![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9 to 33 of 61. Go back in thread:
Posted by Emily Silverman on April 24, 1999, at 19:14:22
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by Elizabeth on April 20, 1999, at 3:14:42
ZYPREXA, or DAMNED IF YOU DO, AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T
Hi Elizabeth,Nancy and Katie, and Justin too, whose post I couldn't retrieve on my computer...
Nice to hear fom some people who like music. Perhaps Elizabeth, you could take a very low dose of an A.D., and then you could play and sing? I find that I can't play when I'm depressed, but I can play when I'm psychotic. Fortunately, I'm seldom depressed. Hallucinations don't have an adverse effect on playing, for me. I had a disconcerting relapse into psychosis last week, so I popped a few of my handy pills, and they seemed sufficient.It's nice to hear from people who aren't disapproving of medication 'non-compliance'. BTW, has anyone noticed an insidious but steady weight gain with their meds? Or, at the risk of being vulgar, a complete absence of physical desire? Just two more reasons why I don't feel like swallowing any more pills than absolutely neccessary. I gained fifteen whole pounds in just five months, and who wants to be ugly, linguistically dopey, and completely mediocre at their instrument? Sorry, don't mean to rant. On a more useful note, has anyone tried autogenics exercises? I have used them to drag myself out of impending psychoses several times, and it seems to help, especially when one feels one's body dissipating into a million little points to be strewn across the universe. If anyone wants to discus this, please post a thread, because I adore to discuss this sort of thing.****************************
Posted by scott on April 28, 1999, at 15:06:35
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by Elizabeth on April 20, 1999, at 3:14:42
Has anyone been using zyprexa for anxiety or insomnia? I was just put on Zyprexa 2 days ago and was wondering how long it takes to "kick in".
Posted by Kelly on April 28, 1999, at 20:57:12
In reply to zyprexa, posted by scott on April 28, 1999, at 15:06:35
> Has anyone been using zyprexa for anxiety or insomnia? I was just put on Zyprexa 2 days ago and was wondering how long it takes to "kick in".
I just started taking Zyprexa about 10 days ago, it took about 2 days to get sleep. I only take 2.5MG at night before bedtime. It leveled me out right away on the anxiety though. I also take 20MG a day of Celexa. The combo seems to help, I'm feeling a lot more in control of my mood and I think a lot more "normal." I paint for a living and havn't done any work yet this week, but the people around me think I seem a lot more like my "old" self. I guess that would be the person who doesn't get up at 3am and paint all night, then work all day and disapear on occasion to do God know's what. I guess I'll have to be content with becoming "boring" and average.
Posted by Louise on April 30, 1999, at 0:23:46
In reply to Re: zyprexa, posted by Kelly on April 28, 1999, at 20:57:12
> >I was prescribed Zyprexa in Sth Africa last year and after returing to Australia was given it again. I was on 10mg a day 5mg morning & 5mg night. It made my life even worse than it worse. I was so tired and needed at least 14hours a night sleep. I lost my creativity and motivation for anything. I felt depressed and when I gained pounds and pounds I decided to give them away. I haven't taken them for about 10 months now and am working again and have myself back. I would not take this medication again.
Posted by pamela foote on August 25, 2000, at 20:54:01
In reply to just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by dragon on August 14, 1998, at 20:52:13
just started taking zyprexa about 5 days ago. does smoking have any adverse interaction with zyprexa? thanks,
pam
Posted by Sunnely on August 25, 2000, at 22:51:30
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by pamela foote on August 25, 2000, at 20:54:01
> just started taking zyprexa about 5 days ago. does smoking have any adverse interaction with zyprexa? thanks,
>
> pamHi Pam,
Yes, cigarette smoking can decrease the effect of Zyprexa (olanzapine), by way of "pharmacokinetic" interaction.
FYI, Zyprexa is primarily metabolized by the liver enzyme called CYP1A2. (Minor roles played by CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP2D6, FMO3.) Cigarette smoking induces or stimulates the action CYP1A2. This in turn hastens the metabolism of Zyprexa, leading to a decrease in its blood level, and eventual loss of its effectiveness.
As cigarette smoking can hasten the metabolism, decrease the blood level, and loss of effectiveness of Zyprexa, abrupt cessation of smoking, after a steady-state blood level of Zyprexa has been attained, can lead to decreased metabolism of Zyprexa, leading to increased blood level and side effects.
