Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Walter Brown8 said:Soryy cow, I didn't catch that you were tapering off Paxil. I've only been on it for 27 days myself, and honestly, I haven't had many side effects—nothing serious, anyway.
And yeah, I'm taking Xanax alongside it, obviously, like a little side snack, but the antidepressant is definitely the MVP here.
So, how long have you been on it?

I've been on it for four years now. Is it effective? Absolutely. But man, getting off it is a massive struggle. If I could give you one piece of advice, don't wait as long as I did; try to stop sooner rather than later. Once you feel those last few symptoms fade, maybe about six months out, you should be able to clear it from your system.
This isn't my first rodeo when it comes to tapering, but I'm really hoping this is the final time. 👍

Double post

Roger Rodriguez said:No worries, kind wishes are always appreciated 😁

I'm sorry, I missed whether you mentioned exactly which medications you're on, but if you're only taking Xanax, I have to say your psychiatrist isn't being very responsible. He's filling you up with anxiolytics that create a massive dependency rather than actually treating the root cause.
Are you taking an antidepressant?
Xanax won't impact your sex life, but antidepressants definitely can; they aren't the same thing.
If I were you, I wouldn't increase the Xanax dose, or perhaps look into switching to something else entirely, because Xanax isn't going to cure you or provide long-term relief.
I'd love to know who this doctor is! 🙄
By the way, if you need something during pregnancy, you can take Ativan; it shouldn't harm the baby. 👍

When people get too high, doctors just start prescribing sedatives instead.

slywolf11 said:I went to see my psychiatrist and we talked things through; I explained that I'm feeling that surge of adrenaline again, like I have to constantly move and I'm hyperactive, plus that constant nervous knot in my stomach. He prescribed Xanax 0.5, both morning and night, and I've been taking it and feeling pretty good. I realized, though—and I feel like such an idiot—that when I looked at his report from about a month and a half ago, it listed Xanax 0.5, but I hadn't actually checked the prescription issued by my primary care physician (the paperwork in our healthcare system can be such a mess). It turns out the script actually said Xanax 0.25, just two boxes. So, I've essentially been taking Xanax 0.25 in the morning and at night instead of the 0.5 dose. I think I'll start taking the 0.5 starting tomorrow and see how it goes.
Xanax doesn't affect my sex life; I double-checked that as early as Wednesday 🙂 and everything was 👍, whereas while I was on Alvent, it was 👎.
Regarding pregnancy and Xanax, I plan to keep taking it right up until the moment I find out I'm pregnant. A year ago, I was pregnant and didn't take anything, and I lost twins, which absolutely destroyed me mentally. That's why I'm seeing a psychiatrist now. I suppose if it's meant to be fine, it will be fine, and if not 🤷....

Ah, sorry, I thought you were on antidepressants while you were pregnant. Just realized what your situation actually is ☕

Honestly, I don't know much about antidepressants, which is why I'm even on this forum trying to learn more, but that whole Xanax regimen sounds totally stupid to me. It just feels like getting hooked on an addiction you really don't need. I don't know...

I've been on Zoloft for four years and I'm now on day eight of Alvent because my doctor switched me over. I told him I wanted to get off antidepressants, so I guess this is just some kind of initial tapering phase 🤷. One reason people try to get off them is pregnancy, so if anyone knows anything more about that, please let me know, I'd really appreciate it 🙂

And yeah, what you said about if things are meant to happen, they will... unfortunately, that's just how it goes...

