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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise1966 on September 12, 2005, at 12:09:35
Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining but I just can't help wondering when all else fails, 10mg of Zyprexa seems to reset my brain and make me feel fine, competent, strong, motivated again for at least 7 days.
What does this Zyprexa do that nothing else does? It can't be the 5HT2 receptors because Remeron doesn't do this for me?
Anyone find this with Zyprexa?
Denise
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 12:18:42
In reply to Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by denise1966 on September 12, 2005, at 12:09:35
> Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining but I just can't help wondering when all else fails, 10mg of Zyprexa seems to reset my brain and make me feel fine, competent, strong, motivated again for at least 7 days.
>
> Anyone find this with Zyprexa?
>
>
Yes! I don't take it anymore, though I certainly would if I felt the need.I used to take it as a P.R.N when I was feeling suicidal, and it was pretty incredible, I don't think I've experienced anything like it. "Resetting your brain" is a good way of putting it.
I'd take it when I was considering going to the hospital, and in about an hour the world would tilt back to normal..sometimes I'd end up crying again, but they were tears of relief.
Posted by Sonya on September 12, 2005, at 12:23:05
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much? » denise1966, posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 12:18:42
This is interesting. I'm glad you posted about this because I was thinking "what should I do if I feel suicidal but afraid I'll end up back in the hospital?" I have Zyprexa on hand. Is it really okay to take prn?
Posted by Deneb on September 12, 2005, at 19:49:14
In reply to Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by denise1966 on September 12, 2005, at 12:09:35
> Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining but I just can't help wondering when all else fails, 10mg of Zyprexa seems to reset my brain and make me feel fine, competent, strong, motivated again for at least 7 days.
Wow, that's cool stuff. I wish I had some Zyprexa to try out for when I get insanely upset.
Deneb
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 22:57:09
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by Sonya on September 12, 2005, at 12:23:05
I was told it was fine to take as a p.r.n
And never had any problems, this was over a year period, and I would generally take about 3-4 a month. It probably doesn't work for everyone that way (obviously) but it was so different from any other drug for me . Ativan would relax me, but as Denise said I felt zyprexa re set things. I was relaxed but the depression lifted too, it was almost eerie, I'd be in my pajamas all day, terrified, crying, and then take a zyprexa and the lights would go on..
The next thing I"d be thinking "Hey, I should get dressed and see if so and so wants to go for a coffee.."
Very weird
Good but weird.
Posted by Pfinstegg on September 12, 2005, at 23:47:20
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much? » Sonya, posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 22:57:09
Another YES! I took 5 mg. daily for a year, and felt really well. However, I also gained 50 lbs. and nearly got diabetes. I haven't used it for two years, as my blood sugar still hasn't returned quite to normal, although all the weight just came off easily within a year. I do have it on hand, though, for emergencies. I'm amazed, too, by how well it worked.
Posted by DanielJ on September 13, 2005, at 8:21:07
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much? » Gabbix2, posted by Pfinstegg on September 12, 2005, at 23:47:20
My son takes it for Schiz. it is extremely effective and has helped him tons. Doring the first 6 mo he gained only 5 lbs. Then his compulsive activity slowed and then stopped in other words he was back to normal psychologically. Then he began to gain weight from 138 to 220 lbs in 6 months(horrible). His sugar level rose also. Now he fasts and eats few sweets, has grown taller and in addition has lost 25 lbs. He is still on 15mg Zyprexa and it is still working 2 plus years after starting the medication. His blood sugar is normal.
Posted by denise1966 on September 13, 2005, at 8:59:59
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much? » Sonya, posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 22:57:09
Hi,
That's exactly what is does for me, I'll be feeling absolutely awful, agitated, suicidal , like everything is falling apart, mainly me then although I hold out till the very last minute, I take 10mg and I suddenly feel like everythings ok again. The next day I'm calm, rational, in control, dead efficient and my mood is lifted.
I't really scares me what would happen if I didn't have this drug.
