Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 921952

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Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 11:50:27

I live in Norway and have schizophrenia. In norway it takes a lot of effort to switch medicines, it's not something you can do with just one appointment. Therefore i want to be sure about the next medicine i choose.

So far i have tried Abilify, Zyprexa and Serdolect. I have had the most sucess with abilify. It is activating, helps socially, helps me think clearly, and there is no weight gain. However I have can take max 2 mg abilify per day because it gives me heat intolerance.

Serdolect causes weight gain, makes me tired and does not help socially. Zyprexa makes me really tired, causes a lot of weight gain, and makes me feel like a zombie.

When i talked to the doctor today she recommended risperdal. I am worried about risperdal causing weight gain that is not reversible through cardio workout. [In norway we do not have Invega, which is better for weight gain].

I was thinking of either Geodeon [Zeldox] or Solian. The doctor says most patients don't like Geodon, and that Solian isn't that good either. However i feel like trying one of these since weight gain really bothers me.

Anyone with any experience with these medicines that can help me?

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose? » efishy

Posted by Maxime on October 22, 2009, at 12:11:14

In reply to Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 11:50:27

I'm bipolar and was going through a period where I experienced audutory hallucinations. I tried Geodon and went on quite a high dosage and it didn't help. I had to use Thorazine. I don't think it's a very robust antipsychotic. What about Seroquel, have you tried that?

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 12:26:58

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose? » efishy, posted by Maxime on October 22, 2009, at 12:11:14

> I'm bipolar and was going through a period where I experienced audutory hallucinations. I tried Geodon and went on quite a high dosage and it didn't help. I had to use Thorazine. I don't think it's a very robust antipsychotic. What about Seroquel, have you tried that?

I haven't tried seroquel. From what i have read it causes some weight gain which is reversible if you work out. But i don't know if it's activating , it seems more like it's sedating. Will that help me get up in the morning and motivate me?

My main symptom is mostly too many emotional and distressing thoughts. I usually do not suffer much from hallucinations.

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose? » efishy

Posted by Maxime on October 22, 2009, at 13:59:45

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 12:26:58

The weight gain on Seroquel isn't that bad if you watch what you eat. It will give you some carb cravings but nothing the way Zyprexa does. It's not as sedating at the higher dosages (200 mg - 400 mg), but it can be very sedating at first.

Maybe the Geodon would be okay for you. I had no side effects from it and I went up to 240 mg.

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by bleauberry on October 22, 2009, at 16:00:51

In reply to Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 11:50:27

Well obviously there is no way to predict anything. I would place my first bet on Solian, probably in the 200mg to 600mg range if you have both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia. If your schizophrenia is mostly negative symptoms, then only 100mg.

In reality only a personal trial will tell which medication fits you best, keeping in mind that none is likely to be perfect. There will likely be short comings and undesirable side effects with any of them. It is a matter of good versus bad...you want the good to be greater than the bad.

My second choice would be Risperdal. Though I am sure Seroquel has been good to a few people, I just haven't seen that happen hardly at all here over the years.

I would also suggest adding the supplement glycine to any AP you take. It has shown great effect for schizophrenia when combined with APs.

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 16:23:38

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by bleauberry on October 22, 2009, at 16:00:51

Thanks for the tips. So far i have to say i am favoring Solian. It has about the same weight gain as abilify, and i think it works well socially and so on. I don't understand why it isn't approved in America.

Risperdal seems like it might cause too much weight gain, but nevertheless has positive effects.

If anyone is interested i found a nice graph for weight gain on antipsychotics. http://fatnews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/1654/

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose? » efishy

Posted by Maxime on October 22, 2009, at 16:41:15

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by efishy on October 22, 2009, at 16:23:38

That's a great graft!

Some people here have gained a lot of weight from Abilify. I guess it does happen.

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by emmanuel98 on October 22, 2009, at 20:00:24

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose? » efishy, posted by Maxime on October 22, 2009, at 16:41:15

I had psychotic symptoms with severe depression and tried most of the atypical anti-psychotics. I must say that risperdal was my favorite. It worked fast, made me feel calm but not sedated. But I did gain a lot of weight on it and very fast. On the other hand, I gained weight on 2mg of abilify and most people don't gain weight on abilify. So it's hard to say what will happen to you. But risperdal is definitely an effective drug.

 

Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?

Posted by Jeroen on October 24, 2009, at 10:55:18

In reply to Re: Switching Antipsychotics - What to choose?, posted by emmanuel98 on October 22, 2009, at 20:00:24

try seroquel, when it works you feel energized alrigt hhahahahahahahahha


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