Other drugs that induce or stimulate the action of this liver enzyme (CYP1A2) and lead to decreased blood level of Zyprexa include carbamazepine (Tegretol), an anti-epileptic and mood stabilizer, and rifampin (Rifadin), an anti-TB medication, and omeprazole (Prilosec) for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Believe it or not, certain food and vegetables can also induce the action of CYP1A2, leading to decresed blood level of Zyprexa, and loss of its effectiveness. These include charcoal-broiled foods and cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts).
As there are "inducers" of CYP1A2, there are also "inhibitors" of this liver enzyme. Drugs that inhibit the action of this enzyme have the potential to decrease the metabolism of Zyprexa leading to increase in its blood level and side effects. These drugs include cimetidine (Tagamet), ciprofloxaxin (Cipro) an antibiotic, fluvoxamine (Luvox) an antidepressant, and tacrine (Cognex) for Alzheimer's disease.
JMHO (Just my humble opinion).
Posted by Rapunzel on August 27, 2000, at 4:50:54
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by Sunnely on August 25, 2000, at 22:51:30
Sunnely,
You sure seem to know a lot about this medication. Can you give me any info about this inquiry? I have recently been involved in a study of Zyprexa for the behavioral disorder, trichotillomania.(hair pulling) The dosage that seemed to work best for the trich was 7.5mg, although the study patients were given up to 10mg. I was on the medication for three months. At the end of the study I was weaned off the drug and almost immediately fell into a suicidal depression. I have never suffered from depression before in my life, and there were no other environmental factors to cause this. I can only conclude that the depression stemmed from my withdrawal from the Zyprexa. I am now on 20mg of Celexa to combat the depression - about which I am not happy, but better the Celexa than suicide! Have you or anyone else reading this heard of or experienced like symptoms? I am desperate for info, as the study dr. is treating my depression and denies that it could stem from ceasing the Zyprexa. If I can find anecdotal info that parallels my experience, she will have to take me seriously.Thanks!
Rapunzel
Posted by Craig on August 28, 2000, at 1:15:02
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam » Sunnely, posted by Rapunzel on August 27, 2000, at 4:50:54
Just out of curiousity, why didn't the doctor let you resume taking Zyprexa instead of starting you on Celexa? If you begin taking Zyprexa again and your depression lifts, that ought to be enough proof.
*************************************************
> Sunnely,
> You sure seem to know a lot about this medication. Can you give me any info about this inquiry? I have recently been involved in a study of Zyprexa for the behavioral disorder, trichotillomania.(hair pulling) The dosage that seemed to work best for the trich was 7.5mg, although the study patients were given up to 10mg. I was on the medication for three months. At the end of the study I was weaned off the drug and almost immediately fell into a suicidal depression. I have never suffered from depression before in my life, and there were no other environmental factors to cause this. I can only conclude that the depression stemmed from my withdrawal from the Zyprexa. I am now on 20mg of Celexa to combat the depression - about which I am not happy, but better the Celexa than suicide! Have you or anyone else reading this heard of or experienced like symptoms? I am desperate for info, as the study dr. is treating my depression and denies that it could stem from ceasing the Zyprexa. If I can find anecdotal info that parallels my experience, she will have to take me seriously.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rapunzel
Posted by slachem on August 28, 2000, at 20:36:21
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam » Sunnely, posted by Rapunzel on August 27, 2000, at 4:50:54
> Sunnely,
> You sure seem to know a lot about this medication. Can you give me any info about this inquiry? I have recently been involved in a study of Zyprexa for the behavioral disorder, trichotillomania.(hair pulling) The dosage that seemed to work best for the trich was 7.5mg, although the study patients were given up to 10mg. I was on the medication for three months. At the end of the study I was weaned off the drug and almost immediately fell into a suicidal depression. I have never suffered from depression before in my life, and there were no other environmental factors to cause this. I can only conclude that the depression stemmed from my withdrawal from the Zyprexa. I am now on 20mg of Celexa to combat the depression - about which I am not happy, but better the Celexa than suicide! Have you or anyone else reading this heard of or experienced like symptoms? I am desperate for info, as the study dr. is treating my depression and denies that it could stem from ceasing the Zyprexa. If I can find anecdotal info that parallels my experience, she will have to take me seriously.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rapunzel
i am on 5 mg zyprexa and on the occasions when i
have tried to quit it has been pure hell. all i
wanted to do was cry and rehash old memories. to
remedy the situation only required me to resume the
zyprexa and in a couple of days things would be ok.
