Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Kenneth Scott41 said:I guess you can't really have it both ways, can you? You're trying to grab the whole pie at once. Is getting through this depression more important than being thin, or vice versa? It’s possible you’re just on the wrong medication, maybe. Perhaps it's best to just wait a while and see if the antidepressant actually starts working; if it manages to lift the depression, then that's a win. After all, you can always find a way to lose the weight later...

Man, everyone around here just picks on the same thing. It’s constant. They’re always telling me I’m fat, calling me a tank, or asking when I'm finally gonna start a diet... Then they go ahead and rip me to shreds, which just makes me eat even more.
🙂
They just won't leave me alone.😠
I told them straight up: I'll start a diet when *I* decide I'm ready.
Apparently, they don't have anything better to do with their lives.

Greetings to everyone! I have a question regarding a specific medication... specifically Seroquel. My current psychiatrist is out of stock, and my existing prescription is running dangerously low! So here is the dilemma: if I walk into a private psychiatrist's office, can I actually ask them to write me a script for a box of Seroquel? Or will they just take my money, look me in the eye, and tell me I’m perfectly fine and don't need the meds at all? Thanks in advance.

restlesstrucker15 said:Indeed, those who can sleep on 5 mg of Valium are the truly fortunate ones. I struggle with insomnia myself, though I grew accustomed to these hypnotics quite some time ago. Earlier this year, my psychiatrist switched my Valium 10 mg over to Dormicum; while thank God I can actually fall asleep, I find myself waking up several times throughout the night and feeling completely exhausted by morning. It feels as though my mind simply won't shut off. I have heard it suggested that sleep patterns eventually stabilize, implying we will only achieve normal rest once we approach true "recovery." When I expressed these concerns to my doctor, she emphasized twice that the most critical factor is being able to stay asleep through the night. During particularly difficult periods, I have been tempted to take two Dormicum tablets at once, but I hesitate—not out of fear of a physical reaction, but because of the risk of dependency. I even consulted a friend of mine who is a psychiatrist to get her perspective, and I will quote her here: As a hypnotic, one could consider a small evening dose of Zyprexa (2.5 mg) or perhaps 25 mg of Prazosin (which helps lower blood pressure). This is merely a suggestion, however, as any actual treatment must be determined during an in-person consultation.

Yeah, they definitely knocked me sideways... now I find half a dose of Prazosin—so 12.5 mg—is more than enough to do the trick! My doctor made a good point, too; using low doses of antipsychotics for sleep can actually be quite effective...🙂

I suppose I should probably get around to actually typing something out here. It’s been a while. Just sitting here, staring at the screen, wondering if anyone even reads these ramblings. Probably not. Anyway... [Username] says:
Yeah, they really knocked me sideways with it... honestly, I'm feeling pretty wiped out now. I've actually cut my dose in half—so instead of 25mg, I'm just taking 12.5mg—and even that feels like more than enough to do the job. My doctor made a good point, though; sometimes you just need a tiny amount of an antipsychotic to help get some actual sleep.🙂

Must be nice. Honestly, I’m currently sitting here on 150 mg of prazosin, plus 20 mg of Ambien just to stand a fighting chance at getting through a full night's sleep without tossing and turning like crazy. It’s quite a cocktail. On a side note—and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this—has anyone on SSRIs noticed an increased tolerance to alcohol? It feels like I can drink significantly more than I used to since starting the SSRIs, yet whenever I look things up online, everything seems to suggest the exact opposite should be happening. It's a bit of a head-scratcher. Also, does anyone happen to know if antipsychotics can inhibit the effects of psychostimulants, like cocaine or amphetamines? Just wondering about the chemistry of it all.

