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No. 58411
>>58349I'm on Quetiapine and Clonazepam.
I have Bipolar 1 so the Quetiapine I use for mood stabilisation/sleep (and don't need bi monthly blood work like you do with lithium and the other thing for my GAD/anxiety issues.
I'm lucky in the sense that I've been on these for quite a long time and haven't had to up my dosage on these drugs. I've never abused my Clonazepam recreationally which I think maybe helps with that.
I still struggle with depression but being on anti depressants makes me either super jumpy or go full blown crazy manic..
I really don't like the Quetiapine as it makes me really sluggish in the mornings and makes me sleep super early (so I'm essentially a grandma) but it knocks me out and at least lets me get actual rest.
No. 58412
>>58411I also take quentiapine and clonazepam! I take lexapro too.
mine are for BPD/PTSD/MDD . I want to switch to a different antidepressant because I keep getting really hungry on lexapro. I recently tried to cut back on my meds but it didn't work at all and I kept having episodes constantly so I had to increase. I've gained so much weight from my meds this past year its really. It's just ironic because becoming obese has made me more depressed.
No. 58474
>>58424From what I've read it has an increased risk of causing seizures in current and former AN and BN patients. She's also told me it can lead to relapse due to reducing appetite.
>>58429If I were you I'd see another psychiatrist. Being sluggish is a real symptom of depression and IIRC a diagnostic criterion? Maybe just ask them about wellbutrin and they will assess if it's an option.
No. 58574
>>58397>>58492>>58531Reposting this here from another thread in case anyone else might know more about how to solve this issue:
I've been off of effexor for over four months now, but I don't feel the same as I did before I started taking it. At least I can actually have an orgasm now (I couldn't at all when I was on effexor), but it takes an hour or more and it's not very good. My sex drive is also a lot lower now than before. Sex doesn't feel good, either. Everything just feels really numb now. Before I started effexor, I could get off from a light breeze, and have multiple orgasms and I had a pretty healthy sex drive. I just want to get a semblance of that back.
I think the worst part is that I can't come from being with partners anymore, and it makes me not want to do anything sexual with them at all, lest I end up frustrated and they end up disappointed.
No. 58598
>>58349I've been on sertraline for two years and it's amazing. Sorted me out almost immediately with physical parts of depression like lack of appetite and difficulty sleeping, which in turn helped to improve my mental health. I pretty much never want to come off it. Side effects were intense vivid dreams, inability to drink for 5 months, and lack of giving a damn.
Been on Levothyroxine for a year which has been more of a ball ache. It's hard to know if the balance is right because you don't know if your symptoms are side effects or not. I've had a lot of dizziness and trouble with memory and phasing out. My brain feels like it's stuffed with cotton wool. I do feel like I've got some personality back and feel generally perkier.
No. 58615
Levothyroxine for half a thyroid missing and soon to have none left at all which has been a pretty bad experience; no concentration, hormones through the rood, irregular periods, digestive system slowed to a crawl, no energy making simple tasks feel like I run a marathon sometimes.
Fluoxetine, pregabalin, Abilify, and diazepam then in addition.
Otherwise I self medicate for digestive issues (nausea, sluggishness, intolerances to things I once was capable of eating/drinking and lack of energy involving use of veg carbo and ginseng (though the latter has been useless thus far).
Fluoxetine is just a placebo drug from my perspective since the entire time I've used it, it has been absolutely useless to me but the doc won't take me off of it since I've tested so many anti-depressants already.
Lexapro and Seroquel just made me feel like I was going to have a heart attack all the time and gave me incredible chest pains and I slept around the clock for 16 hours on the weekends and I had no concentration whatsoever while being hungry all the time.
Pregabalin does help me relax but I think it effects my digestion quite a bit so I use it only when I absolutely need it. It really does reduce my anxiety a lot.
Same deal with the diazepam but since they're quite addictive, they're really controlled and I'm limited to very little amounts which means I need to go over my limit sometimes just to get my anxiety under control.
Abilify just makes me gain a shit tonne of weight no matter how little I eat so I haven't taken those in about a year now, same with the fluoxetine.
I've hit a low point since the anti-depressants fell through but considering the psychiatric departments won't help me despite my asking for switches in meds; I'm left to my own devices on this and I can't rely on them for help so I'm going the old fashioned research route with what's available to me currently.
So I typically self medicate for those problems now too (with little results to show sometimes).