Anyway, I'm going to go back on high dose Seroxat soon and am praying to God that I won't need to take teh Zyprexa, even if the Seroxat doesn't work that well and I'm just hoping that it will at least stop the suicidal, agitated feelings.
All the Best.....Denise
Posted by denise1966 on September 13, 2005, at 9:14:46
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much? » Sonya, posted by Gabbix2 on September 12, 2005, at 22:57:09
Hi,
As you seem to have had the same experiences as me, I was just wondering what you're taking now and if it is helping, how much is it helping?
Denise
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 13, 2005, at 11:27:41
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One more thing, posted by denise1966 on September 13, 2005, at 9:14:46
> Hi,
>
> As you seem to have had the same experiences as me, I was just wondering what you're taking now and if it is helping, how much is it helping?
>
> DeniseActually, I'm in what I would say is a complete remission (it's hard to tell when you've had depression for so long)
I take Celexa 40mgs
Dexedrine 20mgs
Cytomel (for depression, not thyroid) 25mcgs
And the occasional seroquel for anxiety.
It doesn't affect me the way Zyprexa does, but the medication combination is effective enough that I don't feel I need it.Best of luck
I really hope this helps you out
Feel free to ask any other questions Denise.
Posted by Sebastian on September 13, 2005, at 11:56:48
In reply to Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by denise1966 on September 12, 2005, at 12:09:35
I find the same thing with zyprexa. 10 mg dose too. I can't live with out zyprexa. I've tried many times and always bad results. Currently I'm giving up on geodon as an alternative and going back to zyprexa. When I take zyprexa I can do anything.
Posted by med_empowered on September 13, 2005, at 14:52:52
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by Sebastian on September 13, 2005, at 11:56:48
hi! I *hated* zyprexa, but I really like (very low dose) Abilify, and I wish I could find a doc who would do it prn (for some reason, Zyprexa is *the* antipsychotic of choice for prn use; no one really seems to understand Abilify well enough to recommend it for such uses). Anyway, although the two meds work differently, I noticed a lot of the same things you all have been talking about...its simply amazing. When I started low-dose (5-7.5mgs) Abilify, I was already on Trileptal and Celexa and Klonopin; still, I was so incredibly anxious that I could barely leave my apartment. I had spirit-crushing anxiety and agitation, and depression with lots of "labile moods"--basically, I was a walking talking nervous breakdown. Anyway, within a couple doses, I could suddenly walk outside and feel...good. Not OK, not better, but flat out, truly *GOOD*. It was amazing. The longer I took the Abilify, and the higher the dosage got (my shrink at the time ramped it up to 30mgs thinking it would control moods and adding more would help with anxiety; it really just screwed everything up). Antipsychotics have been used for these kind of problems for a long time; check out the PDR, and you'll see dosing recommendations for things like Stelazine and Mellaril for anxiety and what not. My guess is that since today's antipsychotics block D2 receptors less intensely, and also block off serotonin and sometimes have antidepressant actions as well (Geodon, for instance, inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, so its kind of a Prozac and antipsychotic combo in one), you can get an immediate anti-anxiety, truly tranquilizing effect without too much cognitive impairment...they also usually don't cause EPS or induce depression (the old drugs were notorious for pushing bipolars into depression). From what I've read, it seems that until about 1964, docs thought Thorazine and other antipsychotics that were around then worked on schizophrenia primarily through some sort of unusual sedation; keep in mind that before Thorazine was used as an anti-psychotic, it was used as a pre-operative sedative...the docs who used it noticed that, at low doses, patients felt a sense of intense calm and contentment that lingered for a couple days. It was then used on schizophrenics. One reason it caused so many problems was probably dosage; used to relieve pre-operative anxiety, a doc might give someone 50mgs...when used for psychosis, dosages were usually at least 300mgs, and often went up to 2,000mgs or more. Stelazine and Mellaril were often used off-label for intense, treatment-resistant anxiety. In addition, there have been some studies showing that Valium and other benzos can act as mild antipsychotic agents; massive doses of Valium have sometimes been shown to work alone against psychosis. Anyway,I guess my point is that maybe the intense agitation and anxiety a lot of us experience isn't all that much different from say, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. There's a definite difference in intensity, and in how the problems present themselves, but I think at the core, some problems of anxiety, agitation, and mood lability may be much more similar to schizophrenia than we usually think. Think about it...excessive anxiety is, by its very nature, illogical, something that defies rationality and causes considerable distress...psychosis is similar, and is often accompanied by unbearable anxiety. Just a thought.
