Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Peter Wilson2 said:I feel absolutely terrible on Velafax. It’s a physical struggle—just constant nausea. I’ve been on it for about twenty days now, and honestly, I’d swap it out in a heartbeat.

Have you noticed anything else besides these nasty side effects? If there hasn't been any actual improvement—just the discomfort—you really need to reach out to the doctor who prescribed it... you'll have to taper off slowly, otherwise, things could get pretty ugly. It took me three weeks, just dropping by a quarter tablet at a time. By the way, have you been dealing with insomnia since you started taking it?

Bradley Smith3 said:Maybe try eating some breakfast before you take it...
Just hang in there a bit longer, then talk to your psychiatrist—don't go messing with your meds on your own.

Yeah, I read somewhere that taking it on an empty stomach is better, but honestly, it doesn't matter because I feel like garbage. This nausea is unreal. I've never dealt with anything like this before. I tried calling my doctor, but of course, I can't get through to anyone. It’s like I have to drive two hours just to get to his office, only for him to scribble something down and tell me to come back in a month. It's absolutely infuriating.

fadedbear92 said:Have you noticed anything else besides these nasty side effects? If there hasn't been any actual improvement—just the discomfort—you really need to reach out to the doctor who prescribed it... you'll have to taper off slowly, otherwise, things could get pretty ugly. It took me three weeks, just dropping by a quarter tablet at a time. By the way, have you been dealing with insomnia since you started taking it?

I'm one of those people who sleeps way too much, and honestly, it feels like I'm sleeping even more now. Up until this point, I thought I could handle just about anything—Lexapro, Paxil, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Anafranil, Xanax, God knows what else, I can't even remember it all—but this stuff? Good grief, not this.

Peter Wilson2 said:Yeah, I read somewhere that taking it on an empty stomach is better, but honestly, it doesn't matter because I feel like garbage. This nausea is unreal. I've never dealt with anything like this before. I tried calling my doctor, but of course, I can't get through to anyone. It’s like I have to drive two hours just to get to his office, only for him to scribble something down and tell me to come back in a month. It's absolutely infuriating.

That’s just how the healthcare system works here in the States, I suppose. If the new medication they assigned you isn't sitting right, you can't just see your doctor; you're stuck waiting a month for your next appointment.🙂 But if you're feeling really awful or you're just unsure of what to do, maybe you should head to the ER. They can refer you to the psychiatric ward, and you can just explain what's going on to the doctor on duty there.

Peter Wilson2 said:I'm one of those people who sleeps way too much, and honestly, it feels like I'm sleeping even more now. Up until this point, I thought I could handle just about anything—Lexapro, Paxil, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Anafranil, Xanax, God knows what else, I can't even remember it all—but this stuff? Good grief, not this.

I’m a sleepwalker too, though Effexor actually woke me right up! We barely managed to find anything—Tegretol 200—to help get my sleep schedule back on track... In fact, because I was sleeping so much during the day, they put me on Edronax to keep me alert, while in the evenings I’m still on Faverin plus Prazosin, along with Lorazepam 3 x2...

Peter Wilson2 said:I feel absolutely terrible on Velafax. It’s a physical struggle—just constant nausea. I’ve been on it for about twenty days now, and honestly, I’d swap it out in a heartbeat.

I gave that stuff every possible chance over a two-and-a-half-month stretch, and during that window, I was basically in hibernation. Even being a zombie—or a mummy, if you prefer—wasn't entirely without its perks. But toward the end of my little experiment, my lower back started killing me from this unnatural way I was walking. It’s like my body just froze up and stayed rigid—I have to move, so I move, but there's zero connection between my torso, legs, and back. I feel like I'm leaning against thin air while my heels just slam into the pavement, wearing down my joints...
But hey, lounging on the couch felt pretty great!

Peter Wilson2 said:I'm one of those people who sleeps way too much, and honestly, it feels like I'm sleeping even more now. Up until this point, I thought I could handle just about anything—Lexapro, Paxil, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Anafranil, Xanax, God knows what else, I can't even remember it all—but this stuff? Good grief, not this.