Posted by Rapunzel on September 1, 2000, at 6:48:29
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by slachem on August 28, 2000, at 20:36:21
Dear Craig and slachem,
Thanks for replying. I think the P-dr. running the study didn't put me back on the zyprexa for two reasons: a)it would mess up her study data (like having a suicidal patient wouldn't?) and b) since she doesn't believe it IS the zyprexa causing my depression, why even go there? I, myself, did not realize that what I was experiencing was withdrwal symptoms until I saw 20/20 last Friday and they did a piece on Paxil withdrawal. The symptoms weren't exactly like mine, but close enough that I could see a corrolation and determine that that is what I have been experiencing.
The Celexa did do the trick of bringing me sufficiently out of the depression to the extent that I am no longer suicidal. P-dr. is out of town until mid-Sept. and I want to submit my anecdotal evidence at my next appt. Also, I want to try to wean off the Celexa when she returns.
Slachem: for what reason are you taking Zyprexa?
Posted by TK on October 11, 2000, at 22:36:35
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and oxazepam, posted by Rapunzel on September 1, 2000, at 6:48:29
My MD started me on Zyprexa x5 days ago. I am also on Ativan daily as needed and also Wellbutrin 2x a day. I just came off Effexor and Seroquel following a suicidal incident. I am being treated for depression. I feel agitated and irritable then cry for no reason. Has anyone had this side effect w/Zyprexa? Has anyone had positive experiences w/this new drug?
Posted by Rapunzel on October 13, 2000, at 23:29:13
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by TK on October 11, 2000, at 22:36:35
> My MD started me on Zyprexa x5 days ago. I am also on Ativan daily as needed and also Wellbutrin 2x a day. I just came off Effexor and Seroquel following a suicidal incident. I am being treated for depression. I feel agitated and irritable then cry for no reason. Has anyone had this side effect w/Zyprexa? Has anyone had positive experiences w/this new drug?
TK - Yes, your irritability and agitation could be from the zyprexa. I did not have any problems while I was on zyprexa, but one of my fellow study patients did. She described her symptoms as being like extremely severe PMS, but she did not find these side-effects too debilitating and did not drop out of the study. All the study patients were on 7.5mg.
As my original post stated, I was involved in a drug study of zyprexa's effects on trichotillomania, an illness not related to depression, psychosis, or schizophrenia - and my reactions may differ significantly from those who do have those illnesses. My problems with depression did not surface until I stopped zyprexa. While on the medication, the only significant side-effects I experienced were extreme drowsiness in the morning and weight gain, although I did have extreme agitation(mental and physical) if i missed a dose. I am now convinced that my depressive episode was related to the extremely short half-life of the drug and a too short weaning period. According to the dr. running the study, I am the ONLY person out of the millions to have taken this med to experience this complication. And my response is: and how many of those millions were taking it to combat trichotillomania?
I can't help wondering why your dr. prescribed zyprexa for depression. My study dr. says that it has a very slight function as an SSRI, but I have never heard of it being prescribed strictly for depression. Do you have other secondary problems that he/she might be trying to combat?
Good luck combating your depression. It is truly the worst thing I have ever experienced. Sorry this was so long, but I try to be thorough!
Posted by JohnL on October 14, 2000, at 5:04:07
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by Rapunzel on October 13, 2000, at 23:29:13
> > My MD started me on Zyprexa x5 days ago. I am also on Ativan daily as needed and also Wellbutrin 2x a day. I just came off Effexor and Seroquel following a suicidal incident. I am being treated for depression. I feel agitated and irritable then cry for no reason. Has anyone had this side effect w/Zyprexa? Has anyone had positive experiences w/this new drug?
