Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Adam Chase98 said:Yes, the lump appeared right after I started the medication... I'm currently on 150 mg—splitting it into 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night. But folks, it's been 9 weeks... I just don't know!!

Maybe try easing off with some Xanax or something similar until things start looking up. I was right on the edge of throwing in the towel myself, but eventually, it kicked in. It’s never an easy ride; it takes time for the meds to actually settle in. For me, Wellbutrin was much easier to handle side effects-wise, unlike Jardiance, which absolutely wrecked me. I just couldn't deal with it anymore.

Is anyone else out there battling debilitating constipation thanks to these psychotropic meds? I am honestly at my wit's end here; even the strongest over-the-counter laxatives don't seem to touch the problem, it's like my digestive system has just completely gone on strike.

electrichound3 said:Maybe try easing off with some Xanax or something similar until things start looking up. I was right on the edge of throwing in the towel myself, but eventually, it kicked in. It’s never an easy ride; it takes time for the meds to actually settle in. For me, Wellbutrin was much easier to handle side effects-wise, unlike Jardiance, which absolutely wrecked me. I just couldn't deal with it anymore.

I'm taking 0.25mg of Xanax, but... what do I know? Even that doesn't do much. The pain is constant. I just got back from lunch at a friend's house. Nobody gets it, but my head is just... pure chaos. I can see and hear everyone, but everything is so foggy. And this pressure... ugh, it's gross! How am I supposed to manage this business trip?

Jason Vaughn482 said:Is anyone else out there battling debilitating constipation thanks to these psychotropic meds? I am honestly at my wit's end here; even the strongest over-the-counter laxatives don't seem to touch the problem, it's like my digestive system has just completely gone on strike.

That’s probably the one thing I haven't dealt with yet!

Jason Vaughn482 said:Is anyone else out there battling debilitating constipation thanks to these psychotropic meds? I am honestly at my wit's end here; even the strongest over-the-counter laxatives don't seem to touch the problem, it's like my digestive system has just completely gone on strike.

I actually dealt with the exact opposite for the longest time. Nothing worked for me either until it just... stopped on its own, just like how it started.
Hang in there.

urbanskipper4 said:I was on it for five years.

I’ve been taking it for five years myself, and frankly, I have my doubts about whether one can just quit overnight; if I pull the plug, how on earth am I supposed to actually get any sleep?

Brandon Lopez6 said:I actually dealt with the exact opposite for the longest time. Nothing worked for me either until it just... stopped on its own, just like how it started.
Hang in there.

thanks, 🙂

Jason Vaughn482 said:I’ve been taking it for five years myself, and frankly, I have my doubts about whether one can just quit overnight; if I pull the plug, how on earth am I supposed to actually get any sleep?

Just taper off the dose slowly. And maybe use some Xanax to help you get through the transition.
I actually had to stop because I couldn't get my hands on it anymore.

As for the constipation thing... honestly, I think most of us deal with that. I rarely take laxatives now. There was a period where I was using them way too much and my body just got used to relying on them.

Check the Walgreens aisle; they have those wheat germ seeds in the red box. They're around $2.00. They work pretty well for me. I'll find out the exact brand name and let you know.

Adam Chase98 said:Yes, the lump appeared right after I started the medication... I'm currently on 150 mg—splitting it into 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night. But folks, it's been 9 weeks... I just don't know!!

I've been on it way longer than you have, and honestly, recovery is moving at a snail's pace. It’s technically better than it was, sure, but I'm still dealing with constant crashes. For me, the main issue is my depression. My psychiatrist ended up adding an SSRI and some Clonazepam to the mix, so now I'm just sitting here waiting to see if this combo actually stabilizes things for good.
Some people seem to bounce back on Effexor almost instantly, while others really have to crawl through hell before they see any actual results. It's all totally different for everyone.
No matter how long it feels, 9 weeks isn't nearly enough time to be thinking about ditching Effexor. When you're dealing with this kind of stuff, you need a ridiculous amount of patience. The progress is almost invisible, but it's happening.
If your doctor is actually decent like you described, I wouldn't go switching psychiatrists right now. Just be straight with her, talk everything out, and hang in there—you don't really have much of a choice.

