Psychotropic medication discussion thread

shadowfox75 said:Good for you... I'm actually jealous. I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms just from watching these documentaries on YouTube. If only my mother were still alive to give me a hug... man... Let's switch gears for a moment... LIVE, LIVE, JUST LIVE, MY DARLING... HOP, HOP, HOP...🙂🙂🙂🙂: rock:

shadowfox75, I may not be your mother, but I am sending this hug your way as a sign of support and encouragement.
If you ever need anything—a kind word or some advice—know that we are all here for you. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:Good for you... I'm actually jealous. I'm already feeling the withdrawal symptoms just from watching these documentaries on YouTube. If only my mother were still alive to give me a hug... man... Let's switch gears for a moment... LIVE, LIVE, JUST LIVE, MY DARLING... HOP, HOP, HOP...🙂🙂🙂🙂: rock:

here you go 🙂🙂 from me too. It's just digital, but at least it counts for something 🙂

I totally get it. I know I’d be losing my mind too if I knew what was coming, especially since everything bad I read just sticks with me 🙄

But hey, it crossed my mind to ask—do you girls take birth control, and does it mess with your head? Mine is absolutely wrecking me. I'm honestly worried it might even dial back how well my antidepressants work, and maybe things feel worse because of them rather than without them. Should I stop taking them? (I only take them because I have to, for my health, specifically my 😛 issues) or not? I'm feeling more unhinged than ever, both literally and figuratively 🙂

Brandon Lopez6 said:here you go 🙂🙂 from me too. It's just digital, but at least it counts for something 🙂

I totally get it. I know I’d be losing my mind too if I knew what was coming, especially since everything bad I read just sticks with me 🙄

But hey, it crossed my mind to ask—do you girls take birth control, and does it mess with your head? Mine is absolutely wrecking me. I'm honestly worried it might even dial back how well my antidepressants work, and maybe things feel worse because of them rather than without them. Should I stop taking them? (I only take them because I have to, for my health, specifically my 😛 issues) or not? I'm feeling more unhinged than ever, both literally and figuratively 🙂

I take them, and I happened to be switching both my pill and my antidepressant at the exact same time, so I suppose everything just collided at once. I had a sort of breakdown that lasted maybe ten days... but there is no way I am stopping the birth control; that's far more important to me than this stupid Lexapro. The only thing is, I haven't been able to eat anything at all since everything got mixed up, and who knows what caused that... I know it wasn't from the old medication since I've been on the new one, but I spent a whole week stuck in bed unable to eat. I'm seeing a psychiatrist this Friday to check things out. I wonder if it's the Lexapro, or if it's the pills, which I'll be switching back to the old brand soon enough...

Arthur Vaughn2 said:So, I have a question for those of you who’ve been through this before. I'm currently juggling quite the cocktail of psych meds—Calixta, Arvind, Prazine, Seroquel, Eglonyl, and Normabel—and I just added Seroquel to the mix about four days ago. Today, I was at my university lecture supposed to read and present a paper, and I honestly couldn't get through a single coherent sentence. I was tripping over my words constantly, and the whole day just felt like I was walking through a fog... totally disoriented. Now I'm wondering, is this just the Seroquel talking, or is it some weird interaction from the whole combination? And will this feeling actually go away, or am I stuck like this? I feel like it's probably too early to go running to my psychiatrist to ask for a switch since the Seroquel hasn't even really kicked in yet. Does anyone have any advice, or even just some insight? Help me out... 😁

Yeah, that’s most likely the Seroquel. It’s easily one of the heaviest hitters on the market, usually prescribed when the more conventional antipsychotics just aren't cutting it. It can carry some pretty serious side effects, and you really need to have your blood work checked weekly during that initial phase. I don't want to alarm you, but in my opinion, out of everything we discuss here, Seroquel is definitely the most intense one to handle. You have to approach it with extreme caution. I really hope you're staying in close contact with your doctor, especially right now while you're starting out.

