive mistake since the medication ended up helping me so much in the end. Side effects often mimic the symptoms of the illness itself, making it incredibly hard to tell what's the disease and what's the drug.
That's the huge hurdle when you're hunting for that one specific medication that actually "clicks" for you.

No, I didn't think you were generalizing at all. I agree with you entirely, and I agree that Effexor is fantastic for those who respond well to it. Even my psychiatrist mentioned that when it comes to antidepressants, I am more of an exception than the rule.

What would be ideal is if there were a standardized timeframe to determine whether a specific antidepressant is suitable for a patient. We know it takes a few months, but clinicians should be able to recognize what exacerbates the primary symptoms versus what constitutes a new side effect. One should give the medication a fair chance, provided the side effects aren't intolerable, even if the full therapeutic effect hasn't kicked in yet. Everything is subjective, but a psychiatrist really needs to possess extensive pharmacological expertise. For instance, because of those manic episodes, my doctor had to taper me off much faster than patients who only experienced increased anxiety, tremors, or sweating. In my case, I had to grit my teeth and push through.
It isn't easy, but a one-month trial is a reasonable baseline unless something truly unpredictable occurs. If anyone is feeling uncertain, they shouldn't feel ashamed to call their doctor or visit the clinic. That’s what I would do; after all, we are essentially acting as a support group here.

Skickas FR

I wouldn't mind dealing with a bit of mania on this medication, but honestly, that morning anxiety is just soul-crushing. It completely tanks my quality of life. To be truthful, I’m terrified of increasing my dose because I’ve missed a pill a couple of times by mistake, and the withdrawal symptoms hit me like a freight train—which is pretty intense considering how small the dose actually is. It makes me dread even thinking about what would happen at higher milligram levels. Plus, eventually, I have to get off this stuff altogether. Maybe I should try the XR version since it releases more slowly into the system; hopefully, that means the exit is a bit smoother too. 🤷

restlesstrucker15 said:I'm a Late Starter, and I was asking you about the symptoms from your last antidepressant experience. It sounds very similar to mine. Just like everyone else is telling you, I suggest sticking with it for at least five or six weeks and using Helix to help manage the transition.

You see, it's all highly individual. I was on Paxil for a very long time before I stopped, which was a mess, and eventually, Paxil just stopped working for me altogether. Since then, I've been on Lexapro. Miraculously, I haven't had many side effects. My only regret is that it doesn't feel quite as perfect as Paxil did, though I suspect that might just be my own perception. Because of that, I tried almost the entire spectrum of medications, but nothing worked—it felt like I was constantly wired, and I wasn't even just on Zoloft. Now, I just stick with Lexapro and push through.

Don't give up; the brain needs time to stabilize. If you're struggling to figure out whether a sensation is physical or psychological, I would personally take some Helix and try to assess the situation. I don't mean trying to analyze it while the anxiety is hitting you, though. And honestly, people are right when they say you need to get out of the house. Try to go out, no matter how difficult it feels; it helps, and you'll be glad you did. Just carry your Helix with you, just for peace of mind.

Skickas FR

Paxil was fine for me, but I wouldn't go back to it because the withdrawal side effects were horrific. My neurologist couldn't believe what I was describing. She suggested I was just overthinking everything because of internet forums, but she realized I actually knew what I was talking about once she consulted a colleague of hers. He confirmed my experience, and she decided I should stop the antidepressants entirely rather than continue dealing with such intense side effects. Her suggestion was to try again using psychotherapy, so she referred me to a psychologist, but she is completely booked up.
She told me immediately that psychotherapy alone would be difficult and that I really needed medication support.
She prescribed Lucas, but I didn't feel any connection to that treatment even after two months.
As of today, after seven days on a half-dose of Celexa, I have started the full dose.
My head feels heavy. I feel tense, hovering on the edge of derealization and depersonalization. It feels like I am floating.
Naturally, that heightens the anxiety, which makes everything worse.
I am not sure. I will try continuing with the Celexa and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I think I will give up on antidepressants altogether. I won't make any long-term plans, but I am truly fed up with these medications.

restlesstiger49 said:I wouldn't mind dealing with a bit of mania on this medication, but honestly, that morning anxiety is just soul-crushing. It completely tanks my quality of life. To be truthful, I’m terrified of increasing my dose because I’ve missed a pill a couple of times by mistake, and the withdrawal symptoms hit me like a freight train—which is pretty intense considering how small the dose actually is. It makes me dread even thinking about what would happen at higher milligram levels. Plus, eventually, I have to get off this stuff altogether. Maybe I should try the XR version since it releases more slowly into the system; hopefully, that means the exit is a bit smoother too. 🤷

