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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by walshingham on December 27, 2006, at 8:25:33
Was taking Zyprexa 5 mg for a year and all was ok, but it was giving me amnesia, which was unacceptable for job reasons. Switched to abilify 10 mg, took it for 3 weeks, together with the zyprexa, no problems there at all. Then stopped the zyprexa and went solo on abilify 15 mg. after 3 days without any side-effects, I started having mild to medium anxiety/akathisia, which is bearable, but annoying. Doc has told me to use a little diazepam, at my discretion, to alleviate it. Some questions: 1)does anybody out there have a similar experience with abilify 2)how long can i expect the anxiety/akathisia to last?
Posted by SLS on December 27, 2006, at 8:42:13
In reply to Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by walshingham on December 27, 2006, at 8:25:33
> Was taking Zyprexa 5 mg for a year and all was ok, but it was giving me amnesia, which was unacceptable for job reasons.
What type of amnesia?
> Switched to abilify 10 mg, took it for 3 weeks, together with the zyprexa, no problems there at all. Then stopped the zyprexa and went solo on abilify 15 mg. after 3 days without any side-effects, I started having mild to medium anxiety/akathisia, which is bearable, but annoying.
It is often difficult to tell the difference between anxiety and akathisia. It is possible that you are experiencing withdrawal anxiety from discontinuing the Zyprexa. The akathisia associated with Abilify usually lasts for two weeks at most from what I can see. How would you be able to identify the difference between anxiety and akathisia?
> Doc has told me to use a little diazepam, at my discretion, to alleviate it.
Whether your condition is due to withdrawal induced anxiety or neuroleptic induced akathisia, benzodiazepines have demonstrated some benefit in treating the condition, and I would consider their use therapeutic.
- Scott
Posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 15:40:09
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS » walshingham, posted by SLS on December 27, 2006, at 8:42:13
This concerns me.
I want to make a clean switch from the zyprexa I have been taking for nearly 7 years to abilify to see if it makes me less dull-headed.
I have tried twice before to do this, slowly increasing the abilify, and then stopping the zyprexa, but the insomnia was unbearable, and I could not break free from the zyprexa. I noticed when looking at the Psychiatric Drug Chart yesterday (http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html) that zyprexa is classed as a "thienbenzodiazepine".
What are the chances I'm addicted to zyprexa after using it for so long, since it is classed as a benzodiazepine -- just like valium? Or is there a difference in addictive properties within those drugs that all just happen to be classed as benzodiazepines?
I really would like to quit using zyprexa, but whether it's a physical or a mental need, I cannot go to sleep at night without having taken my zyprexa - even in a reduced amount. If there is some addiction to account for, how do I go about weaning myself off of zyprexa?
Posted by Quintal on December 31, 2006, at 16:43:49
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 15:40:09
That's a question I've wondered myself kotsunega. Technically the chemical resembles those in the benzodiazepine class in some ways but olanzapine binds to different receptors. It has only mild affinity for the benzodiazepine receptors.
The insomnia is probably because you have become dependant on the sedative effect of the Zyprexa to help you sleep - it's not the same as addiction but it is a problem nevertheless. How do you feel about taking small doses of a sedating antihistamine to replicate this effect (the sedating effect of the antipsychotics comes mostly from their antagonism of the H1 receptors in the brain)?
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is one example or you could try. Doxepin or trimipramine on prescription are also good options - they are TCAs with strong sedative effects also due to histamine blockade. Trimipramine causes (almost) no disruption of sleep architecture compared to standard hypnotics.
Q
Posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 23:06:17
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by Quintal on December 31, 2006, at 16:43:49
Thanks Quintal. You are probably correct that what I have is more of a habituation than a true addiction to zyprexa. I did note another string of posts on the subject of zyprexa addiction on Psycho-Babble this evening. Think I will go read through those after responding to your suggestions to me, which are helpful. Thanks again.
K
Posted by ed_uk on January 1, 2007, at 4:39:13
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 15:40:09
Hi K
>is classed as a "thienbenzodiazepine"
It's just referring to the chemical structure. Zyprexa and the benzodiazepines (eg. clonazepam) are pharmacologically completely different.
Ed
Posted by Sebastian on January 1, 2007, at 21:58:02
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 15:40:09
I'm doing the same thing. I took 10mg zyprexa for almost 10 years. Switching to Abilify. The best advice is to not suddenly drop the zyprexa, but slowly cut down on the dose while to increase the dose of abilify. I'm now taking 5mg zyprexa and 5 mg abilify. My diabeties is doing better now so I'm going to stay at this dose for a while. I would not advise to suddenly take a large dose of abilify either. It could be too strong, and have a bad sudden change. 1mg abilify did nothing to me. 2 mg felt too week, so I went to 5mg, this felt right. I tried 10mg for a day and the side-effects were too much. I tried 0mg zyprexa and that was too little, couldn't eat, sleep, felt real depressed.
Why are you swithching? How is the abilify going, what dose, how many times a day? Don't go too fast with the zyprexa, you will just end up in the same place you were.
It makes me less dull headed. I'm injoying this change. 10mg zyprexa was too much. I think zyprexa is addictive not in the way that you need more and more. but you depend on the way it makes you feel good.
Posted by Jeroen on January 2, 2007, at 16:20:52
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by kotsunega on December 31, 2006, at 15:40:09
hi, if you feel great on zyprexa, there is chance you will feel great on seroquel too
Posted by Sebastian on January 2, 2007, at 18:12:56
In reply to if you feel good or not, posted by Jeroen on January 2, 2007, at 16:20:52
Seroquel has the same problem as zyprexa, weight gain and blood sugar. I'd rather the zyprexa.
Posted by theo on January 6, 2007, at 22:52:17
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS, posted by Sebastian on January 1, 2007, at 21:58:02
Do you take your Abilify morning or evening?
Posted by Sebastian on January 7, 2007, at 2:05:45
In reply to Re: Abilify 15 mg SLS » Sebastian, posted by theo on January 6, 2007, at 22:52:17
Morning and afternoon. 5mg.
This is the end of the thread.
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