Psychotropic medication discussion thread

fadedbear92 said:Does anyone know what the newest ADs hitting our market are, besides Wellbutrin?

I am not entirely certain of their specific names, though I believe there are two recent options that have been cleared by Medicare but haven't quite made it onto the official formulary yet. One comes in orange tablets, while the other is available in purple ones. Since they are approved for sale but aren't covered by Medicare just yet, they are quite expensive, but word is they carry very few side effects.

brightridge59 said:Well, if you’re looking to develop a sudden, intense urge to go urban climbing or start hanging off streetlamps, then by all means, go right ahead. 😁

Surely one wouldn't go so far as to say they actually felt such an impulse?

Nicole Barrett76 said:I am not entirely certain of their specific names, though I believe there are two recent options that have been cleared by Medicare but haven't quite made it onto the official formulary yet. One comes in orange tablets, while the other is available in purple ones. Since they are approved for sale but aren't covered by Medicare just yet, they are quite expensive, but word is they carry very few side effects.

😂 You've got to be kidding me, right?🤷

fadedbear92 said:😂 You've got to be kidding me, right?🤷

Allow me to elaborate on that explanation just a bit further.

I stopped by the doctor's office the other day to pick up Elice's prescription.

There was a pharmaceutical rep there showing off those exact types of blister packs—one set was orange, the other purple. He was going on about their antidepressant properties and how his company is working hard to get them added to the Medicare formulary; honestly, all that talk about their "efforts" felt suspiciously like they were trying to grease some palms over at the Department of Health and Human Services to push these drugs through.

However, since it’s all just based on indications, I didn't want to make a scene or report anything, especially because I find my doctor to be an incredibly kind and capable person.

Besides, perhaps those purple ones weren't actually purple; I could only see about ten percent of them, so maybe my perception of the color was simply flawed.

And anyway, isn't it common knowledge that many pills and capsules are colored with artificial dyes?

Nicole Barrett76 said:Allow me to elaborate on that explanation just a bit further.

I stopped by the doctor's office the other day to pick up Elice's prescription.

There was a pharmaceutical rep there showing off those exact types of blister packs—one set was orange, the other purple. He was going on about their antidepressant properties and how his company is working hard to get them added to the Medicare formulary; honestly, all that talk about their "efforts" felt suspiciously like they were trying to grease some palms over at the Department of Health and Human Services to push these drugs through.

However, since it’s all just based on indications, I didn't want to make a scene or report anything, especially because I find my doctor to be an incredibly kind and capable person.

Besides, perhaps those purple ones weren't actually purple; I could only see about ten percent of them, so maybe my perception of the color was simply flawed.

And anyway, isn't it common knowledge that many pills and capsules are colored with artificial dyes?

It cracks me up how you sorted them by color instead of names, though... honestly, it's all just business and commerce in the end.👍

fadedbear92 said:It cracks me up how you sorted them by color instead of names, though... honestly, it's all just business and commerce in the end.👍

I attempted to catch the specific names they were using, but I wasn't successful. I was interrupted quite suddenly; she gave me a sharp look and immediately turned her attention back to him.

Arthur Vaughn2 said:I’m constantly dealing with food cravings too. So yeah, I should probably brace myself for some weight gain. 😁 I already put on quite a bit while I was on Seroquel, but the main issue was how much it dilated my pupils—it got so bad it actually messed with my vision...

I’m on 125 mg of Seroquel right now, but I’ll probably have to bump up the dose because things have been getting a bit worse lately.
And yeah, I gained 14 pounds from it. I’m on a super strict diet right now and I've only managed to drop 2 pounds in three weeks. My nutritionist is acting all confused about why I'm not losing weight. Well, duh—it's because I'm taking freaking Seroquel. I’m barely eating anything, yet the scale won't budge.
I'm honestly starting to lose it. I'm starving myself and suffering, and still, nothing happens. It sucks!!!!!!

urbanskipper4 said:I’m on 125 mg of Seroquel right now, but I’ll probably have to bump up the dose because things have been getting a bit worse lately.
And yeah, I gained 14 pounds from it. I’m on a super strict diet right now and I've only managed to drop 2 pounds in three weeks. My nutritionist is acting all confused about why I'm not losing weight. Well, duh—it's because I'm taking freaking Seroquel. I’m barely eating anything, yet the scale won't budge.
I'm honestly starting to lose it. I'm starving myself and suffering, and still, nothing happens. It sucks!!!!!!

