Psychotropic medication discussion thread

George Allen71 said:Ugh, reading this was so hard for me too.... I won't let it get to me... I'm strong... hang in there, Jane, through all these years... though I'm not even Jane... ughhhhh

Day 6 on Luvox... 25 mg Lamictal first thing in the morning... then another 50 mg in the evening.... man, once I finally get stabilized... oh boy😂

I might—and that's a big maybe—end up getting Lamictal, similar to your Lamictal, if a higher dose of Klonopin doesn't do the trick.

fadedbear92 said:I might—and that's a big maybe—end up getting Lamictal, similar to your Lamictal, if a higher dose of Klonopin doesn't do the trick.

Hey, fadedbear92...

I know you've been on it before. What does Lamictal—or mood stabilizers in general—actually do to your mood...? I've been taking 25mg + 0 + 50mg for a while now... and I'm honestly not feeling any real stability... if anything, it feels like the opposite...

Jason Vaughn482 said:What makes you say that? My therapist actually suggested I could, though I don't really do it—I just have about ten pills left over, so I'll toss one in here and there when sleep just won't come...
George Allen71 and I are kind of in the same boat—she’s just got her mom, and all I’ve got is my daughter. Aside from her, I don't really have any family—or rather, I just don't talk to them.

I think when my doctor offered me Zoloft, it was specifically because they told me I had to stop taking Mirtazapine—if I remember correctly, it wasn't an "either/or" situation, but more of a "one instead of the other" thing.

Timothy Wood38 said:Well, Zoloft and Sanval are essentially the same generic, which is Zolpidem. Your experience is likely just subjective. Also, Sulpiride isn't an antidepressant; it's an antipsychotic, though yes, it gets prescribed off-label for GI issues. Just don't take it too late in the day because it can be stimulating, but there aren't any contraindications with Zolpidem. As for Celexa—well, Paroxetine is actually a very solid medication. And one more thing for everyone here who goes absolutely wild during medication changes: I've been there. In my case, adjusting the dosage was the most progressive move I made. Taking 60 mg of Prozac and 60 mg of Paxil daily basically brought me back from the dead. I don't need those high doses anymore, but the lesson stuck. So, please, stop playing games with your health and find a competent psychiatrist who actually understands pharmacology.

My doctor worked in a mental hospital on Maui. Thirty years, so I figured she knew her stuff. How should I have known?

I remember being at a psychiatric facility once, and there was this one guy I encountered. His parents had essentially kicked him out of the house because he wasn't "normal," and eventually, the police found him sleeping rough somewhere in the city. Since he was an adult and refused to go back home after his folks tossed him out, they just sent him straight to the psych ward.
During my ten-day stay there, the guy seemed completely detached from reality, rambling about nonsense—claiming he was personally acquainted with the President and things of that nature. I guess the doctors there weren't quite skilled enough to nail down a diagnosis, so they just kept pumping him full of these massive doses of medication, which always left him ravenous, eating three helpings of everything.
I still can't wrap my head around how all those pills even fit inside him.😁
Anyway, looking back, it felt like those heavy meds turned him into a bit of a caricature; I happened to run into him later, and he was a completely different person. He actually knew how to hold a conversation and make sense, which was honestly quite a shock!😲He told me, "See? I feel so much better now that I'm not taking those pills they used to give me." But then, I noticed he was carrying a bag filled with empty bottles... and I think I understood the situation immediately. It’s just such a tragedy... a man living on the streets simply because he has terrible parents who couldn't accept him for being a little different.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I am honestly just fed up with this Zoloft; I’m still sitting at a mere 25 mg, yet I can’t feel a single positive effect—no reduction in appetite, no lift in my mood, nothing. All I’m left with is constant nausea and this heightened, jittery nervousness... frankly, I felt much better before I ever started this stuff.

You should probably bump up the dose; 25 mg is just a tiny drop in the bucket!

feralstag72 said:I think when my doctor offered me Zoloft, it was specifically because they told me I had to stop taking Mirtazapine—if I remember correctly, it wasn't an "either/or" situation, but more of a "one instead of the other" thing.

