Does anyone have experience with Zyprexa?

[derbstyron]

This med was recently added to my drug cocktail and I was going to start taking it this weekend. Does anyone have any experience taking it? I am most curious about the following:

1) Why are/were you taking it and did it work for you?

It was added to my cocktail in an attempt to assist my other meds with mood stabilzation.

2) How long until it works?

Ive heard in some people as soon as two to three days.

3) Side Effect

Ive heard it knocks you totally out, makes you out of it when you are awake and causes weight gain (another primary reason I was put on it). Are these true? Anything else?

Thanks!!
:hi:

[FuzzySlippers]

1. I have a couple of family members who are on low doses.

One for OCD problems; another for age-related dementia. I'm not aware of any significant side effects. In the case of the dementia, the results have been astonishing. The OCD problems were of a ruminative thought type thing, and I think it's been effective there, too. How much will you be taking?

[derbstyron]

2. Im starting with 5mg

once a night. I have a *very* low body weight currently.

p.s. I have always loved your username. It's one of the few things that brings a smile to my face. :bounce:

[FuzzySlippers]

6. I'm happy you like my name. Thank you for that.

:) 5 mg. is a pretty low dose. My relative with dementia is on that amount, and I think the other person is on only 2.5. It can be a wonderfully effective drug. I hope it helps you. Unfortunately, it's criminally expensive

[Droopy]

3. I just did a little reading on it

It says that Zyprexa is an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania. I've never taken the drug before, but I do have some experience with antipsychotics.

The good news is that Zyprexa is one of the newer atypical antipsychotics. This means that it will likely have less side affects than traditional antipsychotics. It is possible that it will make you tired or put on weight, though. Since you aren't concerned about weight gain I'd say look for a couple of things. One is being tired. It didn't list that as a common side affect in the literature I read, but many antipsychotics have that affect. You should tell your doctor if this drug makes you abnormally tired. Nobody wants to spend their days feeling drained. If this happens to you I can refer to you another antipsychotic that has worked very well for me without making me tired. And then there is tardive diskenesia. This is caused by antipsychotics sometimes and involves involuntary movement in your face, arms and legs. This usually doesn't manifest itself until after you've been taking the drug for a while. If it happens to you, you have to contact your doctor and stop using the drug immediately. I'd say those are the two biggies to look for. Hopefully somebody who has some experience with the drug will come along and give you more insight.

[derbstyron]

4. Which one? I'm on

Lithium (believe it or not), Serequel, and Lamictal are all considered anti-psychotics

[Droopy]

5. I take Geodon, lithium and Wellbutrin

Geodon is the antipsychotic. It works wonderfully for me and I even take a high dose of it without any side affects beyond needing a little extra sleep at night. If Zyprexa doesn't work for you or if you have too many side affects then I would recommend giving Geodon a try.

A couple of things about Geodon. It is expensive. For a month's supply for me it costs around $300. My insurance picks up most of that, but I still wind up paying around $50 a month for it. Another thing is that if you have or have had heart troubles they recommend that you not take it. It was originally thought that Geodon could interfere with your heart's natural rhythm. It kept Geodon off the market for a while when further testing became necessary. It turns out that there is no solid evidence that Geodon causes an irregular heart rhythm, but just as a precaution they recommend that people with heart problems not take the drug.

[Kire]

7. I doubled my body weight with Zyprexa.

and yes, I was tired a lot

But, I mellowed out a lot. I wasn't raging mad all the time anymore.

I don't remember the answer to your second question, though.