Rapunzel,
I'm sorry you are having this hard time. In my experience nothing is more disheartening than feeling bad to begin with, and then feeling worse with a new medication trial.Doctors are so different. Some will take you immediately off a medication when it has a bad reaction right away at the start. Others will say to give it time. I don't know what your doctor will say. Mine never allowed a trial to continue if the initial reactions were bad. To him it merely indicated that the medication was not the right one to target whatever the underlying problem is. Or it may be that for some reason your body just rejects the molecule of that medication. A poor match biochemically. Certainly you could adjust to the medication, given time, and things could smooth out. That might, or might not, happen.
In your shoes, I have tried three different strategies:
1) Stop the medication immediately, get back to the doctor, decide on some other medication instead.
2) Stop the medication for about a week, plus or minus, until you stabilize again. Then retry the medication a second time. If your next doctor appointment is a month away or so, then you have time to try this. Sometimes I've found the body is much more accepting of a medication the second time around. But, if you responded poorly again, then you would know for a fact the medication is at fault. The 'challenge' test. Challenge the medication through stop and go trials. If there's a consistent pattern, then there's no doubt.
3) Continue the medication hoping for it to smooth out. You could lower the dose right away to 2.5mg to help. Just cut the tablet as needed with a knife for custom dosing.I believe each patient has a unique underlying chemistry. To target that chemistry, medications will either be inferior or superior. Superior ones are characterized by good response fairly rapidly and few side effects. Inferior ones are characterized by poor, or no, response, and take longer to work, if they work at all, and are often accompanied by intolerable side effects or worsening of mood. This is because they are not correcting the problem directly, but rather causing a domino effect of chain reactions that may or may not eventually influence the problem.
There is a ton of anecdotal evidence right now tha Zyprexa can work well in treating depression, either alone or as an add-on. It has been approved for treating manic-depression. But the fact that you feel so bad so quickly after starting it just hints to me that it is all wrong for your unique chemistry.
John
Posted by TK on October 14, 2000, at 10:15:05
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by JohnL on October 14, 2000, at 5:04:07
Thanks to John and Rapunzel for the feedback. I just saw my MD yesterday and explained my probs w/mood swings/irritability and tiredness in the AM. He added Paxil 20mgs 1x a day and clorazepam(sp?) and also increased my zyprexa from 2.5mgs at nite to 5mgs to be taken around 6pm instead of bedtime. So I am now on the above as welll as the former wellbutrin 2x a day and Ativan as needed to sleep. Pardon the expression but this "sucks". I feel like a chem experiment.I trust my MD and I know he is trying but funny how his psych specialty is treating depression pharmaceutically. I'm ready to give up on the meds but he says that is what will "save me". Thanks for your info as this is all new to me and of course I just listen to my MD. T
Posted by CremyWheat on June 2, 2001, at 22:09:05
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa » JohnL, posted by TK on October 14, 2000, at 10:15:05
My wife, who is a deaf mother of a two-year old daughter, recently engaged in a seriously depressional activity. When talking to the dr. , she told him she sometimes feels like she could kill herself. I never knew she was so depressed; she kept it well-hid, and I must have been wearing my "Husband Goggles". Long story short, they gave her 2.5 zyprexa and 15mg of remeron (one for depression, the other to keep her stable until the remeron kicks in good). She started last night.
My observations were that she slept much better last night, and she seems more "upbeat" today. Is this going to be the "norm", or will she have ups and downs with these med's? It seems as though Psych's don't like to discuss the possibilities and side effects of the med's they prescribe, do they? Maybe you guys can enlighten me, since you know first hand the effects.
Also, how strong are these in comparison to klonopin? I take 2mg of that every night for incurable insomnia. Is it in any way similar? Stronger / Weaker than the others? For anyone wondering about it's affect on Insomnia-- It works okay... I sleep fine, but I have to take it early in the evening, a few hours before bedtime, or I will NOT wake up the next morning for work!!! Once it kicks in, it goes until it's finished.
Please Help us?
Praise be to those who help those in need, and, if you need to talk to ANYONE, or need us to mention you in our prayers, feel free to holler. There's strength in numbers, and God DOES answer prayers!
I can be reached at cwheat01@bellsouth.net
Thanks,
CremyWheat
Posted by rapunzel31@juno.com on June 3, 2001, at 11:25:38
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by CremyWheat on June 2, 2001, at 22:09:05
Sorry Wheat, I don't know anything about the use of zyprexa for depression. The only thing I can tell you is that if your wife's dr wants to take her off of the zyprexa, he should give her a nice long weaning time. Zyprexa has a very short halflife, which means that it leaves the body quickly, which can cause biochemistry problems and withdrawal symptoms. That is what happened to me - never had depression before taking zyprexa and haven't had any since my recovery from my bad withdrawal from this drug.
