Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Alex Barnes8 said:I have to address this: "why don't you just ask your doctors?".
I honestly don't know where people find these approachable physicians who actually want to talk and answer questions. Everywhere I go in the States, doctors act like you're killing them just by asking a question. I really can't get anything out of anyone. I've tried communicating normally so many times, but it just doesn't work.
It's not like I'll stop seeing doctors altogether... But I've just gotten used to leaving appointments feeling confused. They seem superficial, arrogant, and frankly, pretty rude. Most lack basic manners. And even the ones who claim they are "constantly training" or whatever—they're always away at some symposium or seminar, traveling constantly. You couldn't get a moment of their time if you were a billionaire.👎

Maybe try changing your approach? 🤷 There are all kinds of doctors and all kinds of patients out there... let's not paint everyone with the same brush. If a physician refuses to give you straight answers, tell them you aren't satisfied with their bedside manner and that you'll be finding a new provider. Though, sometimes it might be easier just to stay quiet and maintain a good rapport, even if you leave feeling confused.
I've encountered my fair share of difficult personalities too. Honestly, my primary care physician would never have ordered blood work unless I practically begged her for it; she'd otherwise just prescribe antibiotics based on a guess. Perhaps try a different tactic? Don't be afraid to remind them that, as a patient, you have every right to ask questions, even if they find it inconvenient.

fadedbear92 said:Wait, which betas are we talking about now?🤷

I already mentioned I take those too... beta blockers, Bisoprolol... my cardiologist prescribed them after I was hospitalized recently...

So, looks like Herc is feeling a bit under the weather—nothing too catastrophic, really—but I’d say just start getting those runs in once the weather finally decides to break and warms up a little bit.😉

I finally got prescribed Klonopin for the anxiety since Lexapro just wasn't doing the trick for me. Now I’m stuck balancing 2.5mg of Zyprexa with 0.5mg doses of Klonopin three times a day, plus whenever things get really bad.
I had to pull the plug on Solian, too, because it completely trashed my hormones, which was a real blow.
At this point, I’m just holding out hope that things actually start looking up for me soon.

Alex Barnes8 said:I'm on Lamictal, an antiepileptic, and I've been told the same thing. It's tough, though, because I love my coffee and soda.😢
Anyway, I wanted to ask about a different combination.
I'm dealing with terrible insomnia. Based on what you all have experienced, what are the best sleep aids? I mean, looking for effectiveness with minimal side effects. And most importantly, which ones are safest to mix with other medications?
In case it helps, the main ingredient in my Lamictal is lamotrigine. Aside from epilepsy, it's used as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder...
Please don't tell me to just ask my doctor, because I already tried, and she pushed Samuel on me. I've read such bad things about Samuel that I'm hesitant to try it. Though, maybe it isn't actually that bad.🤷
This matters to me because my therapist insisted that getting enough sleep is my top priority right now.
If anyone could share their own experiences, I'd appreciate it.🙂

Ambien! For me, it knocks me out immediately, and you wake up feeling genuinely rested and energized. The real benefit with Ambien is that you get actual deep, quality sleep, which is why you feel so good the next morning. With stuff like Sanval or Xerson, you just end up feeling like a zombie, stumbling around for an hour trying to find your brain.
Even half a pill is plenty for me, and I'm probably at least 50 pounds heavier than you are.🙂
So... yeah. Ambien. 👍

Larry Lewis said:So, looks like Herc is feeling a bit under the weather—nothing too catastrophic, really—but I’d say just start getting those runs in once the weather finally decides to break and warms up a little bit.😉

Regarding those beta-blockers—my cardiologist actually suggested them to me for simple tachycardia, which was obviously just triggered by a panic attack. Are they really prescribed for stuff like that? I always assumed they were strictly for managing arrhythmias. 🤷

Roger Rodriguez said:Regarding those beta-blockers—my cardiologist actually suggested them to me for simple tachycardia, which was obviously just triggered by a panic attack. Are they really prescribed for stuff like that? I always assumed they were strictly for managing arrhythmias. 🤷

