Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

[SoCalCatman72]

Well, I saw the shrink today. She was pretty decent, straightforward and actually listened to what I had to say. She didn't try to fix me, we discussed different medications.

 

Starting on Zyprexa 10mg tonight.

 

Going to have a dry mouth and headaches tomorrow. Bleh.

 

I hope this works. I hate the rollercoaster life.

[alphamale]

dude thats a major anti-psychotic/tranquilizer

[SoCalCatman72]

Yeah, well I guess I'm pretty psychotic. Actually we decided on it due to the fact that it has sedative properties and I have a really hard time sleeping. If this doesnt work, we are going to try lamictal.

[alphamale]

Yeah, well I guess I'm pretty psychotic. Actually we decided on it due to the fact that it has sedative properties and I have a really hard time sleeping. If this doesnt work, we are going to try lamictal.

Zyprexa is not used for sleeping problems. Its used to calm people in acute psychotic states...such as a severe manic episode or schizophrenia or something similar.

[SoCalCatman72]

Sometimes yes, but....

 

Antipsychotics can be used in 2 additional ways in bipolar disorder, even if no psychotic symptoms are present. They may be used as sedatives, especially during early stages of treatment, for insomnia, anxiety, and agitation. Researchers also believe that the newer atypical antipsychotic medications have mood stabilizing properties, and may help control depression and mania. Antipsychotic medications are therefore often added to mood stabilizers to improve the response in patientswho have never had psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotics may also be used alone as mood stabilizers when patients cannot tolerate or do not respond to any of the mood stabilizers.

[luvtoto]

NONONO!! Zyprexa is about the worst drug out there. When I was on it years ago, it messed me up bad. I took it for about 7-8 mo. I got so addicted to it that I could barely come off of it without fainting or having brain-zaps. Had a fever for about a week, also. Zyprexa also caused me to gain about 25 lbs. Made me horribly sick. My boyfriend at the time said I looked stoned half the time. I didn't realize how I felt till after I got off it. It was like coming out of a coma.

 

Try Lexapro if you can.

[alphamale]

NONONO!! Zyprexa is about the worst drug out there. When I was on it years ago, it messed me up bad.

it's a very powerful drug.

[luvtoto]

it's a very powerful drug.

It's a scary drug. I thought there was a lawsuit about the side affects it caused. I am sure it could damage the liver, also.

[TheSilentType]

Alpha is right...I googled your drug. I think it is a new generation

anti-psychotic! They have major side effects...

 

If you are depressed, talk to your shrink about other alternatives. There are anti-depressants that can make you sleepy if you want.

[Guest]

And this is why people should NOT turn to a bunch of non-professionals on LS for medical advice.

 

Those of you pretending to understand psychotropic medicine, kindly post images of your medical degrees.

[RecordProducer]

Well, I saw the shrink today. She was pretty decent, straightforward and actually listened to what I had to say. She didn't try to fix me, we discussed different medications.

I don't get this typical American thing with prescribing meds as if they're

candies!

I hope this works. I hate the rollercoaster life.

Excuse me, but how is your stressful life related to the necessity to drug yourself with strong pills that alter your cerebral chemicals?

 

I admit, I don't know your situation, and although you sound very sane and intelligent, it doesn't mean you're not emotionally screwed up, but do you really want to be "cured" as if you're mentally ill when you're probably just a little bit unhappy and stressed out?

 

Think about it, please. If all your wishes would come true, whatever they might be, would you still have mental problems? If no, then your problems don't come from the inside and can't be cured on the inside. You most likely just need a change of life conditions.

 

Medications are helpful when the balance of your brain chemicals is disturbed - if you have neurosis or clinical depression or some mental disorder, etc. Not if you just feel discontent with your life at this point.

[Tony T]

I am not quite understanding why a group of non-professionals who have not attended a day of medical school are second guessing a licensed, fully certified medical doctor.

 

We have no idea what the circumstances are or what the condition of the patient is. We haven't conducted an examination or medical history as the psychiatrist has. So how can we sit in front of our computers and type a lot of scary stuff for somebody we have never met before, have never examined before, have never interviewed before...and even if we had done those things we would GO TO JAIL if we tried to prescribe medication?

 

I am more frightened that so many people untrained people are making guesses as to the treatment of someone under medical care than I am at the possibility the wrong medication could have been prescribed.

 

MANY medications for specific illnesses are used to treat other problems as well and physicians are encouraged to use them accordingly.

