Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Nicole Nelson77 said:I mean, some people seem to think there's no difference between taking 10mg of Normabloc or 10mg of xanax just because they're both benzos... right?😁

Oh sure, they're exactly the same! 😂
I can't even begin to imagine what 10mg of xanax would do to me... 🙂

Roger Rodriguez said:Oh sure, they're exactly the same! 😂
I can't even begin to imagine what 10mg of xanax would do to me... 🙂

When I was on those medications, I believe my highest dose was just 1mg of xanax along with a hypnotic, and if I recall correctly, an antidepressant too (though that never became a recurring issue). It truly felt like nothing more than a complete brain fog.

What are your thoughts on this specific combination a friend mentioned to me, even though he is fully aware that you should never mix benzodiazepines?

He told me he took:

10mg of Oxazepam and 5mg of Ativan

He said he took them the night before a day filled with exhausting negotiations, and at the time, nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary; however, when he looked back on the events of that day, he realized people had actually been treating him like a fool, while he had spent the entire day feeling completely indifferent to everything.

Nicole Nelson77 said:haldol is an antipsychotic, which basically tanks your mood by messing with serotonin and dopamine. they give it to those "jumpers"🤣 just to keep them grounded.

And don't even start with the Akineton talk if you don't know what you're talking about. Akineton is an anticholinergic; it stimulates dopamine receptors. Honestly, you'd probably need to knock back about 20 pills before you actually felt like you were "flying"... taking two or three won't even register.

I took three once and didn't feel a single thing.☕

Not a single sensation in my head, my chest, or my limbs—nothing at all.🤣

It was necessary, apologies.😉

Hello everyone.
I’ve been diagnosed with F40.1, which is panic disorder.

My current treatment plan is as follows:
Zoloft 50mg, one tablet in the evening
Xanax 0.5mg as needed
Cerner 5mg, one tablet before bed.

The main issue I'm facing is dealing with sudden, intense panic attacks, and my second struggle is chronic insomnia...

I am hopeful that this regimen will provide some relief... has anyone here had experience with a similar combination of medications?

John Garcia98 said:Hello everyone.
I’ve been diagnosed with F40.1, which is panic disorder.

My current treatment plan is as follows:
Zoloft 50mg, one tablet in the evening
Xanax 0.5mg as needed
Cerner 5mg, one tablet before bed.

The main issue I'm facing is dealing with sudden, intense panic attacks, and my second struggle is chronic insomnia...

I am hopeful that this regimen will provide some relief... has anyone here had experience with a similar combination of medications?

I haven't personally tried this specific combo, but it looks solid on paper. It really comes down to how your body responds—did the doctor mention how long you'll be on this?
It usually takes a few weeks to actually feel the effects, so you'll have to wait and see if any adjustments are necessary.
Just a word of caution: try not to lean on that Xanax too often, or you might find yourself facing much bigger hurdles. During those first few weeks while your system is still adjusting to the new routine, using it for anxiety makes sense, but once you settle in, try to keep it to an absolute minimum. You wouldn't believe how quickly it can become a habit!

Nicole Nelson77 said:haldol is an antipsychotic, which basically tanks your mood by messing with serotonin and dopamine. they give it to those "jumpers"🤣 just to keep them grounded.

And don't even start with the Akineton talk if you don't know what you're talking about. Akineton is an anticholinergic; it stimulates dopamine receptors. Honestly, you'd probably need to knock back about 20 pills before you actually felt like you were "flying"... taking two or three won't even register.

I took three once and didn't feel a single thing.☕

Wow, look at you, the big expert here... three Akinetons... impressive.👎

Roger Rodriguez said:I haven't personally tried this specific combo, but it looks solid on paper. It really comes down to how your body responds—did the doctor mention how long you'll be on this?
It usually takes a few weeks to actually feel the effects, so you'll have to wait and see if any adjustments are necessary.
Just a word of caution: try not to lean on that Xanax too often, or you might find yourself facing much bigger hurdles. During those first few weeks while your system is still adjusting to the new routine, using it for anxiety makes sense, but once you settle in, try to keep it to an absolute minimum. You wouldn't believe how quickly it can become a habit!

