Cetkat Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I've been on Zyprexa for a week now following a stint on Abilify that ended in horrible akathisia. When I started the Abilify, I noticed it's effect a few days in & it was good up until I went up to 10mg. Then, I had problems no matter what the dose - so it was a time thing, not quantity I think. On the Abilify, I had some side effects in the beginning - mostly a headache and drowsiness. And I waited for that to calm down before increasing the dose. I also felt it working a bit. On the Zyprexa, nothing. Not one side effect, good or bad. It's like a sugar pill. However, I'm worried that if I increase it (with pdoc approval) that the same akathisia will come back. But I'm not getting any benifit from it now and there doesn't seem to be anything to adjust to. So, what do you all think? Would staying at 5 mg lessen my chance to get akathisia, or would I get it anyway if I'm going to? If that's the case, I might as well find out sooner rather than later, right? It's also made by Lily, and their Cymbalta has been my wonderdrug (in terms of zero side effects going on or off, and it actually doing something for me), so I'm inclined to think that this med might work the same way. Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Bottom line: If you don't increase the dose and give the drug a fair chance then you have just wasted time, money and worry. We all hate and fear side effects but we need to be patient and give the meds a chance. Every med stands on its own, and each works differently for each person. How well this drug works for you has nothing to do with the manufacturer or their other drugs. I hope this one works for you. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetkat Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share Posted October 15, 2006 Bottom line: If you don't increase the dose and give the drug a fair chance then you have just wasted time, money and worry. We all hate and fear side effects but we need to be patient and give the meds a chance. Right, and I hated having to stop the abilify for that reason. I'm very much in for the long haul.. I just have to avoid akathisia - that's worse for me than having no meds at all (and right now, I can't treat it). I'm just wondering if it would be ok to increase to the therapeutic dose on this one since it agrees with me so far, or if that would just be inviting a greater likelyhood of getting that bad result again. Is it better to go slow with no result, or move up to an amount that may help once your body gives the ok? Would sitting here stewing at 5 mg keep me from having to quit the med later? I just don't know.. Every med stands on its own, and each works differently for each person. How well this drug works for you has nothing to do with the manufacturer or their other drugs. Drats, thought I was on to something.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unregistered Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 5mg Zyprexa is below wht is considered a therapeutic dose, I understand. 10mg or more is the sweet spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Im with Unregistered on this one. Zyprexa did diddly squat for me until I went up to 10mgs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetkat Posted October 15, 2006 Author Share Posted October 15, 2006 How long did you both wait until you moved up? And did you experience akathisia in doing so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unregistered Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 I was started on 10mg. I'm down to 5 to try and help with weight, but I feel like I'm permanently about to lose it at this dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 5mg Zyprexa is below wht is considered a therapeutic dose, I understand. 10mg or more is the sweet spot. This is 100% dependent on why you taking it, FWIW. It's indicated at as little as 2.5 mgs for manic agitation. They wouldn't make it in 2.5 mg pills if it was useless in doses smaller than 10. If you're using it for a psychotic condition or to break a mania higher doses are needed. When it's taken prophetically lower doses may be OK. If you're taking it pid for anxiety, you take as little as you can get away with. Cetkat: According to rxlist you should be at a steady state by now so in all likelihood it's done whatever it's going to do. I don't really grok the etiology of EPS though. There are several drugs you can take to counter EPS if you do have problems so discontinuation is not your only option. If you don't have psychotic symptoms, you might want to move on to another class of drugs. I see chronic refractory depression in your sig. Yeah the MAO-Is have a scary sounding side effect profile, but compared to what you're dealing with now it's really not that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unregistered Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Fair point. Want to elaborate on usages vs doses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbird Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 Is the maximum dose 20mgs or 30mgs? Does it cease to be any more therapeutic above these doses? I waited for one week before jumping to 10mgs, I get kind of impatient and want results now. Best thing I ever did. I had RLS very badly for a fortnight or so then it died down. Zyprexa makes me feel focused and capable again. Kind of like what I expect Ritalin would be like for an ADHD person. Psychosis was really wiping the floor with me. Zyprexa actually seems to energise me even though it is among the more sedating of the AAPs. I take 10mgs in the morning and feel great. I felt even better with Haldol added to the mix but the glory days are over! (Thanks hyperprolactinemia! ) I hope your symptoms wear away eventually Cetkat, Im not sure if it is something that will get worse or lessen with time, more informed people than I will be able to answer that. Unregistered, you have all my sympathy with the weight issue and the 'just about to lose it' feeling. Zyprexa is meant to be pretty harsh to withdraw from by all accounts, when I was withdrawing from Abilify I felt exactly the same way. I cope with the weight gain by rigidly curbing carbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetkat Posted October 16, 2006 Author Share Posted October 16, 2006 Cetkat: According to rxlist you should be at a steady state by now so in all likelihood it's done whatever it's going to do. I don't really grok the etiology of EPS though. There are several drugs you can take to counter EPS if you do have problems so discontinuation is not your only option. Thanks, that's very helpful. I just don't want to get (temporary/long term/who knows?) EPS from going up like normal, instead of holding it at a lower dose for longer. (My pdoc has the belief that akathisia will go away once you get used to the drug.) I know I can get drugs to counteract the akathisia, but I'm without Rx insurance until January. That, and being a poor college student, I have to rely on whatever samples my pdoc has. She didn't have anything to treat the akathisia I got with Abilify - so we switched drugs.. with the intention to go back and try again if we don't find something better. If you don't have psychotic symptoms, you might want to move on to another class of drugs. I see chronic refractory depression in your sig. Yeah the MAO-Is have a scary sounding side effect profile, but compared to what you're dealing with now it's really not that bad.Yeah, the patch has been discussed. Right now our order of treatment is to try the AAP's first, maybe toss in some other mood stabilizers, then the MAOI, then ECT. I really hope I don't have to try the last two.. I'd rather go through every other med first. I waited for one week before jumping to 10mgs, I get kind of impatient and want results now. Best thing I ever did. I had RLS very badly for a fortnight or so then it died down. Zyprexa makes me feel focused and capable again. Zyprexa actually seems to energise me even though it is among the more sedating of the AAPs. I hope your symptoms wear away eventually Cetkat, Im not sure if it is something that will get worse or lessen with time, more informed people than I will be able to answer that. Thanks. I'm glad it's working out for you; Zyprexa's more activating for me too. I think I'm going to go ahead and try increasing the dose & see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 per my research (and why are URLs never on hand when i need them?), the side effects of zyprexa are not dose dependent. so if you take 2.5 or 20, your side effects would be the same. now is this reliable? i remember reading it somewhere reliable, because i used to take Zyperxa, but anyway... can you take cogentin or inderal for your akathisia? also on zyperxa, for me anyway, i noticed that i hit my sweet spot at 15mg. that was my personal best dose. i was up to 20 and down to 5 for awhile, but i felt like donkey dong on both doses. 15 was good for me personally. i never had any side effects except lactation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 per my research (and why are URLs never on hand when i need them?), the side effects of zyprexa are not dose dependent. so if you take 2.5 or 20, your side effects would be the same. now is this reliable? i remember reading it That was not my experience and it does not make a bit of sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted October 16, 2006 Share Posted October 16, 2006 that's what i thought, VE, that it doesn't make sense. i'll ask my pdoc the next time i see him (31st) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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