Psychotropic medication discussion thread

crimsonheron80 said:Thanks for asking. 🙂

I started on Xanax. For sleep, I've been using Melatonin. As for the antidepressants, I decided to stay put until I can see a psychiatrist. My thoughts aren't quite as dark anymore—likely thanks to the Xanax. I even took 6 Melatonin last night.😍

Why so many?😕

wiredfalcon21 said:My experience with Wellbutrin was quite poor, so my doctor switched me back to Faverin, and I am doing okay now.

So, what was the actual experience like—was it just side effects that were killing you, or did it simply fail to do anything at all? Also, what kind of dosage were we talking about, and what prompted the move from Faverin to Wellbutrin in the first place?

amberdriver85 said:So, what was the actual experience like—was it just side effects that were killing you, or did it simply fail to do anything at all? Also, what kind of dosage were we talking about, and what prompted the move from Faverin to Wellbutrin in the first place?

I was taking one 150 mg Wellbutrin XR in the evening. It didn't sit well with me; I felt constantly irritable—though I can't be certain if that was the medication or something else entirely. I only made the switch because my doctor suggested it. Currently, I am taking one Faverin at night.☕

ironfox222 said:ANYONE KNOWING ANYTHING????
my boyfriend's been having manic episodes and he's in the psych ward for the third time now. he was on Zyprexa and some other stuff before but it didn't seem to work, so now they've got him on Lithium. i did a little reading but i'm still lost on what it actually does and if it'll even help him. what's the big difference between those two meds?? also read that lithium can be lethal in high doses... how much is too much? like, is it dangerous if he just takes one too early or if he actually misses the mark on the dosage??

For manic-depressive psychosis, Lithium carbonate is usually the go-to choice. It can definitely be dangerous if someone takes too much. That's why doctors always insist on checking serum Lithium levels once a week when you first start treatment.
Usually, they'll get the therapy started while he's still in the hospital.
I copied some info here about what can happen during Lithium toxicity (overdose):
Early signs of toxicity include worsening stomach issues, muscle weakness, trouble with coordination, or feeling foggy and lethargic. As the toxic effects ramp up, you might see ataxia, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, heavy tremors, muscle spasms, and increased amounts of diluted urine. If blood concentrations climb above 2-3 mmol/l, things get serious—disorientation increases, and it can lead to seizures, coma, or even death.
So, bottom line: follow the psychiatrist's instructions to the letter and make sure he goes to all his Lithium level checks.👍

amberdriver85 said:What’s everyone’s experience been like with Wellbutrin?
I was on Lexapro for a few months, and after about two months at two and a half pills a day, I felt relatively okay. Based on my psychiatrist's advice, I tried tapering down to just one Lexapro a day after two months, but things started going downhill fast. I ended up bumping back up to the 2.5 dose, but even after another two months, I wasn't feeling any better, so my doctor suggested switching over to Wellbutrin 300.
The initial transition was absolutely brutal, but I've been on it for a month now and the worst of it has passed—though I still haven't noticed any actual improvement in my mood.
How long does it usually take before you start seeing real results? 😢

Wellbutrin is one of the newer antidepressants on the market. Just keep in mind that for any antidepressant to actually kick in, you usually need to be on it consistently for at least six months. That said, there’s no magic formula here—just because it works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for everyone. There are no universal rules when it comes to this stuff.😉
Wellbutrin is definitely one of the most popular options out there.
Even the most highly prescribed antidepressants out there work this way. It hits both dopamine and norepinephrine, but it actually has a much stronger effect on one than the other.
It’s all about that dopamine versus norepinephrine balance. Originally, though, it was actually designed to help people quit smoking because it works by blocking those nicotine receptors.
It works on the receptors similarly to how Zyban does on the market. Honestly, it’s one of the more potent antidepressants out there, and its effectiveness is right on par with...
Effexor seems to have a lower relapse rate for depressive symptoms when you compare it to... Effexor.
It’s pretty common to see this used as an add-on therapy—basically acting as a "boost" to your main antidepressant, most often when paired with an SSRI.
So, basically, if your psychiatrist thinks what you're on isn't cutting it, they might suggest adding an SSRI to the mix alongside your current antidepressant.
To put it simply, if we don't see any progress, the next logical step is to add an antidepressant from a completely different class to the mix.