Brandon Lopez6 said:here you go 🙂🙂 from me too. It's just digital, but at least it counts for something 🙂

I totally get it. I know I’d be losing my mind too if I knew what was coming, especially since everything bad I read just sticks with me 🙄

But hey, it crossed my mind to ask—do you girls take birth control, and does it mess with your head? Mine is absolutely wrecking me. I'm honestly worried it might even dial back how well my antidepressants work, and maybe things feel worse because of them rather than without them. Should I stop taking them? (I only take them because I have to, for my health, specifically my 😛 issues) or not? I'm feeling more unhinged than ever, both literally and figuratively 🙂

Well, I’ve been on Diane, and I'm still taking them. I wouldn't stop even if the world was ending😂

Honestly, I haven't had any issues. I used to take the 7g version and Yasmin, but I switched over to Diane because my skin was a total disaster. (Seriously, I felt like a freaking teenager again😍)

The only thing they say not to do is smoke while on them. I don't smoke, so that's not an issue for me... check with your OBGYN, but generally, antidepressants shouldn't interfere with birth control. At least, that's what my doctors told me—my psychiatrist and my OB🙂

Though, honestly? I'd much rather just get my ovaries removed and call it a day. Peace and quiet at last😍😂

It’s not even about whether I want to be on birth control or not—there are other ways to handle that—it’s just that these pills are absolutely wrecking my mental state, and I’ve still got at least 12 months left on them. 🙄

I think I’m just gonna pull the plug once I start the
AD.

redranger2 said:Those head twitches could very well be a side effect of antipsychotics. Are you starting any new medications lately?
Personally, taking Abilify gives me restless legs and this strange skin tingling. We really are in a tough spot with these drugs.😂

Yeah, on top of the Effexor, Seroquel, and Norvasc, I've recently added Zoloft and Zoloft to the mix.

Edward Long4 said:Hahaha redranger2, hahaha... man, I guess this is just our karma. Honestly though, I’d love to just beat up Kenneth Scott41, 😂 just to give him a little something 🙂
(okay, I'm joking—just like you told me, I'm just boosting your ego... since there's nothing else left to do 😂)
Kenneth Scott41, come on, brighten my day for once. Just write back one day saying everything is wonderful and you're feeling great. 🙂

It’s gonna be fine. You'll get through this. 🙂 But seriously, don't sweat it. 🙂

Victoria, if you haven't noticed—and I'm fairly certain you have—there is always a subtle layer of humor or sarcasm woven into my posts. You seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Man... I really wish I had been born earlier... 😍

Don't fret. There will come a day when I post something stating that I am finally doing well and feeling happy. 😉

Kenneth Scott41 said:Victoria, if you haven't noticed—and I'm fairly certain you have—there is always a subtle layer of humor or sarcasm woven into my posts. You seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Man... I really wish I had been born earlier... 😍

Don't fret. There will come a day when I post something stating that I am finally doing well and feeling happy. 😉

Ho, ho, ho... you'd certainly be happier if you were 😍

But honestly, I am a total wreck today. 😢 My dog just had surgery and she's been crying all day; she's having cramps from the anesthesia and I am just completely losing it.😢

I even felt this weird sensation, like someone was choking me, but I just stepped out onto the balcony and told myself I was being an idiot and that everything would be fine. Ugh, I can't wait for tomorrow... I am just straight up 🤷😢

Edward Long4 said:Ho, ho, ho... you'd certainly be happier if you were 😍

But honestly, I am a total wreck today. 😢 My dog just had surgery and she's been crying all day; she's having cramps from the anesthesia and I am just completely losing it.😢

I even felt this weird sensation, like someone was choking me, but I just stepped out onto the balcony and told myself I was being an idiot and that everything would be fine. Ugh, I can't wait for tomorrow... I am just straight up 🤷😢

It clearly shook you up, which explains why you are reacting this way. It is a perfectly normal response, so there is no need to panic.
The dog survived the surgery, and now she's going to be just fine. You have to realize, she is alive, and that is
the most important thing. The hardest part is behind her. She will recover and get back to herself, you'll see. :-)
Tomorrow, I am taking my cat in for surgery—full dental extraction—so we have to run all the
tests first to make sure she can handle the anesthesia. I trust it will all go smoothly.

P.S. Did you call the vet about those cramps? What did they say?

Good evening, everyone.
Today, I feel absolutely wiped out for the first time in ages. I honestly don't know what's happening... I'm terrified that I might never get back to my old self.
I managed to push through until 5:00 PM at work before heading to Chase. I thought I was going to collapse right there in the middle of the branch. Vertigo, fainting spells, instability, and this bizarre visual disturbance—it felt like my vision shifted by 500% in just a few hours. Panic set in immediately (you all know how anxiety works). I was convinced I’d either pass out on the floor or lose my mind. My brain immediately went into overdrive, convinced there's some underlying illness, even though I've been checked out from top to bottom. I had an MRI two years ago, and just two months ago, I did a full physical. Everything came back perfect. I've even gotten my weight under control; I lost 30 pounds over the last two years with my doctor's help. And yet... here I am again, gripped by fear and a million "what if" questions.
Currently, I'm on half a dose of Paxil and 100mg of Lamictal. That's it. I can't tell if this is being amplified by all those videos I've been watching on YouTube about tapering off Paxil, or if something is actually physically wrong. I'm trying to figure out what this could be, but you know how things are handled here in the States...🙂
Damn. If this hits me just from thinking about tapering off Paxil, what happens when I actually tell my neurologist I want to stop? I have no idea if I'm even ready for this, but I've been on Paxil for nine years now, and it's just... exhausting.🤷
Thanks, and sorry for venting.🤔

