# Psychiatric Medication Conundrum **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003 "2014-10-10T23:28:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/21 "2014-10-11T00:45:50Z")
> [@2spooky4me](#): > > Doctors these days giving out all sorts of pills like candies. They don’t know what causes what and what helps and why. They are paid to dope you up like a racing pony while they themselves don’t have to suffer any of the side effects. > > I don’t like any of it. That cocktail of drugs you’re on sounds like it could be messing with anything and everything. Do you like being dependent on drugs? I sure don’t. > > Is this bipolar med you’re on actually helping for your insomnia? If not then get rid of it. The smaller amount of drugs your body is dependent on, the better. “Dope you up like a racing pony”? Do you even know how psychotropic medications work? Never mind, I just read your last post. Reported you for threadshitting, too. It’s one thing to say “medication isn’t really my thing” (even though the OP wasn’t asking for opinions on medication in general), but to spread judgment and misinformation about what **all** doctors **always** or **never** do is irresponsible and potentially damaging. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/22 "2014-10-11T00:49:36Z")
> [@2spooky4me](#): > > Weeks… try months. They want you to pay money for their medications for months before they admit that it might not be working perfectly. It’s a sweet deal for them; not so much for the person that has to deal with the side effects for that entire trial period. > > Your body having to compensate and strain itself to correct the imbalances caused, given as positive advice is quite a frightening thought. Your body doesn’t want the chemicals there. > > I guarantee your doctor doesn’t even really know if the Seroquel is what is responsible. They have their exceptionally long lists of possible side effects that sometimes occur and rarely occur with each drug, and they will hmm and haww and tell you to stay on it longer. They always do. > > Yourself is not who you are on drugs. That is yourself on drugs. > > In my day, young healthy folk never got put on so many different medications. This new chemical culture astounds me. Your presence here is really unhelpful. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/23 "2014-10-11T00:52:43Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > “Dope you up like a racing pony”? Do you even know how psychotropic medications work? > > Never mind, I just read your last post. Reported you for threadshitting, too. It’s one thing to say “medication isn’t really my thing” (even though the OP wasn’t asking for opinions on medication in general), but to spread judgment and misinformation about what **all** doctors **always** or **never** do is irresponsible and potentially damaging. Another report for **2spooky4me** ’s threadshitting. He or she is free to start another thread on teh evils of psych meds, but this isn’t the place. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/24 "2014-10-11T00:54:12Z")
> [@2spooky4me](#): > > I guarantee your doctor doesn’t even really know if the Seroquel is what is responsible. They have their exceptionally long lists of possible side effects that sometimes occur and rarely occur with each drug, and they will hmm and haww and tell you to stay on it longer. They always do. > > Yourself is not who you are on drugs. That is yourself on drugs. > > In my day, young healthy folk never got put on so many different medications. This new chemical culture astounds me. I’d rather be on the drugs than be the bi-polar mess I was without them. You last sentence is exceptionally bad considering that a person with a mental illness is not healthy by any measure. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/25 "2014-10-11T01:02:46Z")
Just checking in…I’ve been on 225 mg Lamictal forever. Plus a bunch of others. Bipolar. Never on Seroquel–that’s a different cup of tea altogether, from what I’ve seen, as far as some side effects go–but about libido, I have no idea. God knows that’s what psychs (“p-docs” on boards, for some reason) get paid for. Good luck. Just like “they” say sometimes regarding other side effects of anti-depression drugs–“I’d rather be fat than crazy”–which sounds flippant and easy but is a situation sometimes achievable after years of bitterness–it may be, truly, you may come to a similar type of modus vivendi. The pain of depression can be more intolerable than any affliction imaginable. Chemistry and therapy, amigo. PM whenever if you feel like it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/26 "2014-10-11T01:09:26Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Just checking in…I’ve been on 225 mg Lamictal forever. Plus a bunch of others. > > Bipolar. Never on Seroquel–that’s a different cup of tea altogether, from what I’ve seen, as far as some side effects go–but about libido, I have no idea. > > God knows that’s what psychs (“p-docs” on boards, for some reason) get paid for. Good luck. > > Just like “they” say sometimes regarding other side effects of anti-depression drugs–“I’d rather be fat than crazy”–which sounds flippant and easy but is a situation sometimes achievable after years of bitterness–it may be, truly, you may come to a similar type of modus vivendi. > > The pain of depression can be more intolerable than any affliction imaginable. Chemistry and therapy, amigo. > > PM whenever if you feel like it. Oh I absolutely agree. That is why it’s so important to me to figure out which drug is responsible for which effect: the improved depression and the sexual dysfunction. If they are both caused by the same medication, well, then I’m going to have to just figure something out because sex is no good if your life is a pit of bottomless blackness. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/27 "2014-10-11T02:39:52Z")
> [@2spooky4me](#): > > Weeks… try months. They want you to pay money for their medications for months before they admit that it might not be working perfectly. It’s a sweet deal for them; not so much for the person that has to deal with the side effects for that entire trial period. The OP is looking for advice. Take your rants and personal beefs with docs or meds out of this thread. Start your own about it, if you like, but stop posting in this one if you’re going to continue. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/28 "2014-10-11T03:06:43Z")
