Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Raymond Ortiz69 said:Well, before I finally got my "official" diagnosis (anxiety and depression), I had been taking AktivinH on my own for about eight weeks. Honestly, I wasn't expecting any miracles from it, but after just two weeks, I started noticing that I felt generally a bit more level-headed—which, back then, felt like a massive win—and that little shift really helped ease both my anxiety and my depressive moods.

By the third week on AktivinH, I hadn't experienced a single panic attack, whereas they had been hitting me pretty frequently for about a year and a half prior, regardless of how intense they were.

After finishing my initial eight-week stretch of AktivinH, I finally went in for a checkup, and my doctor immediately switched me over to a standard prescription antidepressant because she felt AktivinH was just too mild for what I was dealing with. Even so, it still provided some relief, so overall, my experience with it was quite positive.

Since I definitely went through that "I can handle this all by myself" phase, my best advice would be to please go see a doctor if you haven't already. It was such a hard step for me to take, and I put it off way longer than I should have until things got pretty dark, so looking back, I really wish I’d just reached out for professional help sooner.

There is one other thing to keep in mind, especially since summer is right around the corner: AktivinH (specifically the hypericin in it) is phototoxic. This means being out in the sun can cause things like rashes, allergic reactions, or even vision issues in some cases. The pharmacists were really careful to warn me whenever I bought it, and the last one actually suggested I stop taking it before summer hit, particularly since my job requires me to spend a lot of time outdoors.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a private message!

Thanks for such a detailed response.

My diagnosis is mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. I've been dealing with this for over a year and a half now. And yes, I finally went to a psychiatrist on my own (just a month ago) because I am fed up and want this resolved ASAP. The anxiety is actually messing with me way more than the depression...

I wouldn't take anything on my own either. The only reason I was prescribed AktivinH is because I don't get to make the final call on my medication yet. Unfortunately.
I haven't started the AktivinH yet. My primary care physician told me not to take less than what was prescribed.

Michael Hill2 said:Faverin is solid for sleep because it acts as an anxiolytic, even though it's technically an SSRI just like Zoloft or Prozac. It has this mild sedative effect, so most people take it at night before hitting the hay.

I was prescribed it for anxiety and insomnia. For the first few months, I was also taking a tiny dose of Mirzaten—which works as a histamine blocker at low doses, helping you pass out—but now I'm just on Faverin, maybe taking a 1/6th dose of Mirzaten once a week if I really need to sleep.

Faverin is a great option for anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and insomnia. It actually managed to quiet down my hyperactive brain and make it somewhat tolerable. 😁

Thanks! My brain is definitely a bit of a circus too... haha. I'm currently switching out my primary care doctor, so I haven't done much yet besides deciding I'm done with Zoloft. On me, Zoloft makes my muscles feel stiff and shaky when I exert myself—I end up stepping off the bus looking like a newborn deer! I actually quit Cipralex pretty quickly because of that, and now I'm worried all SSRIs might act the same way...

steeltrucker3 said:Thanks! My brain is definitely a bit of a circus too... haha. I'm currently switching out my primary care doctor, so I haven't done much yet besides deciding I'm done with Zoloft. On me, Zoloft makes my muscles feel stiff and shaky when I exert myself—I end up stepping off the bus looking like a newborn deer! I actually quit Cipralex pretty quickly because of that, and now I'm worried all SSRIs might act the same way...

If every SSRI worked the same way, we wouldn't need more than one 😁

steeltrucker3 said:Thanks! My brain is definitely a bit of a circus too... haha. I'm currently switching out my primary care doctor, so I haven't done much yet besides deciding I'm done with Zoloft. On me, Zoloft makes my muscles feel stiff and shaky when I exert myself—I end up stepping off the bus looking like a newborn deer! I actually quit Cipralex pretty quickly because of that, and now I'm worried all SSRIs might act the same way...

