Psychotropic medication discussion thread

And then there's this massive, bottomless appetite... I mean, is this just some passing side effect like the sleep issues, or am I actually going to be putting on pounds by crushing a mountain of cookies every single morning with my coffee?!!

I’m wondering if anyone else dealt with side effects from taking Zoloft 5 day where you felt like you were crawling out of your own skin. It was pure misery. For four days I was just taking half a pill, then on the fifth day I took a full dose, and by that afternoon I felt absolutely nauseous. Honestly, I didn't think I was the type to react like this—I've never even had anxiety before. My psychiatrist just laughed it off and told me not to worry, that it would pass. He suggested I take some Valium as needed. For those of you who went through this with Zoloft, did the side effects actually go away? And how long did it take? Right now I'm back down to half a pill, even though my doctor wants me on the full dose. To be honest, it felt like my symptoms actually got worse. Thanks for any advice. 🙂

Jason Vaughn482 said:Goodness, I am in a state of absolute panic today; I have been nursing a headache for three days now, and today it is accompanied by dizziness and a tightening sensation around my heart that kept me housebound, leaving me torn over whether I should head straight to the ER.
But, returning to the subject of Muhammad Ali, when I was maintaining a 15 mg dose, waking up felt like pulling teeth, which is why I scaled back to 7.5 mg. Even then, while I do sleep for extended periods, the core issue remains that falling asleep is an uphill battle, leading to those restless bouts at 1:00 or 2:00 AM... and once the medication finally takes hold, I find it impossible to rise before 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning. As for weight gain, it was negligible—perhaps a mere five or six pounds—but currently, it doesn't stimulate my appetite during the day; the only issue is that I tend to wake up in the middle of the night craving sweets or anything else. I suspect that tendency stems from the Valium, a substance I am desperate to rid myself of once and for all, yet sleep remains elusive.
Regarding your question about whether the "concrete" feeling lifts after getting up? Honestly, no; in fact, I spend the entire day feeling somewhat numb and perpetually exhausted... I tire quite easily in general, and whenever I venture outdoors, I find myself counting the minutes until I can return home. That is the gist of it, I suppose.

That midnight binge-eating urge for sugar or carbs? That’s definitely from the Muhammad Ali, not the Valium.
That insomnia should actually clear up because at 7.5 mg, you're mostly just dealing with the side effects on histamine receptors; at that low dose, Muhammad Ali doesn't even really act as an antidepressant.

Seriously, try taking half of your 7.5 mg dose. If my doctor's theory and what people talk about on American forums is right, you might actually sleep better than you do on 7.5.

As for those panic attacks, if you're interested, I can share a trick my therapist from CBT uses—a breathing exercise.

Take a deep breath using your stomach (your diaphragm), hold it, and count from 1001 to 1006, then exhale while counting from 1001 to 1003.
After that, do about 6 or 7 cycles where you inhale 1001, 1002, 1003, and exhale 1001, 1002, 1003. (Don't hold your breath like you did at the start).
Then finish it off with one last breath hold from 1001 to 1006.

It really works. After a few cycles—maybe 5 or 6 minutes—it settles your heart rate and kills the panic attack.🙂

What else are you taking besides Muhammad Ali?

If I can help with any other CBT tips, just shoot me a DM. :=)

redpilot37 said:I’m wondering if anyone else dealt with side effects from taking Zoloft 5 day where you felt like you were crawling out of your own skin. It was pure misery. For four days I was just taking half a pill, then on the fifth day I took a full dose, and by that afternoon I felt absolutely nauseous. Honestly, I didn't think I was the type to react like this—I've never even had anxiety before. My psychiatrist just laughed it off and told me not to worry, that it would pass. He suggested I take some Valium as needed. For those of you who went through this with Zoloft, did the side effects actually go away? And how long did it take? Right now I'm back down to half a pill, even though my doctor wants me on the full dose. To be honest, it felt like my symptoms actually got worse. Thanks for any advice. 🙂