Timothy Wood38 said:

I suppose I should probably get around to actually typing something out here. It’s been a while. Just sitting here, staring at the screen, wondering if anyone even reads these ramblings. Probably not. Anyway... [Username] says:
Yeah, they really knocked me sideways with it... honestly, I'm feeling pretty wiped out now. I've actually cut my dose in half—so instead of 25mg, I'm just taking 12.5mg—and even that feels like more than enough to do the job. My doctor made a good point, though; sometimes you just need a tiny amount of an antipsychotic to help get some actual sleep.🙂

Must be nice. Honestly, I’m currently sitting here on 150 mg of prazosin, plus 20 mg of Ambien just to stand a fighting chance at getting through a full night's sleep without tossing and turning like crazy. It’s quite a cocktail. On a side note—and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this—has anyone on SSRIs noticed an increased tolerance to alcohol? It feels like I can drink significantly more than I used to since starting the SSRIs, yet whenever I look things up online, everything seems to suggest the exact opposite should be happening. It's a bit of a head-scratcher. Also, does anyone happen to know if antipsychotics can inhibit the effects of psychostimulants, like cocaine or amphetamines? Just wondering about the chemistry of it all.

Timothy Wood38, one really shouldn't play games by mixing psychotropic medications with alcohol.

Timothy Wood38 said:

I suppose I should probably get around to actually typing something out here. It’s been a while. Just sitting here, staring at the screen, wondering if anyone even reads these ramblings. Probably not. Anyway... [Username] says:
Yeah, they really knocked me sideways with it... honestly, I'm feeling pretty wiped out now. I've actually cut my dose in half—so instead of 25mg, I'm just taking 12.5mg—and even that feels like more than enough to do the job. My doctor made a good point, though; sometimes you just need a tiny amount of an antipsychotic to help get some actual sleep.🙂

Must be nice. Honestly, I’m currently sitting here on 150 mg of prazosin, plus 20 mg of Ambien just to stand a fighting chance at getting through a full night's sleep without tossing and turning like crazy. It’s quite a cocktail. On a side note—and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this—has anyone on SSRIs noticed an increased tolerance to alcohol? It feels like I can drink significantly more than I used to since starting the SSRIs, yet whenever I look things up online, everything seems to suggest the exact opposite should be happening. It's a bit of a head-scratcher. Also, does anyone happen to know if antipsychotics can inhibit the effects of psychostimulants, like cocaine or amphetamines? Just wondering about the chemistry of it all.

Many of those drugs and stimulants function by amplifying the effects of dopamine neurotransmitters, whereas antipsychotics work to counteract the action of dopamine. Therefore, psychostimulants and drugs essentially operate in direct opposition to antipsychotics.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Timothy Wood38, one really shouldn't play games by mixing psychotropic medications with alcohol.

Many of those drugs and stimulants function by amplifying the effects of dopamine neurotransmitters, whereas antipsychotics work to counteract the action of dopamine. Therefore, psychostimulants and drugs essentially operate in direct opposition to antipsychotics.

And look, I know I’m pretty self-destructive, so mixing psych meds with booze isn't exactly new territory for me. As for the other stuff... I thought that too. But, obviously, I'll give it a shot and find out for myself. Everyone reacts differently, I suppose.

Timothy Wood38 said:And look, I know I’m pretty self-destructive, so mixing psych meds with booze isn't exactly new territory for me. As for the other stuff... I thought that too. But, obviously, I'll give it a shot and find out for myself. Everyone reacts differently, I suppose.

While it’s true that everyone reacts differently, isn't it also possible that every single time the outcome varies even for the same individual? Drug dealers simply aren't reliable, and the intensity or quality of an experience depends entirely on how pure the substance actually is.

redtrucker2 said:Greetings to everyone! I have a question regarding a specific medication... specifically Seroquel. My current psychiatrist is out of stock, and my existing prescription is running dangerously low! So here is the dilemma: if I walk into a private psychiatrist's office, can I actually ask them to write me a script for a box of Seroquel? Or will they just take my money, look me in the eye, and tell me I’m perfectly fine and don't need the meds at all? Thanks in advance.