If you want my two cents, maybe look into Mirzaten... you could take it every night before hitting the hay. Just make sure you hammer out the dosage with your psychiatrist first, though. Seriously, don't go tweaking anything or adding stuff on your own without talking to them...

fadedbear92 said:If you pop 100 mg of Quetiapine, you’ll be out cold in about 30 minutes—just straight sleep without any tossing and turning. Honestly, skip the Ambien and the Xanax; you really shouldn't be mixing three different sleep aids at once.😒

Look, Xanax isn't actually a sleep med, and Q-pin is basically an opioid that just "levels you out," which is why people sell it as a sleep aid, but it's not really that. For most regular folks who aren't dealing with actual addiction issues, it'll knock you out, but there are way too many of these things floating around the market being handed out left and right.

Benjamin Robinson3 said:Is there any kind of pick-me-up I don't have to take daily, but can just grab whenever I'm hitting rock bottom? I'm currently on Prozac (I need to hurry, because they bumped the price from $30 to $17, and this tiny little box only lasts me a week...) and 100mg of Paxil to help me sleep. It feels like I'm sinking more often lately for no apparent reason, so if there’s anything out there that could lift my spirits—something proven that I could tell my therapist I'd like to try—I would really appreciate it 🙂

Prazina is heavy-duty stuff, and honestly, it's probably why you're feeling so groggy. Prazina is typically used to help people coming off opioid withdrawal... If you want to stay functional, talk to your psychiatrist about something like Paxil or whatever—something that won't leave you feeling totally drained, exhausted, and just totally numb. There isn't really a "magic pill" to lift you up... at worst, adding another pill just means you're building another dependency, and that's the last thing you want.

SajkoDad said:Is Mirtazen the same thing as Calixta? Man, if I take that stuff, I turn into a total hog almost immediately—though honestly, it’s probably more about the food itself because Calixta just makes me feel insanely hungry, so I guess there's more to dig into there. I don't know if I'd be this ravenous on something like Q-pin, though... maybe not? It feels like it's not just a simple "you're hungry or you're not" situation, but more like there's this middle ground where you can actually manage to stay sane without raiding every single thing in the fridge.

So, Mirtazen (Calixta) is an antidepressant, while Q-pin is an antipsychotic... and yeah, those antidepressants can definitely cause weight gain because your body starts craving food, but you can usually find a way to hold yourself back if you really try... oh, and just a heads up, pretty much any medication like that can make you bloat since you end up retaining water..
Just go talk to your psychiatrist and see what you guys can work out..
Personally, I don't gain any weight at all from antidepressants, but man, when I was on an antipsychotic once, I gained 30 pounds in just 16 days 😁 and then dropped it all in a single week once I stopped taking it..

Last night, I decided to try taking 50 mg of Seroquel and waited for the inevitable, though honestly, I’m perpetually exhausted anyway. Once I finally crawled into bed, nothing happened. I added 10 mg of Ambien to the mix, but still, zero progress. In a moment of desperation, I tossed in 7.5 mg of Calixta, and only then, about two hours later, did sleep finally claim me. Today, I feel absolutely shattered—like I've been run over by a truck. It seems the whole ordeal was redundant; the Seroquel was just an unnecessary addition to an already cluttered cocktail. Now, I find myself wondering if I should step up to 100 mg, but the thought terrifies me; I simply don't know what to do. To make matters worse, my life is currently a whirlwind of chaos. I've been dealing with blood work, and now I'm stuck in this agonizing limbo waiting for the results. On top of that, I spent three grueling hours at the ophthalmologist's office, only to have them confirm a glaucoma diagnosis. It is anything but a peaceful season of my life right now.

I am constantly plagued by nightmares and disturbing dreams, and whenever I have one of those vivid dreams where my teeth fall out, I wake up paralyzed with fear.

silentmarlin76 said:If you want my two cents, maybe look into Mirzaten... you could take it every night before hitting the hay. Just make sure you hammer out the dosage with your psychiatrist first, though. Seriously, don't go tweaking anything or adding stuff on your own without talking to them...

Look, Xanax isn't actually a sleep med, and Q-pin is basically an opioid that just "levels you out," which is why people sell it as a sleep aid, but it's not really that. For most regular folks who aren't dealing with actual addiction issues, it'll knock you out, but there are way too many of these things floating around the market being handed out left and right.