 

We do people a grave disservice by giving frightening information about a treatment regimen they have described on this forum when we have no idea whatsoever what we are talking about. Medical doctors, including psychiatrists, go to school for many years and are taken through a rigorous examination procedure and internship before they are allowed to begin to do what many people in this thread have done with no medical education at all. Matter of fact, they wouldn't do it at all before doing a comprehensive physical exam, history and blood work.

 

Haha! I'm glad my doctor doesn't have to use Google when I get sick!!!

[SoCalCatman72]

Thank you all of you for your genuine concern

 

I do have a true mood disorder, I'm bipolar II (rapid cycling), I've been diagnosed with it since I was 13 yrs old, though it's only been within the past 5 years that I have accepted it as a fact.

 

I feel like damaged goods, it makes me depressed that I need medication to deal with the depression. Hypomania is great, I feel invincible, but the intelligent part of me knows that it's not normal.

 

I have not responded to 'typical' mood stabilizers, (anticonvulsants, lithium, tricyclics) I have had success with Zyprexa in the past, despite the side effects, I am willing to give it a go, unless I see contraindications.

 

I am a borderline alcoholic, I drink 6 beers a night to get to sleep. One of my immediate goals if to start sleeping regularly and stop drinking, this was discussed during my session which is why we started with Zyprexa instead of Lacmictal.

 

I just want to be normal.

[whichwayisup]

Cal, I'm sure your Dr is keeping a close eye on you so we all don't have to worry. Just keep track of side effects and stuff...

 

I know you want to be normal and I hope this drug works for ya. I do also hope that you're doing some talk therapy as well?

 

My thoughts are with you and keep posting!

[Craig]

I am not quite understanding why a group of non-professionals who have not attended a day of medical school are second guessing a licensed, fully certified medical doctor.

Because so many so called non-professionals have had bad experiences at the hands of a duly licensed, board certified physician who is practicing medicine. The web is full of horror stories about people that are prescribed drugs that screw them up, make things worse for them and turn them into addicts.

 

I don't trust doctors about 90+% of my experience with them has been negative in the sense that they haven't correctly diagnosed either myself, friends or family. My experience of doctors is that they want you in and out of their office with a prescription in hand as quickly as possible. It doesn't matter that they might be wrong as long as you don't die and if you do die the only thing that counts is that they can show that they did something to try to help you.

 

We consumers have every right to question our doctors and badger them with questions about things we've read on the net. We have every right to ask our doctors for specific medications/treatments and refuse other medications/treatments.

 

Credentials, I don't need no stinkin credentials. I can read, I can think and I expect my doctor to do the same.

[Craig]

Thank you all of you for your genuine concern

 

I do have a true mood disorder, I'm bipolar II (rapid cycling), I've been diagnosed with it since I was 13 yrs old, though it's only been within the past 5 years that I have accepted it as a fact.

 

I feel like damaged goods, it makes me depressed that I need medication to deal with the depression. Hypomania is great, I feel invincible, but the intelligent part of me knows that it's not normal.

 

I have not responded to 'typical' mood stabilizers, (anticonvulsants, lithium, tricyclics) I have had success with Zyprexa in the past, despite the side effects, I am willing to give it a go, unless I see contraindications.

 

I am a borderline alcoholic, I drink 6 beers a night to get to sleep. One of my immediate goals if to start sleeping regularly and stop drinking, this was discussed during my session which is why we started with Zyprexa instead of Lacmictal.

 

I just want to be normal.

SoCalCatman, I am cheering for you and wish you every success in finding something that works for you. If you've had success with Zyprexa in the past then it sounds like a good thing to try and see what happens.

[alphamale]

I do have a true mood disorder, I'm bipolar II (rapid cycling), I've been diagnosed with it since I was 13 yrs old, though it's only been within the past 5 years that I have accepted it as a fact..

why did not you just say that in the 1st place SCC72? You originally said it was just for sleep. I know a close friend who is bipolar and she was on

Zyprexa and that is why I was asking.

[britchick]

SoCalCatMan,

 

You will know if it works for you, don't listen to scare stories, I'm sure you have plenty of experience with medication if you are bi-polar. You just have to find the right one for you, same as everyone else.

 

Hope it works for you and your side effects pass quickly!

[Tony T]

Because so many so called non-professionals have had bad experiences at the hands of a duly licensed, board certified physician who is practicing medicine. The web is full of horror stories about people that are prescribed drugs that screw them up, make things worse for them and turn them into addicts.