Coincidentally, my son was only two when this happened to me, and we put him in nursery school during my illness. Not having the responsibility of his care 24 hrs a day was also a help in my recovery. Maybe a similar action would help your wife. It's not for nothing that they call this age the "terrible twos!" In my case it turned out quite well, as my son's teacher recognized that he has a learning disability and he is now being treated for it and will probably never suffer a learning delay because of our prompt action. If I hadn't gotten sick, we probably wouldn't have noticed his problems until he started kindergarten.
Good luck to you and your wife. Depression is the hardest thing I have ever gone through, and I wouldn't wish those feelings on my worst enemy. My prayers are with you.
Rapunzel
Posted by froggy on June 5, 2001, at 5:12:04
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa » CremyWheat, posted by rapunzel31@juno.com on June 3, 2001, at 11:25:38
> Sorry Wheat, I don't know anything about the use of zyprexa for depression. The only thing I can tell you is that if your wife's dr wants to take her off of the zyprexa, he should give her a nice long weaning time. Zyprexa has a very short halflife, which means that it leaves the body quickly, which can cause biochemistry problems and withdrawal symptoms. That is what happened to me - never had depression before taking zyprexa and haven't had any since my recovery from my bad withdrawal from this drug.
> Coincidentally, my son was only two when this happened to me, and we put him in nursery school during my illness. Not having the responsibility of his care 24 hrs a day was also a help in my recovery. Maybe a similar action would help your wife. It's not for nothing that they call this age the "terrible twos!" In my case it turned out quite well, as my son's teacher recognized that he has a learning disability and he is now being treated for it and will probably never suffer a learning delay because of our prompt action. If I hadn't gotten sick, we probably wouldn't have noticed his problems until he started kindergarten.
> Good luck to you and your wife. Depression is the hardest thing I have ever gone through, and I wouldn't wish those feelings on my worst enemy. My prayers are with you.
> Rapunzel> Wheat I have been on 5mg's Zyprexa for 10 months and the intent is to help ctrl mood swings. The doctor also put me on Remeron 30mg. These two together did wonders for me! I was able to sleep and had more of a desire for daily activities.
>However, I stopped taking the Remeron due to all the side effects. They have now put me on Effexor Xr. Now I do not sleep well at all. I too have chronic sleep problems.
Hope this helps.
Posted by CremyWheat on June 7, 2001, at 22:20:43
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by froggy on June 5, 2001, at 5:12:04
> > Sorry Wheat, I don't know anything about the use of zyprexa for depression. The only thing I can tell you is that if your wife's dr wants to take her off of the zyprexa, he should give her a nice long weaning time. Zyprexa has a very short halflife, which means that it leaves the body quickly, which can cause biochemistry problems and withdrawal symptoms. That is what happened to me - never had depression before taking zyprexa and haven't had any since my recovery from my bad withdrawal from this drug.
> > Coincidentally, my son was only two when this happened to me, and we put him in nursery school during my illness. Not having the responsibility of his care 24 hrs a day was also a help in my recovery. Maybe a similar action would help your wife. It's not for nothing that they call this age the "terrible twos!" In my case it turned out quite well, as my son's teacher recognized that he has a learning disability and he is now being treated for it and will probably never suffer a learning delay because of our prompt action. If I hadn't gotten sick, we probably wouldn't have noticed his problems until he started kindergarten.
> > Good luck to you and your wife. Depression is the hardest thing I have ever gone through, and I wouldn't wish those feelings on my worst enemy. My prayers are with you.
> > Rapunzel
> > Wheat I have been on 5mg's Zyprexa for 10 months and the intent is to help ctrl mood swings. The doctor also put me on Remeron 30mg. These two together did wonders for me! I was able to sleep and had more of a desire for daily activities.
> >However, I stopped taking the Remeron due to all the side effects. They have now put me on Effexor Xr. Now I do not sleep well at all. I too have chronic sleep problems.