Prazina is heavy-duty stuff, and honestly, it's probably why you're feeling so groggy. Prazina is typically used to help people coming off opioid withdrawal... If you want to stay functional, talk to your psychiatrist about something like Paxil or whatever—something that won't leave you feeling totally drained, exhausted, and just totally numb. There isn't really a "magic pill" to lift you up... at worst, adding another pill just means you're building another dependency, and that's the last thing you want.

Look, you don't need to explain Xanax to me—I’ve unfortunately had a fair amount of experience with it myself—and I'm certainly not claiming it's a sleeping pill. My point was simply that mixing Ambien, Xanax, and Quetiapine to fight insomnia is a bad idea; a specialist needs to pick one specific, appropriate medication instead.
Just so we're all on the same page here:
Ambien
Xanax
Quetiapine

Regarding Quetiapine—yeah, I suffer from terrible insomnia, and after trying plenty of meds that worked for a little while before losing their edge, my shrink prescribed this antipsychotic. It's used in low doses for anxiety and sleep, but in higher doses for psychosis (schizophrenia, mania, bipolar disorder... it's all in the pamphlet)

One quick side note—my doctor is an absolutely stellar psychiatrist-psychotherapist and is incredibly well-versed in psychopharmacology. She isn't one of those doctors who just hands out prescriptions like candy; I truly feel for people who end up in the hands of those types.

Prazosin is a potent drug and it leaves you feeling groggy. It's meant for managing opioid withdrawal..

That's news to me, though it is also used for insomnia along with what's listed in the instructions.

Try taking—in consultation with your psychiatrist—something like Paxil or similar. It won't leave you feeling so lethargic, tired, and foggy.. there is no "magic pill".. potentially, adding another pill on top of that just creates more dependency.. and that's not what you want..

All benzodiazepines become addictive after a certain point.
As for Paxil,

I assume by "magic pill" you meant antidepressants—there's already been a ton written about that—but I'll just add that psychotherapy should really be the foundation, with medication serving as temporary support rather than the only option, unless, of course, they are absolutely necessary.

In conclusion—yes, everything absolutely needs to be handled in coordination with a professional. We're just sharing our personal experiences here, which is what this thread is for, right?
And, as has been said countless times in previous posts, medications affect everyone differently, so it often takes trying a few different options (not all at once, please don't misunderstand me!) to find the right fit.😁) how one might actually track down the "real" deal, if you know what I mean😉

Neither Lexapro nor Celexa seemed to do the trick for me, so I've been switched over to Zoloft.
Has anyone here actually used this before? I'm curious if anyone can tell me how long it typically takes to kick in.
I've been taking one 50 mg tablet once a day for about four days now, but I haven't felt any noticeable difference at all.

fadedbear92 said:Look, you don't need to explain Xanax to me—I’ve unfortunately had a fair amount of experience with it myself—and I'm certainly not claiming it's a sleeping pill. My point was simply that mixing Ambien, Xanax, and Quetiapine to fight insomnia is a bad idea; a specialist needs to pick one specific, appropriate medication instead.
Just so we're all on the same page here:
Ambien
Xanax
Quetiapine

Regarding Quetiapine—yeah, I suffer from terrible insomnia, and after trying plenty of meds that worked for a little while before losing their edge, my shrink prescribed this antipsychotic. It's used in low doses for anxiety and sleep, but in higher doses for psychosis (schizophrenia, mania, bipolar disorder... it's all in the pamphlet)

One quick side note—my doctor is an absolutely stellar psychiatrist-psychotherapist and is incredibly well-versed in psychopharmacology. She isn't one of those doctors who just hands out prescriptions like candy; I truly feel for people who end up in the hands of those types.

Prazosin is a potent drug and it leaves you feeling groggy. It's meant for managing opioid withdrawal..

That's news to me, though it is also used for insomnia along with what's listed in the instructions.

Try taking—in consultation with your psychiatrist—something like Paxil or similar. It won't leave you feeling so lethargic, tired, and foggy.. there is no "magic pill".. potentially, adding another pill on top of that just creates more dependency.. and that's not what you want..

