Psychotropic medication discussion thread

driftinggull21 said:If you have any previous medical records, bring them with you.
That said, a primary care physician can prescribe something like Lexapro and provide a private prescription immediately.
But all of that is just a workaround; one must be genuinely careful.

urbanskipper4 said:I pick up the original Prozac at a pharmacy near Pike Place Market. They order it in from Germany.
Pfizer stopped making it because the profit margins were too thin, basically.
At least, that's what my psychiatrist told me.

One box of 100 isn't enough for my monthly dose, so I grab two boxes and end up coughing up about $293.

No tax rebates right now, but I'm keeping all my receipts just in case they ever decide to bring those back.

Honestly, I have no clue what a replacement drug would even be.
I'm really not interested in messing around with different brain chemistry or swapping meds.

I am terrified of becoming just another guinea pig in psychiatric testing—someone who takes their first dose of Zoloft and ends up tethered to a prescription bottle for the rest of their life...

I fear I will never be able to return to my old self through a natural remedy.

And perhaps the author of that book mentioned above was right...

ruggedskipper11 said:Man, I order mine there too. The pharmacist told me the exact same thing—they aren't manufacturing it anymore because it’s just too cheap to be worth their time, if you believe that.
How much are you taking daily (talking about Anafranil 25 mg)? I'm on two a day.
Are you dealing with any weight issues from it? I ask because I've been on it forever and I can't gain even half a pound; if anything, I've actually lost weight. Are you taking anything else alongside the Anafranil, like Xanax?

urbanskipper4 said:I was doing 2,2,2 of the Anafranil every day, but man, it’s getting expensive, so I begged my doctor to drop me down to 1,1,2. Hopefully, things don't go south.
I'm also on Aurorix 1,0,1 and Seroquel 1/4, !/4, 1.
Anafranil doesn't make you gain weight. Neither does Aurorix, but Seroquel definitely does. That stuff makes me hungry all the time. It's a nightmare; I'm constantly struggling with my weight.
I can't seem to stick to a diet for the life of me.
It sucks.
Why can't they just invent a medicine that doesn't cause weight gain? Though, I gotta say, the Seroquel actually helped a lot.

Kenneth Scott41 said:hehehe, well, I guess it isn't the medication making you gain weight, it's the food. It’s probably not the pill's fault if you end up eating more than usual.😁

Anthony Lopez8 said:"Is there truly any point in continuing this circular debate when the facts remain so stubbornly unchanged? We have been dissecting these specific pharmacological interactions for hours now, yet we seem to be circling the same drain without ever reaching a substantive conclusion. Does anyone actually believe that adjusting a dosage of Prozac will somehow mitigate the underlying instability we are discussing, or are we simply grasping at straws to feel a sense of control over an inherently volatile situation? It seems to me that the conversation lacks the necessary rigor required to address the complexities of these medications properly."

If you ask me, both of them lead to weight gain. I’ve been sticking to a strict calorie deficit and hitting the gym consistently for quite some time now, yet with Zyprexa, I can't seem to drop a single pound. Is it even possible to lose weight on this stuff? To be honest, I'm not necessarily gaining more weight right now, but I am certain that if I weren't on these pills, my current diet and exercise routine would have me losing weight steadily. It is, quite frankly, incredibly frustrating. 🙂

driftinggull21 said:

I am terrified of becoming just another guinea pig in psychiatric testing—someone who takes their first dose of Zoloft and ends up tethered to a prescription bottle for the rest of their life...

I fear I will never be able to return to my old self through a natural remedy.

And perhaps the author of that book mentioned above was right...

Antibiotics work by completing a course to cure an infection. Other conditions, such as high blood pressure, are managed by taking medication to remain stable. Epilepsy is kept under control via antiepileptic drugs. Thrombosis is handled similarly. One might even be fortunate enough to have a strong therapeutic response. Psychiatry functions the same way. Antidepressants do not "cure" a disease; they manage symptoms so a person can function effectively. This does not mean every patient requires lifelong therapy; that depends on many variables.
It is identical to how insulin, which a person injects multiple times a day, does not cure diabetes... and I assume the author of said book is aware of this.🤷 It is hardly a state secret.😕

Regardless, try to maintain a positive outlook rather than worrying about the yo-yo effect. I wish you luck and hope you won't need medication ever again. Good luck with your next two months.😉

Kenneth Scott41 said:As soon as you mention Zyprexa, everything makes sense... I guess if avoiding weight gain is a major priority for you, you should probably just keep up with the exercise and stay disciplined with your diet.
Personally, I'm on Zeldox, which is essentially the sibling to Zyprexa, and I haven't noticed any weight gain at all—in fact, it almost kills my appetite. Maybe you could try Zeldox... or perhaps just ask your psychiatrist if switching over to Zeldox might be an option for you.

hollowviper40 said:You make a very logical argument—even if people don't want to admit it, they have to agree with you. Since you're clearly well-informed, I'd love to hear your take on what kind of long-term impact we're looking at for someone who takes antidepressants continuously for years—ten, fifteen, twenty, or more—specifically those SSRIs that work by preventing serotonin reuptake?