My audio and visual hallucinations have been tamed more from self medicating than with what I've been prescribed needless to say though.
I took up a lot of meditation and visualization of my own accord which has helped, including decreasing my anxiety a little bit. I also use lavender oil perfumes I make myself to wear which relax me a little when I need it. Vetiver can also help me when I can get some of it for helping out my panic attacks.
I used to be on pain meds and preventatives for constant migraines but they fucked my heart up too so I was told to get off them by my doc.
No. 68343
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experiences with weight and prozac? i'm switching from zoloft because it is impossible for me to lose weight on it for some reason, i'm at 150mg and switching to prozac 40mg gradually. i won't really mind a loss in sex drive tbh because my high sex drive depresses me when i'm single like i am now
No. 68364
>>68358>>I'm from the U.S. but live in Europe now. The reason so many Americans are on mental health meds is because the U.S. is growing shittier and shittier by the day (thus more and more people are depressed and hate their lives) and medication is more openly accepted as a treatment. I honestly believe that if it weren't for Christianity (you'll go to hell if you kill yourself), shame (there is no honor in suicide here), and high prevalence of medication the suicide rate would be much much higher than it is, and possibly even worse than Japan and South Korea where medication isn't really discussed.
>>AnywayI'm on antidepressants (lexapro) and even though I am still depressed, I am no longer suicidal. I gained a lot of weight, but have cut down to the minimum dosage and am determined to lose it now. I don't plan on going off for at least a few years when I am in a better situation. I really like lexapro honestly.
No. 68366
>>68355I keep spelling it wrong lol
It probably is just mostly me, I've always been prone to getting really sick every time I start something new.
No. 68413
I take a lot of medication, honestly probably more than what’s good for me but I’m just doing what the doctor says. I started my first antidepressant (Prozac) when I was 8 years old, my mom took me to a therapist (who recommended us to a psychiatrist) after she discovered I’d been sexually abused. So the doctor has listed bipolar, OCD, and an eating disorder listed on my chart right now, but it varies by specialist. Right now I’m 22, and they have me on quite a list:
Effexor 225MG, A.M.
Buspar 60MG, A.M.
Depakote 250MG, A.M. and noon
Propranolol 20MG, A.M. and P.M.
Seroquel 100MG A.M., noon, and P.M.,
Paxil 30MG, P.M.
Hydroxyzine 50MG, P.M.
Klonopin 2MG on an as-needed basis (for anxiety attacks).
I keep alarms set on my phone and sort my pills daily into a divided container to maintain this routine.
A lot of these meds have little to no effect on me. Honestly, I like the klonopin but the addiction factor scares me and I’ll only take it when it feels like the world is ending. Some of this stuff I can miss a dose (or 5) and feel unaffected. The Paxil, Hydroxyzine, Propranolol, Buspar, I can skip those or take them and it doesn’t make a difference. I take them since I have to get blood work done pretty often, and don’t want my doctor to call me noncompliant with treatment.
Effexor, Depakote, and Seroquel cause some crazy wicked withdrawals and I honestly wish I’d never started taking Effexor or Seroquel. Never realized I’d be relying on these things to function once I started. Without seroquel I’m hallucinating, having nightmares, head feels spacey, it’s awful. Effexor is more physical, I’m nauseous and shaking, my brain feels weird and I feel shit mentally. Those are the pills I’ve been taking since I was 16, and I’ve cycled through just about every antidepressant available on the market, including some of the more old-school stuff that isn’t prescribed as much (like Risperdal….ugh).
Sometimes I wonder if life would be different without my meds, but I suppose different could mean psychotic (worse in my opinion).
TL;DR: PILLS AND LOTS OF EM’
No. 68448
>>68413>8 different psych medsAnon, I hope you realize how absolutely ridiculous this is. I'm not against medication as a whole, but are you at least seeing a therapist who specializes in trauma in conjunction with all that?
These pills aren't actually doing anything to "fix" you. The trauma you experienced still lives inside you, and until you find someone who can help you integrate those memories and move forward, they will continue to subconsciously effect you in a ways that drugs can only numb.
No. 68512
I tried taking antidepressants but they didn't really work. I guess I never took them long enough. Thankfully my depression has gotten better on its own without me doing much to treat my psychological issues.
Right now I take 10mg Aderall XR for my ADHD. I try not to take it every day. A few days ago I took 20mg and I felt like I was on meth. I fell asleep at 5 in the morning. Lol
>>68413How the fuck do these medicines not interfere with each other?