All benzodiazepines become addictive after a certain point.
As for Paxil,

I assume by "magic pill" you meant antidepressants—there's already been a ton written about that—but I'll just add that psychotherapy should really be the foundation, with medication serving as temporary support rather than the only option, unless, of course, they are absolutely necessary.

In conclusion—yes, everything absolutely needs to be handled in coordination with a professional. We're just sharing our personal experiences here, which is what this thread is for, right?
And, as has been said countless times in previous posts, medications affect everyone differently, so it often takes trying a few different options (not all at once, please don't misunderstand me!) to find the right fit.😁) how one might actually track down the "real" deal, if you know what I mean😉

Prazines were originally used as an alternative to heptanones, specifically to deal with opioid withdrawal...
benzos become addictive after about a month, like I already said... 🙂
And I definitely wasn't talking about antidepressants when I said "lifeline"... those just level things out, and even then, they take a month or two to kick in and can cause dependency too... but you already know all that...
I was actually being a little vague on purpose because I didn't want Currie to think about adding yet another medication to the mix... I was thinking of Xanax, which is like a quick fix to lift you up, but yeah, it's also addictive after a month...
and I totally agree with your last point, that's something I find myself repeating all the time... 🙂

It has been quite some time since I last posted here. I find myself in a bit of a predicament lately, as it looks like I have several more surgeries ahead of me. Because the pain has been so intense, I’ve started taking Tramadol, and I must admit, I am developing a bit of a dependency on it. On another note, could someone please explain how it is even possible for a hypnotic medication to have absolutely no effect if I’ve never taken it before? Specifically, I’m talking about Flurazepam—even at 60 mg, I feel nothing. I am currently struggling through with Sanval, and I tried using some leftover Quaaludes I had lying around; half of a 25 mg pill actually puts me to sleep, but then the next day is the usual story: I just stare blank at the wall, and thank goodness I’m not drooling out of my mouth, haha. In my entire life, the only time I have ever truly fallen asleep was under general anesthesia after they injected me with three shots of something—to everyone watching, it was a miracle because usually, one shot does the trick. And no, it wasn't Dormicum, but something much heavier used by anesthesiologists.
So, how is it possible to feel nothing from a hypnotic when you've never used it? I'm genuinely confused.

immune system resilience

silentmarlin76 said:Prazines were originally used as an alternative to heptanones, specifically to deal with opioid withdrawal...
benzos become addictive after about a month, like I already said... 🙂
And I definitely wasn't talking about antidepressants when I said "lifeline"... those just level things out, and even then, they take a month or two to kick in and can cause dependency too... but you already know all that...
I was actually being a little vague on purpose because I didn't want Currie to think about adding yet another medication to the mix... I was thinking of Xanax, which is like a quick fix to lift you up, but yeah, it's also addictive after a month...
and I totally agree with your last point, that's something I find myself repeating all the time... 🙂

Even after several years, I still take a starting dose of Xanax (as mentioned above), which ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 mg...
In truth, I have come to the cynical realization that almost everything carries an addictive potential. I believe I’ve touched upon this before: what is the functional difference if I spend years on Xanax while someone else relies on Klonopin or any other antipsychotic? It seems the logical approach is simply to find whatever fits best for one's own unique physiology and mental state. Personally, I’ve found a sort of equilibrium with this low dose of Lexapro; it hasn't caused weight gain, it helps me drift off, and I don't suffer from debilitating side effects. So, I use the antidepressant, and then supplement it with something like Ambien or Lunesta, which function as hypnotics. I don't bother with Xanax at night because it doesn't actually help me sleep...

