CheckEmoji Community · the emoji forum
🏠 Home 🆕 What's new ❓ Unanswered 🔥 Popular 📡 RSS Members 👥 0 online log in · register
Home › Society › Psychology › Psychology & Therapy › Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Started by Robin Myers91 · · 👁 160 views · 10K replies

📡 Subscribe to replies

Participants Robin Myers91Eric Wood7Maria Gomez6crimsonhound80Tyler Ortiz6dustyscout41Andrew Stewart2George Ramos64Morgan Long49Jason Sanchez3briskgull27Charles Edwards8Brenda Allen2hollowtinker8bluecyclist28electricorca13David Kern14Ashley Morganwanderingscout13Sam Hall15coppergardenerCarl Thompson4Mark Stewartanalognomad762 …
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9141 ·
Kimberly Morris said:Thanks so much for taking the time to explain the unknown situation and for the support...

Maybe my dose was too low, but man, I felt absolutely terrible on it... just constant racing thoughts, depression, and this hunger that I couldn't stop.

When I decided to stop taking the unknown, I actually reached out to my local doctor to ask what I could take instead to help with the depression. They suggested lemon balm tea, and honestly, it actually helps a little bit, so maybe you should give that a try....
Kimberly Morris Kimberly Morris Active Member
59 messages
joined Dec 2014
#9142 ·
shadowbear9 said:When I decided to stop taking the unknown, I actually reached out to my local doctor to ask what I could take instead to help with the depression. They suggested lemon balm tea, and honestly, it actually helps a little bit, so maybe you should give that a try....

Yeah, my psychiatrist told me the exact same thing today... just have one cup of lemon balm or chamomile tea at night before you hit the hay...
David Jackson22 David Jackson22 Active Member
51 messages
joined Aug 2010
#9143 ·
Kimberly Morris said:

David Jackson22 says:
Look, I’ve been through the wringer when it comes to antidepressants and pregnancy. I actually got pregnant while I was on Prozac, and my doctor told me to just stop cold turkey right then and there. No tapering, nothing. Of course, my depression went absolutely ballistic during that time—it was brutal. To make matters worse, I found out at the exact same time that my mom had cancer and had to go through all that nightmare treatment stuff.
I honestly don't know how I pulled through, but I did. Just taking it one day at a time, watching my belly grow... that was the only thing giving me hope that things would eventually be okay and that I could hang in there.
Taking antidepressants during pregnancy is not a good idea. Period. End of story. You can use Xanax once in a while if you really need to; doctors prescribe it to pregnant women for various issues like premature contractions, and it isn't harmful to the baby. But the safety of antidepressants? There's no proof. I made it through my pregnancy without them. And let me tell you, "made it" is an understatement because there were moments it felt totally unbearable, like I was losing my mind.
What you're dealing with right now is pure anxiety and fear. That panic makes your brain spin in circles with all these crazy thoughts. Because of that, please, don't just sit there. Go for long walks until your body is wiped out—it helps quiet the noise in your head. Stay active, keep busy, just don't stay stuck in that mental loop. Get into therapy more often; you need extra support right now. Surround yourself with people who actually get you, people you can talk to. Don't try to fight these thoughts alone!
Believe me, you can do this if you have a goal to focus on! I made it, so why can't you?
Good luck!

David, can we PM? I seriously need some help...

For sure, Kimberly Morris, just ask whatever's on your mind. I'll be waiting for your message in my inbox!
David Jackson22 David Jackson22 Active Member
51 messages
joined Aug 2010
#9144 ·
mellowtinker7 said:David Jackson22 and Kimberly Morris, you're both in my thoughts. I’ll be saying a prayer for you tonight, hoping things turn around quickly... Just try to remember that nothing—absolutely nothing—is permanent. Right now, your brain is just playing tricks on you because of this stupid depression. The meds will kick in eventually. You both have the best possible reasons to hang in there just a little longer. One of you has a little one on the way, and the other has two right by their side. So stay strong. I'm rooting for you both!

Hey mellowtinker7,
if there were actually more people like you out there, the world would probably be a lot less depressed since people would actually be looking out for one another through the good and the bad. Thank you so much for the prayers and the kind words; when you're stuck in this headspace, stuff like that really means the world to me.🙂😘
Michael Hill2 Michael Hill2 Active Member
168 messages
joined Jul 2014
#9145 ·
David Jackson22 said:Hey mellowtinker7,
if there were actually more people like you out there, the world would probably be a lot less depressed since people would actually be looking out for one another through the good and the bad. Thank you so much for the prayers and the kind words; when you're stuck in this headspace, stuff like that really means the world to me.🙂😘

And this is why I love everyone on this digital therapy couch.🙂
Kimberly Morris Kimberly Morris Active Member
59 messages
joined Dec 2014
#9146 ·
Also, big thanks to mellowtinker7 for those sweet words...

