Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Daniel Rogers50 said:Ugh, yeah, the side effects—besides just feeling like a total zombie, my hands keep cramping up while driving, and I’ve completely lost any interest in sex. My libido is basically non-existent right now. Honestly, I'm freaking out about it because I just want my old self back! 😢

If that's the case, how are you even supposed to maintain a relationship??

Look, it’s pretty simple: if you’re actually with someone—I mean, if there’s real love, genuine respect, and actual care involved rather than just hooking up—they’re going to get it and they’re going to be patient. My partner has known since day one that I’m on medication, and he’s been my biggest support system through all of this. But yeah, things get messy, and it honestly makes me feel like absolute garbage when he asks me, "Why are you losing interest in me?" because then I have to sit there and explain all over again that it isn't him, it's just the side effects from the meds. At the end of the day, if you haven't lived through it yourself, you can say you understand, but you don't truly get how much it sucks.

Daniel Rogers50 said:Look, it’s pretty simple: if you’re actually with someone—I mean, if there’s real love, genuine respect, and actual care involved rather than just hooking up—they’re going to get it and they’re going to be patient. My partner has known since day one that I’m on medication, and he’s been my biggest support system through all of this. But yeah, things get messy, and it honestly makes me feel like absolute garbage when he asks me, "Why are you losing interest in me?" because then I have to sit there and explain all over again that it isn't him, it's just the side effects from the meds. At the end of the day, if you haven't lived through it yourself, you can say you understand, but you don't truly get how much it sucks.

That might be true, but it also holds true that if the sex life isn't working, the relationship starts to crumble. It's practically a proven fact.
That’s why I was asking you about it. As much as people claim sex doesn't matter, it's actually vital to a relationship!
I honestly don't know how I would handle it if I had a girlfriend... I'd probably end up breaking up, or if I had a girlfriend dealing with this exact issue, things would likely fall apart. Being in a relationship and going six months without any intimacy... that just kills the connection.
I hope things turn out better for you!😉

It’s not even like we don't talk at all, it’s just that he’s usually the one constantly dragging me into stuff while I tend to stay more low-key. But honestly? If he’s actually going to walk away from me just because I’m not initiating things more often, then fine—it’ll just prove he isn't the right person for me anyway.

Daniel Rogers50 said:It’s not even like we don't talk at all, it’s just that he’s usually the one constantly dragging me into stuff while I tend to stay more low-key. But honestly? If he’s actually going to walk away from me just because I’m not initiating things more often, then fine—it’ll just prove he isn't the right person for me anyway.

You don't have to reply here if you'd rather not; feel free to just send me a private message instead. I was just wondering, how frequently does this happen?

Of course I’m not going to give you an answer here in public, because we’re supposed to be talking about psychotropic meds, not the frequency of my damn sex life.😁

So, have you finally made up your mind about what you're going to do regarding Zeldox?

I’ll find out on July 26th since that’s when my follow-up is scheduled, so I really need to touch base with my doctor and get everything squared away first.

How much weight gain are we actually talking about with antipsychotics? I'm specifically asking about Lennon. I’ve been on it for maybe 8 or 9 days now, and honestly, I don't think I've put on any weight—at least not noticeably. But then again, I don't really weigh myself regularly, so I have no clue what my starting weight even was. If I stop taking it (which I assume will happen since my doctor will probably switch me to something else), is there any chance that the previous time spent on Lennon could still trigger weight gain? Like, does the effect of the drug on your weight linger even after you quit? I guess I'm wondering about Lennon specifically, but also just in general.

Daniel Rogers50 said:I’ll find out on July 26th since that’s when my follow-up is scheduled, so I really need to touch base with my doctor and get everything squared away first.

I actually took some today, and honestly, just two hours later, I could barely keep my eyes open before heading straight to bed. My tolerance seems to have dropped since I haven't been taking it consistently, though I suppose I don't even really need it anymore now that I can face reality clearly. It feels a bit too intense for me; I guess if I were still dealing with hallucinations or hearing things, I might consider taking it—since that was the whole reason I started in the first place—but since those symptoms are gone, I've basically decided to quit on my own. One less poison in my system, I suppose.🙂

Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, though I’ve been lurking here and reading everything you all share quite regularly. Things have been a bit rough lately—my psychotic symptoms took a turn for the worse, so my doctor bumped things up. Right now, I’m on a daily regimen of 20 mg Zyprexa, 20 mg Lexapro, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR, 20 mg Ambien, and then some Xanax as needed. The thing is... the Xanax just isn't doing a damn thing for me. Even when I take 3 mg, I feel absolutely zero effect whatsoever. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of resistance? My next check-up isn't until September, so until then, I'm basically left to navigate this mess on my own.