No. 68521
>>68413Youcant just stop taking effexor. It will lead to those symptoms you described. Effexor needs to be gradually reduced.
Also search for a trauma therapy, please.
No. 74106
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I got put on Fluoxetine after my counselor p much gave up on me, for a few months but stopped taking it because I still felt as (if not more) shit as I did before. I haven't admitted to the doctor that I still felt suicidal and self harmed more on it (also my libido was non-existent :// ), so I just said I didn't like it. She then prescribed Sertraline but after the first day I had a bit of a meltdown and I was too scared to take them.
I now only take birth control and propranolol for anxiety (works sometimes I guess).
Should I try meds again??? Are there other options (apart from like counselling)???
No. 74118
>>74106I was on Fluoxetine from the age of 13 to 23. It's ruined me. It left me with occasional slurred speech, a stammer and it's left me with no sexual desire of my own. I also feel like it's taken away some of my capacity to remember things.
From 23 to 25 I was on Citalopram which was even worse. I quit by going cold turkey. I still suffer from depression now but am I fuck ever taking medication for it. It's not worth it. It's like being hugged by someone who doesn't give a shit about you - the action of a hug is nice, but there's nothing behind it - it's so synthetic and feels unkind.
I occasionally take 5HTP which is an amino acid which can help with the synthesis of serotonin. Do some reading on it, but I do find it helps on days/times where I need it most. For the most part though, I get on with my life and have accepted that it's totally okay to be depressed to the level I get to, it's just who I am on a biological level.
Just do what is right for you. If you feel talking therapies will help, go for it. If you can handle life without meds, go or it. Or give something else a try; exercise, dietary alterations, 5HTP. I hope you find something, because fuck meds.
No. 263730
>>263724it helped me a lot when I was on it. not on any of my meds anymore due to issues
the only place I can recommend if they don't sell it where you are is some kind of black market site unfortunately
No. 270361
>>270358That's interesting, is your libido high, low, or normal? I read from some people with issues I have from antidepressants (where their sexuality is scorched earth even after stopping the medications for 6+ months and using good porn or spending time with their partners) that it raised their libido. I'd like to read more experiences, but having no change is also better than ruining things.
Does it help with mood instability? That's the main issue I have because I feel more unstable than just the typical depression symptoms. I'm kinda scared of experimenting with medications though because the last time I tried out a new time the side effects made me miss work and I don't want to risk that again. But I really want something to work out since depression and anxiety medications made me worse, and I was told by a professional that most people with "treatment resistant" depression are actually misdiagnosed bipolar.
No. 270375
>>270361>I was told by a professional that most people with "treatment resistant" depression are actually misdiagnosed bipolar.this is really interesting. I've been on 10+ different medications and combos, and while I'm definitely
worse when I'm not on any medication, I can't say I've had a lot of success on any of them. I relate to what you said about being more unstable than typical depression. my mood shifts very often, it can be a daily thing. I don't think I've ever experienced mania either so I've never considered it. idk, I thought bpd might be the best explanation for how unstable I feel but the doctor who first suggested it was an inpatient doctor that knew me for a few days. can you have bipolar and bpd? mental health is so messy and I'm so tired of meds.
No. 270451
>>270441I never knew how to measure libido either, but I guess it depends on sexual receptivity to behavior and horniness? Even when my psych took me off SSRIs are replaced them with a high dose of Wellbutrin I was never in the mood even when I did the sex therapy mindfulness (erotica, foreplay, having a sex positive and pro-sex attitude etc.) which sucked because then it killed my relationships and broke things off. It's clear that the libido stuff is a brain chemical thing instead of a psychological issue since the medication was the only thing that changed in my lifestyle for it to happen, but there's no affordable Viagra equivalent for women, so I'm stuck like this even when it's out of my system, and it contributes to my "depression" feelings, but my mood swings/instability and mania tends to cycle or get
triggered. I'm going to see if I can get a new psychiatrist for a diagnosis, since the treatment resistant depression=bipolar was a possibility an old one brought up to me, but he still wouldn't give me anything but antidepressants even though they didn't work.
No. 376554
>>376480I took propranolol for a short amount of time. I had to stop because I could physically feel my blood pressure being lowered, and it at times made me feel light headed. It's also short-acting, which can be both helpful and a hinderance depending on how it affects you. People with "performance anxiety" often use it because it's a beta blocker so you aren't addled with adrenaline every time you do something stress-inducing. It's really helpful if you become disabled by your anxiety at times, like stage fright or panic attacks with seemingly minor causes.
