Posted by bleauberry on May 25, 2008, at 18:28:09
In reply to Zyprexa?, posted by Bob on May 23, 2008, at 22:16:52
I used 5mg zyprexa for 8 years, added to 20mg prozac. Intermittent use does happen. Some people can get 3 to 7 days of benefit out of one dose. But that is generally not the way it is done. It is usually taken for months or years. On an as-needed basis, I would probably see it good for a one-night insomnia thing, or when in a severe panic with no benzo handy. Good to just totally unwind a severe agitation thing and just chill/zone out. I remember having xanax withdrawal panic attacks and zyprexa stopped them dead in their tracks.
Sedation becomes less over time. After a few years I actually needed Lunesta sometimes to help me sleep, despite the zyprexa.
I believe the weight gain and diabetes stuff can be countered with lifestyle changes. Heavy on proteins, light on carbs, very light on sugars, and non-impact calorie burning excercise daily. Diabetics on medications reduce or eliminate their meds this way, and the more successful weight loss plans work this way.
> Is Zyprexa widely used on a continual basis by many people here? For some reason I get the feeling that it is more commonly used on an intermittent as needed basis these days due to the diabetes, sedation, and weight issues.
AAPs like Zyprexa are handed out these days like candy for a wide range of things, including bipolar mood stabilizer, rapid anti-mania, insomnia, anxiety, depression, potentiator of an antidepressant, antidepressant side effect reducer (insomnia, anxiety, sexual), and of course psychosis.
I've tried several of the AAPs and to me Zyprexa was by far the most unique and best. I was skinny at 138 pounds to begin with so didn't mind when I ended up at 145-148. After 8 years, I did not have glucose or diabetes issues. I purposely kept the ceiling of my dose at 5mg the whole time, and that alone was probably the biggest weapon in avoiding AAP risks. I personally think docs push doses way too high with AAPs, especially since in most cases there isn't even any psychosis involved.
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> If there are people here using it continually, are there any measures one can take to fight these drawbacks? Also, what exactly does this med do for people? I know it's an AAP, but it seems to be for other things like as an augmentation for AP's etc.
poster:bleauberry
thread:830814
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080519/msgs/831104.html