crimsonheron80 said:Thanks for asking. 🙂

I started on Xanax. For sleep, I've been using Melatonin. As for the antidepressants, I decided to stay put until I can see a psychiatrist. My thoughts aren't quite as dark anymore—likely thanks to the Xanax. I even took 6 Melatonin last night.😍

That is honestly pretty scary. You're playing a dangerous game here. Are you trying to end it all? The recommended dose is 10 mg for really bad insomnia. In extreme cases, maybe 15—definitely no more than 20 mg.
If you took six 5 mg pills, that’s 30 mg of Ambien. I really hope you didn't take six 10 mg ones. That would be 60 mg.😲😲😲
You could seriously wreck your liver. You could even face heart or breathing failure in your sleep. 😲

granitefalcon26 said:

That is honestly pretty scary. You're playing a dangerous game here. Are you trying to end it all? The recommended dose is 10 mg for really bad insomnia. In extreme cases, maybe 15—definitely no more than 20 mg.
If you took six 5 mg pills, that’s 30 mg of Ambien. I really hope you didn't take six 10 mg ones. That would be 60 mg.😲😲😲
You could seriously wreck your liver. You could even face heart or breathing failure in your sleep. 😲

I guess that's just her way of checking out! Can we actually stop someone from doing that? No, we can't. And don't be naive—do you really think she doesn't realize what she's doing when she swallows all those pills?

granitefalcon26 said:

That is honestly pretty scary. You're playing a dangerous game here. Are you trying to end it all? The recommended dose is 10 mg for really bad insomnia. In extreme cases, maybe 15—definitely no more than 20 mg.
If you took six 5 mg pills, that’s 30 mg of Ambien. I really hope you didn't take six 10 mg ones. That would be 60 mg.😲😲😲
You could seriously wreck your liver. You could even face heart or breathing failure in your sleep. 😲

Yeah, I did. Honestly, I couldn't care less about my liver or heart failure. 😬

And I wasn't trying to kill myself; if that were the case, I would have taken a lot more.

Hey everyone!
I’ve been on Celexa for about a year now. It really did the trick for me, even though the start was absolute hell. I was incredibly restless and couldn't catch a wink of sleep. My doctor prescribed some pills—I think they were something like Ativan—to deal with the side effects from the Celexa, but I just wasn't feeling them. That lasted maybe a week and a half, and then—just like yekilie said—everything totally turned around. Not even kidding, I actually felt this weird sense of bliss 🙂
dani69, look, I’m telling you—go see a psychiatrist and just hear what they have to say. Whatever you do, don't just quit cold turkey. I feel great now, and sometimes I go a couple days without my pill because I forget, and I don't notice any difference, but still—I wouldn't just stop taking them out of nowhere. I'm waiting until my doctor tells me it's okay to taper down before I finally quit.
BeautifullyChaotic, I honestly think it didn't work for you just because your body reacts differently. When my doctor put me on Celexa, she was basically like, "we'll see how this goes," and if it wasn't working or making me feel better, she would've switched me to something else. So don't sweat it if it didn't help you; there are plenty of other meds out there that might 🙂

granitefalcon26 said:


Wellbutrin is one of the newer antidepressants on the market. Just keep in mind that for any antidepressant to actually kick in, you usually need to be on it consistently for at least six months. That said, there’s no magic formula here—just because it works for one person doesn't mean it'll work for everyone. There are no universal rules when it comes to this stuff.😉
Wellbutrin is definitely one of the most popular options out there.
Even the most highly prescribed antidepressants out there work this way. It hits both dopamine and norepinephrine, but it actually has a much stronger effect on one than the other.
It’s all about that dopamine versus norepinephrine balance. Originally, though, it was actually designed to help people quit smoking because it works by blocking those nicotine receptors.
It works on the receptors similarly to how Zyban does on the market. Honestly, it’s one of the more potent antidepressants out there, and its effectiveness is right on par with...
Effexor seems to have a lower relapse rate for depressive symptoms when you compare it to... Effexor.
It’s pretty common to see this used as an add-on therapy—basically acting as a "boost" to your main antidepressant, most often when paired with an SSRI.
So, basically, if your psychiatrist thinks what you're on isn't cutting it, they might suggest adding an SSRI to the mix alongside your current antidepressant.
To put it simply, if we don't see any progress, the next logical step is to add an antidepressant from a completely different class to the mix.

Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

That’s just not how it works. Medicine isn't math—there aren't any universal rules. I'm speaking from experience here.
The attacks might decrease, but they probably won't stop entirely.