shadowfox75 said:Good evening, everyone.
Today, I feel absolutely wiped out for the first time in ages. I honestly don't know what's happening... I'm terrified that I might never get back to my old self.
I managed to push through until 5:00 PM at work before heading to Chase. I thought I was going to collapse right there in the middle of the branch. Vertigo, fainting spells, instability, and this bizarre visual disturbance—it felt like my vision shifted by 500% in just a few hours. Panic set in immediately (you all know how anxiety works). I was convinced I’d either pass out on the floor or lose my mind. My brain immediately went into overdrive, convinced there's some underlying illness, even though I've been checked out from top to bottom. I had an MRI two years ago, and just two months ago, I did a full physical. Everything came back perfect. I've even gotten my weight under control; I lost 30 pounds over the last two years with my doctor's help. And yet... here I am again, gripped by fear and a million "what if" questions.
Currently, I'm on half a dose of Paxil and 100mg of Lamictal. That's it. I can't tell if this is being amplified by all those videos I've been watching on YouTube about tapering off Paxil, or if something is actually physically wrong. I'm trying to figure out what this could be, but you know how things are handled here in the States...🙂
Damn. If this hits me just from thinking about tapering off Paxil, what happens when I actually tell my neurologist I want to stop? I have no idea if I'm even ready for this, but I've been on Paxil for nine years now, and it's just... exhausting.🤷
Thanks, and sorry for venting.🤔

Mental health is a brutal business. Yes, it is highly probable that those stories about brain zaps amplified everything, especially since you're consciously stepping away from the medication and losing that sense of chemical security.
Try to breathe; it's hardly a tragedy to have been on an antidepressant for nine years, and frankly, I don't quite understand
why you're even attempting to taper off at all. Look at it this way: fine, you'll attempt to get off the meds, you'll give it a shot, and you might very well succeed. But if you don't, it isn't the end of the world; you just keep taking them.

shadowfox75 said:Good evening, everyone.
Today, I feel absolutely wiped out for the first time in ages. I honestly don't know what's happening... I'm terrified that I might never get back to my old self.
I managed to push through until 5:00 PM at work before heading to Chase. I thought I was going to collapse right there in the middle of the branch. Vertigo, fainting spells, instability, and this bizarre visual disturbance—it felt like my vision shifted by 500% in just a few hours. Panic set in immediately (you all know how anxiety works). I was convinced I’d either pass out on the floor or lose my mind. My brain immediately went into overdrive, convinced there's some underlying illness, even though I've been checked out from top to bottom. I had an MRI two years ago, and just two months ago, I did a full physical. Everything came back perfect. I've even gotten my weight under control; I lost 30 pounds over the last two years with my doctor's help. And yet... here I am again, gripped by fear and a million "what if" questions.
Currently, I'm on half a dose of Paxil and 100mg of Lamictal. That's it. I can't tell if this is being amplified by all those videos I've been watching on YouTube about tapering off Paxil, or if something is actually physically wrong. I'm trying to figure out what this could be, but you know how things are handled here in the States...🙂
Damn. If this hits me just from thinking about tapering off Paxil, what happens when I actually tell my neurologist I want to stop? I have no idea if I'm even ready for this, but I've been on Paxil for nine years now, and it's just... exhausting.🤷
Thanks, and sorry for venting.🤔

Derealization. It's nothing major, really. Except for that exact moment when it hits you, obviously. Classic anxiety move. Don't sweat it, you're fine 🙂

I can't even wrap my head around the thought of ever coming off Effexor. It’s basically rewired my entire brain to the point where I don't even want to exist without it.

Matthew White4 said:I can't even wrap my head around the thought of ever coming off Effexor. It’s basically rewired my entire brain to the point where I don't even want to exist without it.