I don't take Zoloft, I'm on Paxil, but since it's in the same SSRI family, I totally get it. During those first two or three weeks, I also felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I couldn't sit still, couldn't lie down, just constant crying and shaking.
If your doctor told you to take the full dose, don't start playing chemist and cutting it in half on your own. Just take it like they prescribed and try to white-knuckle through those first few weeks. That hyper-anxiety and restlessness will subside, I promise. 🙂

Don't torture yourself at the start. Take the Ativan when you need it and try that breathing exercise I mentioned in an earlier post; it actually helps. 🙂

Just hang in there. It's just a phase you have to push through, and things will be great on the other side. 🙂

Michael Hill2 said:I don't take Zoloft, I'm on Paxil, but since it's in the same SSRI family, I totally get it. During those first two or three weeks, I also felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I couldn't sit still, couldn't lie down, just constant crying and shaking.
If your doctor told you to take the full dose, don't start playing chemist and cutting it in half on your own. Just take it like they prescribed and try to white-knuckle through those first few weeks. That hyper-anxiety and restlessness will subside, I promise. 🙂

Don't torture yourself at the start. Take the Ativan when you need it and try that breathing exercise I mentioned in an earlier post; it actually helps. 🙂

Just hang in there. It's just a phase you have to push through, and things will be great on the other side. 🙂

Thanks so much, you really helped me feel better. I'm sticking to half a pill today and then moving to the full dose tomorrow to see how it goes... it's a relief knowing someone else went through these same side effects.
Hopefully this passes. How long do you usually have to stay on an antidepressant? Is six months the standard?

Oh, and I've definitely noticed I can't stay still. I have all this restless energy and feel like I have to keep moving. I can't just sit in one spot, though sleep hasn't been an issue.

redpilot37 said:Thanks so much, you really helped me feel better. I'm sticking to half a pill today and then moving to the full dose tomorrow to see how it goes... it's a relief knowing someone else went through these same side effects.
Hopefully this passes. How long do you usually have to stay on an antidepressant? Is six months the standard?

Oh, and I've definitely noticed I can't stay still. I have all this restless energy and feel like I have to keep moving. I can't just sit in one spot, though sleep hasn't been an issue.

It'll pass, for sure. Just hang in there. 🙂

Seriously, I felt twice as bad when I first started. I couldn't get a second of peace, was totally desperate, and kept thinking it would never end. But it does. Your brain needs time to stabilize those serotonin levels. 🙂

Try that breathing exercise—it really helps calm things down. And look, taking something like Xanax or another anti-anxiety med while you're starting an antidepressant is pretty standard until things level out.

As for how long you need them? Probably at least 6 months to a year, but let your therapist decide that. Don't stress about it right now. Try to find something that makes you happy, even if you don't feel like doing anything. Hang out with good people, go outside, soak up some sun, take a walk. Just remember: this phase is temporary and IT WILL GET BETTER. 🙂

Michael Hill2 said:It'll pass, for sure. Just hang in there. 🙂

Seriously, I felt twice as bad when I first started. I couldn't get a second of peace, was totally desperate, and kept thinking it would never end. But it does. Your brain needs time to stabilize those serotonin levels. 🙂

Try that breathing exercise—it really helps calm things down. And look, taking something like Xanax or another anti-anxiety med while you're starting an antidepressant is pretty standard until things level out.

As for how long you need them? Probably at least 6 months to a year, but let your therapist decide that. Don't stress about it right now. Try to find something that makes you happy, even if you don't feel like doing anything. Hang out with good people, go outside, soak up some sun, take a walk. Just remember: this phase is temporary and IT WILL GET BETTER. 🙂

thanks🙂
My therapist has me on 5 mg of Valium in the evening, plus as needed. I just took 2 mg and I feel better. I think I'll take Valium in the morning alongside the antidepressant, but I won't need it at night because I sleep fine without it. I feel much better in the evenings anyway. 🙂

Anyone here tried or still taking Amyzol?
I’ve been on it for about a month now, and honestly, it’s the first antidepressant that actually clicks for me. My doctor mentioned that my system just doesn't play nice with that whole class of drugs like Paxil, Lexapro, or Faverin. With Amyzol, I haven't dealt with any side effects at all—it feels like a total reset. My mood is way up and I actually have enough energy to get stuff done, though it hasn't done much for my OCD specifically.