I actually took my first two pills just last night. So, I am truly just getting started! I feel better today than I have in the last few days, mainly because the Ativan helped me fall asleep, allowing me to get over five or six hours of uninterrupted rest.

I haven't even touched the xanax yet, and honestly, I think I only deal with a true panic attack about once every ten days... so I don't anticipate needing it very often.

For me, alongside the anxiety, the biggest struggle is insomnia and having terrible sleep patterns; if I can manage to get enough rest, I function much more effectively...

On Friday, I decided to drop my Paxil dose from 20mg down to 10mg. This follows about three years of adjusting my dosage up and down, with the last year spent steady at 20mg.
The weekend went by without a hitch—I didn't feel a thing. But since Monday, things have taken a turn. I’ve been dealing with this strange dizziness, almost like that disoriented feeling you get when you're running a fever and your vision feels off. It isn't exactly spinning; it's more of a bizarre sensation in my head, making me feel unsteady on my feet, as if the ground is shifting beneath me while I walk.
Now, I wouldn't normally be worried because I’ve been fighting a cold with a 102°F fever for the last three days, but this specific sensation is hitting me pretty hard.
What's so confusing is that I didn't experience anything like this the last time I tapered down, so this is definitely unexpected. Is this actually related to my anxiety, or am I just spiraling into one of my old hypochondriac tendencies and imagining a serious illness?
Has anyone else gone through something similar? Please share your experiences—I'd really rather not have to call my psychiatrist and risk being pushed back up to 20mg immediately.

Roger Rodriguez said:On Friday, I decided to drop my Paxil dose from 20mg down to 10mg. This follows about three years of adjusting my dosage up and down, with the last year spent steady at 20mg.
The weekend went by without a hitch—I didn't feel a thing. But since Monday, things have taken a turn. I’ve been dealing with this strange dizziness, almost like that disoriented feeling you get when you're running a fever and your vision feels off. It isn't exactly spinning; it's more of a bizarre sensation in my head, making me feel unsteady on my feet, as if the ground is shifting beneath me while I walk.
Now, I wouldn't normally be worried because I’ve been fighting a cold with a 102°F fever for the last three days, but this specific sensation is hitting me pretty hard.
What's so confusing is that I didn't experience anything like this the last time I tapered down, so this is definitely unexpected. Is this actually related to my anxiety, or am I just spiraling into one of my old hypochondriac tendencies and imagining a serious illness?
Has anyone else gone through something similar? Please share your experiences—I'd really rather not have to call my psychiatrist and risk being pushed back up to 20mg immediately.

One should never abruptly decrease or increase doses of benzodiazepines, and if I recall correctly, medications like Xanax fall into that category. You really ought to have stepped down from 20mg to 15mg first, and only then transitioned from 15mg to 10mg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alprazolam (either xanax or the generic version you might find at a local pharmacy)

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

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

Roger Rodriguez said:On Friday, I decided to drop my Paxil dose from 20mg down to 10mg. This follows about three years of adjusting my dosage up and down, with the last year spent steady at 20mg.
The weekend went by without a hitch—I didn't feel a thing. But since Monday, things have taken a turn. I’ve been dealing with this strange dizziness, almost like that disoriented feeling you get when you're running a fever and your vision feels off. It isn't exactly spinning; it's more of a bizarre sensation in my head, making me feel unsteady on my feet, as if the ground is shifting beneath me while I walk.
Now, I wouldn't normally be worried because I’ve been fighting a cold with a 102°F fever for the last three days, but this specific sensation is hitting me pretty hard.
What's so confusing is that I didn't experience anything like this the last time I tapered down, so this is definitely unexpected. Is this actually related to my anxiety, or am I just spiraling into one of my old hypochondriac tendencies and imagining a serious illness?
Has anyone else gone through something similar? Please share your experiences—I'd really rather not have to call my psychiatrist and risk being pushed back up to 20mg immediately.

