Anyone Taking Zyprexa Longish Term?

[gizmo]

Quick rundown on me: I've been diagnosed BP for 4 years now. I've tried every AAP, am currently on Geodon, which didn't stop one depressive episode and one mixed episode (one at 80 mg, one at 160 mg). I've had either bad reactions or no positive effect with every aap I've tried. The only constant through them all has been lithium, which I've been on for three years. I've even retried several of the aap's. Yes, I tried Lamictal twice. Got a rash (not THE rash) both times and was taken off it.

I had a major mania in September/October that only 20mg a day of zyprexa quit. I wasn't tired. I was a little hungrier, but when you drink 150-200 ounces of liquid a day thanks to lithium/topamax, you stay relatively full.

I had a mixed episode three weeks ago. pdoc started me on 5 mg of zyprexa. It relieved 80% of my symptoms (mainly paranoia/extreme anxiety/agitation/not sleeping/auditory hallucinations). It hasn't really made me hungry. In fact, I've lost about 30 pounds over the last 2 months.

Saw pdoc today who thinks that taking me up to 10mg for more than an episode may be what needs to be done. I want to do anything that will keep me level. I haven't had a period of time without paranoid anxiety, mania, or depression for longer than 3 months. I'm tired. I want it to end. Other people with BP are stable, why can't I have that? Pdoc says she will have blood sugar monitored at each visit to make sure I don't turn diabetic.

Am I the only person on earth considering this? From what I read, people can't get off zyprexa fast enough. All I can see is that it's an "emegency drug" to be used short term.

I could use some input.

[carmex]

i'm on 20 mg of Zyprexa and have been on it for about a couple of months. I started off at 2.5, then went to 15, then to 20. The Zyprexa is working for me with regards to mood stabilization and keeping the mixed episodes away. Its part of my longterm tx. I've gained about 30 lbs but needed it anyway. PM me if you have any other questions.

[BPCharlotte]

It's not first-hand experience, but my hubby has been on 10mg for over a year (maybe two, we both have crap memories!) and he is pretty happy with it.

We haven't noticed any real problems with it long term, other than he can't tolerate alcohol anywhere near as well as before (but I guess that's true of many meds) and he can't be planning to have to do anything much after he's taken it (in the evening).

He says he feels more levelled out with it. It increased his appetite and he gained weight, but that was good because he was underweight and borderline anorexic (IMO).

Hope it works out to be the wonder drug you're looking for at the higher dose!

[netsavy006]

I took 5mg in the past for mood stabilization and I was on it for 6 months and it worked beautifully. I was not having manic nor depressive symptoms. This was prior to my bipolar dx. I noticed that I was gaining weight from the medication and I was concerned so every month I told the doctor I'm gaining weight from it but I wasn't doing anything to help counteract it. My day was like getting up, puttering around the house, watching TV in the morning, then going on the computer in the afternoon and into the evening, than going to bed at night. That would probably make almost anyone gain weight, but I still complained it was the med. So after 6 months, she took me off and I was never able to get stable on any other medications. So now I'm back on the Zyprexa but this time on the Zydis form (melt in the mouth version). Make sure to ask about the Zydis. It's 'claimed' to have less weight gain than the hard tablets. I prefer Zyprexa Zydis because there is less sedation. At least that's how I feel on it. The taste may not be pleasant but just be aware you can't take it if you have PKU. Personally, long term there may be risks but you have to way the risks with the benefits. I didn't want to be cycling, being on a medication that was giving me akathisia (inner restlessness and inability to remain still), and attempting @ 8 medications (plus fish oil and multivitamin (to make 10 total @ 1 time) so I worked with the doctor to down the number of meds and get me back on this one. I figure the benefits of using this medication right now outway the risks. And this one I will be on long term too. While this may (or may not) help there was a study done on Topamax and it was found to help correct the underlying risk factors of diabetes and other related information. You can read more about it here:

http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20030616/ep...argets-diabetes

I'm not saying that Topamax is the answer but I'm curious to see studies out there to find if Topamax could help delay or reduce the risk of the diabetes factor from medications like Zyprexa.

If you are really overly concerned about your weight on Zyprexa, I've heard that there is a medication that can be used to help counteract the weight gain from Zyprexa. It's called metformin (Glucophage). But I've never tried it so I don't know if it works. I'm sure other's may be able to tell you better.

I hope I could be of help and I wish you luck in your treatment decisions. Feel better.

[blackbird]

I have been on doses of Zyprexa ranging from 10mg to 25mg for 3 years now, It doesn't halt my symptoms but it makes it so I can function. It is vastly the most superior AAP I have been on. I have had massive weight gain and bulimia due to Zyprexa but lost most of it over the past 8 months due to careful monitoring of diet. Now I am back on topamax, I am losing even more weight and my bulimia and desire to stuff my face has disappeared. I don't expect to be taken off Zyprexa anytime soon unless they forcibly put me onto clozapine.

blackbird x