Michael Hill2 said:That midnight binge-eating urge for sugar or carbs? That’s definitely from the Muhammad Ali, not the Valium.
That insomnia should actually clear up because at 7.5 mg, you're mostly just dealing with the side effects on histamine receptors; at that low dose, Muhammad Ali doesn't even really act as an antidepressant.

Seriously, try taking half of your 7.5 mg dose. If my doctor's theory and what people talk about on American forums is right, you might actually sleep better than you do on 7.5.

As for those panic attacks, if you're interested, I can share a trick my therapist from CBT uses—a breathing exercise.

Take a deep breath using your stomach (your diaphragm), hold it, and count from 1001 to 1006, then exhale while counting from 1001 to 1003.
After that, do about 6 or 7 cycles where you inhale 1001, 1002, 1003, and exhale 1001, 1002, 1003. (Don't hold your breath like you did at the start).
Then finish it off with one last breath hold from 1001 to 1006.

It really works. After a few cycles—maybe 5 or 6 minutes—it settles your heart rate and kills the panic attack.🙂

What else are you taking besides Muhammad Ali?

If I can help with any other CBT tips, just shoot me a DM. :=)

The breathing wouldn't have helped me yesterday because the pain had already set in; it seems I slept in some awkward position because I felt this stabbing sensation in my chest all day... it was fine in the morning, but the headache persisted through today.

As for the nighttime eating, that was happening even before I started the Mirtazapine, and it continued after my break from it, too; I am certain it's the Valium... honestly, I only take the Mirtazapine so I can actually sleep, since I'm not dealing with depression, and it doesn't do a thing for my anxiety unless I go above 15 mg—though, who knows, maybe a higher dose would help the depression side of things... I'll try the half-dose of 7.5 mg, but I'm skeptical since I usually need the Valium anyway; falling asleep is such a struggle, even though I end up sleeping until 10 AM.
I'm taking Xanax, and for about a month, I was also on Prozac, but I stopped that...

Finally, the side effects have cleared up, but I just feel totally drained... everything's all over the place. Yesterday I couldn't sit still for a second, and today I'm so sleepy it's driving me crazy... the swings are wild. One day it's nerves and restlessness, the next it's just pure exhaustion.... but I think I'll be fine and things will start looking up eventually.

redpilot37 said:Finally, the side effects have cleared up, but I just feel totally drained... everything's all over the place. Yesterday I couldn't sit still for a second, and today I'm so sleepy it's driving me crazy... the swings are wild. One day it's nerves and restlessness, the next it's just pure exhaustion.... but I think I'll be fine and things will start looking up eventually.

Honestly, I'll take being sleepy over feeling wired and anxious any day. 🙂

It just takes a little time to stabilize. You'll be fine. 🙂

Michael Hill2 said:Honestly, I'll take being sleepy over feeling wired and anxious any day. 🙂

It just takes a little time to stabilize. You'll be fine. 🙂

I guess so. I’m completely wiped today. Napped this afternoon and now I feel like my blood pressure bottomed out or something. Just couldn't wake up. No energy at all. Even though I'm just hanging out at home, I have no idea how I'd manage to make it into the office if I actually had to work.😁 😲 🤣

My blood pressure is usually totally fine, though.

redpilot37 said:I guess so. I’m completely wiped today. Napped this afternoon and now I feel like my blood pressure bottomed out or something. Just couldn't wake up. No energy at all. Even though I'm just hanging out at home, I have no idea how I'd manage to make it into the office if I actually had to work.😁 😲 🤣

My blood pressure is usually totally fine, though.

