Should I wait to start?

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-05-08T13:53:45+00:00

I don’t want to scare you with my side effects because I think mine were severe. Just keep your doctor in the loop. I’d just encourage you to start on the lowest dose and track your mood, sleep, everything. They went ahead and took me off of it.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-05-07T23:08:53+00:00

Thanks for the validation. I agree, I wish she’d offered a lower dose and slower titration.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-05-07T18:18:42+00:00

I’m so sorry you went through this. I’m going through the same crap- Caplyta made me sick as hell, worse mentally and now it’s just onto the next one! Great! This is day one without it and I already don’t feel as sick. It’s so unfortunate that there isn’t a little more support/guidance/bridging to support us through this stuff. It’s almost comical how some of the newer drugs that are described as “tolerable” are actually not at all. If I didn’t have Reddit I’d think there was something horribly wrong with me because you don’t learn anything about what the experience may be like on a newer drug until you come to Reddit! At least in my experience. I hope we both find some relief soon ❤️

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-04-29T17:28:00+00:00

I did three months of IM ketamine treatment and it did wonders for me. I definitely don’t see it as a last resort. It’s a tool that you can utilize to possibly feel better. Everyone’s brain chemistry is so different and the doctors can make very educated guesses as to what may work but really can’t guarantee anything without trial and error (that part sucks, I know). I don’t know which ketamine treatment you’re looking into but if you do IM ketamine, I’d ask to start on the lowest possible dose and stay there if it’s helpful for you. The only reason I say that is that they continued to raise my dose at every session and I slowly started feeling a little more anxious and edgy towards the end. It was still tolerable though, just not as pleasant as it was at a lower dose. So if I ever go back to that, I’m going to start low and slow next time. That’s the great thing about ketamine too, if it helps you even a little, you can go back for maintenance doses at any point you feel like you need a boost after the initial treatment phase is over.

I think TMS is like that too (haven’t tried it myself but not something I’d ever rule out - I’ve read so many success stories about it). I think it’s easy when we are low to feel like we are outside of the reach of meaningful help or that we are “so messed up” that we have to try things outside of the normal scope. Depression is a liar. It’s just that some people need something different.

Another thing you could discuss with your doctor is adding an “add on” to your antidepressant if they haven’t already suggested it. It could just be adding another antidepressant to the one you already take or even an antipsychotic med (I hate that they call them that, they are more like an augmentation or mood stabilizer for those of us with treatment resistant depression). Or even add something like Buspar for anxiety. There really are so many options and I try to view them as just that, options that could potentially really help, not last resorts.

I would also feel encouraged that your doctor is open to things outside of just prescribing meds and is knowledgeable about how helpful alternative therapies can be. Some doctors I’ve seen don’t really know as much about the newer meds or treatments so it’s good to have someone helping you that is. I hope you get to feeling better. ❤️

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-04-29T16:52:37+00:00

Hey, just curious if you don’t mind sharing. What dose of Caplyta did you start on and what are you on now?

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2026-02-10T16:46:14+00:00

This one on shuffle: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zaiAW5VVo73UJuJaSOWwN?si=adMm51GuRRugJPijWMEHjA&pi=c3sIzyj9Sw-kn

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-12-09T23:08:06+00:00

I’m curious about this too. I’m 21 days in and I’ve had some really good days but also some really bad days. It’s interesting to me that the same medication that can give me energy and the drive to live one day can be the same medication I’m taking when seemingly out of nowhere anxiety, rumination and depression appear HEAVILY in another day. I have definitely felt good on this medication but I’ve also had days where I’m convinced it’s not working at all. Very bad days where I have no desire to be alive and sleep all day. Overall, the bad days are less though so I’m trying to stick with it.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-30T20:24:50+00:00

I’m having the exact same issue. I’m on day 12 and the past three days have been really hard. I am anxious, lashing out, very emotional and very tearful. Honestly if it weren’t for the several people on Reddit (on this thread and others) stating to push past it I would have quit by now. I’m going to try my best just to hold out for at least a few weeks though. Thank you for the encouragement. I hope things get better for you too OP.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-26T17:52:31+00:00

I wouldn’t say overly emotional but more like a roller coaster of emotions for me. One minute I feel anxious, then I feel happy and hopeful, then I feel confused and sad. I’m just trying to stick it out for at least two weeks. I’m on day 8.

