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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Denise528 on November 14, 2002, at 9:01:04
Hi,
Zyprexa has been a life saver for me, whenever I get really down, disorientated and suicidal I take a 10mg Zyprexa tablet and it brings me back to life and to my senses. The effects of the Zyprexa seem to last for about 6 days, I have more motivation and actually feel ok.
I thought the half life was 36 hours.
This drug has been the only drug to help me this time round, none of the SSRIs or Remeron have helped and I'm really scared that one day the Zyprexa will stop working.Any ideas would be appreciated.
Denise
Posted by xjs7 on November 14, 2002, at 12:25:30
In reply to Zyprexa - Why does this happen, any ideas?, posted by Denise528 on November 14, 2002, at 9:01:04
Hi Denise,
Since the Zyprexa really helps you when you take it on as-needed basis, why don't you take it on a daily basis? I have been suicidal at times and I know how dangerous that state of mind was for me. Having thoughts of suicide is very, very serious and should be treated aggressively.
Your dose of Zyprexa is pretty high--within the range used for psychosis. Do you have psychotic symptoms during your "down" periods? What do you mean by disorientated?
Psychiatric drugs like Zyprexa do not work for mental symptoms at exactly the same time as the half-life might indicate. For psychosis, antipsychotics often take months to fully work. I have been taking an antipsychotic every day for about a year; although I got an immediate benefit from it (perhaps similar to the benefit you get from Zyprexa), the drug kept working better and better over the first 6-8 months. I would be feeling much worse if I only took it for the immediate benefit on an "as-needed" basis.
I hope this helps.
xjs7
Posted by Denise528 on November 15, 2002, at 12:13:38
In reply to Re: Zyprexa - Why does this happen, any ideas?, posted by xjs7 on November 14, 2002, at 12:25:30
Hi xjs7,
No I'm not psychotic, at least I don't think I am. When I say disorientated I just mean I don't feel clear headed, I can't seem to focus properly on anything and I feel very agitated. 10mg of Zyprexa seems to bring me back to life and lifts my mood the next day, anything less doestn't really seem to help. As I'm not psychotic I'd rather just take it when I'm feeling desperate and then try and muddle on without it. Hopefully I'll eventually find an AD that works for me like SSRIs used to a couple of years ago.
At the moment I don't feel to bad, it's been about 4 days since I took a Zyprexa, I'm tired, my moods not particularly good but I'm fairly motivated and not at all suicidal. The suicidal feelings seem to come on around a certain time of Month.
I'm currently taking 100mg lamictal which doestn't seem to be doing anything at all.
Thanks for your response.
Denise
Posted by xjs7 on November 15, 2002, at 20:31:39
In reply to Re: Zyprexa - Why does this happen, any ideas?, posted by Denise528 on November 15, 2002, at 12:13:38
Hi Denise,
I hope you find an AD that works for you. Your usage of Zyprexa is not normal at all, but I am glad it helps you when you feel really bad. In the long run, however, I think it is best to leave the serious side of effects of this class of medications to those who absolutely must take them--people with some forms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
I thought the target dose of Lamictal was more like 200 mg; perhaps an increase could help you. Unfortunately I don't have any great advice to give you--except to stick to treatment and keep trying AD's and other medications until you find something that works.
xjs7
This is the end of the thread.
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