Look, I’ve already tapered off Effexor before and I didn't have any issues, zero. I just listened to my psychiatrist and cruised right through it. Honestly, what you mentioned about forgetting a dose and getting hit by withdrawals instantly sounds absolutely brutal, but man, I didn't even deal with that, and I once missed a 150 mg dose entirely and just skipped it for the day. I felt absolutely nothing. I just took it the next morning on schedule and everything was fine. It's clearly super individual how everyone reacts.
Some antidepressants just don't work for me at all; some gave me insane side effects and actually made my depression way worse, and yeah, Effexor gave me some side effects too, but they were manageable and passed.
The fact that you're scared just thinking about what happens on higher doses... man, I'd probably be shaking in my boots, but I know there's always a way through it. When the time comes, I'll just taper down slowly and get off it just like I did in the past. Also, there's this little trick when you're coming off Effexor where you slowly taper down while simultaneously introducing Prozac until the Prozac completely replaces the Effexor, then you taper off that. Coming off Prozac isn't nearly as rough because it leaves your system so gradually. That's exactly how I handled it the first time I quit Effexor, and that's how I'll do it again when it's time—shouldn't be an issue.

restlesstiger49 said:I wouldn't mind dealing with a bit of mania on this medication, but honestly, that morning anxiety is just soul-crushing. It completely tanks my quality of life. To be truthful, I’m terrified of increasing my dose because I’ve missed a pill a couple of times by mistake, and the withdrawal symptoms hit me like a freight train—which is pretty intense considering how small the dose actually is. It makes me dread even thinking about what would happen at higher milligram levels. Plus, eventually, I have to get off this stuff altogether. Maybe I should try the XR version since it releases more slowly into the system; hopefully, that means the exit is a bit smoother too. 🤷

Also, just a heads up, having those peak anxiety and depression spikes right when you wake up is pretty much a textbook symptom of the condition itself, so there's a chance it's just your diagnosis acting up and doesn't actually have anything to do with the medication.
But hey, if your psychiatrist decides that Effexor isn't cutting it or is causing too much trouble, they'll definitely switch you off it. Your best bet is just to sit down and have a real talk with them.

shadowfox75 said:Paxil was fine for me, but I wouldn't go back to it because the withdrawal side effects were horrific. My neurologist couldn't believe what I was describing. She suggested I was just overthinking everything because of internet forums, but she realized I actually knew what I was talking about once she consulted a colleague of hers. He confirmed my experience, and she decided I should stop the antidepressants entirely rather than continue dealing with such intense side effects. Her suggestion was to try again using psychotherapy, so she referred me to a psychologist, but she is completely booked up.
She told me immediately that psychotherapy alone would be difficult and that I really needed medication support.
She prescribed Lucas, but I didn't feel any connection to that treatment even after two months.
As of today, after seven days on a half-dose of Celexa, I have started the full dose.
My head feels heavy. I feel tense, hovering on the edge of derealization and depersonalization. It feels like I am floating.
Naturally, that heightens the anxiety, which makes everything worse.
I am not sure. I will try continuing with the Celexa and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I think I will give up on antidepressants altogether. I won't make any long-term plans, but I am truly fed up with these medications.

Man, I totally get it. I went through the exact same nightmare trying to find something that actually works. The worst part is having to wait at least a month or more every single time just to see if a drug even does anything, and then you're stuck starting a new one, dealing with more side effects, and waiting all over again—it's an endless cycle that drives you absolutely insane!
It is freaking terrifying. This time I struggled for over six months and it was nothing short of hell—switching meds, bumping up doses, just constant waiting, waiting, waiting... And, thank God, things are finally starting to look up after those six months. I don't even stress about the dosage or how I'll eventually get off them anymore because I just care about feeling better. It was unbearable, like I was teetering on the edge of life and death, so I'm just relieved that something is finally working.

David Jackson22 said:Man, I totally get it. I went through the exact same nightmare trying to find something that actually works. The worst part is having to wait at least a month or more every single time just to see if a drug even does anything, and then you're stuck starting a new one, dealing with more side effects, and waiting all over again—it's an endless cycle that drives you absolutely insane!
It is freaking terrifying. This time I struggled for over six months and it was nothing short of hell—switching meds, bumping up doses, just constant waiting, waiting, waiting... And, thank God, things are finally starting to look up after those six months. I don't even stress about the dosage or how I'll eventually get off them anymore because I just care about feeling better. It was unbearable, like I was teetering on the edge of life and death, so I'm just relieved that something is finally working.

I agree. The hardest part is the uncertainty—you never know if the medicine is actually working, or if what you're feeling are just lingering symptoms of anxiety that the medication should be fixing in the first place.
It feels like playing games with an already fragile mind.

David Jackson22 said:Look, nobody on this board can—or should—be telling you what to take. Honestly, the smartest move you can make is to go see a psychiatrist and get some actual therapy tailored to what you're going through. You should probably do that ASAP because from where I'm sitting, things look pretty heavy...