Have you considered increasing your fiber intake? One "side effect" of taking more fiber is that you have to drink more water, which helps the body more effectively flush out impurities through the colon. Perhaps you might also want to consider taking silymarin—not from Pfizer, but from Natrol—to help protect your liver. Antipsychotics can be quite taxing on the liver. However, the best course of action would be to consult your psychiatrist regarding the latter.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Have you considered increasing your fiber intake? One "side effect" of taking more fiber is that you have to drink more water, which helps the body more effectively flush out impurities through the colon. Perhaps you might also want to consider taking silymarin—not from Pfizer, but from Natrol—to help protect your liver. Antipsychotics can be quite taxing on the liver. However, the best course of action would be to consult your psychiatrist regarding the latter.

Thanks for the tip. I'm already taking Pepto-Bismol every single day and drinking tons of water, but my digestion is still a total disaster. I'm lucky if I can actually go once every three days.
I tried making those flaxseed and date bites from CVS once. It wasn't terrible, but man, they're calorie bombs.

Hey there.
This thread is massive, so I haven't read every single word—apologies if this has already been covered.

Does anyone know anything about zopiclone?

It’s used as a sleep aid in plenty of countries. Apparently, it's similar to Zolpidem but supposedly triggers hallucinations less often, and it’s frequently sold under the name Imovato.

Is it actually used here in the States, and does anyone have firsthand experience with it?

Alright, so I'm on Zyprexa and I've put on 15 pounds in just two weeks. What's the move here? Should I ask my doctor about switching up my meds—even if the current ones are actually working—or am I supposed to just find some weird way to deal with this weight gain? :S

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Alright, so I'm on Zyprexa and I've put on 15 pounds in just two weeks. What's the move here? Should I ask my doctor about switching up my meds—even if the current ones are actually working—or am I supposed to just find some weird way to deal with this weight gain? :S

You've got plenty of people offering advice who are dealing with the exact same thing:

http://www.reddit.com/r/mentalhealth/

Have you changed anything with your diet or activity levels—assuming you even have the energy for that given how you've been feeling lately?

Honestly, I think all of us on TB should be moving twice as much—though personally, I barely move at all🤣—and as for food, stick to lighter meals... more frequent small snacks, lots of water, you know the drill... it's always the same routine...
If nothing changes, definitely talk to your doctor about switching meds; there are plenty of other options out there...

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Alright, so I'm on Zyprexa and I've put on 15 pounds in just two weeks. What's the move here? Should I ask my doctor about switching up my meds—even if the current ones are actually working—or am I supposed to just find some weird way to deal with this weight gain? :S

Ask for a new prescription. Don't even hesitate, because if you sit there overthinking it, you're gonna end up gaining another twenty pounds before you even make an appointment.

Daniel Rogers50 said:Ask for a new prescription. Don't even hesitate, because if you sit there overthinking it, you're gonna end up gaining another twenty pounds before you even make an appointment.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves—if things are actually looking like they are in this post, then yeah, the weight gain is pretty much inevitable...
Do you have any idea how incredibly hard it is to find the right medication cocktail, so she isn't just going to throw in the towel immediately...🙄
Reddit

Unlike this one, for example.
Reddit

this thread
Reddit

..."Dear Pandora, some medications cause weight gain, while others actually help regulate your appetite. Personally,

I was one of those people whose appetite was all over the place. I also live with bipolar disorder—with very

pronounced manic phases and mixed episodes, though without any psychotic breaks.

My old man's advice? Eat five small meals a day. Just make sure your total calorie count doesn't exceed

about 2,000 calories daily. If you decide to go on a diet, try aiming for somewhere between 1,500 and 1,800

calories a day. Pick up some multivitamins, and try eating fruit about half an hour before

your meals—especially grapefruit, since it supposedly burns fat and helps lower

cholesterol levels. Focus on protein, and swap out white bread for whole grain toast.