I fail to see the issue if the medication was prescribed to you. You should simply take your diagnosis to a primary care physician and have them send an electronic prescription to the pharmacy.🤷

Alternatively, you can get a private prescription from a psychiatrist and purchase it yourself.
Why would you seek out a private psychiatrist if you already have one?😕

Timothy Wood38 said:

I suppose I should probably get around to actually typing something out here. It’s been a while. Just sitting here, staring at the screen, wondering if anyone even reads these ramblings. Probably not. Anyway... [Username] says:
Yeah, they really knocked me sideways with it... honestly, I'm feeling pretty wiped out now. I've actually cut my dose in half—so instead of 25mg, I'm just taking 12.5mg—and even that feels like more than enough to do the job. My doctor made a good point, though; sometimes you just need a tiny amount of an antipsychotic to help get some actual sleep.🙂

Must be nice. Honestly, I’m currently sitting here on 150 mg of prazosin, plus 20 mg of Ambien just to stand a fighting chance at getting through a full night's sleep without tossing and turning like crazy. It’s quite a cocktail. On a side note—and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this—has anyone on SSRIs noticed an increased tolerance to alcohol? It feels like I can drink significantly more than I used to since starting the SSRIs, yet whenever I look things up online, everything seems to suggest the exact opposite should be happening. It's a bit of a head-scratcher. Also, does anyone happen to know if antipsychotics can inhibit the effects of psychostimulants, like cocaine or amphetamines? Just wondering about the chemistry of it all.

Over the last year, I was taking Paxil in the morning and then washing it down with beer, whiskey, or whatever else was around in the evening. So, if you need proof that it's possible, I'm right here. But how far is too far? Eventually, you hit a point where your brain just short-circuits—a total meltdown where everything goes south at 3 p.m., or your central nervous system just gives up and sends you into a coma where you might even forget how to breathe. Or maybe your autonomic system just loses its mind and triggers a massive spike in blood pressure or heart arrhythmias... honestly, any number of disasters are on the table. I did it, and luckily, nothing catastrophic happened to me, but it *could* have. It always could. It's like walking through a minefield, and for me, the answer is a hard NO.

@driftinggull21 Look, can I just walk into any private psychiatrist's office and demand they write me a private prescription for Seroquel without even having a medical history on file?

redtrucker2 said:@driftinggull21 Look, can I just walk into any private psychiatrist's office and demand they write me a private prescription for Seroquel without even having a medical history on file?

That sounds a bit like wishful thinking to me...
No doctor, whether they're in private practice or not, is going to write you a prescription just because you asked for it...

Risperidone? Thoughts or experiences? I just started taking it. Previously, I was on 5mg Zyprexa. Now it's 2mg Risperidone. What should I expect, specifically regarding male side effects? I’m already noticing certain things 😁. Or rather, I’m NOT noticing them 😉.

By the way, all antipsychotics are garbage; none of them are better than the others. Let's get that cleared up right away. But at 22 years old... how long will it take to get off antipsychotics entirely? Even if I stay on mood stabilizers? Is there any actual future ahead of me? Also, my diagnosis shifted from F20.6 to just F20. What does that imply? F20.6 was hard enough, but this feels even more complicated. It’s as if they couldn't "decide" where I fit. At times it was BPD, then Bipolar, now I don't even know what anymore.

Edit: Don't start with that neuro-fatalist nonsense... I've already read everything on Wikipedia.

boldpilot2 said:Risperidone? Thoughts or experiences? I just started taking it. Previously, I was on 5mg Zyprexa. Now it's 2mg Risperidone. What should I expect, specifically regarding male side effects? I’m already noticing certain things 😁. Or rather, I’m NOT noticing them 😉.

By the way, all antipsychotics are garbage; none of them are better than the others. Let's get that cleared up right away. But at 22 years old... how long will it take to get off antipsychotics entirely? Even if I stay on mood stabilizers? Is there any actual future ahead of me? Also, my diagnosis shifted from F20.6 to just F20. What does that imply? F20.6 was hard enough, but this feels even more complicated. It’s as if they couldn't "decide" where I fit. At times it was BPD, then Bipolar, now I don't even know what anymore.

Edit: Don't start with that neuro-fatalist nonsense... I've already read everything on Wikipedia.