restlesstrucker15 said:It has been quite some time since I last posted here. I find myself in a bit of a predicament lately, as it looks like I have several more surgeries ahead of me. Because the pain has been so intense, I’ve started taking Tramadol, and I must admit, I am developing a bit of a dependency on it. On another note, could someone please explain how it is even possible for a hypnotic medication to have absolutely no effect if I’ve never taken it before? Specifically, I’m talking about Flurazepam—even at 60 mg, I feel nothing. I am currently struggling through with Sanval, and I tried using some leftover Quaaludes I had lying around; half of a 25 mg pill actually puts me to sleep, but then the next day is the usual story: I just stare blank at the wall, and thank goodness I’m not drooling out of my mouth, haha. In my entire life, the only time I have ever truly fallen asleep was under general anesthesia after they injected me with three shots of something—to everyone watching, it was a miracle because usually, one shot does the trick. And no, it wasn't Dormicum, but something much heavier used by anesthesiologists.
So, how is it possible to feel nothing from a hypnotic when you've never used it? I'm genuinely confused.

It doesn't work on me either, and I've never even taken it, so I tossed it immediately. Even 50 mg of Quapine does nothing for me, so I ended up sleeping the old-fashioned way last night: 10 mg of Sanval combined with 7.5 mg of Calixte... tell me, how much Sanval do you take alongside those 25 mg Quapine doses?

restlesstrucker15 said:It has been quite some time since I last posted here. I find myself in a bit of a predicament lately, as it looks like I have several more surgeries ahead of me. Because the pain has been so intense, I’ve started taking Tramadol, and I must admit, I am developing a bit of a dependency on it. On another note, could someone please explain how it is even possible for a hypnotic medication to have absolutely no effect if I’ve never taken it before? Specifically, I’m talking about Flurazepam—even at 60 mg, I feel nothing. I am currently struggling through with Sanval, and I tried using some leftover Quaaludes I had lying around; half of a 25 mg pill actually puts me to sleep, but then the next day is the usual story: I just stare blank at the wall, and thank goodness I’m not drooling out of my mouth, haha. In my entire life, the only time I have ever truly fallen asleep was under general anesthesia after they injected me with three shots of something—to everyone watching, it was a miracle because usually, one shot does the trick. And no, it wasn't Dormicum, but something much heavier used by anesthesiologists.
So, how is it possible to feel nothing from a hypnotic when you've never used it? I'm genuinely confused.

Dear restlesstrucker15, I am so incredibly sorry you have to go under the knife again—I truly don't know what to say—but I am praying for a successful outcome!!!🙂
Regarding your question, you know I've experienced something similar—though for me, it was because Effexor completely wrecked my sleep—so I'd guess it might be some kind of physiological resistance. I'll shoot a text to my doctor and ask her about it. Send me a DM with all the medications and exact dosages you're currently taking.😉

Jason Vaughn482 said:Even after several years, I still take a starting dose of Xanax (as mentioned above), which ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 mg...
In truth, I have come to the cynical realization that almost everything carries an addictive potential. I believe I’ve touched upon this before: what is the functional difference if I spend years on Xanax while someone else relies on Klonopin or any other antipsychotic? It seems the logical approach is simply to find whatever fits best for one's own unique physiology and mental state. Personally, I’ve found a sort of equilibrium with this low dose of Lexapro; it hasn't caused weight gain, it helps me drift off, and I don't suffer from debilitating side effects. So, I use the antidepressant, and then supplement it with something like Ambien or Lunesta, which function as hypnotics. I don't bother with Xanax at night because it doesn't actually help me sleep...

The thing is, though—and this is where it gets messy—those basic anti-anxiety meds or sleep aids don't necessarily hook you the same way, but stuff like benzodiazepines, Xanax, or Ativan? They definitely create that dependency... which makes things super sketchy when you try to quit, which is exactly what I'm dealing with right now, so I'm basically going through withdrawal hell..

I actually managed to drop the basic anti-anxiety stuff all at once, and man, those three weeks of fighting insomnia were brutal, but things are finally starting to level out, and nothing else really bothered me with those. But with the benzos, I have to taper off slowly because if I stop cold turkey, I get these massive panic attacks, these weird emotional "hallucinations" where everything feels unreal, you know? It's heavy..

I'm also working on weaning myself off Xanax, because without it, I honestly feel so foggy that I can barely even process a single thought... so I'm taking it one tiny step at a time. Plus there's this one other medication that everyone seems to swear by, but it's the one that sends me into my absolute worst withdrawals... but I know I can function without it, I really do. That's the main goal. I've made up my mind that there are no compromises in this fight; I'm seeing this through until the very end so I can finally, truly be free from all of it..