> Hope this helps.Froggy and Rapunzel.. Thanks so much for the input!!! It's now day 6, and the change is already a noticeable one!!! she sleeps VERY well; and she never ate much before, but She has a very healthy appetite now!!! Froggy, thanks for the info on effexor, and Rapunzel, thanks for the suggestions about a gradual reduction later on-- These are very well-needed tips. If ever I can offer anything in return, or you ever need my prayers, just speak... you have a lifelong friend in me!
Chuck
Posted by Thara on June 29, 2001, at 0:20:32
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa , posted by CremyWheat on June 7, 2001, at 22:20:43
I just started effexor xr (75mg) and zyprexa
(2.5 mg), 1 week ago. Has anyone taken these in combination? I am taking them for depression and post traumatic stress. I want to sleep a lot and have blurry vision but I am not sad or emotional anymore. It has worked better than any other antideppressants have (zoloft, prozac, paxxil, celexa) but I do not want to feel this drowsy for much longer since I have 2 children and in grad school plus work. Will these feelings go away? What is working here? And will I gain weight? Thanks to anyone for info!!!!!!!
Posted by Zo on June 29, 2001, at 1:08:17
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion, posted by Thara on June 29, 2001, at 0:20:32
Good lord, add some Axid! Morning and night. . .They just came out with study purporting to cut the weight gain, using only Axid (OTC antiacid.)
No weight gain from Effexor, but Zyprexa? Don't ask!
Zo
Posted by ttt on November 10, 2001, at 16:53:09
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion » Thara, posted by Zo on June 29, 2001, at 1:08:17
Has anyone else suffer insomnia when stopping zyprexa?
If yes, how you do cure insomnia?
Posted by rapunzel on November 10, 2001, at 17:59:50
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion, posted by ttt on November 10, 2001, at 16:53:09
> Has anyone else suffer insomnia when stopping zyprexa?
> If yes, how you do cure insomnia?
Yes!! I suffered terrible insomnia, in addition to the suididal depression and almost complete inability to eat while I was withdrawing from this drug. Many doctors seem not to know that Zyprexa should have a long weaning off period to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The best way to combat withdrawal is to get back on the drug and then wean off more slowly. The worse your withdrawal, the slower you should take it. If for some reason you are unable to go back to taking zyprexa, you could ask your doctor for an innocuous med to help you sleep. My quack doc, who did not believe that I was suffering from withdrawal, did not put me back on zyprexa but instead prescribed a multitude of other drugs. For insomnia, she prescribed Trazadone - a very, very mild SSRI that is prescribed more as a sleep aide than as an anti-depressent. Or you could try taking an antihistimine at night before going to bed. One that I am on now (for allergies, not sleep) that seems to be very soporific is hydroxyzine. Both trazadone and hydroxyzine are very very cheap.
Hope this helps. Please let me know how you are doing.
Rapunzel
Posted by ttt on November 11, 2001, at 11:31:58
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion » ttt, posted by rapunzel on November 10, 2001, at 17:59:50
> > Has anyone else suffer insomnia when stopping zyprexa?
> > If yes, how you do cure insomnia?
> Yes!! I suffered terrible insomnia, in addition to the suididal depression and almost complete inability to eat while I was withdrawing from this drug. Many doctors seem not to know that Zyprexa should have a long weaning off period to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The best way to combat withdrawal is to get back on the drug and then wean off more slowly. The worse your withdrawal, the slower you should take it. If for some reason you are unable to go back to taking zyprexa, you could ask your doctor for an innocuous med to help you sleep. My quack doc, who did not believe that I was suffering from withdrawal, did not put me back on zyprexa but instead prescribed a multitude of other drugs. For insomnia, she prescribed Trazadone - a very, very mild SSRI that is prescribed more as a sleep aide than as an anti-depressent. Or you could try taking an antihistimine at night before going to bed. One that I am on now (for allergies, not sleep) that seems to be very soporific is hydroxyzine. Both trazadone and hydroxyzine are very very cheap.
> Hope this helps. Please let me know how you are doing.
> RapunzelRapunzel,
Thanks for reply, that was very helpful.
It has been two months now. The only problem I have now is insomnia and some problems due to insomnia. I think I have survived the withdrawal. I am so dreadful of Zyprexa now.
I think Trazodone also has the same terrible withdrawal problem.