How can you say all antipsychotics are the same?! The ones we have access to here are absolute trash, especially that Risperidone, which made me vomit and wet the bed in my sleep (unconsciously). The exact same thing happened to a younger guy at the psychiatric ward; they switched him off the Risperidone and onto Zyprexa, and he's fine now. I'm on Zeldox and I only deal with one side effect: drowsiness. Honestly, Zeldox is pure harmony.😁

True... But you’re always just choosing between different palettes of garbage side effects. With Zyprexa, I'm sleeping for 16 hours and still can't wake up, plus there's the constant hunger. You feel like you could eat an entire buffet. Then there's this one that numbs you so much you don't even care about a live & direct broadcast XD. Honestly, I don't know. There isn't really a "truth" to find here. I read something about some third-generation Abilify from Japan... nothing better. To be honest, no medication... from Adderall to aspirin to this crap... has ever actually worked wonders for me. It's all just chemistry, which I dislike. Sleeping 3/4 of the time? Gaining weight? Sexual dysfunction? You just pick your poison. Whatever your heart desires.

Edit: Man, when I remember being on typical Fluphenazine, I realize I survived everything.

redtrucker2 said:@driftinggull21 Look, can I just walk into any private psychiatrist's office and demand they write me a private prescription for Seroquel without even having a medical history on file?

You can try, but I doubt any sane psychiatrist would agree to that.

Then who has been prescribing it to you until now?
You need to have your own attending psychiatrist managing your case and prescribing your medication.

To each their own—Zyprexa never really worked for me, but I was doing alright on Risperidone

@Timothy Wood38, I suspect your complexion is looking a bit pale lately, which might just be why you’re struggling to drift off at night. Maybe if you took a Benadryl, you'd finally sleep like a baby.

quietgull75 said:To each their own—Zyprexa never really worked for me, but I was doing alright on Risperidone

I wonder, did you ever give Zeldox a shot?

Kenneth Scott41 said:@Timothy Wood38, I suspect your complexion is looking a bit pale lately, which might just be why you’re struggling to drift off at night. Maybe if you took a Benadryl, you'd finally sleep like a baby.

I'm not entirely sure what point you're trying to make here, but you've completely missed the mark. Honestly, think whatever helps you sleep at night :-P I'm just going to stick with what actually works for me.

boldpilot2 said:True... But you’re always just choosing between different palettes of garbage side effects. With Zyprexa, I'm sleeping for 16 hours and still can't wake up, plus there's the constant hunger. You feel like you could eat an entire buffet. Then there's this one that numbs you so much you don't even care about a live & direct broadcast XD. Honestly, I don't know. There isn't really a "truth" to find here. I read something about some third-generation Abilify from Japan... nothing better. To be honest, no medication... from Adderall to aspirin to this crap... has ever actually worked wonders for me. It's all just chemistry, which I dislike. Sleeping 3/4 of the time? Gaining weight? Sexual dysfunction? You just pick your poison. Whatever your heart desires.

Edit: Man, when I remember being on typical Fluphenazine, I realize I survived everything.

Every body reacts differently. I was on 10 mg of Zyprexa daily for a year and I didn't sleep at all because of it; it actually had zero sedative effect, let alone hypnotic, so I had to take extra sleep aids on top of it. Zyprexa isn't a bad drug, per se, but it doesn't fit everyone. As for Abilify, I think it's been approved in the US for about seven months now, though it might hit the mainstream markets more broadly next year. Regardless, plenty of people are switching to Abilify, especially in America, because it tends to have fewer side effects than other antipsychotics, but again, it's all highly individual. For doctors to actually find the right medication for someone, they would need a much deeper, more concrete understanding of psychopathology (which is mostly based on assumptions anyway), followed by psychogenetics, then psychodynamics, then psychokinetics, and so on. But of course, that's not profitable for them, so psychiatrists usually just prescribe things based on trial and error.

p.s. Found something interesting about benzodiazepines that I didn't know. Apparently, once you develop a tolerance to a certain dose, that tolerance stays with you forever.