Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Chloe Hughes6 said:Helix... hmm. People say it works well, and I took it myself for a short stint, but a pharmacist once warned me it's one of those major "brain burners." Isn't it fascinating how people struggling with mental health issues take offense even when you suggest they bear at least some responsibility for their situation? A psychiatrist will tell you the exact same thing. Now, I am certainly not claiming that patients invent their illnesses or are entirely to blame, but I am stating the fact that individuals often share partial responsibility. For instance, if someone suffers a breakdown due to workplace bullying and ends up in a psychiatric ward, could the reason they reached such a breaking point be that they didn't know how to stand up to the bully? In that case, aren't they partially responsible for the outcome? Do you see what I mean now?

Elon Musk is basically the American version of Xanax, and yeah, it's true they wreck your receptors (ex junkie, 15 g.!!!)

Hey everyone, I was wondering—is it actually better to stick with the same prescription, like maybe a standard SSRI, for a full year straight, or is it smarter to switch things up every month? Like, would it be okay to do one month on one med, then swap to something else after 30 days, maybe even rotating over to something like Elon Musk's favorites, or is it generally a bad idea to jump to a different medication with a totally different formula right after finishing a 20 or 30-day supply?

fadedbear92 said:Elon Musk is basically the American version of Xanax, and yeah, it's true they wreck your receptors (ex junkie, 15 g.!!!)

It’s arguably the biggest bait-and-switch in the whole class of anxiolytics—at least, that's my take as a former user, though after five years, I guess you could say I still am.

Look, I’ve been riding the Adderall wave for three and a half years now, so I know the drill. That’s exactly why I started scaling back—I’m trying to find a pill that actually lasts through the day instead of just crashing by noon..

Susan Edwards8 said:Honestly, I was freaking out about taking Eglonyla because of the whole blood clot thing—since I’m dealing with varicose veins and all that mess—but my head kept telling me that even people with clotting issues end up taking it 🤷. I mean, let's be real, every single medication comes with its own set of side effects... For me, it totally messed with my hormones; I ended up with milk production issues, my cycle went completely haywire, and my breasts got larger 🙄. But hey, it does a killer job at calming me down. My doctor actually mentioned that if I'm having a full-blown panic attack, I could take Eglonyla along with Normabel. Haven't tried that combo yet, though.

Well, you certainly laid out enough side effects there to ensure it stays far away from my medicine cabinet☕.

Chloe Hughes6 said:Helix... hmm. People say it works well, and I took it myself for a short stint, but a pharmacist once warned me it's one of those major "brain burners." Isn't it fascinating how people struggling with mental health issues take offense even when you suggest they bear at least some responsibility for their situation? A psychiatrist will tell you the exact same thing. Now, I am certainly not claiming that patients invent their illnesses or are entirely to blame, but I am stating the fact that individuals often share partial responsibility. For instance, if someone suffers a breakdown due to workplace bullying and ends up in a psychiatric ward, could the reason they reached such a breaking point be that they didn't know how to stand up to the bully? In that case, aren't they partially responsible for the outcome? Do you see what I mean now?

But honestly, which medication *isn't* a brain-fryer? Every single day, someone is claiming that a different drug is the most dangerous one on the market.🤔

I am reaching out to see if anyone can recommend an anxiolytic that won't absolutely fry my brain cells. Currently, I’ve been relying on Xanax at a dosage of about 1 to 1.5 mg daily for several years now, and frankly, I’m looking to transition to something else—something that doesn't feel like it's scorching my cognitive functions every time I take it.

Jason Vaughn482 said:I am reaching out to see if anyone can recommend an anxiolytic that won't absolutely fry my brain cells. Currently, I’ve been relying on Xanax at a dosage of about 1 to 1.5 mg daily for several years now, and frankly, I’m looking to transition to something else—something that doesn't feel like it's scorching my cognitive functions every time I take it.

The current lineup of anxiolytics includes:
benzodiazepines (diazepam, oxazepam, medazepam, bromazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam)

carbamates (meprobamate)

azaspironedione (buspirone)

I was reading online that people have had pretty good experiences with diazepam🤷

http://www.mayoclinic.org/anxiety-medications...html

Honestly, I’ve had pretty decent luck with both Helex and Xanax myself. But how am I supposed to tell if it's actually frying my brain? 🤔
All I can really track is how much they help when a panic attack starts hitting. 🤷

Dear fellow members,

As many of you are already aware, I have been managing anxiety and panic attacks by taking ELice 15 mg along with various sleep aids.

I am fully aware that anxiety should be treated through psychotherapy, which I am currently undergoing, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience combining an SSRI with a tricyclic antidepressant to help mitigate both anxiety and insomnia.