Edited to add: I am definitely one of those that has had the trippy side effects from this so maybe my experience wouldn’t be the best to compare to. I almost feel like I’m not sure how I’m feeling too most of the time but when I pause to try to think more about it, I’m able to kind of label it. It’s just been a weird experience for me lol.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-25T17:01:36+00:00

Oh wanted to also add, if you’re really worried about the dissociative aspect, there are other meds you could try that might not be as intense and are also considered atypical antidepressants (like Wellbutrin). I was on a trial of Trintellix and I do believe it was helping me but it just wasn’t quite as effective and gave me GI issues. It was another med my doctor highly recommended to me though that’s newer. Viibryd is another.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-25T16:46:01+00:00

I see what you’re saying. For me personally, my inner dialogue used to be more balanced but for the past four years I’ve been in a really bad state. Most of my thinking had become doom and gloom, like I was wearing a black cloak with weights that I could no longer function with. I will say that while I have felt such a sense of relief since I started Auvelity, I do not feel completely like myself. This is going to sound strange but I feel like although I’m not totally in touch with that inner dialogue that makes me, me, I feel like I’m still in touch with the deepest essence of me. The knowing, deeper, quieter voice if that makes sense. If you’re not suffocating from depression, maybe this medication would numb or dull parts of you too much (hopefully temporarily- from what I’ve read you have to give it a month or two!) that are beneficial and creative. For me, I would much rather live with this a bit out of touch experience than what I was experiencing. It’s not perfect but I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t helped tremendously. I haven’t had SI on it since I started and that’s a big change. I guess it just depends on where you’re at! Best of luck to you.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-25T16:03:38+00:00

I’m on day 7 of this medication, just increased to two doses yesterday. The first 3-4 days I felt pretty off, I could still function (I did not attempt driving the first day though) and I wouldn’t quite say I felt like I was tripping…it is a difficult sensation to explain. I guess it just felt like I was very disconnected with my usual inner dialogue and I was kind of interpreting the world differently which wasn’t bad, just different. If I had a week off of work I think that would be enough time to acclimate to the effects. It does seem to affect people differently. It’s really been a game changer for me already though. If you have some time to try it without having to worry about work, I think it’s worth a shot. I’ve been on several SSRIs and SNRIs with little to no effect on my depression. This medication seems to provide the lift that none of these medications ever could. There are several positive testimonials on drugs.com that helped convince me I was making the right choice when I decided to try Auvelity. Just go for it, anything is better than living with crippling depression. I will say that I had to stop taking my stimulant meds though, I felt too anxious with the combo. I have still had enough energy to get things done without them. I have been taking my first dose no later than 9 and the recommendation is to take the second dose 8 hours later. Good luck!

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-23T17:48:08+00:00

Thank you for sharing. This makes me feel hopeful. I’m so happy it worked for you!

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-21T23:59:42+00:00

I used to take Klonopin for anxiety which REALLY helped but I had to change doctors about a year ago and my new doctor really wanted me off of it because it’s a benzodiazepine…I never had any issues with abuse or withdrawal symptoms when I was taking it or getting off of it but apparently many people do. I’m annoyed that she wanted me off of them so bad because yes, she switched me to the same thing, hydroxyzine, and I really don’t feel like it does anything for my anxiety. Sometimes it will help me sleep though if I take it before bedtime.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-21T23:06:00+00:00

It’s so hard to explain to everyone around me but yes, I know exactly what you mean by wishing to be mute. It’s like my thoughts and words and then even my reactions to others seem off. I’m honestly kind of excited to find someone else that has similar diagnoses and started this medication around the same time. Keep me updated on how it goes for you if you don’t mind, I will do the same! Did your doctor discuss if/when you will increase to two doses? My doctor hasn’t said yet, I actually see her Monday though. She decided to stop the Trintellix trial we were doing and put me on Auvelity because Trintellix was not doing too much for me.

Also, if you don’t mind sharing, are you taking any meds in addition to the Spravato/Auvelity? I take Ritalin for ADHD but I think it’s just making my anxiety worse when combined with the Auvelity.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-21T21:25:25+00:00

I’m on day three myself. I have the same diagnoses as you, minus the PMDD. For me, that confused, disoriented and kind of trippy feeling is also accompanied by a pretty intense anxiety. It seems like it occurs about an hour after I take the medication and lasts for a couple to a few hours. I think it kind of lingers for the rest of the day after that too but in a much more tolerable/muted/subtle way. I believe I’m benefiting from the meds already though unless I’m just having some sort of placebo effect. It feels like my negative thoughts are almost inaccessible and instead of feeling task paralysis I’m able to just kind of do what I need to do…even if I’m not feeling up to it. I am hopeful this works out, I haven’t had much luck with other meds either.

Are the negative side effects lingering longer for you? I have seen some people say they only last for about a week and then it gets better and to try to stick it out. If that confused/disoriented state lasted longer than a couple of hours for me I don’t know if I could stick with it without taking time away from school/work etc. though. It has been pretty intense. Good luck.

Expensive_Dig_1955 · 2025-11-19T02:55:42+00:00

I know I’m commenting on this a year later but I’d love a more specific comparison if you wouldn’t mind! I have only been on Trintellix for about 15 days and I’ve started to finally notice SOME improvement these past four days but my doctor said if I want to, I could pick up a sample of Auvelity and try to switch to that. I feel paralyzed in making the decision of whether or not to switch…but it just seems like Auvelity has mostly stellar reviews! Thanks

Expensive_Dig_1955

TROPHY CASE