Thanks for the reply. Last night was rough—I actually hit my breaking point. I ended up taking 0.25mg of Xanax since I didn't know what else to do with myself. It finally took the edge off and I crashed.

Anyway, regardless, I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week, so I'll report back once I know more.

shadowfox75 said:I agree. The hardest part is the uncertainty—you never know if the medicine is actually working, or if what you're feeling are just lingering symptoms of anxiety that the medication should be fixing in the first place.
It feels like playing games with an already fragile mind.

Joe, tell me about it! I've cycled through eight different antidepressants already. If I have to switch this one out too, I'm sending a private message to my doctor to cancel everything. I'll quit the meds entirely, even if it leaves me feeling suicidal.

Everyone finds their match eventually, but getting there can be an absolute grind. 😢

unknown

Exactly! You can't ever lose hope because there’s a solution out there for everyone, but man, finding that one specific thing that actually works for your unique brain is such a massive struggle.
I was honestly right on the edge of just throwing in the towel and giving up on everything because I couldn't deal with the endless cycle of testing different meds and just eating side effects for breakfast, but look at me now—eventually, I finally found something that actually clicked.
It is seriously, deeply exhausting, but once that medication finally kicks in and you realize the nightmare is actually ending, you feel absolutely euphoric.
shadowfox75 and restlesstiger49, I really hope you guys hit that breakthrough soon; I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart because I know exactly how terrifying this whole mess is.

David Jackson22 said:Exactly! You can't ever lose hope because there’s a solution out there for everyone, but man, finding that one specific thing that actually works for your unique brain is such a massive struggle.
I was honestly right on the edge of just throwing in the towel and giving up on everything because I couldn't deal with the endless cycle of testing different meds and just eating side effects for breakfast, but look at me now—eventually, I finally found something that actually clicked.
It is seriously, deeply exhausting, but once that medication finally kicks in and you realize the nightmare is actually ending, you feel absolutely euphoric.
shadowfox75 and restlesstiger49, I really hope you guys hit that breakthrough soon; I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart because I know exactly how terrifying this whole mess is.

Waiting for something to work when you aren't even sure if it will is the worst. Or worse, having to switch again and restart the whole cycle... I'm just hoping this Effexor finally kicks in. Ugh. It feels like you're running on empty.😁

restlesstrucker15 said:Everyone finds their match eventually, but getting there can be an absolute grind. 😢

unknown

Exactly. I really have no desire to wait an eternity.

David Jackson22 said:Exactly! You can't ever lose hope because there’s a solution out there for everyone, but man, finding that one specific thing that actually works for your unique brain is such a massive struggle.
I was honestly right on the edge of just throwing in the towel and giving up on everything because I couldn't deal with the endless cycle of testing different meds and just eating side effects for breakfast, but look at me now—eventually, I finally found something that actually clicked.
It is seriously, deeply exhausting, but once that medication finally kicks in and you realize the nightmare is actually ending, you feel absolutely euphoric.
shadowfox75 and restlesstiger49, I really hope you guys hit that breakthrough soon; I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart because I know exactly how terrifying this whole mess is.

I would love to feel that relief again. When I am feeling better, I want to tackle everything at once—honestly, I just want life to be easy again. ☕

copperpuma62 said:Waiting for something to work when you aren't even sure if it will is the worst. Or worse, having to switch again and restart the whole cycle... I'm just hoping this Effexor finally kicks in. Ugh. It feels like you're running on empty.😁

I honestly have no idea where I pull my strength from anymore. If anything, I've just realized how incredibly resilient the human body is and how much it can endure before things truly fall apart.
I wonder how long I can keep fighting this fight. I am genuinely in awe of my own perseverance.
There are days when I break down and cry like a child, wondering what I could have possibly done to deserve this struggle. The hardest part is knowing that I haven't done anything wrong; I'm not losing my mind because I am fully aware of my situation and I acknowledge my weaknesses. Since my parents passed away, I find myself thinking of them even more, wishing I could just hold them one more time. I really needed their support. I try not to lean too heavily on my sister, even though she is incredibly encouraging. Sometimes, I feel completely alone in this battle. It doesn't feel fair. I want—and I need—to get better.
I always think back to that line from Anne Hathaway: "I want to live..."
I believe that is all I truly want. Is that asking too much?
The medications, the dizziness, the blackouts, and this constant fear hanging over me... This damn anxiety is relentless. 🙂

restlesstrucker15 said:Everyone finds their match eventually, but getting there can be an absolute grind. 😢

unknown

Forget it, cost-benefit analysis basically tells you it isn't even worth the grind since what you get back is way, way less than what you put in.

restlesstiger49 said:Forget it, cost-benefit analysis basically tells you it isn't even worth the grind since what you get back is way, way less than what you put in.

I recommend reading Jordan Peterson's book, *12 Rules for Life*. My therapist suggested it to me. It is quite good.