A long time ago, I was prescribed Seroxat, but it eventually lost its effectiveness. At the time, my psychiatrist attempted to pair it with Ladiomila, though we didn't see much improvement from that combination.

What are your thoughts on this? Specifically, is anyone currently taking Cipralex or a similar medication in conjunction with older tricyclic antidepressants, and if so, how effective has it been? My intention would be to introduce the newer medication in a very small dose. My concern stems from the fact that many of these older options—like Anafranil or Devidon—are becoming increasingly difficult to find in our local pharmacies (I believe only LADIOMIL and AMYZOL 🤷 remain readily available), though they might still be obtainable via special order. That said, I have read discussions on international forums suggesting that Cipralex can be quite effectively combined with the components found in Devidon.

If anyone is currently utilizing such a regimen, please let me know. I would like to consult my psychiatrist first so she doesn't look at me like I've lost my mind for suggesting we start adding more pills to the mix.

I previously tried experimenting with Calixt, but it didn't work for me; furthermore, when I took Velafx, I felt almost intoxicated, so it seems clear that SNRIs are simply not the right fit for my system.

If you have had any positive experiences blending older and newer antidepressants specifically regarding anxiety management, please share them. Personally, I prefer to avoid anxiolytics unless a panic attack becomes completely overwhelming. It seems to me that the practice of mixing SSRIs, such as pairing Cipalex with Seroxat, 🤷
has largely fallen out of favor in modern practice.

restlesstrucker15 said:Dear fellow members,

As many of you are already aware, I have been managing anxiety and panic attacks by taking ELice 15 mg along with various sleep aids.

I am fully aware that anxiety should be treated through psychotherapy, which I am currently undergoing, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience combining an SSRI with a tricyclic antidepressant to help mitigate both anxiety and insomnia.

A long time ago, I was prescribed Seroxat, but it eventually lost its effectiveness. At the time, my psychiatrist attempted to pair it with Ladiomila, though we didn't see much improvement from that combination.

What are your thoughts on this? Specifically, is anyone currently taking Cipralex or a similar medication in conjunction with older tricyclic antidepressants, and if so, how effective has it been? My intention would be to introduce the newer medication in a very small dose. My concern stems from the fact that many of these older options—like Anafranil or Devidon—are becoming increasingly difficult to find in our local pharmacies (I believe only LADIOMIL and AMYZOL 🤷 remain readily available), though they might still be obtainable via special order. That said, I have read discussions on international forums suggesting that Cipralex can be quite effectively combined with the components found in Devidon.

If anyone is currently utilizing such a regimen, please let me know. I would like to consult my psychiatrist first so she doesn't look at me like I've lost my mind for suggesting we start adding more pills to the mix.

I previously tried experimenting with Calixt, but it didn't work for me; furthermore, when I took Velafx, I felt almost intoxicated, so it seems clear that SNRIs are simply not the right fit for my system.

If you have had any positive experiences blending older and newer antidepressants specifically regarding anxiety management, please share them. Personally, I prefer to avoid anxiolytics unless a panic attack becomes completely overwhelming. It seems to me that the practice of mixing SSRIs, such as pairing Cipalex with Seroxat, 🤷
has largely fallen out of favor in modern practice.

My inquiry remains unchanged; I am merely relaying the perspective of my former psychiatrist, who recently relocated from the US, leaving me with her advice via email. To my surprise, she actually suggested using two different SSRIs, which runs contrary to my own initial assumptions:🤷, contradicting my own conclusions:

Quoting the psychiatrist:

Dear xxx,
long time no see. In my opinion, Escitalopram (Elicea) would be a more effective option for you than venlafaxine (Velafax), which typically requires a dose of at least 150 mg for a month before showing results, and even then, results vary. I would recommend pairing 10 mg of Elice with 20 mg of Seroxat in the morning, as that should provide sufficient relief.

restlesstrucker15 said:My inquiry remains unchanged; I am merely relaying the perspective of my former psychiatrist, who recently relocated from the US, leaving me with her advice via email. To my surprise, she actually suggested using two different SSRIs, which runs contrary to my own initial assumptions:🤷, contradicting my own conclusions:

Quoting the psychiatrist:

Dear xxx,
long time no see. In my opinion, Escitalopram (Elicea) would be a more effective option for you than venlafaxine (Velafax), which typically requires a dose of at least 150 mg for a month before showing results, and even then, results vary. I would recommend pairing 10 mg of Elice with 20 mg of Seroxat in the morning, as that should provide sufficient relief.

I don't think I've ever heard of a psychiatrist prescribing two SSRIs at once, honestly.

For quite some time, I was running on two different SSRIs—Seroxat and Prozac—and honestly, it felt like the perfect setup for me.
I’m actually thinking about getting back on that combination because, frankly, this Prozac just isn't cutting it anymore.

