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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 2:57:01
I am going to have to try something else besides Zyprexa. This is sad because I really feel so well with this medication, but I can NOT bear this amazing appetite...I am eating us out of house and home I have already gained ten pounds and there is no satisfying this constant hunger and the craving.( I love ya John L, but don't suggest that I eat a carrot or drink a glass of water to "fill me up"). What I would like to learn is the best way to get off this drug as well as some suggestions for another one to try. Thank you all for your support, Collette
Posted by ChrisK on September 19, 2001, at 4:28:11
In reply to Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 2:57:01
Have you tried Geodon (Ziprasidone) yet? It works similarly to Zyprexa without the weight gain. I found it to be much more activating though. I would take it in the morning and still not get a good nights sleep. From the mood standpoint I didn't notice a big difference between the two. The Geodon kept me calm and my thoughts pretty clear.
>What I would like to learn is the best way to get off this drug as well as some suggestions for another one to try. Thank you all for your support, Collette
Posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 7:15:26
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by ChrisK on September 19, 2001, at 4:28:11
Collette,
I don't have any suggestions for you. Just wanted to tell you that I am in the same boat...I just stopped Zyprexa two nights ago because of TD symptoms. I can't sleep anymore and my mood is bouncing all over the place!I hope you find something to help you :)
Chloe
Posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 8:50:19
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help? » ChrisK, posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 7:15:26
> Collette,
> I don't have any suggestions for you. Just wanted to tell you that I am in the same boat...I just stopped Zyprexa two nights ago because of TD symptoms. I can't sleep anymore and my mood is bouncing all over the place!
>
> I hope you find something to help you :)
> ChloeOh TD! Well, it's good that you stopped. What symptoms were you having? Did your pdoc have you stop and if so, did he suggest tapering off in any way? Someone here mentioned Zyprexa taking a long time to get out of your system. What is happening to your moods?
Posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 9:39:06
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help? » chloe, posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 8:50:19
Collette,
I was only taking 2.5 mgs, so my pdoc said just stop it. After one day, I had the worst crash and suicidal depression. Then later that night I bounced back up and was ok, then by bedtime, I was teary again.So I don't have any words of wisdom. Taper it slow and hope for the best. BTW, I tried Geodon, too. It was so activating for me, I did not sleep a wink. BUt I liked the AD effect, but developed TD on that too!
Hang in there!
Chloe
Posted by Janelle on September 19, 2001, at 11:30:46
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 9:39:06
Collette,
I hung in there with Zyprexa for 6-8 weeks with a voracious appetite, gained *only* 5 pounds because I just would NOT give in to it, and also drank a lot of water. I have since heard that the appetite increase (and therefore weight increase) USUALLY goes away, but it takes time, up to 2 months, but sometimes less.
I also take only 2.5 mg/night and have been able to sleep again. I've heard of Geodon, but hear mixed reviews, so I stuck with Zyprexa. I am by no means touting this med, just relating my own success with no longer having the appetite increase.
If you do decide to switch from Zyprexa to Geodon, taper slowly, meaning cut the 2.5 mg Zyprexa in half (there are pill cutters available at any pharmacy; I got a great one) and ask your pdoc how to do the tapering.
Hang in there either way and let us know what and how you do,
Janelle
Posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 12:27:04
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 9:39:06
> Collette,
> I was only taking 2.5 mgs, so my pdoc said just stop it. After one day, I had the worst crash and suicidal depression. Then later that night I bounced back up and was ok, then by bedtime, I was teary again.
>
> So I don't have any words of wisdom. Taper it slow and hope for the best. BTW, I tried Geodon, too. It was so activating for me, I did not sleep a wink. BUt I liked the AD effect, but developed TD on that too!
>
> Hang in there!
> ChloeChloe, thank you! My pharmacist said it is OK to cut this pill in half so I will taper thanks to your warning. What were your TD symptoms?
Posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 18:12:04
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 12:27:04
Collette,
I am so glad you are going to split the pill and go slow. Leaping off of it has really put me in a tail spin. But the tongue movements were getting pretty bad. My tongue develops a life of it's own and begins to uncontrollably wiggle back and forth on my bottom teeth. I also have a bit of clenching of my jaw, so I get tmj pain at times. My tongue continues to rub the back of my teeth, even though I am off the med, and I am sure will continue to do so for weeks. It is very pronounced when I type, and the tip of my tongue starts to feel raw.It is an uncomfortable feeling to have my tongue be going back and forth while the rest of me is relaxed. Like when I am watching tv for instance. Very disconcerting...But I have to weigh which is more important. My sanity on the drug, or a still tongue (I hope, in time!!!) off the drug. Right now, it seems that I can manage without the APs. But there was a time in my life when I was actively self destructive where I could not be free of AP's, the old fashion, typical kind, and that is when I originally got the TD.
Well, I guess that is the long answer to your query! Good luck getting off of Z.