*Dayria*
I went in for my checkup on Friday and she didn't change a single thing. Great. -.- Still taking Prozac in the morning and Xanax twice a day, even though I told her straight up that the afternoon dose does absolutely nothing for me. 🙄 Plus there's the Quetiapine at 800mg and the Ambien I couldn't get because my doctor won't sign off on it. It wasn't even my regular doctor, just a replacement, so I ended up scoring some Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Celexa, and Stilnox, so I'm calm for now. Hopefully. ☕ By the afternoon, the anxiety and paranoia hit so hard I feel like gouging my eyes out. How is Xanax supposed to fix that?

Adam Chase98 said:Hey Ivona. Why are you coming off the Effexor? I'm on 150 mg and it isn't doing anything for me. I've been on it for 9 weeks now.

I was on it for three and a half months and felt terrible. Just a mountain of side effects—headaches, awful nausea, stomach pain, a disgusting taste in my mouth... eventually those eased up a bit, but the actual condition didn't get any better. I still had panic attacks and couldn't even venture out alone, so my psychiatrist decided to switch things up. Honestly, though, weaning off Effexor while starting Zoloft at the same time is brutal. I probably don't sound sane right now, but I feel like I'm getting worse. I'm just lost. In the morning, it takes me like five minutes just to figure out where I am or what day it is. It's total chaos, like this whole thing is some kind of nightmare. Bonk. Maybe try sticking with it longer and see what the doc says. sretno

copperpuma62 said:I was on it for three and a half months and felt terrible. Just a mountain of side effects—headaches, awful nausea, stomach pain, a disgusting taste in my mouth... eventually those eased up a bit, but the actual condition didn't get any better. I still had panic attacks and couldn't even venture out alone, so my psychiatrist decided to switch things up. Honestly, though, weaning off Effexor while starting Zoloft at the same time is brutal. I probably don't sound sane right now, but I feel like I'm getting worse. I'm just lost. In the morning, it takes me like five minutes just to figure out where I am or what day it is. It's total chaos, like this whole thing is some kind of nightmare. Bonk. Maybe try sticking with it longer and see what the doc says. sretno

Give the medication some time. You can't expect results after just a month or two. Our bodies—and especially our brains—are complicated. They need time to adjust to sudden chemical shifts and hormones. I've been on Prozac for a month now and I feel decent enough. I get a dip in mood in the afternoon and have to talk myself through it, but I can manage. If I had my way, I'd ask for an extra dose in the afternoon. 🕺

David Jackson22 said:I've been on it way longer than you have, and honestly, recovery is moving at a snail's pace. It’s technically better than it was, sure, but I'm still dealing with constant crashes. For me, the main issue is my depression. My psychiatrist ended up adding an SSRI and some Clonazepam to the mix, so now I'm just sitting here waiting to see if this combo actually stabilizes things for good.
Some people seem to bounce back on Effexor almost instantly, while others really have to crawl through hell before they see any actual results. It's all totally different for everyone.
No matter how long it feels, 9 weeks isn't nearly enough time to be thinking about ditching Effexor. When you're dealing with this kind of stuff, you need a ridiculous amount of patience. The progress is almost invisible, but it's happening.
If your doctor is actually decent like you described, I wouldn't go switching psychiatrists right now. Just be straight with her, talk everything out, and hang in there—you don't really have much of a choice.

Which other med did they prescribe?

What’s the deal with Mirtazapine? I’m curious to hear what your experiences have been like and what kind of side effects to look out for. My doctor also prescribed me some Clonazepam and Misar on top of it, which honestly feels like a lot to handle at once.

placidjackal94 said:What’s the deal with Mirtazapine? I’m curious to hear what your experiences have been like and what kind of side effects to look out for. My doctor also prescribed me some Clonazepam and Misar on top of it, which honestly feels like a lot to handle at once.

Depends on why you're taking it. I was on Mirtazapine for depression and insomnia, and honestly, it works great. But there's one massive downside: it makes you gain weight like crazy. That's why I stopped. As for the number of meds—don't sweat it. I'm currently juggling Xanax, Ativan, Norvasc, Seroquel, Prozac, Ambien, and Celexa... depending on the day. Throw in some Dormicum and you've got my routine. You'll be fine.😉

placidjackal94 said:What’s the deal with Mirtazapine? I’m curious to hear what your experiences have been like and what kind of side effects to look out for. My doctor also prescribed me some Clonazepam and Misar on top of it, which honestly feels like a lot to handle at once.

