Posted by bipolaremt on July 18, 2004, at 14:21:55
In reply to Symbyax for Bipolars:can someone share experience?, posted by Caper on May 16, 2004, at 0:42:47
> I may have mispelled the name of the med, but what it is is a combination of prozac and zyprexa (which is an anti-psychotic, but supposedly also used for mood stabilization). This is being praised as the first medication specifically FDA approved for Bipolars in a depressed phase. My questions and concerns are:
>
> 1. Is anyone taking it? If so could you tell me how it is working or not working for you? Side effects, how long it took to work (if it did), and anything else you'd like to share.
>
>
> 2. Has it caused weight gain? The patient info says 3% of placebo study participants reported weight gain, while 21% of those actually taking the med had weight gain, an average of 8 lbs. I think.
>
> 3. The info I've read says to use caution when giving it to a patient with a family history of diabetes because it can cause ketoacidosis even in people who were not diabetic before, and often once this happens the patient remains diabetic. I have an extremely strong family history of diabetes, both type I and II, [both of my siblings have been diabetic since childhood and my mom has Type II] so I have not yet started the medication. I fully expect to become diabetic someday, but I'd like to delay it as long as possible! I've gained a lot of weight (though it's coming off now) from my year of alcoholism and I know that weight gain alone increases my risk of developing diabetes. So, I'm afraid to take the medicine, even though I've heard from my doc that it has worked on other patients when nothing else did. Anyone have advice about this?
>
> I heard the medication works great but was then freaked out by the diabetes thing. Any thoughts? Especially from those who might be doctors or some sort or mental health professional?
>
> I'd greatly appreciate any info you may have.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Caper
>
Wondering if anyone else has an update on Symbyax?
I will be starting it this week.
poster:bipolaremt
thread:347314
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040714/msgs/367403.html