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

That med is a newer antidepressant. It only came out last year. It's made by GlaxoSmithKline, so it's not prescribed very often. That's why I did a little digging online.
It works similarly to Effexor. Apparently, it has fewer side effects. Effexor is a generic product and is covered by Medicare, which is why psychiatrists prescribe it way more than Wellbutrin. Though, if I'm being honest, it's actually worked better for me because I have fewer relapses than I did on Effexor.
When it comes to Effexor versus Wellbutrin, experience shows that taking these alone without an SSRI doesn't really lead to clinical improvement for patients.😉

Nicole Nelson77 said:Don't try to act like a doctor here...🙄

Most people start feeling the effects of antidepressants after about 4 to 5 weeks.

Wellbutrin is one of the most popular
and frequently prescribed antidepressants globally. It works on two fronts—dopamine and norepinephrine—though its impact on dopamine is twice as strong
compared to its effect on norepinephrine. Originally, it was even intended to help people quit smoking because it blocks nicotine
receptors... .........

Just a little bit of copy-pasting from some depression forum and you think you're an expert...🤣

http://www.depression-forum.com/thread/9065.php

It's rare for a "standard" psychiatrist to prescribe Wellbutrin since many patients don't really need it, which is why it isn't typically covered by Medicare.
Neurohormones are deeply interconnected, and by stimulating dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, you risk disrupting acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and other hormones... unknown interactions occur, and that's why psychiatrists tend to be extremely cautious.

Nice Google search skills. 😂🤣

I was genuinely stunned today. 😢 I went to see my psychiatrist and laid everything out—how the suicidal thoughts are following me around 24/7. His response? He just asked which medication I wanted to take. I mean, what am I, his doctor? Am I supposed to know which one fits? We eventually settled on Faverin since it’s the only one left on my list, so he wrote that down. Then he had the nerve to ask what else I wanted for calming down. I told him Ativan. He asks if I meant the 5mg dose. I said no, the 10mg (because, honestly, that's the dose I'm aiming for to end it all). He just goes, "Ah, okay, 10mg. What else do you need?" Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke at the clinic?

To top it off, I finally asked him to just tell me what my diagnosis actually is, because I can't stop thinking about suicide. He just shrugs and says, "Come on, I've told you this a dozen times, you have Borderline Personality Disorder." I asked what that actually means. He tells me, "It means you are who you are—an incredibly immature person who struggles and tends toward self-destruction." Oh, wow. Thanks for that. Much appreciated. 🙂☕

So I’ve been on Effexor for almost two and a half months now and honestly? Still nothing. Like, zero effect so far! Personally, I thought Faverin was great, and Lexapro worked pretty well for me too...

Does anyone have experience with other serotonin reuptake inhibitors that aren't total garbage? I feel like they just work better for me than those dual-action ones😁

crimsonheron80 said:I was genuinely stunned today. 😢 I went to see my psychiatrist and laid everything out—how the suicidal thoughts are following me around 24/7. His response? He just asked which medication I wanted to take. I mean, what am I, his doctor? Am I supposed to know which one fits? We eventually settled on Faverin since it’s the only one left on my list, so he wrote that down. Then he had the nerve to ask what else I wanted for calming down. I told him Ativan. He asks if I meant the 5mg dose. I said no, the 10mg (because, honestly, that's the dose I'm aiming for to end it all). He just goes, "Ah, okay, 10mg. What else do you need?" Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke at the clinic?

To top it off, I finally asked him to just tell me what my diagnosis actually is, because I can't stop thinking about suicide. He just shrugs and says, "Come on, I've told you this a dozen times, you have Borderline Personality Disorder." I asked what that actually means. He tells me, "It means you are who you are—an incredibly immature person who struggles and tends toward self-destruction." Oh, wow. Thanks for that. Much appreciated. 🙂☕

Which psychiatrist?

The first acute phase usually lasts about four to six weeks. If someone responds well to an antidepressant, you might see some light at the end of the tunnel after maybe two or three weeks, and symptoms typically drop by about 40-50% after three or four weeks. I guess if there’s no real improvement after four to six weeks of sticking to the right dosage, we should probably switch things up and try a different class of drugs—something with a totally different mechanism of action. Swapping one antidepressant for another really only makes sense if the current one, used properly at a therapeutic dose for at least four weeks (though ideally six to eight), just isn't cutting it or if the side effects are way too rough to handle. One big reason things fail is probably sub-dosing—basically taking less than what's actually needed—and stopping the meds too early is a huge reason why people relapse.