Even as a fellow insomniac, I took a nap today and my BP hit 101/59. Barely hanging on by a thread over here, so I definitely feel you. :-DDD

Jason Vaughn482 said:The breathing wouldn't have helped me yesterday because the pain had already set in; it seems I slept in some awkward position because I felt this stabbing sensation in my chest all day... it was fine in the morning, but the headache persisted through today.

As for the nighttime eating, that was happening even before I started the Mirtazapine, and it continued after my break from it, too; I am certain it's the Valium... honestly, I only take the Mirtazapine so I can actually sleep, since I'm not dealing with depression, and it doesn't do a thing for my anxiety unless I go above 15 mg—though, who knows, maybe a higher dose would help the depression side of things... I'll try the half-dose of 7.5 mg, but I'm skeptical since I usually need the Valium anyway; falling asleep is such a struggle, even though I end up sleeping until 10 AM.
I'm taking Xanax, and for about a month, I was also on Prozac, but I stopped that...

Mirtazapine makes you hungry, but Valium causes that waking up and craving sweets—pancakes, pastries, and things of that nature.
I am also in a coma when it comes to my sleep patterns, though I have noticed Valium works if I am relaxed, provided I take Normabest at least two hours prior.
To address my specific issue, my doctor suggested taking Xanax and Valium together, but it didn't make a difference.
By the way, Mirtazapine and Quincey were supposedly the perfect duo for restful sleep, but I can hardly function by the second day.
Furthermore, it frustrates me how quickly one develops a tolerance to hypnotics. There are several options on the market, some of which seem completely ineffective to me, especially during my first time using them. I won't be touching Dormicum again because I built up a tolerance, even though I haven't used it in a year and a half. On one occasion, an anesthesiologist actually asked who prescribed those to me, which startled me, but nobody ever asks about Valium.
And that Zane medication is absolute garbage. 😁
Pearson and Diazepam are for when you wake up in the middle of the night, whereas my struggle is simply falling asleep. I used to take Buddy, but I could always drift back off. However, you aren't supposed to mix them.
So, I am waiting for a new hypnotic to hit the market.
They even gave me Prazosin to help me wake up; I barely knew what my own name was.
Oh, right. There is Kruzi and a newer antidepressant called Denaxit. My neurologist pushed it on me, but my psychiatrist warned me, under no circumstances, to take it because patients face significant issues, particularly when trying to taper off. That neurologist is obsessed with everything being "Danish"; she claims they are Danish pills and that my Eli Lilly brand is just as authentically Danish. If I mention her "Danish" obsession, she’ll treat me like I'm difficult. 😁

FedEx

I happened to read that Denmark has actually banned those specific pills, along with several other European nations, which makes me wonder what kind of doctor would prescribe them without being aware of such a ban.

FedEx

Question for the veterans here 🙂
I've been on Effexor XR at 75mg for a few weeks now. It actually felt great at first, but lately, it feels like it's doing absolutely nothing. I'm definitely not looking to mess with my dosage on my own, but I was wondering... is it actually possible to build up a "tolerance" to such a small dose after just a few weeks?...

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Question for the veterans here 🙂
I've been on Effexor XR at 75mg for a few weeks now. It actually felt great at first, but lately, it feels like it's doing absolutely nothing. I'm definitely not looking to mess with my dosage on my own, but I was wondering... is it actually possible to build up a "tolerance" to such a small dose after just a few weeks?...

Look, I’ve tried both 150mg XR and 75mg XR of Effexor, and I had the exact same experience—that initial "high" or lifting sensation right at the start, and then suddenly, zilch. It feels like it stopped working entirely until enough time passed and it finally kicked back in properly. You aren't becoming resistant to the dose itself; it's just how it settles. It fluctuates. For me, personally, Effexor has been the best medication I've ever tried, hands down.