I've been on Prozac for … two years now? 20 mg, so not a high dose. It has legitimately changed my life for the better. I also take vyvanse for ADHD. Prozac was far more helpful for the emotional issues associated with ADHD, the rumination, the sensitivity, the negative feelings you produce when you procrastinate or are "stuck" and can't switch tasks. However, Vyvanse has still positively helped me with switching tasks, organizing tasks, managing time, and managing the intensity of my focus. I doubted that it was less prone to abuse, but it is in fact difficult to abuse. You feel nothing re-dosing in comparison to adderall. The only downside is I could only start taking Vyvanse once my insurance would cover it and I could afford the co-pay. I'm actually taking a generic version now… that's probably why it's more affordable - the generic version of Vyvanse hit the American markets right at the end of 2023.
No. 376558
>>376480Never took amitriptyline, but I did take propranolol. I stopped taking it because it made me fall asleep at a pretty important work meeting and I got in big trouble. It frankly didn't help me that much with anxiety, it just made me drowsy. My anxious roommate accidentally took some when she was trying to take her meds that looked similar, and it also made her fall asleep. I bet it'd be good for insomnia or acute anxiety spikes like
>>376554 mentioned. I once took some during a panic attack and it did help it stop quicker, but it just wasn't something I could take regularly for anxiety maintenance. I wanted it to work because I also have POTS and beta blockers are supposed to be helpful with it, but it just made me too damn sleepy and didn't touch my actual anxiety. Honestly, no meds ever have except for Klonopin, but it's way too easy to get addicted to.
No. 376625
>>376609Give it a couple more nights, floss, keep rinsing the area with saltwater, and if it doesn't stop, then I will call doc. I also woke up feeling like I ground my teeth and superbly nauseous. It could be due to the gum issues but I doubt they'd escalate and swell so fast.
There's no upside to being bipolar. All the medications suck, are highly individualistic so it's impossible to tell if you'll lose, gain, or have horrendous side effects or not, and when you're off meds you're a complete headcase. I hate this fucking condition so much and I'm bridled with sensory issues and a former eating disorder, why do I have to be like this? I don't have time nor money to be experimenting with every mood stabilizing drug or antipsychotic under the sun
No. 376656
>>376630The side effect of latuda I worry about is the nausea and vomiting. I may ask my doctor. I know it's technically an antipsychotic but it may be worth the shot. someone I knew said she took it at night, which I prefer. The other thing the friend warned me about was weird dreams
I woke up today and feel better, I'll try taking the lamo tonight and see if the symptoms persist. Instead of taking it after dinner I'll take it right before bed. I'm on my period so I'm wondering if my hormones are fucking with me to cause the discomfort
No. 376832
>>376727Yes, if this happens, you are supposed to stop taking it ASAP. I'm sorry nona, it's so frustrating to deal with meds that have such awful side effects. I hope you have better luck with the next one you try. I didn't take Latuda, but I did take other atypical antipsychotics (I tried Abilify, Invega, Seroquel, and Risperdal) and they all had side effects I couldn't compromise on. Abilify made me unable to focus on literally anything, my brain felt like it was short circuiting all the time. Invega made me suicidal, Seroquel turned me into a zombie, Risperdal made me dissociate. Etc. So I would say keep your expectations very low if you're looking into atypical antipsychotics with the hope that they'll have less severe side effects. Good luck with whatever you try next.
No. 376853
So I'm using liraglutide for my hormonal issues, I mostly have issues with managing my insulin.
The good things: of course I've been losing weight, I don't get all weak nor tremble when I'm hungry, my cravings for sweets and fatty foods are almost dead, I have more hair on my head so now it's more dense, I don't have as much thick hairs on my hips or under my chin as before and I feel more focused even.
The weird things: whenever I try to go for a higher dose I feel like I will throw up regardless of what I eat, now I only want to eat basic foods and very small portions like a weird ass anachan or a toddler, I also crave ice for some reason?