Hey everyone, just joined the group. I'm also dealing with the whole antidepressant situation
I’ve been on 20 mg of Paxil for about four weeks now, paired with Xanax at 0.25 mg three times a day because I was having
panic attacks—like when I’m riding the bus, those thoughts just start racing. I feel slightly better with this combo, but
whenever I actually have to meet up with someone or get things done, this nagging little anxiety starts taking over again.
Quick question about Paxil: how long does it actually take to kick in? I’ve heard from some people that it can take up to two months before you really feel the effects.
I’d love to hear from anyone else who’s on this specific med. THANKS

Jason Gray3 said:Hey everyone, just joined the group. I'm also dealing with the whole antidepressant situation
I’ve been on 20 mg of Paxil for about four weeks now, paired with Xanax at 0.25 mg three times a day because I was having
panic attacks—like when I’m riding the bus, those thoughts just start racing. I feel slightly better with this combo, but
whenever I actually have to meet up with someone or get things done, this nagging little anxiety starts taking over again.
Quick question about Paxil: how long does it actually take to kick in? I’ve heard from some people that it can take up to two months before you really feel the effects.
I’d love to hear from anyone else who’s on this specific med. THANKS

I didn't have great luck with Paxil. It didn't really do much for me—plus, it killed my libido. I ended up quitting cold turkey once, which was a huge mistake because the rebound effect hit me hard. The panic attacks were like ten times worse than before.😢

Nathan Kim10 said:I didn't have great luck with Paxil. It didn't really do much for me—plus, it killed my libido. I ended up quitting cold turkey once, which was a huge mistake because the rebound effect hit me hard. The panic attacks were like ten times worse than before.😢

The thing about the libido is totally real—it’s actually why I picked my username. 😛
So, what are you taking?

Jason Gray3 said:Hey everyone, just joined the group. I'm also dealing with the whole antidepressant situation
I’ve been on 20 mg of Paxil for about four weeks now, paired with Xanax at 0.25 mg three times a day because I was having
panic attacks—like when I’m riding the bus, those thoughts just start racing. I feel slightly better with this combo, but
whenever I actually have to meet up with someone or get things done, this nagging little anxiety starts taking over again.
Quick question about Paxil: how long does it actually take to kick in? I’ve heard from some people that it can take up to two months before you really feel the effects.
I’d love to hear from anyone else who’s on this specific med. THANKS

Check out the "Panic Disorder" thread; there are plenty of us there on Paxil, so you can read through everyone's experiences.
For me, it worked wonders—it was a total game-changer, and I haven't had a panic attack in over a year. Four weeks is still quite early in the process, so feeling a bit of residual anxiety is actually pretty common, but that should fade over time.
Don't forget about psychotherapy!
As for side effects, the only ones I dealt with were excessive sweating and some weight gain, though my libido stayed fine. What kind of side effects you might encounter—if any at all—is entirely up to your own body, so try not to overthink it too much.
I’d also suggest, as I've mentioned to others here, that you don't stay on it indefinitely and make sure to check in regularly with your psychiatrist. You can look back at some of my recent posts in this thread to see what I mean.

And what about Coaxil? How long are you actually allowed to stay on it? It says up to a year in the literature.

Roger Rodriguez said:Check out the "Panic Disorder" thread; there are plenty of us there on Paxil, so you can read through everyone's experiences.
For me, it worked wonders—it was a total game-changer, and I haven't had a panic attack in over a year. Four weeks is still quite early in the process, so feeling a bit of residual anxiety is actually pretty common, but that should fade over time.
Don't forget about psychotherapy!
As for side effects, the only ones I dealt with were excessive sweating and some weight gain, though my libido stayed fine. What kind of side effects you might encounter—if any at all—is entirely up to your own body, so try not to overthink it too much.
I’d also suggest, as I've mentioned to others here, that you don't stay on it indefinitely and make sure to check in regularly with your psychiatrist. You can look back at some of my recent posts in this thread to see what I mean.

Thanks, Roger Rodriguez—cool username.👍

Brandon Newman95 said:And what about Coaxil? How long are you actually allowed to stay on it? It says up to a year in the literature.

From what I understand, when dealing with things like panic disorders, various phobias, or general anxiety, therapy should typically be phased out about six months to a year after the symptoms have cleared. For some people, once they start an antidepressant, those symptoms vanish so quickly that they can stop treatment quite early on.
That said, if someone is still struggling and doesn't feel like themselves even a full year after starting treatment, shouldn't they just stay on it?

Robert Collins2 said:The real question I'm asking is whether you're actually strong enough to overcome that infantile, childish, fake-helpless side of yourself—you know, the one you're constantly projecting and putting on display right here on this forum?

