Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Kevin Hayes83 said:It looks like everyone here is basically a PhD in psychopharmacology or something. I’m curious what you guys think, though. I’ve been dealing with these occasional panic attacks lately. We thought maybe it was my heart or my thyroid, but after doing every single test under the sun, everything organic is fine—well, except for an irritated stomach...

So, over the last two years, I’ve had about five attacks. They’re starting to get pretty unsettling. My heart starts racing, I feel like I can’t breathe... at first, I used to just take some Ativan, but now my doctor has me on this regimen: 11mg Concor 1.25, then one Misar 0.5 during the day, and one Xanax 0.25 at night because I keep waking up and can't sleep...

Given how often these attacks happen, should I actually talk to my doctor about maybe starting an antidepressant? Or should I just try to tough it out with this current setup? She basically told me I'm just being paranoid and need to chill out on my own...

The thing is, I see all the side effects and bullshit associated with SSRIs, so that’s why I’m asking...

Anyway, when I was on the 2.5 dose of Concor, I didn't have any anxiety issues, but it was causing other problems, so they dropped me down to 1.5. Now I don't have those complications, but the nerves are back...

I've been on this combo of Misar and Xanax for about a month now...

Go see a real doctor.
This one clearly doesn't know what they're doing.
Xanax and Misar are essentially the same thing—there's no point in prescribing both. Also, as far as I know, you shouldn't be using them for sleep. And you really shouldn't be on them for longer than a month. Ideally, you should only take them when things are actually hitting the fan—like right before a panic attack. Not as a permanent fix.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I’m a bit confused by the logic here—Xanax and Misar are essentially the same type of medication, so I don't quite grasp why one is taken during the day and the other at night.
And regarding the Concor, you mentioned you weren't nervous on the 2.5mg dose? I take 5mg for blood pressure, and while lower doses are typically prescribed for tachycardia, I certainly haven't seen any evidence suggesting it has an impact on nervousness.

She explained to me that xanax makes you more drowsy, which is true, whereas misar just calms you down... which is also true, at least that's how it hits me..

First they gave me a total placebo, but I couldn't stand it. Then, after a mountain of tests, my cardiologist put me on Concor 2.5 and Ativan as needed. For six months on that regimen, I felt great. I maybe took Ativan twice when I could sense a panic attack coming on. But after that period, I started getting this tightness in my throat, trouble breathing, constant chest pains—especially on the left side—and my arm would go numb at night. I asked to change my meds, and right after switching off the Concor, I felt this intense nervousness, like nothing I had while on the 2.5 dose. My morning pulse was hitting 100, my blood pressure went haywire... honestly, just terrible experiences trying to taper off a beta-blocker, at least that's how it worked for me..

After that, they gave me xanax, like I said, 0.25 twice a day, but it made me sleepy during the day, so she added misar to settle those nerves..

I guess if I knew then what I know now, that in my case it was just panic attacks and nothing to do with my heart, I never would've let them put me on beta-blockers.. But man, I didn't know. And since I paid for all those tests myself, I figured out pretty quickly that my organs are actually fine..

I assume because of all the side effects from antidepressants, my doctor didn't jump straight to them, especially since she emphasized that I'm physically okay and just need to get my head right..

Anyway, I'm stable for now and the meds are fine, though that Concor 1.25 is basically just there so my heart rate doesn't hit the ceiling when I get excited. Usually, my BP is around 130-140 over 80-90 and my resting pulse is about 65-70.. I'm 225 lbs at 5'11" (was 249 lbs) when the first panic attack hit..

I'll be on this therapy for another month or so, then I'll see how it goes and decide with the doctor whether to taper off the anxiolytics or try something else..

Basically, I did all my testing privately, mostly in New York City. If my private shrink were closer, I'd probably go to him for advice, but I feel like he'd just toss me straight onto antidepressants. The public health clinics near me... well, people say they don't really listen, they just brush you off, especially if you're young..