I had the exact same experience when I first started Effexor. If you can, try to push through this initial phase. It might sound a bit silly, but I found that Quick crackers actually helped with the nausea—they have ginger in them, which is great for the stomach. I was sleeping an absurd amount too, but that eventually levels out. I still sleep quite a bit, and the arrival of spring hasn't helped my energy levels much, but things are definitely better. Hang in there. 🙂

frozenangler82 said:I had the exact same experience when I first started Effexor. If you can, try to push through this initial phase. It might sound a bit silly, but I found that Quick crackers actually helped with the nausea—they have ginger in them, which is great for the stomach. I was sleeping an absurd amount too, but that eventually levels out. I still sleep quite a bit, and the arrival of spring hasn't helped my energy levels much, but things are definitely better. Hang in there. 🙂

My whole life is just slipping away while I sit around waiting for one doctor after another... and then the psychiatrist has the nerve to tell me to just "be patient"... give me a break.🙂

Just checking in after a bit of a hiatus. I finally made it to my follow-up appointment this morning, though it’s been pushed back twice now—first because the doctor was on vacation, and then because I caught a nasty virus. Honestly, I’m still dealing with the tail end of the flu, plus some bronchitis, so I’ve been chugging those massive Clavulin pills. Ugh, they seriously make me feel nauseous.🤮My doctor decided to switch up my regimen. Instead of Effexor, I’m moving to Wellbutrin XR 150 in the morning, then Tegretol 200 in the evening, along with Lexapro 3 x0.5. He also mentioned that if the Lexapro doesn't sit right with me, I can go back to taking Lorazepam 3 x2.5 instead. I was just wondering if anyone here is on a similar setup, or if you've tried any of these before? Did it actually help? Also, I've heard people can get hooked on Lexapro pretty quickly, which is a bit worrying.🤷

wiredmason56 said:Just checking in after a bit of a hiatus. I finally made it to my follow-up appointment this morning, though it’s been pushed back twice now—first because the doctor was on vacation, and then because I caught a nasty virus. Honestly, I’m still dealing with the tail end of the flu, plus some bronchitis, so I’ve been chugging those massive Clavulin pills. Ugh, they seriously make me feel nauseous.🤮My doctor decided to switch up my regimen. Instead of Effexor, I’m moving to Wellbutrin XR 150 in the morning, then Tegretol 200 in the evening, along with Lexapro 3 x0.5. He also mentioned that if the Lexapro doesn't sit right with me, I can go back to taking Lorazepam 3 x2.5 instead. I was just wondering if anyone here is on a similar setup, or if you've tried any of these before? Did it actually help? Also, I've heard people can get hooked on Lexapro pretty quickly, which is a bit worrying.🤷

My psychiatrist actually switched me over to Wellbutrin 150 XR from Effexor as well, so I'm curious to see how you adjust to it.😁

Lexapro is definitely habit-forming, much like Xanax; they really are cut from the same cloth.

Kenneth Scott41 said:My psychiatrist actually switched me over to Wellbutrin 150 XR from Effexor as well, so I'm curious to see how you adjust to it.😁

Lexapro is definitely habit-forming, much like Xanax; they really are cut from the same cloth.

Yeah, I was on Xanax about two years ago. I wasn't taking it every single day, but I could tell pretty quickly that I needed higher doses just to get that same sense of relaxation I felt at first. And man, when I started the Effexor, it felt almost like I was on some weird kind of speed... my pupils were totally dilated.😁 How did Effexor feel for you compared to Wellbutrin? Which one ended up being better?

wiredmason56 said:Yeah, I was on Xanax about two years ago. I wasn't taking it every single day, but I could tell pretty quickly that I needed higher doses just to get that same sense of relaxation I felt at first. And man, when I started the Effexor, it felt almost like I was on some weird kind of speed... my pupils were totally dilated.😁 How did Effexor feel for you compared to Wellbutrin? Which one ended up being better?

I just finished reading about how Wellbutrin worked for you.😍 So, if it ends up hitting me the same way, I guess I won't complain too much.😂

wiredmason56 said:Yeah, I was on Xanax about two years ago. I wasn't taking it every single day, but I could tell pretty quickly that I needed higher doses just to get that same sense of relaxation I felt at first. And man, when I started the Effexor, it felt almost like I was on some weird kind of speed... my pupils were totally dilated.😁 How did Effexor feel for you compared to Wellbutrin? Which one ended up being better?

It’s funny you say that, because that’s exactly how Wellbutrin feels for me. It’s like I’m constantly being driven to go somewhere or do something; I just can't seem to settle down... it really is just like you described, feeling like I'm on speed. That stays with me all day until the evening hits, and then the depression and loneliness just start creeping back in.
Personally, I think Effexor works better for me because it doesn't turn me into some sort of hyperactive marathon runner; instead, it settles me down a bit and keeps the depression at bay, which seems to suit my temperament better than Wellbutrin does.
But which one works better for you? I also have to factor in that I have to pay extra out-of-pocket for Wellbutrin despite having supplemental insurance, so I'm genuinely torn. I used Effexor and it helped, but because of the side effects—it absolutely tanks my libido—my therapist suggested switching to Wellbutrin. I'm just not sure if I should go back to Effexor or not.🙂

