Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Nathan Kim10 said:Antipsychotics can be used for depression too—usually just at lower doses, I guess.😉

I totally get that—it’s just unsettling when what you see on your Tegretol doesn't match up with the official paperwork. A friend of mine was actually prescribed Rivotril for sleep, which is why I'm asking... it's just one of those things that sticks in your head.

Nathan Kim10, check your inbox--got a PM for you.

fadedbear92 said:I totally get that—it’s just unsettling when what you see on your Tegretol doesn't match up with the official paperwork. A friend of mine was actually prescribed Rivotril for sleep, which is why I'm asking... it's just one of those things that sticks in your head.

I know people on these forums who take Xanax. And look, antipsychotics have sedative effects too.

Nathan Kim10 said:It doesn't matter what you drink. Alcohol amps up the sedative effect. Your blood pressure just tanks.

To be clear, we aren't even talking about sedatives here.
I don't experience any drops in blood pressure from my antidepressants.

Roger Rodriguez said:To be clear, we aren't even talking about sedatives here.
I don't experience any drops in blood pressure from my antidepressants.

Well, obviously they won't if you're taking standard doses. Plus, just read the warning label on the box—it's not rocket science. You aren't supposed to mix anything that hits the central nervous system with alcohol. Even a kid should get that.☕
All antidepressants have sedative effects. Same goes for antipsychotics.

Nathan Kim10 said:Well, obviously they won't if you're taking standard doses. Plus, just read the warning label on the box—it's not rocket science. You aren't supposed to mix anything that hits the central nervous system with alcohol. Even a kid should get that.☕
All antidepressants have sedative effects. Same goes for antipsychotics.

Exactly, and that’s precisely why this debate started in the first place. We've had people practically giving others a green light to mix the two, clearly without even glancing at the instructions.
I'm not saying you aren't right, but shouldn't we lay out every possible scenario and theory? People can be incredibly reckless when it comes to these things. It isn't like grabbing an Advil and a Budweiser, is it? 🤷

I’ll search through the thread, but I figured I'd just ask—has anyone here had experience with a medication (I can't quite recall the name, maybe 😁)? I didn't catch what my doctor said clearly, and then I completely forgot to ask him to repeat it so I could write it down. All I know is that there's a cost involved (he mentioned something around $77).

Hey Michael Reed45, I haven't seen any posts from you in forever, how have things been going? 👋 🙂

Hey 🙂 It’s better... maybe in a few days... my doctor just suggested this medication so I'm not sure yet... for now, he just increased the dosage on my old ones, so we'll see how it goes next time... you doing okay? 🙂

😁

I'm doing awesome, man. I finally ditched the Helix entirely, so now I'm just sticking to Valtrex and taking some Lozan on the side just to stay ahead of things! 😁 🙂

That’s great news. I'm glad to see someone finally getting a break. For me, they just keep hiking my rates up. 😁

So, what are you sipping on right now? You feeling any better yet?

It’s the same situation as before, except he increased everything. Now I'm taking three of one kind, three of another, and then one more at night.

He also suggested some other options for payment that he thinks would work better for me, but honestly, the idiot didn't even tell me their names 😁 I could always call him to ask, then just Google them...

Nathan Kim10 said:Antipsychotics can be used for depression too—usually just at lower doses, I guess.😉

Hey there.

I take Klonopin as a mood stabilizer, paired with Prozac.
The Prozac tends to overstimulate me—it basically puts me in a state of constant agitation—so I rely on the Klonopin to bring me back down to earth.
I actually saw my psychiatrist today, and she cut my Prozac dose in half to 25 mg, and honestly, I felt significantly better. I wasn't dealing with that intense hyperactivity anymore.
As for the Klonopin, it works incredibly fast at calming me down when I'm feeling anxious or on edge, though I make sure to use it sparingly.
Oh, and I did ask if it was okay to drink alcohol while on antidepressants. My doctor warned me that alcohol intensifies the effects of the medication, so she told me to stay far away from beer or even a glass of wine.
I’ve tested that theory myself, and I didn't have any adverse reactions!
Of course, if alcohol is something that typically triggers depressive episodes for you, then absolutely do NOT touch it.

REGARDS!

Nathan Kim10 said:Well, obviously they won't if you're taking standard doses. Plus, just read the warning label on the box—it's not rocket science. You aren't supposed to mix anything that hits the central nervous system with alcohol. Even a kid should get that.☕
All antidepressants have sedative effects. Same goes for antipsychotics.