Chloe
Posted by Cindylou on September 20, 2001, at 15:14:18
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by ChrisK on September 19, 2001, at 4:28:11
Hi Chris,
Do you know if Geodon augments SSRIs like Zyprexa and Risperdal are supposed to do? I am just about to try Risperdal to augment a small dose of Prozac that has pooped out on me.I did take the Risperdal for one day, and I don't know if the side effects can kick in that fast or not, but I ate the entire night long. It was amazing and disconcerting -- normally I have no appetite and don't even think about food.
I was going to wait a couple weeks before trying it again since I'm trying out a vitamin/protein program right now. But if Geodon can augment the Prozac, that might be a better way for me to go.
Thanks,
cindy> Have you tried Geodon (Ziprasidone) yet? It works similarly to Zyprexa without the weight gain. I found it to be much more activating though. I would take it in the morning and still not get a good nights sleep. From the mood standpoint I didn't notice a big difference between the two. The Geodon kept me calm and my thoughts pretty clear.
>
>
>
> >What I would like to learn is the best way to get off this drug as well as some suggestions for another one to try. Thank you all for your support, Collette
Posted by ChrisK on September 21, 2001, at 4:06:54
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help? » ChrisK, posted by Cindylou on September 20, 2001, at 15:14:18
Yes, Geodon can augment Prozac. Theoretically it would be about the same as Zyprexa which has several studies showing it to augment Prozac very well. Geodon is supposed to me very similar to Zyprexa without the same side effects profile. It hasn't shown the weight gain which is the big thing for most people. The other thing is that it is much more activating than sedating. I tried it for a few months but gave up when I just couldn't get any quality slepp anymore. I'm back to Zyprexa which keeps my mind clear and allows me a good nights sleep. (The Geodon was also good for keeping my mind clear - no severe ruminating thoughts).
My own experience with the 3 meds (including Risperdal) is that Zyprexa worked best for me. I had ruminating thoughts of death and suicide that were with me almost all day long. When I tried Risperdal it turned me into a Zombie - no emotions, no personality and tired all of the time. Other people love it but I couldn't last more than a week on it because I felt absolutely nothing. Zyprexa at least let me keep my personality while lifting the dark cloud over my head. I switched to Geodon from Zyprexa with just a little overlap. From the standpoint of mood and thought patterns I really didn't notice a difference between the two. After a few months I had an easy switch back to Zyprexa and have been taking that ever since.
If your pdoc has patients with success on Risperdal you may want to give it a try. I would imagine that s/he is talking low dose like 1 mg/day.
These are only my personal responses to the 3 meds, your mileage may vary.
best of luck,
Chris
Posted by Vince on September 21, 2001, at 9:29:14
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help? » ChrisK, posted by chloe on September 19, 2001, at 7:15:26
> Collette,
> I don't have any suggestions for you. Just wanted to tell you that I am in the same boat...I just stopped Zyprexa two nights ago because of TD symptoms. I can't sleep anymore and my mood is bouncing all over the place!
>
> I hope you find something to help you :)
> ChloeChloe,
Was there any side effects from stopping all at once, like anxiety or anything else?
Vince
Posted by chloe on September 21, 2001, at 9:49:45
In reply to Re: Going off Zyprexa ..can you help? » chloe, posted by Vince on September 21, 2001, at 9:29:14
> Was there any side effects from stopping all at once, like anxiety or anything else?
>
Yes, the night after I stopped it, I had profound insomnia. The next day, my mood was terribly unstable, and I bounced between feeling suicidal and feeling ok. And yes, I was more anxious. It was a very uncomfortable experience. I have now had to start Li to try to smooth out my moods and feel more sane again.However, I was feeling pretty bad before I began my trial of Zyprexa...So I may just have had a rapid exaggerated return of symptoms. BUT I strongly suggest you taper this med slowly if you intend to stop it.
Good luck,
Chloe
Posted by JohnL on September 21, 2001, at 17:22:02
In reply to Going off Zyprexa ..can you help?, posted by Collete on September 19, 2001, at 2:57:01
Hi Collette,
Hey, I got a good idea. How about you eat a carrot and drink a glass of water before you eat?:-) Just kidding.
Have donuts instead.
Seriously, I know that appetite you are talking about. I can say though, at least for me, that most of that went away probably around week 6 or week 8, or so. The weight gain also leveled off and then I ended up losing all I had gained without trying real hard. Other people though say the weight gain is a continuing problem that doesn't let up. I guess it's different for everyone. Too bad though, because apparently the medicine was helping you. It would have been nice if the doc could have prescribed something to reverse that side effect.
As others have already mentioned, low dose Risperdal (.25mg to 1.00mg per day), or Geodon, are probably the best options. If you could get a prescription to send overseas, you could do real well with Amisulpride or Sulpiride.
Go ahead, have some donuts. Just eat a carrot and drink a glass of water first, OK? :-)
John> I am going to have to try something else besides Zyprexa. This is sad because I really feel so well with this medication, but I can NOT bear this amazing appetite...I am eating us out of house and home I have already gained ten pounds and there is no satisfying this constant hunger and the craving.( I love ya John L, but don't suggest that I eat a carrot or drink a glass of water to "fill me up"). What I would like to learn is the best way to get off this drug as well as some suggestions for another one to try. Thank you all for your support, Collette
This is the end of the thread.
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