 

I don't trust doctors about 90+% of my experience with them has been negative in the sense that they haven't correctly diagnosed either myself, friends or family. My experience of doctors is that they want you in and out of their office with a prescription in hand as quickly as possible. It doesn't matter that they might be wrong as long as you don't die and if you do die the only thing that counts is that they can show that they did something to try to help you.

 

We consumers have every right to question our doctors and badger them with questions about things we've read on the net. We have every right to ask our doctors for specific medications/treatments and refuse other medications/treatments.

 

Credentials, I don't need no stinkin credentials. I can read, I can think and I expect my doctor to do the same.

 

You are absolutely right. Yes, question your OWN doctor...but don't get involved with somebody else's treatment unless you know all the facts, especially people posting on the Internet. If you read EVERY post in this thread, you'll understand what I'm talking about.

 

Know ALL the facts before scaring others with your own personal experiences. This really isn't fair to the well being of the person who is being treated OR the doctor.

 

No further discussion necessary on this.

[johan]

I don't know why people go so quickly to pharmaceuticals to fix what a few solid knocks upside the head could do much more naturally and cheaply.

 

Did the shrink even try to knock you upside the head??

[blind_otter]

I don't know why people go so quickly to pharmaceuticals to fix what a few solid knocks upside the head could do much more naturally and cheaply.

 

Did the shrink even try to knock you upside the head??

 

haha, I tried getting knocked upside the head. Several times. It didn't help much. I think I lost a few more marbles in the process.

 

IMO there are people whose knee jerk reaction when they feel anything that's "off" is to run to the doctor and get on some anti-depressants. But the majority of people resist psychotropic medication for longer than they should for fear of the stigma associated with mental illness. Which is ironic because the medication can help a person stabilize so that they can truely deal with whatever is stressing them out so much.

 

But I think this is something that people who haven't struggled with mental illness can't really understand. I tell myself all the time that I shouldn't need meds, I really do. I resisted for years and ended up self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

 

I mean when your emotions are so messed up that you can barely function, get out of bed, remember to eat, go to work -- then you need to do SOMETHING, and what do you do if you are exhausted and feel like there is no other option? You go see a shrink.

[Tony T]

I don't know why people go so quickly to pharmaceuticals to fix what a few solid knocks upside the head could do much more naturally and cheaply.

 

Did the shrink even try to knock you upside the head??

 

I think life has a way of doing that, eventually.

 

People look to pills for everything these days. I even have a pill for my computer to make the hard drive harder. It's called compagra.

[luvtoto]

And this is why people should NOT turn to a bunch of non-professionals on LS for medical advice.

 

Those of you pretending to understand psychotropic medicine, kindly post images of your medical degrees.

So, we should just blindy trust what our doctor prescribes without researching it ourselves first?

 

Ever heard of Fen-Phen?

 

I was just explaining my experiences with the drug. There is nothing wrong with that. I wish someone would have pointed out the bad side-effects before I blindly started taking it. I know my doctor didn't tell me anything.

[blind_otter]

So, we should just blindy trust what our doctor prescribes without researching it ourselves first?

 

Ever heard of Fen-Phen?

 

I was just explaining my experiences with the drug. There is nothing wrong with that. I wish someone would have pointed out the bad side-effects before I blindly started taking it. I know my doctor didn't tell me anything.

 

I agree with you 100% luv, I had a horrible life-altering experience with seizures and lexapro. If only, if only I had known. The whole reason I started with it was because I wanted something with fewer side effects. I'm bitter. That experience permanently changed me, my memory, my personality even.

 

I think it's a good idea to hear other people's experiences. That way if something bizarre happens you don't freak out and think it's just you being defective yet again. that's how I felt anyways.

[RecordProducer]

Because so many so called non-professionals have had bad experiences at the hands of a duly licensed, board certified physician who is practicing medicine. The web is full of horror stories about people that are prescribed drugs that screw them up, make things worse for them and turn them into addicts.

 

I don't trust doctors about 90+% of my experience with them has been negative in the sense that they haven't correctly diagnosed either myself, friends or family. My experience of doctors is that they want you in and out of their office with a prescription in hand as quickly as possible. It doesn't matter that they might be wrong as long as you don't die and if you do die the only thing that counts is that they can show that they did something to try to help you.

 

We consumers have every right to question our doctors and badger them with questions about things we've read on the net. We have every right to ask our doctors for specific medications/treatments and refuse other medications/treatments.

 

Credentials, I don't need no stinkin credentials. I can read, I can think and I expect my doctor to do the same.

GREAT post, Craig!