Found this online

"..Paxil is paroxetine, a newer generation antidepressant. Any medication we take can cause side effects, though they are most often rare and temporary. When treating severe illnesses like cancer, for instance, we tolerate much harsher side effects; however, for medications used for milder symptoms, we generally only expect mild, transient reactions. Drugs enter the market following rigorous testing, which continues even after they are released. Once many patients start using a drug, rare side effects may emerge, but if they are serious or life-threatening, those drugs can and must be pulled from the market. This does not apply to paroxetine, or Paxil. While some patients might experience a worsening of their condition, it is extremely rare. The benefits of the medication far outweigh the risks, and it remains highly effective for treating your condition when used alongside regular check-ins with your doctor and following their specific guidance. Dosages are gradually adjusted to find what works best for you personally, and sometimes treatment needs to continue for a long duration. Medication should be tapered off gradually under a doctor's supervision; never stop therapy abruptly on your own, as this can lead to a sudden relapse (the 'rebound phenomenon'). Everyone is an individual, so the medication will affect everyone differently. Again, stick with the therapy because the overall benefit is much greater than the described side effects. You'll typically begin to feel the full effects within 14 to 21 days of consistent use, so don't give up early just because it feels like it isn't working yet.

Good luck, best regards,
Dr. Viola Macolić Šarinić..."

Nicole Barrett76 said:One should never abruptly decrease or increase doses of benzodiazepines, and if I recall correctly, medications like Xanax fall into that category. You really ought to have stepped down from 20mg to 15mg first, and only then transitioned from 15mg to 10mg.

Wait, I was actually tapering off Paxil—that isn't a benzo.

fadedbear92 said:Found this online

"..Paxil is paroxetine, a newer generation antidepressant. Any medication we take can cause side effects, though they are most often rare and temporary. When treating severe illnesses like cancer, for instance, we tolerate much harsher side effects; however, for medications used for milder symptoms, we generally only expect mild, transient reactions. Drugs enter the market following rigorous testing, which continues even after they are released. Once many patients start using a drug, rare side effects may emerge, but if they are serious or life-threatening, those drugs can and must be pulled from the market. This does not apply to paroxetine, or Paxil. While some patients might experience a worsening of their condition, it is extremely rare. The benefits of the medication far outweigh the risks, and it remains highly effective for treating your condition when used alongside regular check-ins with your doctor and following their specific guidance. Dosages are gradually adjusted to find what works best for you personally, and sometimes treatment needs to continue for a long duration. Medication should be tapered off gradually under a doctor's supervision; never stop therapy abruptly on your own, as this can lead to a sudden relapse (the 'rebound phenomenon'). Everyone is an individual, so the medication will affect everyone differently. Again, stick with the therapy because the overall benefit is much greater than the described side effects. You'll typically begin to feel the full effects within 14 to 21 days of consistent use, so don't give up early just because it feels like it isn't working yet.

Good luck, best regards,
Dr. Viola Macolić Šarinić..."

Thanks, 👍
Of course, I’ve been lowering my dose under my psychiatrist's guidance; I would never dream of playing around with that myself! He mentioned I had reacted well to the medication since I never exceeded 20mg, so there shouldn't be many side effects during the taper. Because of that, he decided I could drop from 20mg straight to 10mg. I've been at that level for a month or two now, and next, I'll move to 5mg (though I'm honestly not sure how I'll manage cutting a half-tablet in half 🤷 ).
Now, all of this is making me a little confused. Could it just be my head playing tricks on me because I lowered the dose? Am I just expecting something to happen? I really hope this passes quickly.