What's the diagnosis? I'm guessing severe anxiety.😉

Tell me what dose of Mirtazapine you're taking, where you're starting at, and how high you'll be going.

Mirtazapine is going to hit you hard with sedation at first. You'll sleep like a log, but during those first couple of weeks while your body adjusts, you might feel wiped out for most of the day. Personally, I felt groggy until 3 PM, but after a while, it was just the first half hour after waking up.
It's a specific type of antidepressant, mostly given to people struggling with sleep issues, certain eating disorders because it kicks your appetite into gear, or people dealing with high anxiety.

My own experience (I took a tiny dose alongside my main antidepressant just to help me sleep) was more than fine.🙂

Maria Clark5 said:Depends on why you're taking it. I was on Mirtazapine for depression and insomnia, and honestly, it works great. But there's one massive downside: it makes you gain weight like crazy. That's why I stopped. As for the number of meds—don't sweat it. I'm currently juggling Xanax, Ativan, Norvasc, Seroquel, Prozac, Ambien, and Celexa... depending on the day. Throw in some Dormicum and you've got my routine. You'll be fine.😉

Dealing with depression and PTSD, plus the weight gain?? Do you mean your appetite just goes through the roof, or is it like "gaining weight out of thin air"? I go for walks regularly and hit 6.2 miles enough to know if that'll be sufficient to keep my weight steady.

Maria Clark5 said:Depends on why you're taking it. I was on Mirtazapine for depression and insomnia, and honestly, it works great. But there's one massive downside: it makes you gain weight like crazy. That's why I stopped. As for the number of meds—don't sweat it. I'm currently juggling Xanax, Ativan, Norvasc, Seroquel, Prozac, Ambien, and Celexa... depending on the day. Throw in some Dormicum and you've got my routine. You'll be fine.😉

Just to jump in here—Mirtazapine doesn't just make you gain weight out of nowhere. It mostly just spikes your appetite. It’s kind of up to you to manage that; you don't necessarily have to put on a single pound if you stay on top of it. 😉

Michael Hill2 said:What's the diagnosis? I'm guessing severe anxiety.😉

Tell me what dose of Mirtazapine you're taking, where you're starting at, and how high you'll be going.

Mirtazapine is going to hit you hard with sedation at first. You'll sleep like a log, but during those first couple of weeks while your body adjusts, you might feel wiped out for most of the day. Personally, I felt groggy until 3 PM, but after a while, it was just the first half hour after waking up.
It's a specific type of antidepressant, mostly given to people struggling with sleep issues, certain eating disorders because it kicks your appetite into gear, or people dealing with high anxiety.

My own experience (I took a tiny dose alongside my main antidepressant just to help me sleep) was more than fine.🙂

Yeah, intense anxiety that makes my thoughts race and some PTSD symptoms. No eating disorders here, though—I eat pretty much anything! :P My starting dose is 15 mg, but my doctor said I could bump it up to 30 mg after a week if I felt it was necessary.

I URGENTLY need some advice here... I’m on 800 mg of Seroquel and two 300 mg Depakote pills. I was taking them religiously until I started gaining weight at an absolutely insane rate. I went from 49 kg to 76.6 kg in just a month and a half!!! 😲Now I’m avoiding the Depakote because I honestly don't give a damn about this epilepsy I might not even have... but I’m literally getting stretch marks everywhere—on my hips, my waist, my breasts look terrible, it's all red, and even under my arms. I asked my psychiatrist if the Seroquel is causing the weight gain and they just said no. Well, I don't know what else to blame, but I look like a monster right now; if I had a boyfriend, he'd dump me instantly.

How do you guys deal with the weight? I know I should exercise, but I just can't find the motivation. Is there some kind of tea, a pill, or anything to blunt this weight gain? At 4'11", I'm heading toward 220 lbs and it's brutal. My bones and veins actually ache because my small frame can't handle this much weight.🤦