Timothy Wood38 said:Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, though I’ve been lurking here and reading everything you all share quite regularly. Things have been a bit rough lately—my psychotic symptoms took a turn for the worse, so my doctor bumped things up. Right now, I’m on a daily regimen of 20 mg Zyprexa, 20 mg Lexapro, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR, 20 mg Ambien, and then some Xanax as needed. The thing is... the Xanax just isn't doing a damn thing for me. Even when I take 3 mg, I feel absolutely zero effect whatsoever. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of resistance? My next check-up isn't until September, so until then, I'm basically left to navigate this mess on my own.

But what exactly are you looking to feel—or what do you think you *should* be feeling? Are you seeing someone privately or using your insurance through Blue Cross? Surely there's some other shrink out there who could give you advice instead of waiting on your current doctor, right? Is there any way you can get a hold of your doctor's cell number?

Timothy Wood38 said:Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, though I’ve been lurking here and reading everything you all share quite regularly. Things have been a bit rough lately—my psychotic symptoms took a turn for the worse, so my doctor bumped things up. Right now, I’m on a daily regimen of 20 mg Zyprexa, 20 mg Lexapro, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR, 20 mg Ambien, and then some Xanax as needed. The thing is... the Xanax just isn't doing a damn thing for me. Even when I take 3 mg, I feel absolutely zero effect whatsoever. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of resistance? My next check-up isn't until September, so until then, I'm basically left to navigate this mess on my own.

There's actually a website for the FDA... go check there, it's got everything you need to know about every med, all the side effects and stuff, and you can even report issues right there.

How is everyone doing? I’ve been feeling pretty great lately, honestly, ever since I finally managed to get off Seroquel. These days, I’m just sticking to Effexor and some Xanax at 0.5.

To be honest, that antipsychotic had me feeling constantly bloated and I was putting on quite a bit of weight.

So, here’s the deal: I finally managed to win this battle with my doctor and convinced her to drop my Zeldox dose. I’m officially down from 40 mg to 20 mg, taking one in the morning and one at night. The whole headache is that in the US, they don't even list the 20 mg version in the standard pharmacy registry for 2011—it's just not there. Sure, you could technically find it imported from somewhere else, but a single box would cost me like $70, and I need two boxes every month just to survive. So, what am I doing? I bought a bunch of empty capsules and now I’m basically playing mad scientist, splitting the contents of the 40 mg ones myself. I just grind up the white powder, divide it into two equal parts, then shove half into a blue Pfizer capsule and the other half into one of those clear ones I picked up at a local health food store. 🙂
Honestly, I feel amazing right now. Yesterday afternoon, I didn't even crash for my usual nap; instead, I actually pulled myself together and went for a long hike in the woods with my partner. If this is what happens when the dosage drops, it means I’m getting an extra two or three hours of actual life back every single day, which is absolutely fantastic. And hey, if my metabolism decides to kick into high gear because of this, I'll be thrilled. Nobody is happier than me right now.

Could anyone perhaps direct me toward a comprehensive resource regarding GABA and its receptors? Everything I have managed to uncover thus far feels rather superficial and lacks depth.

P. S. I noticed that a few pages back, there was a discussion concerning whether these medications are truly addictive. Is it not possible that the symptoms of withdrawal could be significantly mitigated if one follows a gradual tapering process instead of stopping abruptly?

Timothy Wood38 said:Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, though I’ve been lurking here and reading everything you all share quite regularly. Things have been a bit rough lately—my psychotic symptoms took a turn for the worse, so my doctor bumped things up. Right now, I’m on a daily regimen of 20 mg Zyprexa, 20 mg Lexapro, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR, 20 mg Ambien, and then some Xanax as needed. The thing is... the Xanax just isn't doing a damn thing for me. Even when I take 3 mg, I feel absolutely zero effect whatsoever. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of resistance? My next check-up isn't until September, so until then, I'm basically left to navigate this mess on my own.

In what way have those psychotic symptoms started acting up for you?
It wouldn't hurt to give us a little more detail.
Or you can just shoot me a private message.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Could anyone perhaps direct me toward a comprehensive resource regarding GABA and its receptors? Everything I have managed to uncover thus far feels rather superficial and lacks depth.

P. S. I noticed that a few pages back, there was a discussion concerning whether these medications are truly addictive. Is it not possible that the symptoms of withdrawal could be significantly mitigated if one follows a gradual tapering process instead of stopping abruptly?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA_receptor

http://www.fda.gov/ 🙂

Anyone here actually have some experience with Seroquel? I’m curious to know how it actually hit you guys.

Walter Garcia8 said:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA_receptor

http://www.fda.gov/ 🙂

I am truly grateful for these links you have provided. While Wikipedia offers a somewhat sparse overview, I shall head over to the American Bar Association website immediately to investigate further.