I am thingking about trying some herbal sleeping pills and see if I can get some sleep or not. So far notthing works. But there is still a couple more stronger types. If the herbal sleeping pills work, I do not have to take any psychosis med.Do you think if I go back to Zyprexa and weening it of slowly, I may not have insomnia afterward?
Has anyone successfully weened off Zyprexa slowly without suffering from insomnia?
Posted by rapunzel on November 13, 2001, at 1:42:05
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion, posted by ttt on November 11, 2001, at 11:31:58
Sorry, I don't know about herbal sleep-aides, and I don't know first hand about anyone else's experience in weaning off slowly. According to medical literature on SSRI withdrawal, the way you avoid withdrawal symptoms is to wean off slowly. Rule of thumb is that the shorter the half-life of the med, the longer you take weaning off. If I remember correctly, zyprexa has a half-life of about 72 hrs, about the same as Paxil, which is well documented often to have difficult withdrawals. Some people are so sensitive to Paxil that they have to take MONTHS to wean off, and they have to do so one milligram at a time! Zyprexa and Paxil are not classified as the same sort of drugs, but my withdrawal symptoms from zyprexa were almost item for item the same as that of Paxil withdrawal, so I have drawn my own conclusions about the parallels between the two meds.
Considering that you have been off the zyprexa for two months, and zyprexa is SO bloody expensive, I don't know if going back on the med and then weaning off more slowly would still help you. I guess it depends on how desperate you are for sleep. I haven't heard about Trazadone being hard to get off of. I took one 50mg pill a night for about 2 months, and I think I stopped it cold turkey, (I don't remember my withdrawal schedule for that med) but I do know that I didn't have any side effects. At the time that I stopped the Trazadone, I was still taking a low dose of Celexa. I don't know if that kept me from having a withdrawal from the Trazadone. I didn't know until later that Trazadone is an SSRI. When it was prescribed, I thought it was just a sleeping pill. I wasn't in any shape to participate much in my own care and I just took what my doctor told me to take, no questions asked. When I started to feel better and had the energy to research my situation is when I found out that it is an SSRI. I then decided to stop all my meds. (I had never had any mental problems before this study, and I haven't had any since my recovery.) I am completely p-med free for over a year.
Everyone I know who has taken zyprexa was in the same study I was in, and we were only given 4 days to get off of it. Of the 17 people in the study, I was the only one to "bottom out" after the study. BTW, the study was to see the effects of zyprexa on an impulse control disorder, not a psychiatric disorder, so we were all quite surprised at my bad reaction. According to the study doc and Ely-Lilly, I am the ONLY person who has ever had a bad withdrawal from this drug. Well, I may have been the first, but I know I won't be the last. I am now looking for other withdrawal victims of this drug. I would be quite interested to know how much you were taking, how long you were given to get off this med, and all of your withdrawal symptoms and how long they have lasted.
Thanks in advance for your replies, and I hope you have gotten some sleep!
Rapunzel
Posted by Pamela Lynn on November 13, 2001, at 3:38:10
In reply to Re: just started zyprexa and effexor for depresion, posted by Thara on June 29, 2001, at 0:20:32
> I just started effexor xr (75mg) and zyprexa
> (2.5 mg), 1 week ago. Has anyone taken these in combination? I am taking them for depression and post traumatic stress. I want to sleep a lot and have blurry vision but I am not sad or emotional anymore. It has worked better than any other antideppressants have (zoloft, prozac, paxxil, celexa) but I do not want to feel this drowsy for much longer since I have 2 children and in grad school plus work. Will these feelings go away? What is working here? And will I gain weight? Thanks to anyone for info!!!!!!!
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >I DO take the Effexor...3 X daily @75mg doses WITH Zyprexa. I too in the beginning of taking the Zyprexa was feeling "heavy, and listless and tired"....I told my psychiatrist about this and she had me 'break the pills in half" (use a butter knife), so that the doses were smaller, but still working. WOWIE...no more extreme fatigue and still feel good on the combination of the meds. Effexor and Zyprexa. Effexor REALLY helps my moods and depression while the Zyprexa keeps me a bit more 'stable' and less psychotic.
It IS working for me. I hope you experience some better results soon...ask your doc. about breaking the Zyprexa in half, see if that works for you.....email me if you like....P.L.
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