Posted by denise1966 on September 14, 2005, at 7:22:21
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One more thing » denise1966, posted by Gabbix2 on September 13, 2005, at 11:27:41
Hi Gabbix,
Do you find the Cytomel and Dexedrine help the Celexa to work better?
Thanks....Denise
Posted by denise1966 on September 14, 2005, at 7:30:28
In reply to Re: Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by med_empowered on September 13, 2005, at 14:52:52
Hi,
Thanks for that long explanation :-)
Just wondering if you're still taking Abilify, if not what are you taking?
Also, what didn't you like about Zyprexa?
Denise
Posted by Schess81 on September 14, 2005, at 9:46:42
In reply to Zyprexa 10mg - why does it help me so much?, posted by denise1966 on September 12, 2005, at 12:09:35
I'm taking 80mg or prozac, with 15 remeron, with little results. (severe unipolar depression- a few weeks ago I couldnt eat or sleep, couldn't sit still or relax, symptoms I'd never has before) Now I read on google that it sounds a lot like melancholic depression. Do any of you guys think zyprexa is worth a try? Of course, I dont know if my p-doc would ever go for it. But I'm pretty desperate.
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 14, 2005, at 13:34:03
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2, posted by denise1966 on September 14, 2005, at 7:22:21
> Hi Gabbix,
>
> Do you find the Cytomel and Dexedrine help the Celexa to work better?
>
>
> Thanks....DeniseThere is no comparison.
I was originally given the combination (dex, cytomel) when I was up to 80mgs prozac and my P.Doc gave me dexedrine so that I would not have to increase my prozac, that wasn't quite enough so he added cytomel. It made a night an day difference.
When I unfortunately moved, I had to get a new P.Doc and she put me on Celexa alone, but eventually gave in and added the other two, and again it made the crucial difference.At first the Cytomel makes me anxious, (not the dexedrine though) and it's very hard to take, but waiting it out was worth it for me.
Posted by Pfinstegg on September 14, 2005, at 14:48:37
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 » denise1966, posted by Gabbix2 on September 14, 2005, at 13:34:03
I had the same good experience with Cytomel. It is very short-acting, though, so it works best to take it 2-3 times a day in very tiny doses.
Posted by denise190466 on September 15, 2005, at 8:04:23
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One more thing » denise1966, posted by Gabbix2 on September 13, 2005, at 11:27:41
Hi Gabbix,
I'll make these the last promise. I was just thinking that you had same response to Zyprexa as me that I might respond in the same way to other drugs as you do.
Also, before I stopped taking the Seroxat it had seemed to stop working and like you was considering upping the dose. Infact I'm going to when I go back on it. Just hope I don't get the horrible start-up anxiety or if I do then I hope at least I don't keep getting it.
How long did it take before you got a good response to the Cytomel and can you describe to me how it makes you feel?
Also did you have a thyroid test before taking it, was it normal?
Thanks....Denise
Posted by Paulbwell on September 16, 2005, at 6:11:17
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One last thing promise, posted by denise190466 on September 15, 2005, at 8:04:23
> Hi Gabbix,
>
> I'll make these the last promise. I was just thinking that you had same response to Zyprexa as me that I might respond in the same way to other drugs as you do.
>
> Also, before I stopped taking the Seroxat it had seemed to stop working and like you was considering upping the dose. Infact I'm going to when I go back on it. Just hope I don't get the horrible start-up anxiety or if I do then I hope at least I don't keep getting it.
>
> How long did it take before you got a good response to the Cytomel and can you describe to me how it makes you feel?
>
> Also did you have a thyroid test before taking it, was it normal?