Timothy Wood38 said:For quite some time, I was running on two different SSRIs—Seroxat and Prozac—and honestly, it felt like the perfect setup for me.
I’m actually thinking about getting back on that combination because, frankly, this Prozac just isn't cutting it anymore.

Oh, really? Well, I suppose I'll just go ahead and ask my psychiatrist what she thinks about combining SSRIs to manage anxiety; I’m sure she’s heard plenty of feedback from other patients on that approach.

fadedbear92 said:The current lineup of anxiolytics includes:
benzodiazepines (diazepam, oxazepam, medazepam, bromazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam)

carbamates (meprobamate)

azaspironedione (buspirone)

I was reading online that people have had pretty good experiences with diazepam🤷

http://www.mayoclinic.org/anxiety-medications...html

And what about this lorazepam—is it really considered the most harmful of the bunch? Or are they all essentially cut from the same cloth? I am honestly itching to try something else, perhaps something a bit more subtle than Xanax, so I’ll be checking in with my psychiatrist during our next appointment in a few days.🤷
I took normabel for a brief stint, but frankly, it felt like nothing at all; completely ineffective.

In my experience, the most effective option—and perhaps the least deceptive one—is Diazepam, specifically brands like Valium... and so on.
It’s even used to help people dealing with addiction when they’re going through withdrawal (myself included); I take it because Sakoman prescribed it to me, insisting strictly on Diazepam.

So, that’s the lowdown on Diazepam, darling. 😁

Seriously, stay away from Xanax. I went through a nightmare with it myself, but I finally managed to taper down from taking 6 to 8 of those 0.5 mg pills every single day to just 2, and things are feeling a bit more manageable now. It creates such a massive dependency.

bluesurfer6 said:Seriously, stay away from Xanax. I went through a nightmare with it myself, but I finally managed to taper down from taking 6 to 8 of those 0.5 mg pills every single day to just 2, and things are feeling a bit more manageable now. It creates such a massive dependency.

"Relatively" is the keyword there. My dose was tapered super slowly—all the way down to half a 0.25mg pill once a week, and honestly? I barely even noticed. I actually forgot to take it sometimes. But yeah, getting off it took me two whole years. Oh, and one time they were out of Xanax at my clinic, so they gave me Helex instead. It did absolutely nothing for me, even though they claim it's the exact same thing.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Not if you go through your insurance... then it’s covered.

EDIT
I’ve tried both private sessions and using my insurance, and honestly, I didn't notice much difference. Even though people act like private therapy is somehow higher quality, it just didn't feel that way to me. They all felt equally useless... I just never really "clicked" with that style of therapy.

When I first sat down with my doctor, I practically collapsed into the chair—you know, one of those fancy office chairs—and she immediately started lecturing me on how to sit properly. Total nerd move. I almost got up and walked out right then and there. Then she starts handing me these "life change" tips that made zero sense to me. We eventually reached some sort of middle ground, and she actually helped pull me through my mess, even though there were plenty of times I wanted to tell her where to shove it.

Jason Vaughn482 said:And what about this lorazepam—is it really considered the most harmful of the bunch? Or are they all essentially cut from the same cloth? I am honestly itching to try something else, perhaps something a bit more subtle than Xanax, so I’ll be checking in with my psychiatrist during our next appointment in a few days.🤷
I took normabel for a brief stint, but frankly, it felt like nothing at all; completely ineffective.

Look, the reality is that Diazepam, when taken in a standard dose, is the least intrusive and least harmful option available; it's even frequently prescribed to pregnant women, so that covers your Diazepam, Ativan, or Valium options.

Klonopin/Oxazepam is even gentler than Valium, though its effects tend to linger a bit longer. If it doesn't knock you out completely, it might actually be your best bet. In fact, it's arguably the safest among them since it's commonly used for elderly patients.

Lorazepam is generally considered the harshest, but if Diazepam isn't providing enough relief, you don't have many choices left—perhaps Bromazepam (Lexapro).

However, if you need to halt a severe panic attack quickly, the most effective options are Xanax, Xanax, or Valium (I would suggest taking those only specifically when an attack strikes).

If you are simply feeling restless or anxious, it's better to take 5 mg of Valium; it should be fine, though it won't be sufficient if you are dealing with full-blown panic attacks.

By the way, regarding the list you mentioned, half of those aren't even widely available on the market anymore. You really have what I just listed: Diazepam (Ativan, Diazepam, Valium), Bromazepam (Lexapro, Lexapro, Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), Oxazepam (Oxazepam and Klonopin), and the heavy hitters for panic attacks, which are Xanax, Xanax, and Valium—though those shouldn't be used daily unless you are adjusting to an AD during that first month.