restlesstrucker15 said:Mirtazapine makes you hungry, but Valium causes that waking up and craving sweets—pancakes, pastries, and things of that nature.
I am also in a coma when it comes to my sleep patterns, though I have noticed Valium works if I am relaxed, provided I take Normabest at least two hours prior.
To address my specific issue, my doctor suggested taking Xanax and Valium together, but it didn't make a difference.
By the way, Mirtazapine and Quincey were supposedly the perfect duo for restful sleep, but I can hardly function by the second day.
Furthermore, it frustrates me how quickly one develops a tolerance to hypnotics. There are several options on the market, some of which seem completely ineffective to me, especially during my first time using them. I won't be touching Dormicum again because I built up a tolerance, even though I haven't used it in a year and a half. On one occasion, an anesthesiologist actually asked who prescribed those to me, which startled me, but nobody ever asks about Valium.
And that Zane medication is absolute garbage. 😁
Pearson and Diazepam are for when you wake up in the middle of the night, whereas my struggle is simply falling asleep. I used to take Buddy, but I could always drift back off. However, you aren't supposed to mix them.
So, I am waiting for a new hypnotic to hit the market.
They even gave me Prazosin to help me wake up; I barely knew what my own name was.
Oh, right. There is Kruzi and a newer antidepressant called Denaxit. My neurologist pushed it on me, but my psychiatrist warned me, under no circumstances, to take it because patients face significant issues, particularly when trying to taper off. That neurologist is obsessed with everything being "Danish"; she claims they are Danish pills and that my Eli Lilly brand is just as authentically Danish. If I mention her "Danish" obsession, she’ll treat me like I'm difficult. 😁

FedEx

To be perfectly honest, Mirzaten is effective for sleep, but for me, it doesn't work unless it's paired with 10 mg of Valium. Now I'm stuck in this agonizing limbo where I sit on the edge of the bed, paralyzed by indecision: what should I take? Ideally, I wouldn't take either, especially since I read somewhere that Valium is linked to cancer, which has ironically made me more anxious due to the sheer fear of the disease.
Mirzaten isn't intended for anxiety...
Last night, I took both Valium and 7.5 mg of Mirzaten, and I lay there staring at the ceiling from 10:30 until 1:30 in the morning—three wasted hours. Then, once I finally succumb to sleep, I am a total wreck in the morning, forced to drag myself out of bed at 10:00. It's infuriating.🙂
My shipment of Devidon should arrive soon; do you suppose the 50 mg dose will actually help with sleep?

Jason Vaughn482 said:To be perfectly honest, Mirzaten is effective for sleep, but for me, it doesn't work unless it's paired with 10 mg of Valium. Now I'm stuck in this agonizing limbo where I sit on the edge of the bed, paralyzed by indecision: what should I take? Ideally, I wouldn't take either, especially since I read somewhere that Valium is linked to cancer, which has ironically made me more anxious due to the sheer fear of the disease.
Mirzaten isn't intended for anxiety...
Last night, I took both Valium and 7.5 mg of Mirzaten, and I lay there staring at the ceiling from 10:30 until 1:30 in the morning—three wasted hours. Then, once I finally succumb to sleep, I am a total wreck in the morning, forced to drag myself out of bed at 10:00. It's infuriating.🙂
My shipment of Devidon should arrive soon; do you suppose the 50 mg dose will actually help with sleep?

In my opinion, Devidon won't provide much relief for insomnia. Have you considered taking the Valium an hour before the Mirtazapine? That might allow you a window of sixty minutes to try and relax and mentally prepare for sleep, which could potentially make a difference. It generally takes about three weeks to train your body to start falling asleep and resting at a consistent time. Personally, I find it easier to sleep at night if I take a few fifteen-minute rests during the day; that seems to be roughly what my body needs to decompress. I'm not sure how your experience differs, but I often find myself unable to sleep not because I have excess energy, but because I am utterly overtired. Afterward, I feel completely drained the following day, and the cycle just repeats itself. My body switches to reserve mode and my nerves keep me awake. Consequently, those brief daytime rests are vital for me. When you are heavily sedated by medication, it becomes difficult to sense the actual state of your physical exhaustion; for me, my mental state can sometimes override the effects of the pills. I truly have to intend for them to work, otherwise they don't. Sometimes that means staying awake for an extra hour while practicing breathing exercises or journaling, but I count that as the body getting at least a little bit of rest during that interval.