I myself take lamictal, but not for depression, but for seizures. Strangely enough, it causes hypersomnia in me. (Like I’m always falling asleep!) I can’t really answer any of your questions, but having been there myself (yes, I also take Paxil for OCD) I just wanted to wish you luck. Fuck depression. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/29 "2014-10-11T03:11:53Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > No, but it _is_ enough time to make you manic at the wrong dosage if you’re actually bipolar and not just depressed. > > Keep an eye on yourself, Ambivalid, to make sure you’re not becoming [hypomanic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomania). Lamictal [can](http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/03/20/mania-triggered-by-lamotrigine/), but usually doesn’t, trigger manic episodes. I am aware of this and actually, I have been somewhat concerned of this possibility. Never having experienced mania before, I wouldn’t know what it felt like, so a sudden lifting of mood could be mistaken for something more. However, after reading more in depth about manic behavior and symptoms, I am inclined to think this is not what is going on with me. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/30 "2014-10-11T03:39:42Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I didn’t get any sexual side effects fortunately. Either way, best of luck in finding what works the best for you. Well, I know this is only your experience and doesn’t necessarily translate into mine but this at least is a hopeful sign for me. Given the fact that you weren’t prescribed Seroquel and only Lamictal, and never suffered any sexual side effects, this points more to Seroquel being the culprit for me (which is what I’ve suspected from the start). Especially when all the other factors of my situation are considered. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/31 "2014-10-11T07:30:50Z")
Good luck figuring it out, Ambivalid. I have a dear girlfriend who has been dealing with depression for years. She’s my age (50) and has no sexual desire whatsoever. She has been juggling different prescriptions and quantities for a while. It worries me, but I don’t know what it’s like to be her, and I know very little about meds, and so I just listen to her mostly. I’m going to let her know about crazymeds. Anyway, I hope things start looking **up** for you…in every way. ---
**Author:** ![peptastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@peptastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peptastic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/32 "2014-10-12T01:33:48Z")
It’s tough going through the trial period with medicine. I’ve found crazymeds to be an invaluable resource for what my doctor didn’t tell me. They were pretty spot on about paxil. It didn’t do enough for my anxiety, but kickstarted a depression episode. I haven’t experienced any sexual side effects with paxil or viibryd. It is the weight gain and constant sleepiness I found intolerable. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/33 "2014-10-12T01:40:12Z")
I have decided to stop the Seroquel, as it is not working at all as a sleep aid. I’m quite disappointed about this too. **Nothing** seems to help with my sleep, I’ve tried Ambien, Trazadone, Seroquel, Klonopin and countless OTC remedies and they all fail. The only one that gave me any relief at all was the Klonopin but that relief was short-lived, as I quickly built up a tolerance. ETA: I’ve also tried a number of non-drug solutions, such as no caffeine after 4pm, I took the TV out of my bedroom, and I don’t use my computer/phone before or as I’m lying in bed. It makes no difference. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/34 "2014-10-12T02:54:30Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I have decided to stop the Seroquel, as it is not working at all as a sleep aid. I’m quite disappointed about this too. **Nothing** seems to help with my sleep, I’ve tried Ambien, Trazadone, Seroquel, Klonopin and countless OTC remedies and they all fail. The only one that gave me any relief at all was the Klonopin but that relief was short-lived, as I quickly built up a tolerance. ETA: I’ve also tried a number of non-drug solutions, such as no caffeine after 4pm, I took the TV out of my bedroom, and I don’t use my computer/phone before or as I’m lying in bed. It makes no difference. What about melatonin or 5-HTP? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/35 "2014-10-12T02:58:35Z")
I used to be on Lamictal, and I plan to go back on it. I felt just generally good on it, but ending up losing insurance, blah blah blah. Never been Seroquel, so can’t speak to that. But i had a fantastic sex drive on the Lamictal 🙂 I hope it works out for you! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/36 "2014-10-12T03:04:02Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > What about melatonin or 5-HTP? Nope. Both of those fall under the “countless OTC remedies” that I’ve tried that have failed. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/37 "2014-10-12T03:45:00Z")
Have you tried guided relaxation for sleep? There are some good apps that are free or cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Tropic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@Tropic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tropic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/38 "2014-10-12T04:03:25Z")
I’ve been on some psychiatric meds for a while now and I’m pretty sure that loss of performance is a pretty common side effect… personally I would give up the ability to have sex or masturbate for the rest of my life than go back to how i was before i was on meds ---
**Author:** ![Tropic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@Tropic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tropic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/39 "2014-10-12T04:08:53Z")
For a bit more of a medical explanation, depression can be caused by unbalanced hormones so most psychiatric meds will reduce the amount of hormones that your body is creating (not 100% sure about this but from the research ive done i believe this is a pretty reliable explanation) ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003/40 "2014-10-13T21:54:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I have decided to stop the Seroquel, as it is not working at all as a sleep aid. I’m quite disappointed about this too. **Nothing** seems to help with my sleep, I’ve tried Ambien, Trazadone, Seroquel, Klonopin and countless OTC remedies and they all fail. The only one that gave me any relief at all was the Klonopin but that relief was short-lived, as I quickly built up a tolerance. ETA: I’ve also tried a number of non-drug solutions, such as no caffeine after 4pm, I took the TV out of my bedroom, and I don’t use my computer/phone before or as I’m lying in bed. It makes no difference. This is what I was going to suggest. Lamictal takes a while to get on or off of, but the Seroquel sounds like you can just start or stop it at will. So do an experiment. Stop the Seroquel (after consulting with your Doc, of course) for a short while and see if your libido comes back. If it doesn’t, it’s the increased lamictal. I was on lamictal for a while for seizures and it did WONDERS for my mood. Unfortunately, I had to stop because I started to get the dreaded rash. Be careful about increasing the dose too fast. I wish you good luck! J. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-medication-conundrum/701003.md?page=1)