I’m curious to hear about everyone's experiences with antidepressants. Which ones have you actually tried? Which ones worked well for you, and which ones were just a total waste of time? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.🙂😁

I've cycled through quite a few myself—Prozac, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Zoloft, though I won't go through an exhaustive list... but if I had to say, my best experiences were definitely with Lexapro and then Effexor.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’m curious to hear about everyone's experiences with antidepressants. Which ones have you actually tried? Which ones worked well for you, and which ones were just a total waste of time? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.🙂😁

I've cycled through quite a few myself—Prozac, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Zoloft, though I won't go through an exhaustive list... but if I had to say, my best experiences were definitely with Lexapro and then Effexor.

Even on a tiny dose of Effexor, I felt like I was about to lose my mind—I haven't touched it since. Tomorrow I'm starting Lexapro—specifically the Alice brand, which is just the same thing under a different name—so I'll check back in a few days to let you know how it goes. I tried Paxil twice before; by the third attempt, my body had such a severe reaction that I gave up after just ten days. I also took Coaxil for a year, but it didn't do a thing for me. Nothing else.

Personally, I find Effexor works better for me because it doesn't turn me into some hyperactive marathon runner; it just kind of levels me out and keeps the depression at bay. It feels like a better fit than Wellbutrin does.
🙂

Which one works better for you? I’m also stuck because I have to pay extra for Wellbutrin even though I have supplemental insurance. I’m really torn... I tried Effexor and it helped, but since it totally killed my libido, my therapist suggested switching to Wellbutrin. Now I don't know if I should go back to Effexor or not.

My psychiatrist told me to take a three-day break first before starting it again, so I'm supposed to start tomorrow. He actually had a bottle left in his desk, so he gave it to me—I'm not even sure about the cost yet. Yesterday I picked up some Xanax and Carbamazepine that I need to take at night; it's my first time trying this combo, so I have no idea how it'll hit me.😕 Back in the day, I was on Prozac and it made me super hyperactive—I lost my appetite and my pupils were huge, like dinner plates.😁 After that, I tried Paroxetine for a tiny bit, but I only lasted three days.☕ Now I'm just curious to see how this new stuff treats me.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’m curious to hear about everyone's experiences with antidepressants. Which ones have you actually tried? Which ones worked well for you, and which ones were just a total waste of time? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.🙂😁

I've cycled through quite a few myself—Prozac, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Zoloft, though I won't go through an exhaustive list... but if I had to say, my best experiences were definitely with Lexapro and then Effexor.

Oh, I forgot to mention Fluoxetine. I was on that last summer, but honestly, it felt like nothing happened. Even my current psychiatrist mentioned it—he actually got it prescribed by my previous doctor. He said Fluoxetine is usually given to older ladies dealing with very mild depression, almost like they're just taking something just to say they're taking something.😂 In other words, it’s a pretty weak antidepressant. I wanted to ask, how was the Lexapro for you? I've never tried it, but I've heard it's actually a really solid option.

It’s becoming much more common nowadays to combine two different antidepressants. Personally, I take Effexor, which
keeps me alert during the day, paired with Paxil to help me wind down at night... You should definitely ask your doctor if combining two meds might be a better move if you aren't feeling 100% satisfied with just one... they really need to be careful about which specific types can be safely mixed...

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’m curious to hear about everyone's experiences with antidepressants. Which ones have you actually tried? Which ones worked well for you, and which ones were just a total waste of time? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.🙂😁

I've cycled through quite a few myself—Prozac, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Zoloft, though I won't go through an exhaustive list... but if I had to say, my best experiences were definitely with Lexapro and then Effexor.

There’s just no such thing as "the best"...
Everyone’s different, right? What works for one person might not work at all for someone else. For some, it’s Prozac.
It’s all relative, isn't it? For one person, Paxil might be a total nightmare, while for someone else, it’s a complete lifesaver. It really just depends on the individual.
On my own... the usual stuff.

wiredmarlin29 said:There’s just no such thing as "the best"...
Everyone’s different, right? What works for one person might not work at all for someone else. For some, it’s Prozac.
It’s all relative, isn't it? For one person, Paxil might be a total nightmare, while for someone else, it’s a complete lifesaver. It really just depends on the individual.
On my own... the usual stuff.

I couldn't agree more. What works perfectly for one person can be an absolute nightmare for someone else. The real struggle is that you won't actually know which one fits your chemistry until you try them—which is often an exhausting, uncomfortable process. I just started taking Alice today; I can't say much yet, other than I haven't had the intense reactions I dealt with on Paxil and Effexor. We'll see how things settle in about 20 days or so.