Oh, come on—I went through a full cardiac workup the second my symptoms started, and the doctor told me if things didn't improve, we'd try beta-blockers. After more testing—specifically checking my thyroid—it turned out to be anxiety and depression. But you definitely need to get checked out. If I remember correctly, they also mentioned I have an excitable heart!

fadedbear92 said:Oh, come on—I went through a full cardiac workup the second my symptoms started, and the doctor told me if things didn't improve, we'd try beta-blockers. After more testing—specifically checking my thyroid—it turned out to be anxiety and depression. But you definitely need to get checked out. If I remember correctly, they also mentioned I have an excitable heart!

I honestly don't know, but I've been taking them for 20 days now... strictly on my cardiologist's recommendation for tachycardia triggered by anxiety and panic attacks.

velvetsailor26 said:I finally got prescribed Klonopin for the anxiety since Lexapro just wasn't doing the trick for me. Now I’m stuck balancing 2.5mg of Zyprexa with 0.5mg doses of Klonopin three times a day, plus whenever things get really bad.
I had to pull the plug on Solian, too, because it completely trashed my hormones, which was a real blow.
At this point, I’m just holding out hope that things actually start looking up for me soon.

Things will get better, truly, but you can't just rely on the pills alone—you've got to put in some work on your end, too.😉

Roger Rodriguez said:Maybe try changing your approach? 🤷 There are all kinds of doctors and all kinds of patients out there... let's not paint everyone with the same brush. If a physician refuses to give you straight answers, tell them you aren't satisfied with their bedside manner and that you'll be finding a new provider. Though, sometimes it might be easier just to stay quiet and maintain a good rapport, even if you leave feeling confused.
I've encountered my fair share of difficult personalities too. Honestly, my primary care physician would never have ordered blood work unless I practically begged her for it; she'd otherwise just prescribe antibiotics based on a guess. Perhaps try a different tactic? Don't be afraid to remind them that, as a patient, you have every right to ask questions, even if they find it inconvenient.

I don't know how much that would even affect them. They get paid the same regardless of whether I'm there or not, I guess. I stick to government jobs. I can't afford the private sector.

Maybe it’s better to just leave a good impression and stay quiet, even if nobody really understands what's going on.

.
I wasn't exactly quiet, so I know what I'm talking about. I'm just tired of the way it goes—you ask a question and get some vague, non-committal answer just so they can brush you off. Then I have to follow up with ten more questions just to get a half-answer... all while trying to read their faces, hoping they won't just shut me down entirely. 😕👎

I've run into all sorts of people too. Honestly, my GP would never even suggest bloodwork unless I kept nagging her about wanting tests instead of just blindly taking antibiotics. I guess you have to push for it.

It’s honestly a bit sad that you feel the need to vent to her about this. Isn't she the one actually trained and paid for the job? I guess we shouldn't be dumping responsibility onto laypeople. You aren't expected to know the intricacies of medicine, so maybe you shouldn't be held liable here either.

Maybe try taking a different approach with them. I guess you could emphasize that, as a patient, you have every right to ask questions—even if they don't particularly care for it.

We'll see. I'll probably have to head back out there anyway, so I'll let you know.

OT: I started taking Sanval. I was already exhausted, so I figured why not.
I feel okay, I guess.🤷 It’s not like I slept straight through the night, and I didn't drift off as fast as some people claim. Even though I woke up twice, I fell back asleep pretty quickly, so all in all, I feel more rested.👍 I think I'll stick with Sanval for a while.

5 mg or 10 mg?

5 mg

Lately, I haven't been waking up in the middle of the night... I’ve just been sleeping straight through. It feels good. Even if I do happen to wake up feeling a bit restless, I drift back off pretty quickly. At least there's some progress here.

Lately, my dreams have been more intense than ever. I mean, they feel incredibly vivid. For the last two nights, they’ve been so lifelike that I’ve woken up several times feeling 100% convinced that whatever happened in the dream actually took place in real life.