Anthony Lopez8 said:I have tried Zeldox before, but my body reacts to it so violently that I can't even stay on it for two days straight.
You know, it isn't even that I am obsessing over having a perfect physique, but carrying extra weight still makes me feel... unhealthy. 🤷
What I was really trying to get across is that most antipsychotics don't just trigger hunger; they actively mess with your metabolism as well. That was the point I felt the need to clarify. 😬

Kenneth Scott41 said:Could you tell me specifically what went wrong when you were on Zeldox? (only if you're comfortable sharing, of course). I'm asking because so many people claim Zeldox doesn't work for them, yet they rarely explain the actual reason why.

Anthony Lopez8 said:"Is there truly any point in continuing this circular debate when the facts remain so stubbornly unchanged? We have been dissecting these specific pharmacological interactions for hours now, yet we seem to be circling the same drain without ever reaching a substantive conclusion. Does anyone actually believe that adjusting a dosage of Prozac will somehow mitigate the underlying instability we are discussing, or are we simply grasping at straws to feel a sense of control over an inherently volatile situation? It seems to me that the conversation lacks the necessary rigor required to address the complexities of these medications properly."

If you ask me, both of them lead to weight gain. I’ve been sticking to a strict calorie deficit and hitting the gym consistently for quite some time now, yet with Zyprexa, I can't seem to drop a single pound. Is it even possible to lose weight on this stuff? To be honest, I'm not necessarily gaining more weight right now, but I am certain that if I weren't on these pills, my current diet and exercise routine would have me losing weight steadily. It is, quite frankly, incredibly frustrating. 🙂

Kenneth Scott41 said:hehehe, well, I guess it isn't the medication making you gain weight, it's the food. It’s probably not the pill's fault if you end up eating more than usual.😁

Anthony Lopez8 said:I took it twice. Both times, I felt as though I were experiencing acute poisoning. I dealt with intense nausea, bouts of cold sweats, muscle spasms, and this overwhelming urge to urinate that I simply couldn't satisfy. For about twelve hours straight, I was just stuck in bed, drenched in sweat, hovering on the edge of a delirium—it wouldn't have been out of place if full-blown hallucinations had joined the party. It isn't exactly a pleasant way to spend one's time, is it? 😁

urbanskipper4 said:Everyone at home has been on edge for the last three days.
I know I'm likely to blame because living with someone struggling with mental health issues isn't easy.
Nobody really understands me, nobody truly knows the hell I'm going through, and that just pulls me deeper into depression.
I eventually retreated to my room because the tension was just too much to handle.
Anyway, being caught in a situation where you can't tell who is more agitated—which in turn affects my own mental stability—is just not healthy. This whole thing frustrated me so much that my OCD flared up, and my depression followed suit.
It’s just a vicious cycle, I suppose.
Absolutely maddening.
Things never seem to get better, and I can't see an end to this illness.
Sometimes I just spiral into heavy pessimism.
And yeah, both my mom and sister make comments about my weight. Honestly, I don't give a damn.
Whatever, it's their problem, not mine.

""""I have a similar experience with Seroquel. While I don't suffer from tremors, I deal with this constant gnawing sensation in my stomach, and whenever I feel weak, I just find myself eating uncontrollably.
The medication itself doesn't technically cause weight gain, but rather it triggers such intense hunger that you can't help it.
I really need to lose some weight because my knees have started aching terribly from the strain.""""

It is exactly the same situation for me!!! I used to weigh about 132 pounds, but after four years on this medication, I've climbed up to 176 pounds. Fortunately, since I am 5'9", the weight is distributed somewhat evenly across my frame.😁

However, once I take my dose, my stomach feels completely empty, and the hunger pangs hit me so intensely that I feel an immediate, desperate urge to eat. RIGHT THAT SECOND!!!!
Every single night, even if I manage to drift off, I end up dreaming about food and physically getting up to wander to the refrigerator, eventually carrying sandwiches back to bed on a plate.
By morning, I wake up to find crumbs scattered everywhere, from under my pillow to all over my sheets!!!

On a positive note, Seroquel has been an absolute lifesaver for me; it allows me to function normally and perform a job that requires sound judgment and carries a great deal of responsibility.

But honestly, my family simply refuses to believe how ravenous this drug makes me feel!
They just say, "Oh, you aren't moving enough, you're eating too much..." and all that nonsense.
I go to the gym three times a week, I go for power walks three times a week, 6.2 miles I have Herbalife for breakfast and dinner, and for lunch, I usually stick to just a salad or some fitness cereals. Even with a daily intake of roughly 600 calories, I simply cannot drop below that 176-pound mark while on my precious Seroquel.

I am truly interested in hearing about the experiences of others who are taking this; I am currently on the 300mg XR version.
Is there anyone out there taking it who hasn't gained weight, or perhaps someone who has discovered a way to successfully lose weight while staying on it?