Man, I had a panic attack tonight that hit harder than anything I've dealt with in a minute... Probably because I quit my unknown cold turkey a week ago instead of tapering off properly...
Kevin Bailey2 Kevin Bailey2 Regular
265 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9147 ·
shadowbear9 said:When I decided to stop taking the unknown, I actually reached out to my local doctor to ask what I could take instead to help with the depression. They suggested lemon balm tea, and honestly, it actually helps a little bit, so maybe you should give that a try....

If you want lemon balm to actually work, steam it. Put it in boiling water and breathe in the vapors. You use less, it goes straight to your brain, and it hits faster. Plus, there's less risk for the baby.

We're talking about pregnancy here, right?
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9148 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:If you want lemon balm to actually work, steam it. Put it in boiling water and breathe in the vapors. You use less, it goes straight to your brain, and it hits faster. Plus, there's less risk for the baby.

We're talking about pregnancy here, right?


I wasn't pregnant. I don't want to be. EVER. NOPE. Just... gross.

Honestly, I'd rather have someone fillet me alive. But whatever.
restlesstiger49 restlesstiger49 Regular
271 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9149 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:If you want lemon balm to actually work, steam it. Put it in boiling water and breathe in the vapors. You use less, it goes straight to your brain, and it hits faster. Plus, there's less risk for the baby.

We're talking about pregnancy here, right?

I actually rolled one up and smoked it... honestly, I think I felt a bit depressed the very next day.🤷 🤣
Kevin Bailey2 Kevin Bailey2 Regular
265 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9150 ·
shadowbear9 said:I wasn't pregnant. I don't want to be. EVER. NOPE. Just... gross.

Honestly, I'd rather have someone fillet me alive. But whatever.

And then you can just load up on psych meds as much as you want. :-p
Kevin Bailey2 Kevin Bailey2 Regular
265 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9151 ·
restlesstiger49 said:I actually rolled one up and smoked it... honestly, I think I felt a bit depressed the very next day.🤷 🤣

When I was venting about it, I was just like... WTF? And then I passed out. 🤣
Kimberly Morris Kimberly Morris Active Member
59 messages
joined Dec 2014
#9152 ·
I honestly don't think some herbal tea or "natural remedy" is gonna cut it for me... I'm way past that point.

If I can just white-knuckle it through these first three months, I’m definitely hitting up my therapist to get me back on the Lexapro.
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9153 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:And then you can just load up on psych meds as much as you want. :-p

I don't suppose you actually thought for a second that I wouldn't...😛
restlesstiger49 restlesstiger49 Regular
271 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9154 ·
shadowbear9 said:I don't suppose you actually thought for a second that I wouldn't...😛

Drugs and needles... 🎉

Seriously though, does anyone have a hypnotist or a sleep aid they can recommend? I'm looking for something other than Sanval. That worked for a while, but now it just doesn't put me under anymore.
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9155 ·
restlesstiger49 said:Drugs and needles... 🎉

Seriously though, does anyone have a hypnotist or a sleep aid they can recommend? I'm looking for something other than Sanval. That worked for a while, but now it just doesn't put me under anymore.

You've got Cerson->fluzepam->xan->dormicum

I've listed them in order of strength, at least according to my experience—though, honestly, nothing worked for me except Sanval. As for the dormicum, I'm either too terrified to try it or I just can't afford it right now.
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#9156 ·
Kimberly Morris said:Thanks restlesstrucker15, I'll keep you posted.

So, while I was off my meds, things got pretty dark. It wasn't just the depression and anxiety; I was having panic attacks so bad I couldn't even get out of bed. I was losing like 2 pounds a day just from the stress. But the worst part? These intrusive thoughts kept popping up—like, what if I actually hurt someone? It was especially terrifying because it focused on kids. I come from a huge family and have a massive circle of friends and godchildren; I adore those kids and they absolutely love me. That thought alone was just soul-crushing. When I brought this up to my doctor, she brushed it off as "just anxiety" and put me on unknown, which honestly did nothing for me. Still, I can't shake the fear that these thoughts might be early signs of schizophrenia or some other kind of psychosis. What do you guys think?

