Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Look, I didn't come here for a lecture. Also, I totally forgot to mention in my last post that back in 2001, he was hospitalized for F25.2—schizoaffective disorder, mixed type, whatever that means. He refused the meds then, too. Things were okay for a bit, but everything went south in 2009 when he started talking nonsense and smashing stuff around the house. We called 911 and they kept him in the hospital for a month. By 2011, things got even worse; he saw a psychiatrist and was on Haldol, then his doctor switched him to clozapine. In 2012, he got Zoloft and Xanax, but he won't take them because he'll just wreck the house—so my question is, would the meds still work if they were hidden in his coffee or tea?

I know exactly how you feel, and if it means anything to you, I truly understand the situation you're in, because my mother-in-law suffers from something very similar. Quite simply, there are some people who refuse any kind of help and don't believe they need therapy at all; they might take their meds for a bit, then stop the moment they feel even slightly better. Personally, I don't think hiding medication in coffee is the answer, because they'll eventually catch on, and then you'll have a massive confrontation on your hands because they'll feel like you're "poisoning" them. I'm not just saying this to say it. Your best bet is to talk to the psychiatrist directly—maybe go see him yourselves—to discuss everything and seek professional advice. We managed to get her to stick to her regimen somehow, but it required constant conversation and explaining things over and over again. Honestly, I practically have to sit right next to her and watch what she does with the pill... because we've dealt with everything from flushing them down the toilet to throwing them in the trash or hiding them. There is one more crucial thing: she is terrified of being hospitalized. She knows that if she doesn't take her medication, she will "lose it" and end up back in the hospital, which happens to her every few months. To be honest, we just don't have the strength anymore to deal with the breaking of things, the running away, the talking to herself, etc. She knows this, and she knows that she either takes the meds or she doesn't. I'm not saying everyone is like this—it probably depends on the stage of the illness—but it is incredibly complicated... especially since your own nerves take such a beating from it all. Good luck...

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Look, I didn't come here for a lecture. Also, I totally forgot to mention in my last post that back in 2001, he was hospitalized for F25.2—schizoaffective disorder, mixed type, whatever that means. He refused the meds then, too. Things were okay for a bit, but everything went south in 2009 when he started talking nonsense and smashing stuff around the house. We called 911 and they kept him in the hospital for a month. By 2011, things got even worse; he saw a psychiatrist and was on Haldol, then his doctor switched him to clozapine. In 2012, he got Zoloft and Xanax, but he won't take them because he'll just wreck the house—so my question is, would the meds still work if they were hidden in his coffee or tea?

Yes, the medication should still take effect even if it is mixed into coffee. However, you lose that placebo effect, which is actually quite significant when dealing with antidepressants. At the start of treatment, there can be unpleasant side effects, so there is a distinct possibility he might notice something is different. Xanax doesn't present those specific types of side effects, but its sedative effect is quite obvious, so...

By the way, you can't really expect to ask for advice on how to carry out something illegal on a public forum without receiving, at the very least, a bit of a "moral lecture."☕

fadedbear92 said:If I absolutely had to pick a winner, I’d definitely go with Faverin—Zoloft just makes me feel too wired.

I appreciate the insight; I'll be sure to bring this up during my next appointment with the doctor.

Anthony Lopez8 said:Yes, the medication should still take effect even if it is mixed into coffee. However, you lose that placebo effect, which is actually quite significant when dealing with antidepressants. At the start of treatment, there can be unpleasant side effects, so there is a distinct possibility he might notice something is different. Xanax doesn't present those specific types of side effects, but its sedative effect is quite obvious, so...

By the way, you can't really expect to ask for advice on how to carry out something illegal on a public forum without receiving, at the very least, a bit of a "moral lecture."☕

Can you explain what kind of side effects we're talking about? And what's the absolute worst part? I don't need a lecture ☕ I just want some peace at home while my mom waits for her divorce papers to go through.

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Can you explain what kind of side effects we're talking about? And what's the absolute worst part? I don't need a lecture ☕ I just want some peace at home while my mom waits for her divorce papers to go through.

Just take a look at the Zoloft patient information leaflet. You can easily find the full PDF online if you search for it.
Like pretty much any antidepressant, you might deal with some side effects during those first three weeks on Zoloft, though everyone reacts differently. Usually, it’s just headaches or nausea. It varies from person to person, some feel it more than others.

