Non-illicit which means that heroin, cocaine, meth are excluded, not because of their legality but due to the euphoric effects induced which fade rapidly and a flat empty feeling afterwards.
Having been to a psychiatrist, I was very ‘fortunate’ to receive an antidepressant (Prozac) and antipsychotic (Abilify). They had no psychiatric effects whatsoever except physical weight gain and tiredness.
I know that in the US, young children are prescribed Ritalin, but that causes ‘speed-like’ effects and makes you tired afterwards.
Is there any psychiatric drug that doesn’t cause euphoria but keeps you on a moderate to highly moderate mood thus essentially preventing emotional lows?
I am no pharmacist, but I understand that **all **drugs have side effects. Take a ‘high’ and you will have to compensate later.
Maybe try coffee? but that can be addictive too.
Hyperactive children get Ritalin here too, to calm them down - the opposite of what you say you want. Doctors are now very wary of prescribing it because of possible long term effects.
There are hundreds of psychoactive drugs. Your physician should be able to find one that works - if drugs are what you need.
Keep in mind that when going on antidepressants, one may very well have to try out a few before finding one that works.
That said, nothing will reliably keep you in a moderately good mood in all situations indefinitely. One may reduce the frequency and amplitude of emotional lows but they can still be there. However, modafinil (and armodafinil) do raise mood without causing euphoria.
Also, it may be possible to combine hordenine supplements (or other OTC MAOIs) with phenethylamine supplements to get some interesting effects. I can’t vouch for that but I’ve read the effects are similar to MDMA while being freely available. If one were to limit oneself to low doses, there may be some mood lift without euphoria or crashing. MAOIs are dangerous is not used carefully.
May we know more about the perceived need for an antipsychotic? Unipolar depression, bipolar, schizophrenia?
The OP could be interpreted in several different ways. Are you looking for…
A treatment for depression?
Something that will elevate the mood of a normal, non-depressed person?
Something that will keep you from ever feeling bad (even somewhat)?
For #1, all I know is that there are different anti-depressants that work better or worse for different people, and some patients have to experiment a bit until they find one that works for them. Also, it matters what’s causing the depression. Taking steps to change the circumstances of your life that are contributing to your depression, and/or changing your thinking (e.g. via Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), may be warranted instead of or in addition to medication.
For #1 or #2, there are things besides drugs that can help. Exercise (as mentioned by Me_billy) has, if I remember correctly, been shown to positively affect mood. Getting enough sleep. Sunlight (at least if you have Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)). Eating right. Listening to happy music.
For #3, I don’t think it’s realistic or healthy to expect to never feel bad.
Another powerful tool is contributing in face to face conversations, moderate exercise, some kind of creative hobby or project that really grabs you. There might be a good reason that you are feeling down that can be remedied at the source.
In the early 1950s, iproniazid (Marsilid) was released as a treatment for tuberculosis, and it made the majority of people who took it absolutely giddy. It was also used briefly for depression, and then taken off the market when it turned out to be very hard on the liver.
It was actually due to ‘psychotic rage’ as I myself would describe. I may have told the doctor a bit of a bluff about ‘seeing things’ that made me seem psychotic in order to obtain them but it was justified IMO.
My emotions at the time a few years ago were not in any way what I or the vast majority would consider healthy. I experienced extreme emotional pleasure and euphoria for a whole year. This just came without any explanation. I have never consumed any alcohol or legal/illegal drugs with the exception of asthma medication which is very mild. No traumatic experiences also preceded. After a while I fell down a bit in life due to complete procrastination and because less happy and then the intense rage that made me want to kill myself began. It was not sadness at all but extreme rage.
Eventually I went to a psychiatrist and they prescribed antipsychotics which reduced any rage but made me tired and a complete lack of energy.
I’m fine now. But I just wonder if I had taken some ‘normalizing’ drug that prevents euphoria or sadness would I have done better.
Where did the OP get that definition of “illicit”. The definition is nothing like my understanding of the term – “legally or socially prohibited”. The OP’s definition is more what I would call “ineffective” or perhaps “drugs with unwanted side effects.”
Your symptoms sound like bipolar with a psychotic episode. Lithium normally works for most bipolar patients and antipsychotics are additionally prescribed if needed.
St. John’s wort is pretty safe and works for many. BUT it should NOT be taken with many other drugs.
SAM-e can also be used.
People diagnosed with bipolar disorder should not take SAM-e.
However, in your case, OP, do not take either without talking to your psychiatrist or MD, do not take these in combo with those prescription drugs.
Either/both can work well for mild cases. If your psychiatrist or MD agree that the prescription drugs arent working, they may well agree that these can be worth a try.
Huh? The OP was asking about drugs other than illicit ones like cocaine, heroin, etc., because the side effects of those are bad enough that it’s not worth taking them, for most people. (Assuming we’re counting addiction as a side effect here.)
Unfortunately nowhere near what you’re describing or seeking, but of interest nonetheless because of its unique attributes. Tianeptine sodium, which is an antidepressant marketed in France under the brand name Stablon, has been described (and I’m paraphrasing multiple sources here) as being “as close to the proverbial ‘happy pill’ as has ever been invented.” Due to the fact that the buzz only lasts about half an hour though, it falls far short of what you’re after. It can be obtained legally in the United States from any one of a large number of online nootropics and nutritional supplement vendors. In terms of pleasurability, I would rank it second to only cocaine in its mood-boosting capability. If a means of tweaking the molecule could be developed which would extend its half-life into the several-hour range, it would pretty much match exactly what you’re describing.