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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:02:00
I'm new to this board so please excuse me if I've put this query in the wrong place.
Can anyone tell me what Zyprexa is supposed to do for me? (I'm unipolar, on Effexor, low dosage because of intolerance of side effects and even worse side effects from SSRIs).
My doctor has prescribed 2.5 mg at bedtime (to help with anxiety, she says but she says it should help with my depression as well).
I have terrible lethargy and anhedonia even with the Effexor. She seems to think Zyprexa will help with this. Some posts I've read say Zyprexa made them tired. Is this a stab in the dark?
I'm also a recovering bulimic and scared about what I"ve read here about Zyprexa making you so hungry.
Finally, how long does it take for the Zyprexa to kick in? My dosage is 2.5 mg.
Thanks anyone who can help.
Marsha
Posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:09:25
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:02:00
The above thread is mine. I should have made the subject more explanatory.
Marsha
Posted by Camille Dumont on August 23, 2004, at 21:40:34
In reply to Re: Zyprexa--I have questions can someone help? » owensmar, posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:09:25
Sometimes atypical antipsychotics are used as an "augmenting agent" to boost the effect of an antidepressant.
My doc prescribed me the same thing (though at a higher dosage ... but thats another story) while I was also taking Effexor. It will definately help you sleep and calm you down but you won't know the full effect until about a week as the meds build up in your system.
Zyprexa is known to make people gain weight ... like really badly. From what I understood it messes with your blood sugar and what not ... and some people gain alot on it ... but then again, not everybody.
My experience in terms of weight gain was really strange because I started having these gravings for chocolate even though I've always hated the stuff. Though I didn't take it long enough to gain anything significan.
Posted by woolav on August 24, 2004, at 7:44:47
In reply to Re: Zyprexa--I have questions can someone help?, posted by Camille Dumont on August 23, 2004, at 21:40:34
I had the same experiance with zyprexa. I had alot of weight gain and every bad side effect. Personally it was NOT for me. I would worry about taking it since you had an eating disorder...
Good Luck
S
Posted by Sad Panda on August 24, 2004, at 9:32:17
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:02:00
> I'm new to this board so please excuse me if I've put this query in the wrong place.
>
> Can anyone tell me what Zyprexa is supposed to do for me? (I'm unipolar, on Effexor, low dosage because of intolerance of side effects and even worse side effects from SSRIs).
>
> My doctor has prescribed 2.5 mg at bedtime (to help with anxiety, she says but she says it should help with my depression as well).
>
> I have terrible lethargy and anhedonia even with the Effexor. She seems to think Zyprexa will help with this. Some posts I've read say Zyprexa made them tired. Is this a stab in the dark?
>
> I'm also a recovering bulimic and scared about what I"ve read here about Zyprexa making you so hungry.
>
> Finally, how long does it take for the Zyprexa to kick in? My dosage is 2.5 mg.
>
> Thanks anyone who can help.
>
> Marsha
>
>Hi Marsha,
What do you find intolerable about SSRI's & Effexor? Zyprexa can help with some of the side effects, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Effexor. The increase in appetite isn't 100% certain to happen, you may not get it at all. The right doseage of an AD will fix ahedonia, but lethargy is a harder problem as it is also a side effect of taking AD's.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Charm on August 24, 2004, at 12:13:19
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:02:00
Hi Marsha -
Zyprexa is actually an a treatment for schizoprenia or bipolar mania.
My doc (it was actually my primary doc who was handling my AD's prior to sending me off to the psychiatrist) prescribed Zyprexa to as a booster to my Effexor. She started me off at 2.5 mg. She then graudally increased it until I was taking 15 mg a night. After about a week it started to kick in. For the first five to six weeks it was great. Then, unfortunately, it started really sedating me. I cut back from the 15 mg back to the lower end of the range. Unfortunately, I was unable to reconnect with the same spark that I had initially had with the Zyprexa booster.
I tapered off this and my pyschiatrist added Wellbutrin to help counteract my lethargy.
I did experience some weight gain on the Zyprexa, but that could have been because I was using higher doses than the 2.5mg.
You may want to give it a try just to see how it works for you. If you don't like it, or if it interferes with your recovery from bulimia, you should be able to discontinue it pretty easily at 2.5 mg. I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms at all when I discontinued it.
Good Luck and let us know how it works out for you!
Posted by owensmar on August 24, 2004, at 12:22:56
In reply to Re: Zyprexa » owensmar, posted by Sad Panda on August 24, 2004, at 9:32:17
Panda,
Here we go. Prozac and Zoloft: Terrible muscle tension in my neck and shoulders resulting in chronic pain, plus severe insomnia.
Celexa and Lexapro: the same muscle tension plus morning anxiety and with Lexapro, waking up about two hours too early.
Paxil: intense, horrible anxiety and restless legs.
Wellbutrin: anxiety and insomnia.
Effexor: can't cry, can't feel,lethargy/apathy/anhedonia and tinnitus.
And of course, all the usuals with all of them--dry mouth, no libido and difficulty or impossibility of having an orgasm.
These side effects occur even though I've never taken more than a half dosage of any of them. That's why I'm on Effexor 37.5mg. AT least it keeps me off the floor...
The straight SSRIs seem to be more activating for me but the muscle tension gets so bad in my neck that the pain is intolerable.
I feel like an experiment that just won't turn out right.
And then when you recite this litany of complaints to a new doc, you get the feeling they're thinking "oh great, a complainer who's never satisfied with anything."
And I have a history of substance abuse so I have to be real careful with the benzos for anxiety. I have to fight so hard against the urge to take a couple extra ones just to escape for a little while, you know?
This board is a godsend. Thanks for listening.
Marsha
Posted by Camille Dumont on August 24, 2004, at 21:30:27
In reply to Re: Zyprexa, posted by owensmar on August 24, 2004, at 12:22:56
If the Zyprexa doesn't work for you, there are other atipical antipsychotics that can also be prescribed as an "augmenting" agent .... Seroquel being one thats great for insomnia ... and much milder than the Zyprexa and causes less weight gain. For me Seroquel in conjunction with Effexor actually made me lose weight with very little side effects aside from the sedation and night sweats ... but when you are in deep dark pit of depression it can really help.
Posted by Tepiaca on August 25, 2004, at 23:12:33
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by owensmar on August 23, 2004, at 21:02:00
Hi
You should give a chance to Zyprexa .
It was the first medicine that help me after 2 years of trying everything for mi depression.It is true , when I was on it , I suffered from weight gain , It is one of the principal side efects of this drug .
I also started on 2.5mg and I felt my first improvement after a week more or less
Good luck !
Tep
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