The doctor I see always listens to me and gives advice, which means a lot, so I try not to doubt the treatment since she's been in the field for 30 years..

@vegga, I don't know how long you've been on Concor, but it's not exactly harmless, especially when you're coming off it. You can find plenty online about people having a rough time tapering off blockers. Everyone is different, though; it was a mess for me, but that doesn't mean it will be for everyone..

neontiger4 said:Go see a real doctor.
This one clearly doesn't know what they're doing.
Xanax and Misar are essentially the same thing—there's no point in prescribing both. Also, as far as I know, you shouldn't be using them for sleep. And you really shouldn't be on them for longer than a month. Ideally, you should only take them when things are actually hitting the fan—like right before a panic attack. Not as a permanent fix.

Switching doctors is definitely on the table, though from what I understand, for an anxiolytic to actually work properly, you're supposed to take it for at least a month or two to pull yourself out of that extreme anxiety state. Then you're meant to taper off slowly and get off it entirely... Correct me if I'm wrong here, especially if any of you guys are actual MDs, because I don't want us all just guessing based on stuff we read on random forums.

Jason Vaughn482 said:Ten milligrams???😲 My goodness, how on earth did you end up on a dosage like that?

my bad, I meant 0.10 mg... honestly, we always tend to drop the zero when talking about these things, so people just say 10 or 5 and stuff, and things get messy... oh man, that sounded totally wild, my mistake🤣

@Kevin Hayes83, those prescriptions aren't exactly standard, so maybe head over to the nearest clinic and find yourself a real psychiatrist!!

Don't get me wrong, I’m just asking for your takes here, but unless you've actually taken them yourself, saying Xanax and Mister are the same thing is just plain stupid. I mean, sure, they share a basic substance, but the way they actually hit you? Totally different.

Xanax; hits me in like 10 minutes, makes me sleepy, and lasts maybe 3-4 hours on a 0.25 dose.

Mister; takes way longer to kick in, like 45 minutes to an hour, doesn't really make me sleepy, but it sticks around for 5-7 hours.

That’s just how it works for me, anyway. I tried Helex once too, but I ended up breaking out in some weird rash from it...

Honestly, it’s kind of a wash with all these different manufacturers... it’s pretty much like buying the exact same car just in a different color, you know? Like, it looks different on the box, but under the hood, it's basically the same ride.
TL;DR: Just head over to the first psychiatrist you can find at your local community health center!

Kevin Hayes83 said:Don't get me wrong, I’m just asking for your takes here, but unless you've actually taken them yourself, saying Xanax and Mister are the same thing is just plain stupid. I mean, sure, they share a basic substance, but the way they actually hit you? Totally different.

Xanax; hits me in like 10 minutes, makes me sleepy, and lasts maybe 3-4 hours on a 0.25 dose.

Mister; takes way longer to kick in, like 45 minutes to an hour, doesn't really make me sleepy, but it sticks around for 5-7 hours.

That’s just how it works for me, anyway. I tried Helex once too, but I ended up breaking out in some weird rash from it...

If I were you, I'd go see a solid psychiatrist, even if you have to pay out of pocket for someone highly recommended.
My doctor told me the same thing—take Mister for a month because my anxiety was through the roof. But honestly? I noticed that you could get hooked in just a month, or even faster, and start developing a psychological dependency before you know it. I felt my tolerance building up after only five doses. They usually recommend a month max, but in my experience, you don't need nearly that long to start feeling the pull. Now, I only take it when it's absolutely necessary—maybe once a month at most. The only time I take Mister is when I need total silence in my brain. It feels like what non-anxious people feel all the time—it’s such a good sensation that you actually need some serious willpower not to want it constantly. I managed to stop in time because I'm not really the type to struggle with addiction; I've got decent self-control, but man, it was tempting.
Using pills to fix insomnia is also a slippery slope—once you get used to falling asleep with a pill, sleeping normally becomes its own struggle. There are actual relaxation techniques that can help with sleep. If you're interested, I can tell you what my nightly routine is to get me out in under 20 minutes.

