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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
I have done lithium and depokote and nothing happened. My doc has me on zyprexa and it is expensive. I guess what I'm interested in learning about is what was your experience with this drug. Any tips would be helpful too for I am diagnosed bipolar and have been battling this thing for over 20 years. Thanks all.
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 4, 2001, at 2:15:50
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
Zyprexa is a viable option for you because: it will calm you down all day; it has no anticholinergic effects; it has no sexual side-effects; it will help you sleep.
I took 5 mg for 3 months and it had a very calming effect on me. I did not experience weight gain or drowsiness on it.
Posted by JohnL on February 4, 2001, at 5:53:30
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
> I have done lithium and depokote and nothing happened. My doc has me on zyprexa and it is expensive. I guess what I'm interested in learning about is what was your experience with this drug. Any tips would be helpful too for I am diagnosed bipolar and have been battling this thing for over 20 years. Thanks all.
Hi,
Personally I think Zyprexa is an awesome medicine. Clinical trials are showing it to be effective with a wide spectrum of psychiatric illnesses. It has been officially approved for bipolar as well.In browsing through all the clinical trials it seemed to me that the best results were achieved when Zyprexa was combined with another med, usually Prozac or another SSRI. Something else I noticed is that when it was combined with an SSRI it usually brought quick relief, usually within one week.
I think there are many people who are treatment resistant or who only have a partial response that could benefit from Zyprexa. Unfortunately it's not usually one of the first choices, but I think it should be higher up on the priority list.
In my own experience I felt substantial improvement of my longstanding dysthymia in the first week. I break a 10mg tab into three pieces and take one piece each evening. It doesn't help me fall asleep as well as I would like, but once I am asleep I sleep very good. The hangover effect in the morning is minimal when compared to other things I've tried like Remeron, Serzone, benzos, or tricyclics. The overall effect is that it brightens my mood, provides a sense of calmness yet at the same time makes me feel alert, active, and motivated. Of course, I do take other drugs with it, but I can tell what Zyprexa's contribution is. At this point in time I really like Zyprexa and think it should be one of the top psychiatric medicines available today.
John
Posted by Greg on February 4, 2001, at 8:44:08
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
Sunbaby,
Zyprexa has been a real Godsend for me in many ways. I take 2.5mgs pm and supplement with Neurontin 900mgs daily, 300am and 600 pm. It's controlling the manic behavior (especially the spending sprees), has quieted the voices in my head and I think more clearly than I have in a long time. I very rarely have any bad depressive episodes. I do have a little bit of fatigue, but that could be due to the Neurontin and a very heavy schedule on my job. My pdoc and I are discussing adding Adderall for that. I've been taking the Zyprexa now for about 4 months, and although I have insurance to cover the cost, I would gladly pay the cost out of pocket to cover it if I had to. I'm really surprised that it isn't used more widely for BP II. Nearly everyone I've spoken to about it has had nothing but good things to say about it.
Let me know if you have any questions, and I hope this helps.
Greg
> I have done lithium and depokote and nothing happened. My doc has me on zyprexa and it is expensive. I guess what I'm interested in learning about is what was your experience with this drug. Any tips would be helpful too for I am diagnosed bipolar and have been battling this thing for over 20 years. Thanks all.
Posted by judy1 on February 4, 2001, at 8:46:04
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by JohnL on February 4, 2001, at 5:53:30
Just curious John, what dose are you currently taking? I was given zyprexa when manic at 20mg/day- it worked very well- then reduced to 15 once things were settled down. I gained a great deal of weight on it in a month, and for an ex-bulemic that's playing with fire. I heard on the lower dosage end- 2.5, 5mg/day people don't have this side effect. The problem is it doesn't do anything for me at that dose. Take care, Judy
Posted by SLS on February 4, 2001, at 10:54:37
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars » JohnL, posted by judy1 on February 4, 2001, at 8:46:04
> Just curious John, what dose are you currently taking? I was given zyprexa when manic at 20mg/day- it worked very well- then reduced to 15 once things were settled down. I gained a great deal of weight on it in a month, and for an ex-bulemic that's playing with fire. I heard on the lower dosage end- 2.5, 5mg/day people don't have this side effect. The problem is it doesn't do anything for me at that dose. Take care, Judy
Judy,Since I am sure that you are more resourceful than I am, how would you like to make a project of finding out exactly what the status of ziprasidone (Zeldox) is and when it might be released. I think it is a Pfizer drug.
On paper, ziprasidone looks like a beefed-up version of Zyprexa without weight-gain. My guess is that it will display a greater potential as an antidepressant adjunct than is Zyprexa.
I feel like crap, or I would do some surfing on the Net and call the drug company myself. Using some of JohnL's hyperbole, Zeldox might be the most important neuroleptic to come along since Clozaril.
- Scott
Posted by judy1 on February 4, 2001, at 12:24:49
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by SLS on February 4, 2001, at 10:54:37
I totally forgot about that Scott! I will find out and get back to you. I'm sorry you feel like crap. I'm dancing around because I'm tapering depakote- hooray!!!! Take care, Judy
Posted by ChrisK on February 5, 2001, at 5:15:40
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by SLS on February 4, 2001, at 10:54:37
Zeldox is a Pfizer med which has been approved by the FDA but the package insert was not. They are supposedly trying to get a new insert approved but that has been going on for months now. Last schedule I heard was first quarter of 2001 (now!). Got this info from the Pfizer BBS at The Motley Fool web site.
Posted by ChrisK on February 5, 2001, at 5:18:28
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
Sunbaby,
I love Zyprexa. It has done more than any other med for me. I take it along with Wellbutrin and Nortriptyline. I take 7.5 mg/day which is a little high for depression. A lot of people can get good results with 2.5 mg/day. It really cleared up my thinking. Hope you get the same benefits that I did.
> I have done lithium and depokote and nothing happened. My doc has me on zyprexa and it is expensive. I guess what I'm interested in learning about is what was your experience with this drug. Any tips would be helpful too for I am diagnosed bipolar and have been battling this thing for over 20 years. Thanks all.
Posted by SLS on February 6, 2001, at 21:04:27
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars » SLS, posted by ChrisK on February 5, 2001, at 5:15:40
Zeldox was approved as of yesterday 2/5/2001.
> Zeldox is a Pfizer med which has been approved by the FDA but the package insert was not. They are supposedly trying to get a new insert approved but that has been going on for months now. Last schedule I heard was first quarter of 2001 (now!). Got this info from the Pfizer BBS at The Motley Fool web site.
Posted by San on February 10, 2001, at 12:56:28
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
> I have done lithium and depokote and nothing happened. My doc has me on zyprexa and it is expensive. I guess what I'm interested in learning about is what was your experience with this drug. Any tips would be helpful too for I am diagnosed bipolar and have been battling this thing for over 20 years. Thanks all.
>Did you know Zyprexa can give you diabetes?
> >San
Posted by sunbaby82 on February 10, 2001, at 14:52:41
In reply to Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 4, 2001, at 1:15:56
Diabetes from Zyprexa? Is this true?
Posted by San on February 10, 2001, at 15:49:08
In reply to Re: Zyprexa for bipolars, posted by sunbaby82 on February 10, 2001, at 14:52:41
> Diabetes from Zyprexa? Is this true?
>On the package insert (dated 1997) Diabetes is listed as an "infrequent" side effect. However, my pdoc was concerned enough about it to take me off of it in 1999 and put me on something else. I am grateful for I do not want to take ANY chance of acquiring that horrible disease---- San
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