Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Laura Ortiz83 said:Hello,

I have a question. Does anyone here have experience taking antidepressants while also choosing to drink? I’ve been on my medication for about two weeks now, and while I feel a slight sense of relief compared to how I felt before, I still find myself reaching for a drink—driven by the same impulse that led me to the meds in the first place, the belief that alcohol will offer some temporary reprieve. However, there are consequences; I am waking up in the middle of the night gripped by panic attacks, sweating, and plagued by nightmares. By the following morning, I am dealing with suicidal ideation, facial tics, hand tremors, and a complete sense of hitting rock bottom.

This has happened about three times now. At the time, I was also having significant issues with my boyfriend, so perhaps there is a connection there, or perhaps it is simply that alcohol and antidepressants are a volatile combination.

I am going through a very dark period right now, and with New Year's Eve tomorrow, I honestly don't know if I'll be able to stay sober...

Thanks in advance.

Let the others jump in if they've dealt with this—I'll just add this: Shrink once told me that after people finish their treatment, they often go out for drinks together, and she just put it bluntly: "It's at your own risk; I can't stop you."

Is anyone else getting absolutely wrecked by the holiday blues?😢
Honestly, it’s been hitting me hard for a week straight.🙂
I keep telling myself things will feel better once the season is over, but I don't know.🤷

Plus, my PMS is starting to kick in too.
Now I can't even tell if I'm actually depressed or just hormonal. What is even happening?😢

Lisa Martinez3 said:Anyone have experience with Lexapro?
I’ve been on a half-dose for a few months now, and honestly, I haven’t felt any mental health issues for months. About two weeks ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started taking a half-dose every other day instead... and man, I am paying for it. The headaches, the dizziness, the nausea... it’s brutal. I know, I know, I’m being irresponsible here... but I just can’t face taking a pill every single day anymore, and the thought of actually going to see my psychiatrist makes it even worse...
Does anyone actually know what the proper tapering process looks like?

Don't try to quit cold turkey. I know people who stopped their meds on their own and ended up in the ER.

So what if you're on medication? Since when is that such a big deal? Especially if you're feeling fine right now.
Personally, I would never dream of quitting without help. Just go talk to your doctor and figure out a plan.

Look, I hate going to follow-ups too, but I do it anyway.
It's only once every month and a half. I go just to stay on top of things. It's part of being responsible so I can actually do my job without falling apart.

fadedbear92 said:Let the others jump in if they've dealt with this—I'll just add this: Shrink once told me that after people finish their treatment, they often go out for drinks together, and she just put it bluntly: "It's at your own risk; I can't stop you."

I barely ever go out drinking. It's strictly for special occasions, and I've never had an issue.
Look, obviously mixing stuff is a bad idea, but if it's just a super rare thing...

So, I’ve been doing a ton of reading on this stuff—I know all about those "nightmare" side effects people warn you about—but honestly, I only care about hearing directly from people who are actually taking it...thanks...today is actually my first day, http://yoursmiles.org/bsmile/wonder/b0708.gifI'm starting Wellbutrin 150 mg in the morning and I've got Faverin at night (150 mg) plus some Ativan and Prazosin to help with that restless, tight sleep feeling... the rest is just my "old" regimen, just playing around with the dosages a bit...

A close friend of mine tried taking Wellbutrin, and while it didn't really do much to lift her mood, she actually ended up dropping a few pounds because of it!

Richard Martinez3 said:A close friend of mine tried taking Wellbutrin, and while it didn't really do much to lift her mood, she actually ended up dropping a few pounds because of it!

Do you happen to know what dosage she was on? I’m currently taking it for depression and anxiety... thanks!😉

depression

I was actually prescribed that during my own treatment for a while—though, if I’m being perfectly honest, it didn't do much for me at all—so my psychiatrist ended up switching me over to a different medication entirely. I didn't experience any side effects, though... thank god for small mercies. Anyway, I'm really rooting for you and hoping this one sits a bit better with your system than the last one did.

Hey everyone, I’ve been on Paxil 1 x for three years now, paired with Ativan 0.5 mg 2 x daily.

My mood tends to fluctuate quite a bit, swinging between decent stretches and pretty dark ones. Generally speaking, I’m doing okay, but over the last two weeks, the depression and anxiety have hit me so hard I feel like I’m losing my mind—though, honestly, I always seem to spiral like this around the holidays. It’s almost impossible to put the sensation into words, but I suspect most people who deal with this know exactly what I mean...