The annoying part is that I've been using this medication for months already, like 4 or 5 months, and I still take a low dose, because the moment I try to use a higher dose, I feel like I could just eat only once or twice a day and call it a day, but of course I can't do that because I live with my parents and they don't want me to skip meals. And when I keep a low dose, like 1.2, I get cravings and it's annoying to fight them, I mean, I can just not eat shit which it's something I've been doing for a while before I even started taking the medication, but having a family that seems to want me to never get better is hard, because they always offer me sweet stuff or fatty foods and no matter how many times I tell them that I don't need them, they always find a way to make me try or eat them, so my fat fatty fat fat brain gets happy with the not so healthy food it consooms.
No. 376876
>>376832Seroquil was the AP I was on before and it gave me horrendous zombie syndrome too, like I'd taken one too many klonos or was barred out on xans. I haven't taken any APs since out of fear. I talked to a psychiatrist friend who's not my doc and she said lithium is very tricky and will likely make me gain, so I guess that's a no no. Haven't had any rash or weirdness since last night. I forgot to call doc today
I read sore throat, mouth problems, flu like symptoms and small "rashes" can happen between dosage without it being SJS or the rash, but I'm gonna consult with doctor nonetheless if we should down the dosage or go off completely. The "rash" I developed has thus far just been pustule dots and redness that fades but I don't want to take the chance. Real shame, it was working for my mood. This dosage sans side effects made me feel so damn relaxed and contented the first few days. Ruin a good thing.
No. 376968
>>376957AYRT. Found out my doctor is closed on Fridays. I'll call her Monday. Thanks for further input
I read somewhere that swelling can also be sign of a blood disorder and I am a former
self harmer so it's always sat at the back of my mind that I'm more sensitive to meds now because I've let a lot of blood in the past 2 years. My levels only said my HG was a little high the last time they took my blood though
No. 385014
>>385013I'd say you should maybe try to keep the low dose Abilify and add an anti-anxiety pill if you know the Abilify is helping you at the 2.5mg. Bouncing around antipsychotics is really hard on your body and mind. Doing that made my life a living hell. Abilify gave me horrible akathisia too. Psych switched me to Seroquel, which made me gain weight that was very hard to lose and also knocked me the fuck out in a weird zombiefied way. I slept for 16 hours on it once. Then she put me on Invega made me the most suicidal I've ever been in my life, like I started giving my belongings away and was really happy and serene about my impending death. After all this I said no more antipsychotics. Honestly, I think psychs only push them so hard because it's supposed to be an "all-in-one" solution so you don't have to take more than one med, but they're so notorious for the side effects it makes no sense to me. Plus insurance can be very finicky about which it will cover.
I think the "med cocktail" approach can be useful here. They put me on a combo of Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Lamictal (with Klonopin on an as-needed basis.) Not sure what they'd put you on. But honestly, I stopped taking my meds a few months ago because the stress of fighting with insurance, med management when you travel or mood (and the withdrawal symptoms), with low efficacy made me so miserable. Good luck whatever you choose, but be very wary of antipsychotics, they are very powerful and poorly tolerated for many.
No. 385046
>>385014I've only been on Seroquil before abilify years ago and it turned me into a zombie, I was on it very briefly. I'd rather stick at a low or half dosage of an antipsychotic if it's helping at all. I still have some akathisia symptoms but they're not unmanageable at 2.5mg, maybe we can lower to 2. I was on a "cocktail" of Buspirone and Lamictal once upon a time, but I lost my insurance and had to stop taking my meds for 2 years. Going without meds isn't exactly viable for me. Without them I went bonkers and fell into self harm and addiction the worst I had in ages. When I fell ill as a result of taking Lamictal/lamotrigane two months after I restarted, I was heartbroken. It worked for me otherwise with fairly minimal side effects, hence why I took it in the first place.
I'm afraid to go back on lamotrigane after my reaction at a lower dosage, and so is my doctor. I'm going to tell her I'd rather just stay on a half dosage abilify and try adding a support drug. I hope she understands. She'll understand in the very least that I can't afford caplyta when I tell her it's $400+ and not covered kek. Thank you for your advice!
No. 385057
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>>385046Samefag, turns out caplyta may be covered or my doctors request to exception it was approved. the manufacturer who produces its discount card and my insurance company were part of a massive hack. So nobody can apply any discounts or see approvals at my pharmacy and the doctors office can't see much either because the companies are cleaning up the fallout.
doctor's office will give me some samples for a few weeks for free. if all else fails I'm going back to my original plan of support drug and cocktail. This really isn't the doctors or the pharmacies fault, it's shit luck piled on top of shit luck
I hate America