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Can you explain what kind of side effects we're talking about? And what's the absolute worst part? I don't need a lecture ☕ I just want some peace at home while my mom waits for her divorce papers to go through.

The side effects can vary quite a bit, though they generally taper off after those initial few weeks—especially if you introduce the medication gradually, say by starting with a quarter dose before moving up to a half and eventually the full amount. You might deal with headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, restlessness, rashes, or even blurred vision. As for Xanax, it has a very distinct effect, particularly if someone has used it before. All in all, it’s more than enough to make someone suspect they are being "poisoned."

I think it is vital to point out that Zoloft can actually increase agitation at home because, by its nature, it lacks a sedative effect. In fact, in extreme cases, it has been directly linked to multiple homicides, such as school shootings.
In psychiatry, when the goal is to calm a patient down and ensure they are cooperative, doctors typically prescribe antipsychotics (such as Haldol or Clozapine) along with anxiolytics (like Xanax) for rapid, short-term relief.

Sure, you don't need to be sedated—but that's only because the medication wouldn't have any meaningful effect on you anyway. I could easily lecture you on how much more sensible it would be to simply move out away from a problematic individual (there is always a way to do that regardless of your financial situation, especially if the alternative is covertly "poisoning" them), but I won't. There is no point. 😁

William Evans10 said:My mother-in-law is currently dealing with a specific subtype of schizophrenia—specifically diagnosed as F25. Since yesterday, she’s started taking an antipsychotic called Oleanz, though she’s actually been on Faverin in the mornings for a while now. According to my psychiatrist, the Faverin helps extend and boost the overall effectiveness of the antipsychotic treatment... Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with this combination of medications? Or even just with Oleanz specifically? Thanks!

Nobody? 😕

William Evans10 said:Nobody? 😕

I used to take Faverin—it worked wonders for my anxiety and keeping those panic attacks at bay—but since you brought up schizophrenia, you might want to head over to that specific thread. You’ll likely get much more helpful insight there.😉

fadedbear92 said:I used to take Faverin—it worked wonders for my anxiety and keeping those panic attacks at bay—but since you brought up schizophrenia, you might want to head over to that specific thread. You’ll likely get much more helpful insight there.😉

thanks🙂

Jesus, this fever has me crashing hard. Not even at night when I actually need it, either—it hits me around 8 AM and just drags on until 1 PM. It’d be great if I didn't have to work mornings, because honestly, I feel like I'm on drugs. Just walking around half-asleep. Total nightmare. My doctor just put me on 15 mg of Mirzaten at night, claiming it's "perfect" for sleep. But then again, she says that about everything she prescribes.

Justin Rogers5 said:Jesus, this fever has me crashing hard. Not even at night when I actually need it, either—it hits me around 8 AM and just drags on until 1 PM. It’d be great if I didn't have to work mornings, because honestly, I feel like I'm on drugs. Just walking around half-asleep. Total nightmare. My doctor just put me on 15 mg of Mirzaten at night, claiming it's "perfect" for sleep. But then again, she says that about everything she prescribes.

is, well, you aren't wrong there. While Mirtazapine certainly delivers on the promise of heavy sleep, you still end up feeling like a total zombie the next morning. At least, that was my experience; it did absolutely nothing to touch my anxiety levels. So, what's the current regimen? Did they put you on both the Paxil and the Mirtazapine simultaneously, or are you tapering off the Paxil now?

Jason Vaughn482 said:is, well, you aren't wrong there. While Mirtazapine certainly delivers on the promise of heavy sleep, you still end up feeling like a total zombie the next morning. At least, that was my experience; it did absolutely nothing to touch my anxiety levels. So, what's the current regimen? Did they put you on both the Paxil and the Mirtazapine simultaneously, or are you tapering off the Paxil now?

Tapering off the Faverin. Gonna try Luvox and see how it goes.

I stopped by my doctor's office earlier today, and she didn't even hesitate to tell me I need to see a psychiatrist just to get my dosage bumped up. Apparently, it’s because they won't be able to just authorize it on their own anymore; soon enough, Medicare is going to be tracking every single pill I take. I swear, this whole push for modernization is just a headache—everything is getting more expensive and the rules are becoming impossibly strict. As for joining the European Union? I don't see that ever happening, if I'm being honest.