I mentioned this to my doctor, and he suggested that my psyche might finally be ready to confront the issues that have been bothering me, essentially processing them through these dreams. But that isn't what's happening at all. The dreams aren't about any of that. It's like they won't listen to me.😁

fadedbear92 said:Oh, come on—I went through a full cardiac workup the second my symptoms started, and the doctor told me if things didn't improve, we'd try beta-blockers. After more testing—specifically checking my thyroid—it turned out to be anxiety and depression. But you definitely need to get checked out. If I remember correctly, they also mentioned I have an excitable heart!

I don't know; I wasn't really interested in taking them because it feels a bit silly to take heart medication when my heart is actually healthy. My tachycardia is just a byproduct of anxiety, so beta-blockers won't solve the root cause—they just dull those uncomfortable symptoms.
I mean, my mental state is a total wreck, not my heart. 😬

Alex Barnes8 said:I don't know how much that would even affect them. They get paid the same regardless of whether I'm there or not, I guess. I stick to government jobs. I can't afford the private sector.

Maybe it’s better to just leave a good impression and stay quiet, even if nobody really understands what's going on.

.
I wasn't exactly quiet, so I know what I'm talking about. I'm just tired of the way it goes—you ask a question and get some vague, non-committal answer just so they can brush you off. Then I have to follow up with ten more questions just to get a half-answer... all while trying to read their faces, hoping they won't just shut me down entirely. 😕👎

I've run into all sorts of people too. Honestly, my GP would never even suggest bloodwork unless I kept nagging her about wanting tests instead of just blindly taking antibiotics. I guess you have to push for it.

It’s honestly a bit sad that you feel the need to vent to her about this. Isn't she the one actually trained and paid for the job? I guess we shouldn't be dumping responsibility onto laypeople. You aren't expected to know the intricacies of medicine, so maybe you shouldn't be held liable here either.

Maybe try taking a different approach with them. I guess you could emphasize that, as a patient, you have every right to ask questions—even if they don't particularly care for it.

We'll see. I'll probably have to head back out there anyway, so I'll let you know.

It truly is a shame. 🙂 But if I don't advocate for myself, nobody else is going to do it for me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you have better luck next time. 😉

Larry Lewis said:Things will get better, truly, but you can't just rely on the pills alone—you've got to put in some work on your end, too.😉

How am I supposed to try harder? Believe me, I’ve been grinding and fighting this uphill battle for four years now, and if I’m being honest, it feels like things are only getting worse.
I honestly don't know what I should do to stop being so afraid of people.

He’s been wrestling with Time to Bi for way too long now. Honestly, you have to wonder what he's thinking... four years is an eternity. I’ve been dealing with my own issues for three months and I’m already at my breaking point. Look, I don't suffer from social phobia, but if I were in his shoes, I’d be looking into other methods by now.

velvetsailor26 said:How am I supposed to try harder? Believe me, I’ve been grinding and fighting this uphill battle for four years now, and if I’m being honest, it feels like things are only getting worse.
I honestly don't know what I should do to stop being so afraid of people.

And I’ll tell you the same thing—you have to go through psychotherapy and do the work. There really isn't any other way. How else would you "try" differently? I mean, you can't just sit there repeating "I'm not afraid of people" to yourself forever and expect it to vanish; you have to actually dig up the root cause of that fear and deal with it—which is a joint effort between you and your therapist.

velvetsailor26 said:How am I supposed to try harder? Believe me, I’ve been grinding and fighting this uphill battle for four years now, and if I’m being honest, it feels like things are only getting worse.
I honestly don't know what I should do to stop being so afraid of people.

Poor thing... I don't even know what to tell you. Maybe try punching someone you're afraid of in the nose? Who knows, maybe that'll clear your head.🙂

But seriously... look, you have a million different medications out there to choose from. It's entirely possible that the stuff you're currently taking just isn't doing the job.