Antidepressants don't actually cause addiction.

Man, I am so jealous, Brandon Lopez6 😁 seriously, how on earth did you pull that off!?

silentmarlin76 said:The thing is, though—and this is where it gets messy—those basic anti-anxiety meds or sleep aids don't necessarily hook you the same way, but stuff like benzodiazepines, Xanax, or Ativan? They definitely create that dependency... which makes things super sketchy when you try to quit, which is exactly what I'm dealing with right now, so I'm basically going through withdrawal hell..

I actually managed to drop the basic anti-anxiety stuff all at once, and man, those three weeks of fighting insomnia were brutal, but things are finally starting to level out, and nothing else really bothered me with those. But with the benzos, I have to taper off slowly because if I stop cold turkey, I get these massive panic attacks, these weird emotional "hallucinations" where everything feels unreal, you know? It's heavy..

I'm also working on weaning myself off Xanax, because without it, I honestly feel so foggy that I can barely even process a single thought... so I'm taking it one tiny step at a time. Plus there's this one other medication that everyone seems to swear by, but it's the one that sends me into my absolute worst withdrawals... but I know I can function without it, I really do. That's the main goal. I've made up my mind that there are no compromises in this fight; I'm seeing this through until the very end so I can finally, truly be free from all of it..

I find myself grappling with a rather unsettling realization lately; it seems that Hypnotik has cultivated a certain dependency within me, particularly when it comes to the effects of Sanval.
It is difficult for me to provide an exact assessment regarding my experience with Xanax, primarily because I was never entirely untethered from its influence to begin with; however, I did not feel as though I had developed a significant tolerance to it. While my ultimate ambition is to purge my system of every single one of these substances, the most daunting obstacle remains the loss of my "sleep aid." It is that specific reliance—that crutch used to force the mind into stillness—that makes the prospect of total sobriety feel so incredibly heavy.

Honestly, man, going cold turkey on the Xanax and Valium has been hitting me like a freight train... I’m really struggling out here.
It’s just so hard to get used to actually falling asleep on your own after relying on those sleeping pills for so long, you know? In my experience, it takes at least a month of grinding through it before your body finally remembers how to just shut down naturally without help. That’s what happened with me, anyway.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I find myself grappling with a rather unsettling realization lately; it seems that Hypnotik has cultivated a certain dependency within me, particularly when it comes to the effects of Sanval.
It is difficult for me to provide an exact assessment regarding my experience with Xanax, primarily because I was never entirely untethered from its influence to begin with; however, I did not feel as though I had developed a significant tolerance to it. While my ultimate ambition is to purge my system of every single one of these substances, the most daunting obstacle remains the loss of my "sleep aid." It is that specific reliance—that crutch used to force the mind into stillness—that makes the prospect of total sobriety feel so incredibly heavy.

Sanval is highly addictive, and you really shouldn't be on it for an extended period...

silentmarlin76 said:Honestly, man, going cold turkey on the Xanax and Valium has been hitting me like a freight train... I’m really struggling out here.
It’s just so hard to get used to actually falling asleep on your own after relying on those sleeping pills for so long, you know? In my experience, it takes at least a month of grinding through it before your body finally remembers how to just shut down naturally without help. That’s what happened with me, anyway.

Zoloft is a strange one. I’ve been on it for quite a while now, and if I miss even a single dose, my eyes start twitching left and right the very next day... plus I get this weird, unsettling nausea. It’s bizarre. I was also reading up on it, and apparently, for one antidepressant, it's a pretty intense ride. If you're trying to taper off, you have to go incredibly slow, essentially removing one tiny little bead at a time. Technically, antidepressants aren't supposed to be addictive—that's more the territory of anxiolytics. Thank God I don't have that problem... 😁
Has anyone here actually dealt with Depakote? It’s primarily prescribed for epilepsy, but they use it as a mood stabilizer too. It feels a little strange to me...