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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on November 2, 2005, at 14:40:30
After weeks of abstinence, I fell off the wagon Saturday by drinking way too much and insufflating far more cocaine than I've ever taken. Today, Wednesday, I feel absolutely horrid. I can't focus, I feel depressed and hyper, I have no motivation, I'm obsessing over my health, that I'm losing my hair, that my teeth are getting crooked. In short, I'm a mess.
Yesterday my doctor prescribed Zyprexa, 10 m.g., until I get get a psychiatrist. I didn't take one last night, hoping my depression would subside on its own. But now I'm worried it's not going to subside. I feel so physically ill in addition to the mental illness (likely intertwined with it) that I'm worried one more medicine will make me feel worse.
In addition, I'm afraid of the weight gain, which would be compounded by the fact I have no motivation to go to the gym.
Finally, doesn't Zyprexa antagonize at the dopamine receptors? And if so, wouldn't that make the dopamine rebound from cocaine that much worse?
Am I ever going to escape from this feeling? I feel myself crumbling. I want to cry. I am so utterly depressed.
Please help. I don't have my psychiatrist appointment until next week, and I feel like I may completely fall apart by then.
amd
Posted by linkadge on November 2, 2005, at 15:30:39
In reply to Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)?, posted by AMD on November 2, 2005, at 14:40:30
Maybe the psychiatrist will prescribe something like desipramine or wellbutrin, cause I don't think that zyprexa will help cocaine withdrawl.
It may help anxiety, insomnia etc, if you are having these issues.
Linkadge
Posted by blueberry on November 3, 2005, at 3:22:55
In reply to Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)?, posted by AMD on November 2, 2005, at 14:40:30
You could always cut a pill and take just one half or one quarter of it. I've been taking zyprexa for over 5 years and never had to go higher than 5mg. 10mg seems kind of high to start with.
It can help with some of the symptoms, such as anxiety and insomnia and appetite. Possibly mood too. It does partially block dopamine receptors, but it also increases dopamine and serotonin levels. Personally, I would start at 2.5mg.
Posted by med_empowered on November 4, 2005, at 12:09:58
In reply to Re: Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)?, posted by blueberry on November 3, 2005, at 3:22:55
If you're taking an antidepressant, adding a little bit of zyprexa could bump up levels of neurotransmitters a good bit. From what I understand, antipsychotics are used for stimulant use treatment because it kind of blocks any possible pleasure you could get from the cocaine; when people have coke or amphetamine psychosis, antipsychotics are used to bring them down. Lower doses, used continually, will prevent you from getting as much euphoria out of your coke use. As for the dysphoria following withdrawal...the coke **could** make that worse; that happens with amphetamine psychosis, at least...after treatment, the "crash" comes faster and is decidedly more severe. Pamelor, Wellbutrin, Provigil, and similar mildly stimulating meds are probably better for cocaine withdrawal. Also..10mgs zyprexa is kind of a lot, especially for a first-time dose. Personally...I started taking 2.5mgs/day (and that gave me wicked akathisia--I was trembling and shaking like mad). You might want to ask your doc what's going on here. Good luck!
Posted by Sebastian on November 5, 2005, at 14:09:58
In reply to Re: Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcoh, posted by med_empowered on November 4, 2005, at 12:09:58
I took zyprexa for years and found that doing crack or coke while on zyprexa the withdraw was very easy. The time I did crack befor zyprexa the withdraw was too much an I constantly wanted more. But with the zyprexa I actualy got sick of a bing and wanted to stop and did with not much problem.
Posted by musico on November 6, 2005, at 8:10:04
In reply to Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)?, posted by AMD on November 2, 2005, at 14:40:30
When I was prescribed Zyprexa over a month ago I started on 2.5 mg, then 5 mg, and now take 10 mg at bedtime. I have bipolar and I am also on Lamictal (which was initially prescribed to me because when I first went to the psychiatrist I presented with more depression than mania), .5 mg Rivotril, and recently have had depression again so my psychiatrist added 50 mg Zoloft. I am a former cocaine user and except for a two line slipup about 4 months ago I have been able to avoid that temptation. Alcohol however, is something that I struggle with. I binge, in that I don't have a stop button.
I have found that with this med combo I don't have the urge to self-medicate so don't abuse alcohol now. It's like a switch was turned off and it's one of the best things that could have happened. My pdoc told that I this would likely happen and I'm just amazed at this. I hope that you try Zyprexa as this is the drug that I think has been the most powerful healing that I've tried (20 some odd years of misdiagnosis of depression and anxiety so was never considered for a mood-stabilizer or antipychotic med).
Yes, the weight gain is a worry (I've gained 8 lbs over the last month) but since adding Zoloft the extreme hunger and eating binging is starting to subside. One can only hope this continues. I hope that you give Zyprexa a try. I think it's really worth it. In my opinion, this medication is a wonder drug. Eli Lilly offers complimentary nutritionist consults and 30% discounts (a very expensive med!), at least in the country where I now reside - Costa Rica. Take care, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Posted by 4wd on November 6, 2005, at 21:34:29
In reply to Re: Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)? » AMD, posted by musico on November 6, 2005, at 8:10:04
> When I was prescribed Zyprexa over a month ago I started on 2.5 mg, then 5 mg, and now take 10 mg at bedtime. I have bipolar and I am also on Lamictal (which was initially prescribed to me because when I first went to the psychiatrist I presented with more depression than mania), .5 mg Rivotril, and recently have had depression again so my psychiatrist added 50 mg Zoloft. I am a former cocaine user and except for a two line slipup about 4 months ago I have been able to avoid that temptation. Alcohol however, is something that I struggle with. I binge, in that I don't have a stop button.
>
> I have found that with this med combo I don't have the urge to self-medicate so don't abuse alcohol now. It's like a switch was turned off and it's one of the best things that could have happened. My pdoc told that I this would likely happen and I'm just amazed at this.
That is so wierd. Zyprexa made me crave drugs, specifically hydrocodone. It also made me want to stay up all night and drink coffee and take Klonopin. Wierd.
Posted by med_empowered on November 7, 2005, at 21:33:12
In reply to Re: Will Zyprexa relieve my symptoms (drug / alcohol)? » musico, posted by 4wd on November 6, 2005, at 21:34:29
yeah, I didn't do well on atypicals in that angle either, come to think of it. I craved coffee, cigarettes, and ANY stimulant I could get my hands on. It wasn't about feeling a "rush"--it was about feeling...alive. But, hey..works for some people.
This is the end of the thread.
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