Posted by rod on March 5, 2004, at 17:29:21
In reply to Is it work the Risk to Switch Now?, posted by DanielJ on March 5, 2004, at 10:45:45
> For the last 8 months my 16 yr old son has been being treated for Schizophrenia with Zyprexa and Zoloft. Both medications are working OK but he is suddenly gaining weight (40 lbs in 2 mo.) and it is becoming difficult to get him to excercise. We are trying though, getting him to walk 2 miles nightly and shoot some hoops but since his psychosis virtually disappeared he leans toward being sedentary. His Psych. recommended a few options but of course, there is the risk of "losing it". One was Topomax which I have read conflicting reports on. Another of course is abilify which he had before but couldn't relax or sleep. He is 2 months away from completing 10th grade and is seems iffy to risk a switch that might not work. What does everyone think. Weight gain vs. Unknowns and risk?
You may consider this option:-----------
"Effect of amantadine on weight gain during olanzapine treatment."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11313165&dopt=Abstract
Patients treated with olanzapine may gain weight, especially in the first months of therapy. Amantadine (100-300 mg/day) was started in 12 patients having a mean weight gain of 7.3 kg during olanzapine treatment. The patients' weight stabilised and over 3-6 months they lost an average of 3.5 kg. No clinical deterioration occurred and no adverse effects were reported. These observations merit confirmation in randomised, controlled trials.
----------OR
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/amantadine.htmthere is a lot of information on the web. It is worth to google a bit
Mybe this works for your son.good luck
Roland
poster:rod
thread:320613
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040304/msgs/320779.html