I was thinking about picking up yoga or maybe trying some meditation to help steady things out; does anyone have thoughts on that?

Anyway, I have my follow-up appointment scheduled with my psychiatrist on January 15th.

Angela Price45 said:Hey everyone, I’ve been on Paxil 1 x for three years now, paired with Ativan 0.5 mg 2 x daily.

My mood tends to fluctuate quite a bit, swinging between decent stretches and pretty dark ones. Generally speaking, I’m doing okay, but over the last two weeks, the depression and anxiety have hit me so hard I feel like I’m losing my mind—though, honestly, I always seem to spiral like this around the holidays. It’s almost impossible to put the sensation into words, but I suspect most people who deal with this know exactly what I mean...

I was thinking about picking up yoga or maybe trying some meditation to help steady things out; does anyone have thoughts on that?

Anyway, I have my follow-up appointment scheduled with my psychiatrist on January 15th.

Honestly, you really need to look into psychotherapy!

fadedbear92 said:Honestly, you really need to look into psychotherapy!

To be honest, I don't even know the official term for it—I've mostly just seen it mentioned in movies. Is that actually something covered by our health insurance here in the States, or is it strictly a private thing you have to pay out of pocket for?

Angela Price45 said:To be honest, I don't even know the official term for it—I've mostly just seen it mentioned in movies. Is that actually something covered by our health insurance here in the States, or is it strictly a private thing you have to pay out of pocket for?

You're kidding, obviously! But here's the deal:
it's available through the public health system too... check out the thread regarding psychiatrist referrals

you can find out where and who to see there... good luck! You might need to adjust your therapy as well...🤷

fadedbear92 said:So, I’ve been doing a ton of reading on this stuff—I know all about those "nightmare" side effects people warn you about—but honestly, I only care about hearing directly from people who are actually taking it...thanks...today is actually my first day, http://yoursmiles.org/bsmile/wonder/b0708.gifI'm starting Wellbutrin 150 mg in the morning and I've got Faverin at night (150 mg) plus some Ativan and Prazosin to help with that restless, tight sleep feeling... the rest is just my "old" regimen, just playing around with the dosages a bit...

What was the reason they put you on Wellbutrin in the first place? For me, I was on 300 mg a day for about two months and, frankly, I didn't feel a thing.

Timothy Wood38 said:What was the reason they put you on Wellbutrin in the first place? For me, I was on 300 mg a day for about two months and, frankly, I didn't feel a thing.

It’s because after everything that went down recently, I started sinking again—and my main depression symptom, that crushing fatigue, just came right back...

So my doctor thought Wellbutrin would give me an energy boost during the day, while the Paxil helps me wind down at night...

And we aren't going to go off on a tangent about how you didn't feel anything, are we?...😍

fadedbear92 said:It’s because after everything that went down recently, I started sinking again—and my main depression symptom, that crushing fatigue, just came right back...

So my doctor thought Wellbutrin would give me an energy boost during the day, while the Paxil helps me wind down at night...

And we aren't going to go off on a tangent about how you didn't feel anything, are we?...😍

Of course not; it can definitely help you. I was honestly just curious about the reasoning behind the prescription, so now I get it. Beyond that, what can I say? Good luck.

Timothy Wood38 said:Of course not; it can definitely help you. I was honestly just curious about the reasoning behind the prescription, so now I get it. Beyond that, what can I say? Good luck.

thanks...http://yoursmiles.org/ksmile/monster/k3020.png😍

Hey everyone. Quick question—is it actually safe for me to try the keto diet? I’m sitting at over 175 lbs and 5'7", but I am currently on Zoloft and Seroquel. I guess I just wonder if those meds mess with things too much. Thanks in advance.

I received a private prescription for Sanvalley, but the pharmacist mentioned that my doctor neglected to specify the quantity per pack. Since getting back to her office isn't really an option right now, I was thinking of just adding "30" to the script—which should cover me for a month—but I am honestly unsure where that belongs on the form.

It looks like this:

Sanvalley tabs, 10 mg
D. scat. orig. No I
S. 0, 0, 1

It is urgent!

Hopefully, I have transcribed everything correctly.

Thank you all...