Angelwhore Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Hi, I started Zyprexa a couple of weeks ago -levelling out at 10mg about a week and a half ago - for embryonic psychosis/paranoia etc. It's done a fabulous job of knocking the symptoms on the head, and I can deal with the shaky hands and sleepiness. But I'm hungry ALL the time!! It's horrible, and is taking immense willpower not to stuff my face continually. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this? I was warned it might make me hungry, but I didn't realise what a struggle it would be not to eat tons. Has anyone come up with any good methods of distracting themselves from the hunger? At the moment, I'm just smoking a lot more cigarettes, which, let's face it, isn't the best coping strategy Any helpful hints much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~nestling~ Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 dried apricots (also good source of fibre....have read its good to have fibre on a/p's) dried fruit in general drink lotsa water.... sugarfree sweets (pref without sweeteners too) ??? I've never been on a/p's (yet?) but am on Remeron and have had to control the munchies sometimes...(most times I take it and crash out to sleep...) is there any way you could take your dose before sleep, would stop the munchies on their head....as it were.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FrannyNZooey Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Lot of fruit, such as melons and berries, and yes drinking lot of water. Perhaps checking with doc to see possibility of taking Topomax to help with cravings. It helped when I was on meds that caused the nighttime eating, bingeing, and at relatively low dose. Such as starting 25 mg twice day, then just going to 50 at bedtime, still 25 am, then possibly 50 at am and pm seem to knock the binge eating out. It also works for other impulse, addictions, such as alcoholism. And helps greatly for what it is meant for, migraines, which many meds have side effect of. Good Luck, please let know how doing. Aly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unregistered Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I didn't get the munchies real bad, but I was eating more. I'm sort of on the Atkins thing right now, and it's keeping me at a stable weight, even if I'm not losing. Lots of water (fizzy mineral water is best), big salads (they fill you up without the calories, and you can lash on the dressings), nuts, meats from the deli, cheese... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelwhore Posted May 15, 2006 Author Share Posted May 15, 2006 Thanks to all for the replies. Nestling, I am taking it in the evenings (not straight before bed, or I wouldn't be able to get up in the mornings!), but still am hungry all the time during the day. Aly, I'm seeing my psychiatrist a week on thursday, so if I haven't figured out a way to get round this then I will talk over the Topomax strategy with him. I'm not keen on the idea of taking a cocktail of meds (however small), but I'm equally not keen on getting fat And I'll certainly give the recommended snackage a go, and start carrying a bottle of water round with me. Salads sound a good plan too....then I could extend supper all through the evening....! Anyhow, I'll let you know how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Did you know you burn more calories chewing celrry than you consume by eating it? It would be the perfect food if it wasn't so damn bland. Blue cheese kinda defeats the point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FrannyNZooey Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I know AngelW~I never like a lot of meds, but if going to sabotage by needed med routine, due to weight gain, welll I figure it out weighs those risks. Everything is to just make sure we stay on track, and healthy, that is number 1 objective. Remind self of that; I know I was doing everthing good during day, then blew it with nighttime binge eating, so it helped me during that. My best thoughts with you. And VE I did all with non fat cream cheese, still ton of calories, since did whole block each time back then. And in middle of the night! Sheesh it was weird eating! Aly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackadoo Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Hi Angel, if I were you I would see if pdoc could recommend another med. I was on it for 5 months, gained 75 pounds and became diabetic due to the use of it. There is now a class action suit going on regarding this drug. It particularly effects people with a marked propensity to diabetes, but there are SO MANY reports of individuals with no diabetes in the family suddenly developing it while on Zyprexa. It is a demon drug, which should be pulled off the shelves. Is anyone monitorying your blood sugar? My intent is not to scare you, but to let you know what this drug is capable of doing to our bodies. Please seek more information from your pdoc, and damn it, if you have to get pushy about then do so. IT IS YOUR LIFE! There is a plethora of information about it's nasty side effects on the net. Just type in Zyprexa, and be prepared for some eye-popping, concretized evidence. Good luck to you. All my best to you. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libby Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I started Seroquel recently, and the nurse practitioner I saw said that it too can lead to diabetes. She told me to stay away from anything white: flour, sugar, rice, pasta. Anyhow, it worries me, but not enough to stop taking Seroquel. I've had much-needed relief from suicidal thoughts and from exhausting brain loops of self-condemnation. And I can sleep at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myevilme Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 In my experience the zyprexa munchies level out and for me they've become non-existant. Now I have been on it for over a year now. I did put on about 50 pounds the first few months, I was also taking remeron (another notorious weight-gainer) at the same time though. I've lost most of the weight now, and the zyprexa doesn't make me as sleepy and I don't get the munchies. The only thing I have to worry about is the high blood sugar I have developed. At first when I found out the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes I wanted to switch meds. But zyprexa works so well for me I'm just trying to follow my diet and exercise plan and keep things under control. It's really a great med if you can tolerate it and it doesn't leave you with any permanent damage or diseases like diabetes or pancreas problems. Crazy, what might have saved my life for now might play a part in killing me later. Ah well, at least I'm able to get through the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsgoingon Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 One thing I found good to eat when hungry was cottage cheese on rice bread. V low in calories and filling. I no longer get Zyprexa cravings, my appetite is back to normal but every time we change the dose the cravings come back for a couple of days. Weird. It does pass, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelwhore Posted May 17, 2006 Author Share Posted May 17, 2006 Thank you all so much for your replies (even the slightly scary ones!). I'm seeing my psychiatrist in a week, and will talk it all over with him. On the diabetes front, I was on Seroquel for a while and my GP did occasional blood tests for sugar levels with that, so I guess they're pretty switched on about these things. I'll definately bear it in mind though! Also, I'm finding that taking the Zyprexa with my supper takes the edge off the heavy-duty sleepiness. That said, apparently I'm rather sensitive to sedatives - a very low dose of diazepam was knocking me out in the middle of the day when I was manic..... Doncha' just love the human guniea pig element of all this?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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