Well, I spoke with my psychiatrist today, and they confirmed that what I'm feeling is definitely a side effect from tapering down my medication... It just goes to show how much people claim that newer generation antidepressants aren't addictive, doesn't it? 🙂
I honestly thought I was going to pass out today. Between the vomiting, the tremors, the night sweats, and the dizziness... I've calmed down a little bit now, but I’m genuinely dreading what tomorrow might bring. Why does Paxil have to be such a nightmare to deal with? 🙂

Well, I am not feeling particularly well at the moment. I am trying my best to get some sleep, so I have already taken my usual 50mg dose of Zoloft along with 5mg of Cerson to help me drift off. Despite that, the anxiety is still quite overwhelming and I simply cannot seem to close my eyes... I do have some Xanax on hand for when it's needed,
however, I haven't taken any yet. Since I have already swallowed those first two pills, I was wondering how wise it would be to take a Xanax 0.5 mg as well?

John Garcia98 said:Well, I am not feeling particularly well at the moment. I am trying my best to get some sleep, so I have already taken my usual 50mg dose of Zoloft along with 5mg of Cerson to help me drift off. Despite that, the anxiety is still quite overwhelming and I simply cannot seem to close my eyes... I do have some Xanax on hand for when it's needed,
however, I haven't taken any yet. Since I have already swallowed those first two pills, I was wondering how wise it would be to take a Xanax 0.5 mg as well?

Can you try to find a way to calm yourself down, or maybe just wait a bit longer for the meds to kick in? Honestly, if your doctor prescribed it, wouldn't it be fine to take the Xanax when you need it most? Still, try to hold off if you can. I ended up taking Xanax 0.25 mg today because I was clearly having a rough patch—I didn't even take it until I started shaking and vomiting uncontrollably. If you absolutely have to, maybe just stick to the Xanax 0.25 mg. It should help settle your nerves without making you feel completely drugged out, right?

Roger Rodriguez said:Can you try to find a way to calm yourself down, or maybe just wait a bit longer for the meds to kick in? Honestly, if your doctor prescribed it, wouldn't it be fine to take the Xanax when you need it most? Still, try to hold off if you can. I ended up taking Xanax 0.25 mg today because I was clearly having a rough patch—I didn't even take it until I started shaking and vomiting uncontrollably. If you absolutely have to, maybe just stick to the Xanax 0.25 mg. It should help settle your nerves without making you feel completely drugged out, right?

What does 0.25 mean? Does that mean splitting the pill in half?...

John Garcia98 said:What does 0.25 mean? Does that mean splitting the pill in half?...

Exactly, it's just half of a 0.50 dose.

I’ve been on 50 mg of Zoloft for about five weeks and two days now, and honestly, it’s been a lifeline for the crushing depression I’ve been dealing with, along with the anxiety, those endless obsessive thoughts, and my issues with binge eating. However, over the last few days, I’ve started noticing these purplish-red spots or patches on the inner part of my thigh, right where my stretch marks are (which used to be white). Then there's this thing with my right nostril; for the past week or so, a capillary seems to burst more frequently, leaving me with dried blood when I check it. This morning, I actually woke up to find a bloodstain about an inch wide on my pillow from my nose. I mean, this has maybe happened once in my entire life before—I almost never get nosebleeds unless I actually take a hit to the face.
I was doing some reading online, and apparently, both of these symptoms can be rare side effects of SSRIs because serotonin acts as a vasoconstrictor and affects how blood clots. It seems they can prolong bleeding and cause a drop in platelet serotonin levels by preventing the platelets from reabsorbing it, which basically leads to platelet dysfunction. But the thing is, I really don't want to stop taking this medication. I’ve been battling depression, anxiety, and OCD for years now, and the alternative just isn't worth the struggle. Life was becoming unbearable, and I had even reached a point where I was thinking about suicide. So, what should I do? Has anyone else gone through something similar? Thanks! 😉

Ugh, I was taking 5 mg of Zoloft and everything felt amazing. You definitely need to check in with your doctor first!

And honestly—just because one antidepressant didn't work for you doesn't mean the next one won't be just as great. There's no reason to lose hope.

I'm currently taking Lexapro because my doctor insisted I should ☕