Look, you just have to face the real world. I had to do it myself—a little bit of support here, some medication there, just doing whatever it takes to move forward.

Roger Rodriguez said:From what I understand, when dealing with things like panic disorders, various phobias, or general anxiety, therapy should typically be phased out about six months to a year after the symptoms have cleared. For some people, once they start an antidepressant, those symptoms vanish so quickly that they can stop treatment quite early on.
That said, if someone is still struggling and doesn't feel like themselves even a full year after starting treatment, shouldn't they just stay on it?

Well, my meds weren't right on the first try—still suspecting there might be some rare neurological issues involved. And honestly, it was my own fault for not being more aggressive about getting things sorted out sooner.
I deal with some weird labels, mostly anxious depression. Plus a few other diagnoses, mainly F-22—supposedly psychosomatic issues triggered by stress, especially since nothing was treated in a timely manner.

Brandon Newman95 said:Well, my meds weren't right on the first try—still suspecting there might be some rare neurological issues involved. And honestly, it was my own fault for not being more aggressive about getting things sorted out sooner.
I deal with some weird labels, mostly anxious depression. Plus a few other diagnoses, mainly F-22—supposedly psychosomatic issues triggered by stress, especially since nothing was treated in a timely manner.

Fair enough, but if you're taking Coaxil for one specific diagnosis, you'd be prescribed a different regimen if there were actually a neurological component involved. Generally speaking, once the symptoms of the mental health condition you're treating with C. begin to subside, the medication is typically phased out within a few months to a year after those symptoms disappear. Isn't that how the process usually works?

Nathan Kim10 said:I haven't seen a single case of that, nor have I ever heard of it.😉 Besides that, it's common knowledge that alcohol dilates blood vessels. A stroke happens either because a vessel gets blocked, leading to an infarct, or because a vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain.
In neither of those situations is there any mention of combining sedatives and alcohol being the cause.

Are you serious? 😁

Next time you wake up after ten hours of sleep following a massive bender—you know, once the alcohol and the psych meds finally wear off—try checking your blood pressure. Then, maybe, you can come back here and ramble on about how they can't cause a stroke.

crimsonhound80 said:Are you serious? 😁

Next time you wake up after ten hours of sleep following a massive bender—you know, once the alcohol and the psych meds finally wear off—try checking your blood pressure. Then, maybe, you can come back here and ramble on about how they can't cause a stroke.

Not possible. It's just a fact. Mixing sedatives with alcohol drops your blood pressure; it doesn't spike it. 😁
Just another troll.👎

Nathan Kim10 said:Not possible. It's just a fact. Mixing sedatives with alcohol drops your blood pressure; it doesn't spike it. 😁
Just another troll.👎

We are discussing antidepressants here, not sedatives.
In theory, you're right, but... since no antidepressant affects everyone the exact same way, who's to say your blood pressure won't drop when you mix them with alcohol? Those odds get even slimmer if you've had a few glasses of red wine, for instance. Not to mention people who already deal with fluctuating blood pressure levels.

Roger Rodriguez said:We are discussing antidepressants here, not sedatives.
In theory, you're right, but... since no antidepressant affects everyone the exact same way, who's to say your blood pressure won't drop when you mix them with alcohol? Those odds get even slimmer if you've had a few glasses of red wine, for instance. Not to mention people who already deal with fluctuating blood pressure levels.

It doesn't matter what you drink. Alcohol amps up the sedative effect. Your blood pressure just tanks.

Does anyone here have experience with Klonopin? I'm wondering if it actually functions as a mood stabilizer—like, what else is it used for besides epilepsy? It’s not explicitly listed on my prescription info. Thanks!😉

fadedbear92 said:Does anyone here have experience with Klonopin? I'm wondering if it actually functions as a mood stabilizer—like, what else is it used for besides epilepsy? It’s not explicitly listed on my prescription info. Thanks!😉

Antipsychotics can be used for depression too—usually just at lower doses, I guess.😉