Yogurt is great too. Cut out the processed sugars and stick to the natural stuff from fruit. For meat,

just sear it in a non-stick pan with a little olive oil. Watch the salt intake, but don't

cut it out entirely. Eat plenty of salads—green ones, seasonal ones, whatever is fresh.

Almonds are a healthy snack. When those cravings for sweets hit, just grab some dried

fruit instead. It won't hurt you. Also, try adding a squeeze of lemon to your water

every now and then.

Look, I'm definitely not a nutritionist, but these are just the things that work for me.

Avoid salty pastries, fast food, canned goods, or anything heavily processed.

For dinner, maybe just whip up a salad and have some yogurt, or have an egg with a

slice of whole wheat bread. And try to walk more instead of driving everywhere.

If you get hit with intense hunger between meals, brew yourself some chamomile or mint tea—

whatever you like—and sweeten it with honey. Honey is a much better choice than white sugar.

If you need chocolate, stick to dark, bitter chocolate.

So, there you go—some of my personal tips. Again, I’m no expert, but it might be

a good idea to consult a professional nutritionist to put together a specific meal plan for you.

Now that you've got your bipolar disorder in remission, you really don't want to be dealing with hypertension,

heart issues, or excess weight on top of everything else.

I hope this helps you out even just a little bit.

In my opinion, this is probably the most objective piece I've come across regarding how psychotropic medications impact metabolic changes...

Alright, look, my hair is falling out at an absolutely insane rate. This doesn't feel like that typical seasonal shedding everyone talks about; I’m pulling out entire clumps just by running a comb through it. Honestly, the only reason I haven't gone bald yet is because I started out with a thick head of hair, but even then, I feel like I'd be practically bald by now if it kept up like this.

I am seriously concerned that my antidepressants are the culprit here. I’ve been on them for four months now. Has anyone else dealt with this, or does anyone have any experience with this kind of side effect?

Andrew Doyle said:Alright, look, my hair is falling out at an absolutely insane rate. This doesn't feel like that typical seasonal shedding everyone talks about; I’m pulling out entire clumps just by running a comb through it. Honestly, the only reason I haven't gone bald yet is because I started out with a thick head of hair, but even then, I feel like I'd be practically bald by now if it kept up like this.

I am seriously concerned that my antidepressants are the culprit here. I’ve been on them for four months now. Has anyone else dealt with this, or does anyone have any experience with this kind of side effect?

Which antidepressant are you taking?
I haven't personally experienced this, but I know that various medications—including antidepressants—can cause increased hair thinning. Still, is heavy shedding really the same thing as losing entire chunks while brushing? We shouldn't jump to blaming the meds just yet.
How are your hormone levels? Your iron? Are you taking anything else?

Roger Rodriguez said:Which antidepressant are you taking?
I haven't personally experienced this, but I know that various medications—including antidepressants—can cause increased hair thinning. Still, is heavy shedding really the same thing as losing entire chunks while brushing? We shouldn't jump to blaming the meds just yet.
How are your hormone levels? Your iron? Are you taking anything else?

Birth control pills and antidepressants are known to interfere with one another.

Hey everyone, how’s it going? Honestly, I’m still out here wrestling with BPD. This summer was particularly rough—I even dealt with some psychotic episodes, and don't even get me started on the depression side of things. I feel like I've cycled through just about every SSRI, SNRI, and MAOI out there, and nothing seems to touch it. Right now, my cocktail consists of 60 mg Paxil and 60 mg Prozac daily, plus 10 mg Zyprexa, 5 mg Ativan, and 20 mg Ambien. The Zyprexa has been brutal, though; I've put on quite a bit of weight, my glucose levels have spiked, and my hair is thinning out terribly. It feels like I'm hitting a wall with everything, to the point where I actually started considering ECT. But then, I saw that Abilify Tablets are finally available here in the States, so next time I see my psychiatrist, I'm going to ask about swapping the Zyprexa for Abilify Tablets. I'm really putting a lot of hope into this one. Anyway, that's enough from me. Take care of yourselves.