Mirtazapine is essentially what Mirzaten is.
Mirtazapine (Remeron, Paxil, Zispin) is classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA)

Zoloft—which is Sertraline hydrochloride (sold under names like Zoloft and Lustral, for instance)—belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) category.
(Wikipedia)

They probably shouldn't be mixed, since they actually fall into different classes of antidepressants.

Anthony Lopez8 said:My philosophy is quite simple: everyone should have the autonomy to take whatever they want, provided it makes them feel good.

However, you really have to weigh whether or not you actually maintain control while in that state. A textbook symptom of hypomania is when a person starts making risky decisions that could lead to negative psychosocial or physical consequences. Another issue is developing an overly hostile attitude toward others, becoming manipulative, or acting on impulse—not to mention direct harm, though I suspect that isn't happening in your case. You really ought to think deeply about whether this is truly the kind of person you want to be...

Have you ever considered taking a mood stabilizer alongside your Zoloft? As far as I understand, it won't block the positive effects of the antidepressant, but it does prevent those dangerous escalations.

I’m going to try Tegretol 100 mg oral now
I took it on its own before, but I didn't really feel much of an impact.
It also helps me use Prozac to take the edge off my restlessness, high energy, and impulsivity.

Frank Campbell said:I’m going to try Tegretol 100 mg oral now
I took it on its own before, but I didn't really feel much of an impact.
It also helps me use Prozac to take the edge off my restlessness, high energy, and impulsivity.

Tegretol is actually an excellent stabilizer—though it's technically an anticonvulsant
Misar is just your standard anxiolytic

George Allen71 said:Hey, fadedbear92...

I know you've been on it before. What does Lamictal—or mood stabilizers in general—actually do to your mood...? I've been taking 25mg + 0 + 50mg for a while now... and I'm honestly not feeling any real stability... if anything, it feels like the opposite...

From what my doctor told me, you're supposed to taper up slowly—increasing the dose once a week, at least in my case.

Lamictal and similar drugs are technically anti-epileptics, but they're used as stabilizers in psychiatry.

Look, here's my situation. I'm dealing with depression and anxiety, so I'm currently on Citram and Xanax... but the problem is that Xanax just knocks me out way too much. I've decided if I don't feel any better in two weeks, I'm going to look into a different therapy. My therapist actually mentioned something like Ricol or whatever—does anyone know which pill she was talking about for self-control? I'd really appreciate some help here!!!

So, I wanted to ask if it’s actually possible to experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Halcion? I’ve been taking it regularly for about a year and a half now, though it seems to have lost its effectiveness lately. Now, I find myself struggling even with Valium; it’s a far cry from how it used to be when it would reliably knock me out. My doctor suggested taking one pill, and then perhaps another if I can't sleep, provided it isn't past 4:00 AM. Honestly, my instinct is to just take 20 mg all at once, but that doesn't align with my ultimate goal of getting off hypnotics entirely. I had expressed my desire to stop the Halcion, and she mentioned that we should rotate through different hypnotics occasionally, or at least take breaks, to make it easier to step away. Anyway, here we are. I’ve been feeling a bit low lately, so I could easily attribute this to anxiety, but I’m dealing with chills, daytime sweating, and a slight tremor... Could this be due to the lack of Halcion? Or am I just overthinking things? I suppose I can endure whatever comes my way, provided I know how long this detox lasts. After all, Halcion is a benzodiazepine, so it stands to reason that one could develop a physical dependency rather than just a psychological one.

restlesstrucker15 said:So, I wanted to ask if it’s actually possible to experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping Halcion? I’ve been taking it regularly for about a year and a half now, though it seems to have lost its effectiveness lately. Now, I find myself struggling even with Valium; it’s a far cry from how it used to be when it would reliably knock me out. My doctor suggested taking one pill, and then perhaps another if I can't sleep, provided it isn't past 4:00 AM. Honestly, my instinct is to just take 20 mg all at once, but that doesn't align with my ultimate goal of getting off hypnotics entirely. I had expressed my desire to stop the Halcion, and she mentioned that we should rotate through different hypnotics occasionally, or at least take breaks, to make it easier to step away. Anyway, here we are. I’ve been feeling a bit low lately, so I could easily attribute this to anxiety, but I’m dealing with chills, daytime sweating, and a slight tremor... Could this be due to the lack of Halcion? Or am I just overthinking things? I suppose I can endure whatever comes my way, provided I know how long this detox lasts. After all, Halcion is a benzodiazepine, so it stands to reason that one could develop a physical dependency rather than just a psychological one.