>
>
> Thanks....DeniseI remember beiven some risperdal. after spending days wired on Ritalin, tea, and Nicotine. I remember sleeping well and feeling refreshed the next dat after 2mgs, without the agitation with Stelazine, so.... maybe Risperdal is like Zyprexa?
Cheers
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 16, 2005, at 10:58:32
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One last thing promise, posted by denise190466 on September 15, 2005, at 8:04:23
Denise I'm sorry, I didn't even see this, I don't check this board regularly.
I just wanted to let you know, I'll answer this in a bit..
Posted by denise1966 on September 16, 2005, at 13:34:14
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One last thing promise » denise190466, posted by Gabbix2 on September 16, 2005, at 10:58:32
Ok, thanks Gabbix. I'll wait for your response.
Denise
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 16, 2005, at 14:25:48
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2, posted by Pfinstegg on September 14, 2005, at 14:48:37
That's really helpful, I have been out of it for about 2 weeks because of a manufacturers shortage, and wasn't looking forward to the startup anxiety. I was thinking of trying that but didn't know if it would work, so it is very timely advice.
> I had the same good experience with Cytomel. It is very short-acting, though, so it works best to take it 2-3 times a day in very tiny doses.
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 16, 2005, at 14:35:31
In reply to Re:To Gabbix2 - One last thing promise, posted by denise190466 on September 15, 2005, at 8:04:23
Denise,Please don't worry about the questions, I'm so glad to do it. There have been many times I think , if it weren't for someone sharing their personal experiences about medication on this board, I don't know where I'd be. It's important that we do this for each other, and not have to be completely at the whim of our Doctor.
> Also, before I stopped taking the Seroxat it had seemed to stop working and like you was considering upping the dose. Infact I'm going to when I go back on it. Just hope I don't get the horrible start-up anxiety or if I do then I hope at least I don't keep getting it.
>
> How long did it take before you got a good response to the Cytomel and can you describe to me how it makes you feel?
>OH gosh, okay, it took about 2 weeks before I could feel the positive effects, those came on quite subtley. It's like the A/d got me to a point where I was okay, but not motivated or enthusastic, doing things didn't come naturally.
Before I had depression I could just wake up and know what I wanted to do for the day, but after everything got so confusing, I lost that innate ability to just live.. and that's where the Cytomel came in.
At first it made me edgy, anxious, (not exruciating, but uncomfortable) but after the two weeks, I just felt normal, which is kind of hard to describe.
> Also did you have a thyroid test before taking it, was it normal?
>
>
Yes apparently it was normal, but I've heard that Cytomel can have antidepressant effects even on those with a normal thyroid.> Thanks....Denise
You're very welcome.
Please feel free to babblemail me or post if you have any more questions.
Posted by denise1966 on September 18, 2005, at 6:45:16
In reply to Re:To Denise » denise190466, posted by Gabbix2 on September 16, 2005, at 14:35:31
.
Posted by Gabbix2 on September 18, 2005, at 15:46:18
In reply to maybe this Zyprexa is what I need, posted by Schess81 on September 14, 2005, at 9:46:42
> I'm taking 80mg or prozac, with 15 remeron, with little results. (severe unipolar depression- a few weeks ago I couldnt eat or sleep, couldn't sit still or relax, symptoms I'd never has before) Now I read on google that it sounds a lot like melancholic depression. Do any of you guys think zyprexa is worth a try? Of course, I dont know if my p-doc would ever go for it. But I'm pretty desperate.
I do think Zyprexa is worth a try, definitely.
That's a horrible feeling, I know it well.
Although I didn't stay on Zyprexa ( I would have, happily, if it hadn't been for the weight gain concern) I'll never forget the relief I felt from it, ever.
And as Denise mentioned as well, interestingly I didn't need it every day either, I took about four - 6 tablets a month, and if I were ever in that situation again, I would take it without thinking twice about it.
I'm sorry you're desperate, I really am, it's so indescribably awful. Keep trying, or find a p-doc who's willing to keep trying with you, because those feelings really can go away, even when you're sure that they will not.
This is the end of the thread.
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