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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RobinWren on May 13, 2011, at 12:41:33
Two weeks ago I had a severe psychotic break, despite taking both Abilify and Geodon for schizophrenia and Lamictal for bipolar symptoms.
To avoid a hospitalization, my doctor and I usually add Zyprexa, but I refused it this time, hating the rapid weight gain and overwhelming sedation, though it is otherwise a wonderful drug for me. This time, though somewhat dubious, I agreed to try Latuda.
Well, within about 5 days the voices screaming at me were gone, my thoughts were much clearer, my energy higher, my mood brighter. Overall Latuda seems the medication I have long been looking for: Zyprexa-without-adverse-side-effects, which is to say, no weight gain and no extreme sedation (in fact the opposite) although I sleep fine at night.
Moreover, I wake in the morning eager to rise and meet whatever the day brings. To me, as an artist, poet and author this is so important! In short, I haven't felt so much better or as hopeful as this in a very long while.
I wanted to report this here because it is so important for people taking anti-psychotic drugs, with so many having such terrible side effects, to know that there may be one out there to try that might work for them with less devastating ones...This is no promise as we all know. Ones that work for a certain person, might wreak havoc with another person's system. Some people for instance swear by Risperdal, and it only and consistently puts me into complete catatonia...But I love both Abilify and Latuda for keeping my mind alert and alive, allowing me to be creative not drugged up, as well as for being more than weight neutral, for in fact helping me lose the Zyprexa-induced weight gain. The one problem with Abilify is that it made me very, very irritable, even angry, until we combined it by chance with Geodon. THat combo calmed me right down, yet without putting me to sleep. Now I never take the one without the other. Latuda, on the other hand, at least when ADDED to the mix, seems not to cause any additional problems, it just corrected in a big way the psychosis, which the other 2 meds did not cover.
Hope this helps others who are considering taking Latuda/lurasidone. If I can assist in any other way by sharing my experiences, let me know. I will be getting email updates if anyone responds to this post.
Posted by Bob12 on May 16, 2011, at 15:38:53
In reply to Latuda - miracle drug?, posted by RobinWren on May 13, 2011, at 12:41:33
Robin,
Thank you so much for your post. Latuda sounds great.
I have been taking 17.5 mg of Zyprexa for 10 years (to help my paranioa symptoms), and it works pretty well, but makes me tired and lacking energy.
Do you think I should try taking Latuda? If it works I suppose I could gradually tapper down the Zyprexa and stay on Latuda only.
I would love to have more energy, yet still be able to sleep well.
I also have a problem with extreme anxiety - I take 0.5 mg of Ativan per day to help with this.
Does the Latuda seem to reduce anxiety?
thanks
Bob12
Posted by RobinWren on May 17, 2011, at 15:03:58
In reply to Re: Latuda - miracle drug?, posted by Bob12 on May 16, 2011, at 15:38:53
HI Bob,
In general I do not have a problem with anxiety per se, or at least not generalized anxiety. I tend to become paranoid (if that is a form of anxiety) to an extreme which the voices only make much much worse. The Zyprexa (10-35mg) was, cognitively speaking, a miracle drug in a way that so far even the Latuda has not yet proven to be its equal, as I still cannot read with the ease that I was able to on the olanzapine. On the other hand, I can still think abstractly, I believe, or am not aware of having regressed back to my pre-Zyprexa state in that way.
Anyhow, to get back to your post: I definitely have much more energy on the Latuda than the Zyprexa. I find it is not at all sedating, though I will advise that somnolence is top of the listed side effects, at least for a certain percentage of people. As for your taking Ativan-- well, I never did need Ativan before, not when on the Zyprexa, but I have to admit that I keep a PRN dose on me now, and sometimes take 1mg for sleep too. So I can't tell you that it would not be necessary on Latuda too, just as on the Zyprexa.
By the way, did you gain weight on Zyprexa? After ten years on it have you developed any of the other unwanted sequelae, like diabetes or high lipid levels? Just interested.
RobinWren
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