I think psychotherapy might be more helpful for you in the long run. Don't just lean on Xanax and Mister, because then you won't ever learn how to actually manage anxiety without relying on meds. So, my advice? Be careful with the benzos and go see a real professional.

@Kevin Hayes83, man, you gotta choose—either go with the Xanax or the Mister... just pick one and stick to it. If you start mixing them, you're looking at an addiction problem in like a month or two. Some people say there's this specific 21-day mark where everything changes, and after that, trying to quit those pills becomes a massive uphill battle. And honestly, you should really take what neontiger4 is saying to heart..

silentmarlin76 said:Honestly, it’s kind of a wash with all these different manufacturers... it’s pretty much like buying the exact same car just in a different color, you know? Like, it looks different on the box, but under the hood, it's basically the same ride.
TL;DR: Just head over to the first psychiatrist you can find at your local community health center!

The core active ingredient that makes up a medication isn't perfectly identical across every single manufacturer.
Even tiny variations in ratios are enough to say, quite frankly, that these aren't the same drugs.
For instance, Seroquel, Zyprexa, or Quetiapine—logically, they should all be essentially the same, right? But they are far from it.
Of course, a huge part of how it works depends on the patient; we aren't all built the same way.

Today I went looking for Zonadin (to help me sleep) and they told me there's a shortage in the US, but they have this substitute... Sanval !!!
Absolute nonsense.

Why would Helex cause a rash or whatever else in one person, yet it doesn't happen to someone else??

Your argument just doesn't hold water.
People taking these medications shouldn't be making claims about things we simply don't know.

silentmarlin76 said:Man, I am so jealous, Brandon Lopez6 😁 seriously, how on earth did you pull that off!?

If I'm lying, then every single psychiatrist I've ever seen is a liar too. Seriously, how'd you manage to talk your way into it? 😬

So, I’m reading about this whole obsession with popping Xanax, Lexapro, or Misoprostol again, and I can't help but wonder why it doesn't hit me like that. Not that I actually want it to, but I just don't get how people get hooked when I don't even feel anything beyond just... being normal. You know? Just the usual mix of feeling bummed out or happy, and every once in a while, that rare moment where things finally feel "quiet" in my head. 🤔

Brandon Lopez6 said:So, I’m reading about this whole obsession with popping Xanax, Lexapro, or Misoprostol again, and I can't help but wonder why it doesn't hit me like that. Not that I actually want it to, but I just don't get how people get hooked when I don't even feel anything beyond just... being normal. You know? Just the usual mix of feeling bummed out or happy, and every once in a while, that rare moment where things finally feel "quiet" in my head. 🤔

Man, if only it worked like that for me.🤦
For me, feeling "normal" on it is still way better than my actual everyday baseline. But once those four hours are up and it wears off, it’s like I just crash, and then I get so incredibly irritated because I just want to feel that good again. And yeah, the cravings are real whenever I take it. It's pure junk. Just impossible to handle.

silentmarlin76 said:my bad, I meant 0.10 mg... honestly, we always tend to drop the zero when talking about these things, so people just say 10 or 5 and stuff, and things get messy... oh man, that sounded totally wild, my mistake🤣

@Kevin Hayes83, those prescriptions aren't exactly standard, so maybe head over to the nearest clinic and find yourself a real psychiatrist!!

Are we talking about 1 mg, or perhaps two 0.5 mg doses per day? Honestly, I can't imagine how difficult it is to wean yourself off this stuff; I haven't even taken a dose in two days, despite having been on anything from 0.5 to 1.5 mg for five years now, and I don't feel a thing.

neontiger4 said:Man, if only it worked like that for me.🤦
For me, feeling "normal" on it is still way better than my actual everyday baseline. But once those four hours are up and it wears off, it’s like I just crash, and then I get so incredibly irritated because I just want to feel that good again. And yeah, the cravings are real whenever I take it. It's pure junk. Just impossible to handle.

