Anyone been on Zyprexa?

[Called2Grace]

Hi,

I have just been to my doctor today and he is considering putting me on zyprexa, I would really like to hear others experiences with it. I have heard that it is sedating, which will be nice to get some sleep and have a break from the activity and noise in my head.....

 

[lvbeads]

Hi!
I took Zyprexa for some time. Yes, I had to change to take it at bedtime, since it made me sleepy. But I got used to it very quickly and had no trouble getting up in the morning. I did gain some weight, however, so my doc switched me to Abilify which I like a lot better. Zyprexa is a very good med, in my opinion, if you can keep your hand out of the cookie jar. I just flat-out ate too much when on it.

God bless...

 

[allmightqueen1984]

im on lamictal and abiliby......

 

[Called2Grace]

Well I am just about to join a gym, it is part of my looking after myself plan....
I have a tendency to burn the candle at both ends so I'm working on that.

I have upped my dose of sodium valproate of an evening.
He also prescribed 5mg of valium for a muscle cramp and that combined with the valproate knocked me out cold last night! I think maybe half a tablet of the valium next time....

 

[Jeshu]

Hi

I've been on Zyprexa. 20 mg, No good, some weight gain, feeling very hollow and empty inside. Didn't stop the voices but made it harder to deal with. Didn't notice any improvement in my sleep.

You could try Abilify - though weight gain is still likely - it is an excellent drug to calm the head down. Stop voices and return to normal thinking processes. Very good for sleeping - too tired at times.

However drugs works different with each person. You may gain benefit were it didn't work for me or the other way around. So give them a try I say.

Watch your weight whatever anti-psychotic you go on.


Gerry

 

[Called2Grace]

Well he wanted to put me on serequel I think that is what it is called, but it needs to be availble for the treatment for bipolar....otherwise I have to pay full price.

 

[firechild]

When I was manic, Zyprexa got me down fast, but didn't make me depressed. Abilify threw me to the depths of depression, and risperdal made me so dizzy and light-headed i couldn't stand up and thought i would vomit.

I was never on zyprexa long-term, but the only side-effect i had was a little dizzyiness, and it did work well. I don't know about using it for maintenence treatment, but for an acute manic episode, it was good for me.

good luck

FC

 

[lvbeads]

Seroquel turned me into a personality-less zombie who couldn't be happy (or anything else for that matter) I have heard many, many similar reports, so please be careful with that one. I have met one person that has no problem with it whatsoever, so it's different for everyone. Like I said, Abilify is great for me, no weight gain or tiredness, but you can see above, others had different responses. The key is to work with your doc to find the perfect med combo for you. Keep going back until you feel good enough, otherwise you'll end up quitting the meds and that's not good!

 

[DoubtingThomas29]

I lost forty five pounds while taking Zyprexa over the course of a year. I did a lot of running, and it ended up hurting my lower back because I weighed liked two hundred seventy pounds while running. I could not control what I was eating I just ate whatever only controlling it during certain weeks just to let it go the next week.

I just loved to eat while taking Zyprexa, now I still like to eat, but I go to the grocery store to get my food now instead of going to expensive restaurants.

Also zyprexa made me sleepy but not as sleepy as seroquel. I take Geodon now and I am very happy with that drug, also I take Depakote and Lexapro.

 

[cyberlizard]

as a neuroleptic is pretty good. Generally controls psychotic symptoms pretty well.

In the UK, maxed licensed dose is 20mg per day. In most people I have looked after on our ward, it does tend to sedate at first but this does tend to wear off after about a fortnight.

The worst side effect on all counts is that it makes you peckish, and so weight gain can be problematic.

Ely-Lilly who make the drug produce a work book for this very problem and if you email them I am sure they would send you one.

Steve

p.s. For everyone, can you please write your drugs by their generic rather than trade name, e.g. Olanzapine NOT Zyprexa. Makes it so much easier as certain tablets come with multiple trade names.