Once things are looking good, you move into phase two: maintenance therapy, which needs to last for a year. The whole goal here is just to keep those depressive episodes from coming back. During this stage, you're basically staying on the same dose you used during the acute phase. For patients who don't necessarily need prophylaxis (like if it was their first episode and they went into full remission), we gradually taper off the medication. But for folks who deal with these episodes super frequently, they’ll likely need preventative therapy for at least five years, or even for life. And if we eventually decide to stop treatment, it definitely has to be done gradually.

dustyangler2 said:So I’ve been on Effexor for almost two and a half months now and honestly? Still nothing. Like, zero effect so far! Personally, I thought Faverin was great, and Lexapro worked pretty well for me too...

Does anyone have experience with other serotonin reuptake inhibitors that aren't total garbage? I feel like they just work better for me than those dual-action ones😁

I don't quite get why you're switching things up. If Cipralex or Fevarin actually worked for you, why did your doctor change your prescription in the first place?🤷

dustyangler2 said:The first acute phase usually lasts about four to six weeks. If someone responds well to an antidepressant, you might see some light at the end of the tunnel after maybe two or three weeks, and symptoms typically drop by about 40-50% after three or four weeks. I guess if there’s no real improvement after four to six weeks of sticking to the right dosage, we should probably switch things up and try a different class of drugs—something with a totally different mechanism of action. Swapping one antidepressant for another really only makes sense if the current one, used properly at a therapeutic dose for at least four weeks (though ideally six to eight), just isn't cutting it or if the side effects are way too rough to handle. One big reason things fail is probably sub-dosing—basically taking less than what's actually needed—and stopping the meds too early is a huge reason why people relapse.

Once things are looking good, you move into phase two: maintenance therapy, which needs to last for a year. The whole goal here is just to keep those depressive episodes from coming back. During this stage, you're basically staying on the same dose you used during the acute phase. For patients who don't necessarily need prophylaxis (like if it was their first episode and they went into full remission), we gradually taper off the medication. But for folks who deal with these episodes super frequently, they’ll likely need preventative therapy for at least five years, or even for life. And if we eventually decide to stop treatment, it definitely has to be done gradually.

That would pretty much describe my situation. Over the last five years, I’ve been hit with incredibly heavy depressive episodes quite frequently. Or, if I’m being honest, I feel like I’ve just lived in a constant state of depression, anxiety, and OCD. It’s deeply rooted in my family genetics; there are plenty of us struggling, with far too many instances of suicides and hospitalizations... But honestly, I don't mind, even if it means taking antidepressants for the rest of my life, provided they actually work. It beats living half-dead. People take medication daily for diabetes, heart issues, or blood pressure without anyone batting an eye... yet somehow, everyone looks at psychotropic drugs with such intense scrutiny.🤷

mistyheron8 said:That would pretty much describe my situation. Over the last five years, I’ve been hit with incredibly heavy depressive episodes quite frequently. Or, if I’m being honest, I feel like I’ve just lived in a constant state of depression, anxiety, and OCD. It’s deeply rooted in my family genetics; there are plenty of us struggling, with far too many instances of suicides and hospitalizations... But honestly, I don't mind, even if it means taking antidepressants for the rest of my life, provided they actually work. It beats living half-dead. People take medication daily for diabetes, heart issues, or blood pressure without anyone batting an eye... yet somehow, everyone looks at psychotropic drugs with such intense scrutiny.🤷

It's just because people are being primitive ☕

Don't even sweat it! In the USA, almost everyone sees a psychiatrist or therapist and takes some kind of medication... I mean, half of Hollywood is on drugs! But we're talking actual drugs, not pills, so everyone loves them and cries about them or whatever!

A pill is a pill! You really think synthetic proteins are healthy? 🤣 Even the apples you eat aren't as natural as they used to be!

Honestly, I managed to get off my meds for a few years, then it hit me again. Oh well, life goes on, I guess. 😉

Just try to find something that makes you happy and stay spontaneous. 🙂

dustyangler2 said:Autogenic training is THE Greatest, at least if you ask me!

With a trip or without?

hollowtinker18 said:With a trip or without?

Haven't tried it with a trip yet, I guess😁