The only difference I notice is that once I take it, the panic stops. I still feel fear, sure, but it never spirals out of control. I space my doses out by a few hours and I never really feel that "crash" you're talking about. Sometimes I even skip a dose and I don't feel any dip at all.
I end up taking it more often because I'm hooked, and honestly, the only thing that starts bothering me after a while are the withdrawal symptoms (after maybe 18 hours), but that's a whole other conversation. My body isn't asking for a higher dose; what I'm on right now is perfect. I was planning on getting off Helex, but with work being what it is, that would be way too much stress. Besides, I barely even take it at home—mostly just for work or while I'm actually at the office.

Seriously, I've never felt anything weird, not even at the start. No special buzz or anything, just—no panic. It doesn't numb me out, it doesn't make me sleepy (even back when some incompetent doctor had me on massive doses), and it doesn't kill my emotions... with this stuff, I guess I'm just the person I would've been if I didn't have panic attacks and phobias.

And
it doesn't mess with my appetite. Not one way or the other.

Thanks for the input. I’ve got a follow-up appointment in about twenty days, so I’ll just see how things shake out then. Honestly, I feel okay right now, so I'm not going to obsess over it too much or stress myself out.

Does anyone know of a decent substitute for an anxiolytic that isn't some kind of antidepressant?

Basically, I can fall asleep, but then I'm wide awake at 4 or 6 in the morning, and once that happens, getting back to sleep is a nightmare... I'm totally wired.

Kevin Hayes83 said:Thanks for the input. I’ve got a follow-up appointment in about twenty days, so I’ll just see how things shake out then. Honestly, I feel okay right now, so I'm not going to obsess over it too much or stress myself out.

Does anyone know of a decent substitute for an anxiolytic that isn't some kind of antidepressant?

Basically, I can fall asleep, but then I'm wide awake at 4 or 6 in the morning, and once that happens, getting back to sleep is a nightmare... I'm totally wired.

Look, anxiolytics like Misar or Xanax work immediately. Regarding sleep, don't focus on that right now; someone else already mentioned relaxation techniques. Honestly, nothing regarding this medication regimen will change significantly before your check-up, especially in terms of building a habit. If it were any other situation, every general practitioner in the country would likely refer you straight to a psychiatrist before even considering prescribing Xanax. Try to view this current period as a testing phase. Perhaps try skipping a single dose one day just to observe how you feel. It isn't a certainty that you will end up needing an antidepressant. Based on my assessment, your attacks don't seem frequent enough to warrant that. However, I would strongly suggest finding a psychologist to talk to; they can provide you with practical techniques to manage panic attacks. If things don't improve, seek out a psychiatrist after your follow-up—but make sure they are also a psychotherapist, as seeing a psychiatrist alone often isn't enough. If they determine an antidepressant is necessary, then so be it. Generally speaking, that approach is much more beneficial than relying on Xanax. That said, none of us can tell you definitively whether you need an antidepressant; you need a professional evaluation in person. Just stay brave. Don't worry too much about the Xanax right now; handle the follow-up first, see the specialist, and then decide on the next steps. And please, do not fear antidepressants; I doubt a doctor would prescribe them lightly.

As for the difference between Misar and Xanax, there is a very slight distinction that some people notice while others don't. My doctor mentioned that due to the pill's coating, the dissolution rate in the stomach can vary from person to person. But don't let that worry you right now. The most important thing is that you realized this wasn't a heart issue, but rather a panic response, especially since Lexaurin and Lexillium didn't provide the relief you needed. This is solvable through conversation. Even if you find yourself needing Xanax occasionally—say, once or twice a month—that is perfectly acceptable.

Best regards,

Of course, there are sleep aids available, but I wouldn't recommend them; I think we can all agree on that point. If you truly find yourself unable to rest, your best bet is to visit a local pharmacy and ask for something natural or perhaps some melatonin—though, if you want to be clever about it, tell them you're already taking Xanax.

