Posted by ronaldo on October 29, 2006, at 7:55:53
Today I am really in a positive mood - a bit of a rarity for me. It is the end of daylight saving time in the UK today. I don't think that has anything to do with it. The clocks here SPRING forward and FALL back by one hour.
I have been on 5 mg Olanzapine for nearly four years. I tapered down to 0 mg just over a month ago. I blamed it for my flat affect. Insomnia forced me to go back on it at 10 mg two weeks ago. My sleep is improving - I manage to get 6 or more hours every night. My reading tells me that Olanzapine increases dopamine levels with resultant relief of depression. Is this right? My dx is manic depression in remission. So says my ex pdoc. I think my 10 mg Olanzapine is starting to kick in. Is this true? Can it take two weeks to 'bed in'? I like the way I feel on the 10 mg.
My alternative dx is schizo-affective disorder. I only experience the negative symptoms of schizophrenia: social withdrawal, lack of energy, apathy, and reduced ability to express emotion. It is still 'early days' I know but I feel like the 10 mg Olanz. is helping these symptoms.
My current pdoc tried me on 50 mg Seroquel which did not work for me despite trying it for 24 days at various dosages between 6.25 (approx.); 12.5; 25; 50; 75; 100 mg. Perhaps I did not persevere long enough on one particular dosage? I have been off the Seroquel for 15 days. I don't think I will try it again, unless my pdoc can convince me that it takes 2 weeks on a constant dosage to 'bed in' before any benefit becomes apparent. I did not really like the Seroquel. Side effects were a stuffy nose and anxiety when I was withdrawing from it.
My opinion of Olanzapine has undergone a reversal. I now think it is something that can help me. I am now prepared to take it 'for ever'. Can anyone please tell me how it works in the brain and on the synapses? Does it block the receptors? Does it inhibit re-uptake? I would be very grateful for some indicators from you psycho-pharmacological boffins out there... Does anyone out there have an Olanzapine success story to share with me? Or else has anybody got a cautionary tale to tell?
I will be really grateful for anything anybody can share with me.
Thanks
...Alan
poster:ronaldo
thread:698653
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061028/msgs/698653.html