Posted by anita on May 18, 2001, at 15:43:23
In reply to Re: Zyprexa just quit working/dose info? » anita, posted by AngieT on May 17, 2001, at 20:08:24
Hi again Angie,
Well, it sounds like maybe what you're going through is what happened to me -- theoretically the antipsychotic initally brings about a good response as a result of increasing dopamine, but then the dopamine receptors re-regulate themselves and the good effect wears off. This has happened to another psychobabbler, SLS. Have you tried any dopamine-increasing meds, like Wellbutrin, Ritalin, or amisulpride? Amisulpride may be a good bet -- it too is an antipsychotic that works like an energizing antidepressant at low doses, and a lot of people here seem to have a good response to it without poop-out. It can be ordered from overseas.
Personally I've only tried Risperdal, amisulpride (which lasted about a month or so then pooped out) and Geodon (which I couldn't tolerate). If you're willing to take a chance, you might want to stick with Zyprexa at a steady dose for a few weeks just to see what happens, or start over with another antipsychotic or a dopamine-increasing med. If you choose to stick with Zyprexa, the increase in well-being will probably be gradual rather than dramatic.
anita
> Hi Anita, thanks for writing, it seems that when I increase the dose I feel better the next day (I take before bed) and I feel good for about a week or week and a half and then I slowly start feeling down and it just gets worse. Is Risperdal the only antipsychotic you have been on? I go to see my pdoc next week and have been reading up on all these drugs, so when I go in I have some idea of 'where' I want to go with this.
> Thanks again!
> >
> > I have depression and had a similar experience with Risperdal. When I first tried it at a very low dose, it made me feel alive and energetic and optimistic. However, within 2 weeks that effect went away (fortunately, I did not sink into a depression, tho.) The same thing happened when I increased the dose. Yet, two months later, at a still low dose, I started feeling good in a different way. I'm still taking it and it works very well for me.
> >
> > The initial response you got may be due to a paradoxical increase in dopamine, and every time you raised it, the same effect may have happened. How long did it take to stop working when you started and when you raised the dose? It may be that it will just continue to eventually poop out on you every time you raise the dose, which has happened with others on this list, BUT you may want to stick with one dose and wait for a month or so to see if it has any positive effect in the long run, as it did for me. Or, you could try a different antipsychotic and see if that works better for you.
> >
> > I wish you luck.
> >
> > anita
poster:anita
thread:63349
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63500.html