Skickas fr

Jason Vaughn482 said:Are we talking about 1 mg, or perhaps two 0.5 mg doses per day? Honestly, I can't imagine how difficult it is to wean yourself off this stuff; I haven't even taken a dose in two days, despite having been on anything from 0.5 to 1.5 mg for five years now, and I don't feel a thing.

I'd say stick to 1 mg daily... the withdrawal usually hits hard around day four. Hang in there, hope you make it through okay!!

Honestly, all these meds make me feel absolutely miserable when I try to taper off... I get so mentally unstable, physically paralyzed, and I've actually had narcoleptic episodes twice now.

They bring people into the ward who are struggling like crazy trying to kick Normabir or Xanax. They end up treating them with phenobarbital just so they can survive the detox process.

Brandon Lopez6 said:If I'm lying, then every single psychiatrist I've ever seen is a liar too. Seriously, how'd you manage to talk your way into it? 😬

Effexor... when I was off it, I remember posting a bunch of stuff here asking what was happening to me... anyway, I'm genuinely happy for you, truly.🙂

Some ADs—not all of them, mind you—definitely create dependency. Davor Moravek is one of the sources for that info... so yeah, either psychiatrists are feeding you lines or that one specific doctor you talked to was. Just curious, can you tell me which one told you that? Basically, you just have to get lucky with which AD you end up with.😉

Bluzara said:
Why would Helex cause a rash or whatever else, but it doesn't happen to someone else??

Honestly, what you're saying just doesn't hold water.
People who are actually on these medications really shouldn't be making such definitive claims about things we don't fully understand.

That’s why I mentioned that they’re basically the same thing... though, yeah, I guess that was a bad comparison. Let me try this instead: think of it like a license; a pack of Marlboro made in Boston should technically be identical to the ones made here in the States, right? But it isn't... the formula is slightly different, even though it still carries that Marlboro license.

So why? Because of the composition... there's something in there that just doesn't sit right.

I've tried Helex and Misar before, but I always ended up going back to Xanax because I just don't want to mess with anything that works.

Like, once they gave me Alvent instead of Velafax, I switched it right back immediately.

And now they're giving me grief with Sandoz, so I'm switching that back to Alkaloid.

There's just something about those pills—some have coatings, some are huge giants while others are tiny "identical" ones, some are bitter, some are sweet... it's all over the place. They play around with the ingredients, and who knows which specific component in the Helex formula triggered a rash in one person?

These big corporations are constantly competing, pushing their drugs by offering all sorts of perks to the medical professionals (not the actual patients)... so yeah, good luck with that.

Personally, I judge everything based on how it affects *me*, but I am absolutely loyal to my specific brands. If they try to swap them, I immediately complain to the clinic and demand they give me back the original medication that I've been taking forever without any issues! I'm basically acting like their little guinea pig, and if these companies keep trying to switch things up on me, I'm going to lose it. And then you hear stories like that guy getting a rash... honestly, how can you not get pissed off hearing stuff like that? It personally really bothers me, it's upsetting, and frankly, it makes me angry.

Alright, thanks for the input. I'll check back in after my checkup if I actually need anything..👍

@silentmarlin76, I’d probably head to a shrink, but there isn't a single private practice around here. The closest one is in New York City, so honestly, just to avoid making a whole thing out of it, I'll wait until after my appointment to see what my doctor thinks..

It seems like most of you are die-hard SSRI fans, but I trust her. Plus, since I felt totally fine on an increased dose of Concora—didn't have any of that jittery anxiety stuff—I'm leaning toward sticking with my current plan for now..

I'm pretty sure if I went to a shrink right now, they'd just shove me straight onto an SSRI. But if any of you actually bother reading the literature, you'd see we should probably try other options before just dumping everyone on those pills. And like I said, reading through these forums, this whole idea that anxiolytics cause addiction while SSRIs don't? I think you guys might be overcomplicating things, mostly because
once people start taking SSRIs, they stay on them for years. And don't even try to lecture me—I know people who took SSRIs for six months or a year, stopped, and were completely cured..