Why don't you just ask your doctor?

http://www.meppo.com/pdf/drugs/566-D...1322057169.pdf

Abrupt discontinuation
of the drug, in particular, can provoke Withdrawal Symptoms May Include
symptoms. In mild cases these are restricted
to tremor, restlessness, sleep disturbances, anxiety,
headache and poor concentration. In more serious
cases, symptoms such as sweating, muscle cramps,
abdominal cramps, impaired sensory perception
and, rarely, delirium and convulsions may result.
Depending on the drug’s duration of action, symptoms
may appear a few hours to one week or more
after cessation of therapy.

Halcion Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:

http://www.pointofreturn.com/halcion_withdrawal.html

abdominal pains, aching, agoraphobia, anxiety, blurred vision, body vibrations, changes in perception, diarrhea, distended abdomen, feeling of unreality, flu-like symptoms, flatulence, food cravings, hair loss, heart palpitations, heavy limbs, increased allergies, increased sense of smell, insomnia, lethargy, loss of balance, metallic taste, muscle spasms, nightmares, panic attacks, paranoia, persistent & unpleasant memories, severe headaches, shaking, short term memory loss, sore mouth and tongue, sound & light sensitivity, speech difficulties, sweating, suicidal thoughts, tinnitus, unusually sensitive, fear

fadedbear92 said:Why don't you just ask your doctor?

http://www.meppo.com/pdf/drugs/566-D...1322057169.pdf

Abrupt discontinuation
of the drug, in particular, can provoke Withdrawal Symptoms May Include
symptoms. In mild cases these are restricted
to tremor, restlessness, sleep disturbances, anxiety,
headache and poor concentration. In more serious
cases, symptoms such as sweating, muscle cramps,
abdominal cramps, impaired sensory perception
and, rarely, delirium and convulsions may result.
Depending on the drug’s duration of action, symptoms
may appear a few hours to one week or more
after cessation of therapy.

Halcion Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:

http://www.pointofreturn.com/halcion_withdrawal.html

abdominal pains, aching, agoraphobia, anxiety, blurred vision, body vibrations, changes in perception, diarrhea, distended abdomen, feeling of unreality, flu-like symptoms, flatulence, food cravings, hair loss, heart palpitations, heavy limbs, increased allergies, increased sense of smell, insomnia, lethargy, loss of balance, metallic taste, muscle spasms, nightmares, panic attacks, paranoia, persistent & unpleasant memories, severe headaches, shaking, short term memory loss, sore mouth and tongue, sound & light sensitivity, speech difficulties, sweating, suicidal thoughts, tinnitus, unusually sensitive, fear

Thanks, fadedbear92. 🙂 I honestly feel too self-conscious about this to call her up right now. I'll bring it up during my follow-up appointment instead. I have already been off it for ten days, so I will see how things look by next week. I am hopeful that this won't stretch much beyond the ten-day mark.

Frank Campbell said:You should probably bump up the dose; 25 mg is just a tiny drop in the bucket!

Whether it’s "peanuts" or not is beside the point—why on earth do I feel worse now than I did before I started this? I am honestly terrified of swallowing a 50 mg pill. Looking at my bottle, there are only 10 tablets left, which means I’ve been splitting them in half for twenty days straight, and yet I haven't felt any actual relief—only this bizarre, unsettling sensation that everything is just... off. It feels worse. I skipped my dose yesterday, and now I'm sitting here completely lost. I mean, after twenty days of this, shouldn't I have noticed some sort of improvement by now?😕

Is anyone else taking Helix (or something similar) while still knocking back 2-3 coffees a day and maybe 4 or 5 cigarettes?
I really tried to kick the coffee habit—honestly, I gave it my best shot—but it’s just not happening for me. 😲😲