Is Bluzar still around? Or fadedbear92? (I've been lurking and reading every single one of your posts since day one.)

I dealt with those exact same intrusive thoughts. First thing: don't let them gaslight you. Find a specialist who actually knows their stuff, and if you ever feel like they're just winging it—walk out and find someone else. I was once on a massive cocktail of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and Xanax; my doctors probably still wonder how I even functioned. Not to mention the literal blackouts I had because of it.
Second—go for walks.
Third—talk it out.

Usually, it all boils down to suppressed emotions leaking out in ways they shouldn't. Sometimes fear manifests sideways. Like, instead of being afraid someone might hurt your kids, you end up terrified that *you* might be the one to do it.

Regarding the walking and talking: for me, the longer the walk, the better. And the conversation doesn't have to be about the scary thoughts; that actually made things worse for me. Just talk about whatever. Talk about your feelings, your problems, or even some random stuff from years ago that still bugs you. Of course, you need someone willing to walk with you and actually listen.
I used to walk with my mom, and our talks ranged from deeply personal to totally random. I remember ranting about how stupid people are just because they’d cross the street against a red light. Totally trivial, right? But I just had to get it out of my system.

As for the meds, I can play philosopher all day, but I won't take responsibility if you go asking for a specific pill based on my experience and it ends up being a disaster for you.
I tried Fevarin, hated it, and stopped. Short story, short.
For me, the only antidepressant that actually works is Prozac. Honestly, I feel like my dose needs adjusting (which I've mentioned before), but that's beside the point here.

And look, if I could give you one piece of advice: don't treat this forum like it's some holy grail of medical truth. Yeah, there are smart people here, but nobody is a doctor. Your doctor's word should always carry more weight than anything posted on a screen. For instance, Prozac works wonders for me, but people here trashed it; if I had listened to them, I never would've taken it, and I definitely wouldn't be where I am today. We're all wired differently, for better or worse, so take everything here with a grain of salt.
Jason Vaughn482 Jason Vaughn482 Regular
488 messages
joined Jul 2012
#9157 ·
shadowbear9 said:You've got Cerson->fluzepam->xan->dormicum

I've listed them in order of strength, at least according to my experience—though, honestly, nothing worked for me except Sanval. As for the dormicum, I'm either too terrified to try it or I just can't afford it right now.

As for my own experience, none of those do a lick of good for me. I’ve been on Sanval for a long stretch, but now I’m in the thick of tapering off, so I’ve switched to Cerson instead. While it felt completely useless when I first started, I suppose I can feel it finally beginning to take hold, even if it's a struggle; I'm currently running 10 mg alongside 7.5 mg of Calixte...
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9158 ·
Jason Vaughn482 said:As for my own experience, none of those do a lick of good for me. I’ve been on Sanval for a long stretch, but now I’m in the thick of tapering off, so I’ve switched to Cerson instead. While it felt completely useless when I first started, I suppose I can feel it finally beginning to take hold, even if it's a struggle; I'm currently running 10 mg alongside 7.5 mg of Calixte...

I’m actually in the middle of tapering off Sanval myself... I just got back from my follow-up appointment today, and they swapped out my Coaxil for 60mg of Cymbalta and 400mg of Seroquel XR.
Kimberly Morris Kimberly Morris Active Member
59 messages
joined Dec 2014
#9159 ·
Day 8 without my Lexapro... My brain is a literal dumpster fire right now.

Does anyone have a lead on a decent psychiatrist? I need someone who actually listens and won't just shovel a mountain of pills at me the second I walk in. I want a doctor who actually cares about the patient. Honestly, I don't care about the price tag or how far I have to drive..

Sorry if this is a bit out of line, but I’m seriously struggling here and could really use some help.. Feel free to DM me or drop a link where I can move this conversation over.😵
shadowbear9 shadowbear9 Active Member
200 messages
joined Dec 2012
#9160 ·
Kimberly Morris said:Day 8 without my Lexapro... My brain is a literal dumpster fire right now.

Does anyone have a lead on a decent psychiatrist? I need someone who actually listens and won't just shovel a mountain of pills at me the second I walk in. I want a doctor who actually cares about the patient. Honestly, I don't care about the price tag or how far I have to drive..

Sorry if this is a bit out of line, but I’m seriously struggling here and could really use some help.. Feel free to DM me or drop a link where I can move this conversation over.😵

You must log in or register to reply here.

Log in Register

🔗 Similar threads