Honestly, I have no idea what you’re even talking about!
An antidepressant isn't a sedative, and by definition, it can't have a sedative effect.
Antidepressants lift your mood and get you moving; they don't calm you down.
That’s exactly why people take them alongside other medications—because some of us (myself included) end up feeling way too wired or hyperactive on them...
And yes, mixing alcohol with an antidepressant isn't recommended, but having a beer or two isn't the end of the world, provided you aren't someone who uses alcohol to spiral into a depression.
If anything, this stuff makes me feel great!

Taylor Miller10 said:Honestly, I have no idea what you’re even talking about!
An antidepressant isn't a sedative, and by definition, it can't have a sedative effect.
Antidepressants lift your mood and get you moving; they don't calm you down.
That’s exactly why people take them alongside other medications—because some of us (myself included) end up feeling way too wired or hyperactive on them...
And yes, mixing alcohol with an antidepressant isn't recommended, but having a beer or two isn't the end of the world, provided you aren't someone who uses alcohol to spiral into a depression.
If anything, this stuff makes me feel great!

Maybe do a little reading on antidepressants. If they make you sleepy, then they have a sedative component. It’s obvious they don't hit everyone the same way. Some people actually struggle with insomnia because of them.
So, you can't really generalize. If you're anxious like me and deal with occasional panic attacks, then obviously alcohol is going to ramp up that anxiety and those PAs.
I'm not talking about one single beer—I mean binge drinking and heavy consumption. Though, for me, even a tiny amount of alcohol is enough to trigger a PA. 😲
Besides, just read the warning labels. For basically any antidepressant, taking it with alcohol isn't advised.

Kenneth Flores5 said: I’m 15... and honestly, I’ve been struggling with heavy depression since the 5th grade. I’ve tried to end it three times now, though I never really had the nerve to go through with anything massive... so it was always just... well, either ending up in the ER or dealing with a broken arm or leg and a concussion in the hospital. Anyways... I've cycled through a ton of different meds by now, but nothing seems to actually work. Based on what you guys have dealt with... which med is actually the best?.. I don't know if this is right, but my psychiatrist switches up my prescription every two weeks if I tell them I'm still feeling crappy. That shouldn't be how it works, right? o.O

Listen, kid—if what you're saying is true, you need to find a new psychiatrist immediately.
It looks like insomnia is hitting you hard, too.😢 You'll eventually get things under control by finding the right antidepressants and then starting psychotherapy. But for that, you need a solid doctor who actually has the time to focus on you.👍

Kenneth Flores5 said: I’m 15... and honestly, I’ve been struggling with heavy depression since the 5th grade. I’ve tried to end it three times now, though I never really had the nerve to go through with anything massive... so it was always just... well, either ending up in the ER or dealing with a broken arm or leg and a concussion in the hospital. Anyways... I've cycled through a ton of different meds by now, but nothing seems to actually work. Based on what you guys have dealt with... which med is actually the best?.. I don't know if this is right, but my psychiatrist switches up my prescription every two weeks if I tell them I'm still feeling crappy. That shouldn't be how it works, right? o.O

This is honestly painful to read... Fifth grade? So you were only about 11 or 12 years old at the time?
I honestly think you need to find a new psychiatrist immediately. Any decent doctor would tell you that prescribing "heavy-duty" medications—like mood stabilizers or antidepressants—to someone under 18 isn't standard practice unless they are under incredibly strict medical supervision. Isn't it terrifying that such prescriptions can actually trigger suicidal thoughts in young people?
There’s really no such thing as a "perfect" medication... what works wonders for you might be a total disaster for me. It’s all so incredibly individual, isn't it? Honestly, even a complete novice wouldn't be switching prescriptions every two weeks—I find it hard to believe that's actually how her psychiatrist operates.
If none of the medications seem to be doing the trick, have you considered inpatient treatment? You could be hospitalized under professional supervision to trial different options one by one until you finally find the right solution.

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. 👍

Along with Xanax, I was taking 75 mg of Alvent and a quarter of a Klonopin at night. After a month, I stopped everything, but within a few days, I felt this restlessness again, like an excess of adrenaline, and everything just seemed to irritate me... so he put me back on Xanax for two more weeks, and after Easter, I'm starting psychotherapy.
I don't know much about these drugs—life basically forced me to start using them for the first time ever—but with Xanax, I truly feel better; I'm cheerful, my mood is steady, and I have a high tolerance for everything... it simply brought me back to life. I don't know how harmful it might be or whatever, but it helps me, I guess.