Jason Vaughn482 said:Whether it’s "peanuts" or not is beside the point—why on earth do I feel worse now than I did before I started this? I am honestly terrified of swallowing a 50 mg pill. Looking at my bottle, there are only 10 tablets left, which means I’ve been splitting them in half for twenty days straight, and yet I haven't felt any actual relief—only this bizarre, unsettling sensation that everything is just... off. It feels worse. I skipped my dose yesterday, and now I'm sitting here completely lost. I mean, after twenty days of this, shouldn't I have noticed some sort of improvement by now?😕

You really shouldn't be deciding how to adjust your dosage or quitting on your own without talking to your doctor first... you shouldn't just increase things by yourself, either. For instance, the Zoloft instructions mention starting at 25 mg for anxiety and then increasing it as needed... but in my opinion, that’s something you have to coordinate with your physician, not decide solo. Give her a call and ask her about it if you aren't feeling right. From what I understand, the first three weeks with any antidepressant are basically just your body trying to adapt... so it makes sense that you might feel like things are getting worse... it's all listed under side effects. In my own experience, no matter which antidepressant I started on, I dealt with everything from headaches and nausea to suicidal thoughts... just about everything... and you can see it here on the forum... I vent about everything... anyone who has followed my posts knows I have sudden mood swings and complain about every little thing... but I know it's just the medication. Once the drug stabilizes in your system... usually after two or three weeks... that's when you can actually tell if it's working for you or if you're feeling any relief. I think 20 days is still within that adjustment window. Hang in there just a little longer. Believe in yourself and stay persistent.

George Allen71 said:You really shouldn't be deciding how to adjust your dosage or quitting on your own without talking to your doctor first... you shouldn't just increase things by yourself, either. For instance, the Zoloft instructions mention starting at 25 mg for anxiety and then increasing it as needed... but in my opinion, that’s something you have to coordinate with your physician, not decide solo. Give her a call and ask her about it if you aren't feeling right. From what I understand, the first three weeks with any antidepressant are basically just your body trying to adapt... so it makes sense that you might feel like things are getting worse... it's all listed under side effects. In my own experience, no matter which antidepressant I started on, I dealt with everything from headaches and nausea to suicidal thoughts... just about everything... and you can see it here on the forum... I vent about everything... anyone who has followed my posts knows I have sudden mood swings and complain about every little thing... but I know it's just the medication. Once the drug stabilizes in your system... usually after two or three weeks... that's when you can actually tell if it's working for you or if you're feeling any relief. I think 20 days is still within that adjustment window. Hang in there just a little longer. Believe in yourself and stay persistent.

Thank you; I am acutely aware of all that, but I suppose those of us dealing with anxiety—or at least me—tend to lean toward hypochondria, constantly fearing the next ailment, including potential side effects. I spent a good portion of today spiraling through various forums reading about Zoloft and Valium... one user described experiencing serotonin syndrome from Zoloft, and honestly, how are you even supposed to recognize that? This morning, I woke up completely sleep-deprived and feeling absolutely wretched—intense anxiety coupled with nauseating sensations. Even searching for information on Valium left me shivering with dread, yet I have no idea how to actually fall asleep. I find myself circling back to Mirzaten once again; truthfully, it didn't present many unpleasant side effects—just some grogginess and a bit of weight gain, though only about six pounds. It worked wonders for sleep, but it felt foolish to continue using it while I was also taking Valium. And let me tell you, I could NEVER stomach a higher dose; I stuck strictly to the minimum of 15mg. Perhaps I should have increased it, or maybe I’ll return to it and try a larger dose... when I decided to stop taking it previously, there wasn't any drama, I simply stopped and that was that. Perhaps it isn't such a villain after all. By the way, how is it working for you? Are you also just starting out on Zoloft?

Listen, has anyone here actually experimented with this new Circadin medication to help with sleep? I am more than ready to finally ditch the Ambien once and for all.

I think I’ll run it by my doctor—maybe swap out the valium for Praxiten, perhaps even to help with sleep...