Justin Rogers5 said:Tapering off the Faverin. Gonna try Luvox and see how it goes.

How long have you been taking it, and what's the dosage?

fadedbear92 said:How long have you been taking it, and what's the dosage?

Been taking half of a 500 mg pill for about a week and a half. My stomach is killing me, and honestly, I feel like I swallowed a damn vibrator. I always have to take some other sedative afterward just to stop the sweating and the ringing in my head.

Hi there. My 21-year-old daughter is on Xanax. I was talking to her earlier—she had a bit of a moment of honesty—and she admitted she took a pill along with some alcohol. What kind of trouble could this cause? Should I be worried?

ruggedsurfer293 said:Hi there. My 21-year-old daughter is on Xanax. I was talking to her earlier—she had a bit of a moment of honesty—and she admitted she took a pill along with some alcohol. What kind of trouble could this cause? Should I be worried?

If she only took a single tablet rather than an entire bottle, she isn't going to face any catastrophic physical crisis. The most realistic danger here is simply that the medication will amplify the effects of the alcohol, potentially leading to erratic behavior or even a blackout where she won't remember her actions the following day.

You "should" be concerned, though perhaps less about the physiological impact of one pill mixed with booze and more about the underlying reasons behind such self-destructive impulses.
If these issues persist over time, it might be worth considering a shift toward a more appropriate treatment plan, given that Xanax isn't meant for long-term maintenance; it is designed primarily to manage acute symptoms.

How dangerous is this combination, really?

The thing is, lately I’ve been having a drink here and there, but even though it feels like I should be drifting off at first, I haven't actually managed to sleep for several nights in a row now.

For instance, if my last drink was around midnight... I feel completely sober right now... (though my Psychiatrist says my mental state is pretty unstable, so I suppose I can't fully trust my own perception) and it's already 4 AM. If I had only had about two drinks, I probably would have been out by now... back then, I could still feel the alcohol, but now? It makes no sense. And in about three hours, I have to head into work, where I need to be much more functional than I currently am.

P.S. The rule about avoiding alcohol will be back in effect soon... so we aren't talking about getting drunk here, just a maximum of two drinks.

Lawrence Bailey77 said:How dangerous is this combination, really?

The thing is, lately I’ve been having a drink here and there, but even though it feels like I should be drifting off at first, I haven't actually managed to sleep for several nights in a row now.

For instance, if my last drink was around midnight... I feel completely sober right now... (though my Psychiatrist says my mental state is pretty unstable, so I suppose I can't fully trust my own perception) and it's already 4 AM. If I had only had about two drinks, I probably would have been out by now... back then, I could still feel the alcohol, but now? It makes no sense. And in about three hours, I have to head into work, where I need to be much more functional than I currently am.

P.S. The rule about avoiding alcohol will be back in effect soon... so we aren't talking about getting drunk here, just a maximum of two drinks.

It really depends on the individual. Honestly, you could probably have a glass of wine and be just fine; it’s not going to kill you instantly.

Quoth:

basically lately I've been having a drink here and there, and even though at first I feel like I'm about to pass out, several times in a row now I haven't been able to sleep at all.

Go see your doctor or a Psychiatrist and ask for some Valium, but under no circumstances should you mix that with alcohol (or any other pill in the benzodiazepine class) 😉

Oh, I’m not exactly drinking... I try to keep my pill intake to an absolute minimum, but sometimes circumstances just dictate that taking a couple of shots is the lesser of two evils. At least then I can socialize instead of just sitting there battling high blood pressure.

Please, don't give me that lecture about all those benzene compounds... it feels like a total assault on chemistry. I mean, I've been working around benzene everywhere; it's just part of the oil industry. 🤦

I won't go mixing things... my heart is already temperamental enough as it is, somehow managing to pull through everything. If I happen to have a drink on a given day, I certainly won't be taking anything else. Honestly, I survived a sleepless night and actually managed to get some decent sleep and had "normal" dreams... I suppose a dream lasting an hour is still better than nothing, as long as nobody died in them. 🙂

Actually, Xanax is quite effective... especially when I don't actually need it. 😁 The only downside is that when I truly do need it, I require a massive dose just to make it through. ☕