I completely understand. I felt the exact same way about Paxil at first, but after nine years, it’s becoming too much for me. I really want to get off it eventually.
🤷

Brandon Lopez6 said:Derealization. It's nothing major, really. Except for that exact moment when it hits you, obviously. Classic anxiety move. Don't sweat it, you're fine 🙂

I agree, I think that is... I noticed I still have some Normabloc left in my drawer. To be honest, I haven't taken a single dose since October 2011. I am unsure whether I should take one now or just try to push through this on my own...😕

redranger2 said:It clearly shook you up, which explains why you are reacting this way. It is a perfectly normal response, so there is no need to panic.
The dog survived the surgery, and now she's going to be just fine. You have to realize, she is alive, and that is
the most important thing. The hardest part is behind her. She will recover and get back to herself, you'll see. :-)
Tomorrow, I am taking my cat in for surgery—full dental extraction—so we have to run all the
tests first to make sure she can handle the anesthesia. I trust it will all go smoothly.

P.S. Did you call the vet about those cramps? What did they say?

Ugh, don't even ask. I completely lost it. 😂
She had four freaking seizures—cramping up and screaming—and honestly, "screaming" is an understatement. My blood turned to ice. I went into a full-blown panic attack immediately, then finally managed to calm her down and stepped outside for a second. 🙂

I called him four times, I was practically screaming at him the last time, and he just goes: "Why the panic? It's just the anesthesia, it'll pass..." Seriously, I felt like shooting him. 🙂

She's okay now, thank God. She walks a little, then lies down... she isn't controlling her bladder, but honestly, my brain is complete mush right now.... if I can actually fall asleep without needing some Xanax, I might actually win a dance competition. 😍

I have this nagging feeling I'm going to have to go back on Prozac. It felt like someone grabbed me by the throat again—not super intense, but still... uuuuuuugh... not again.

I really hope your kitty turns out alright. Just stay by her side, give her tons of love, talk to her, and watch her closely. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:I completely understand. I felt the exact same way about Paxil at first, but after nine years, it’s becoming too much for me. I really want to get off it eventually.
🤷

We all know how anxiety goes—that's my diagnosis, along with the panic attacks... (my therapist was basically like, "No wonder you're going through this.") For instance, whenever my heart starts racing out of nowhere, my brain immediately goes straight to: Oh crap, my pacemaker just died, or my aorta is rupturing, or some other total nonsense... then the choking sensation hits and my doctor put me on Zoloft. But man, today with that whole thing involving the puppy, everything just went sideways... I practically fainted ten times. What a nightmare of a day... seriously, screw stress... 🙂🙂

Hopefully everyone is getting some sleep tonight... the weather forecast said it might rain...

Edward Long4 said:Ugh, don't even ask. I completely lost it. 😂
She had four freaking seizures—cramping up and screaming—and honestly, "screaming" is an understatement. My blood turned to ice. I went into a full-blown panic attack immediately, then finally managed to calm her down and stepped outside for a second. 🙂

I called him four times, I was practically screaming at him the last time, and he just goes: "Why the panic? It's just the anesthesia, it'll pass..." Seriously, I felt like shooting him. 🙂

She's okay now, thank God. She walks a little, then lies down... she isn't controlling her bladder, but honestly, my brain is complete mush right now.... if I can actually fall asleep without needing some Xanax, I might actually win a dance competition. 😍

I have this nagging feeling I'm going to have to go back on Prozac. It felt like someone grabbed me by the throat again—not super intense, but still... uuuuuuugh... not again.

I really hope your kitty turns out alright. Just stay by her side, give her tons of love, talk to her, and watch her closely. 🙂

Honey, when you find yourself facing these kinds of high-tension situations at the vet, just take a Xanax—it’ll steady your nerves.
Personally, I don't permit myself to exist in that state of stress; why bother trembling and letting my heart race? I just take a shot of whiskey and call it a day. 😂 I refuse to suffer through this nonsense any longer; I've already dealt with enough in my life. 😍
Look, veterinarians don't understand people like us who spiral into panic attacks; they simply don't get what it's like when we lose it. 😂
The pup will be fine; she’s been through the trauma of surgery, so she won't bounce back instantly.
And don't assume you're heading straight back to Prozac; you're just spiraling because of the current chaos, but it will pass. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:I agree, I think that is... I noticed I still have some Normabloc left in my drawer. To be honest, I haven't taken a single dose since October 2011. I am unsure whether I should take one now or just try to push through this on my own...😕

You sure they aren't expired? 😬
Jokes aside, maybe try to hang in there. I'd give anything to be able to go without those damn Xannies. They helped me out when I was trying to get off other pills, but man, they really messed me up in the end. 🙂