chimpmaster Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Hi Guys, My psychiatrist in his ultimate wisdom has just switched me over from olanzapine to clozapine to treat my schizophrenia. He feels it is 75% more likely to work better for me and argues that I will probably need a relatively smaller dose than with the olanzapine. I am currently on 40mg zyprexa wafers daily (4 times per day, 10mg per time). The experience so far has sucked ass. Ive just had the initial blood test and ECG and have signed the waiver form. Tomorrow I start on the clozapine. The rules here in Australia at least are that I get a blood test once per week for 18 weeks, and then monthly. He also said that I have to see him on a more regular basis, probably weekly for a while and then fortnightly. My question is, to anyone out there who has tried both, is it really worth it? I was on 20mg a day zyprexa and getting break through psychotic symptoms and panic attacks. We increased to 40mg and these symptoms have gone. I dont mind blood tests, but the cost of the medical appointments and restrictions on the medication are going to be a real problem for me. I live 3 hrs drive from my p-doc, and the controls on clozapine here mean I can only get it from certain registered pharmacists (my closest is in the same hospital as my p-doc). Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I'm currently on Clozaril (clozapine) and use to take Zyprexa (olanzapine). When I was on Zyprexa (at dosages between 5 and 15mg per day) I use to have some bipolar symptom control when taken with lithium and I did have control over my hallucinations but I had side effects from it like akathisia and increased anxiety. Other medications in the same class as Zyprexa weren't helpful either, so when I was in the hospital in January '10, we made the move to Clozaril and it's been a great move for me. I've found that I get control over my psychotic symptoms (such as seeing things that aren't there, social withdrawal) and my bipolar symptoms such as irritability and racing thoughts and suicidal tendencies with Clozaril. I'm still working up the dosage to get to 300mg/d because my med concentration was low so the doctor is slowly raising the dosage to compensate but overall I've not had any problems with Clozaril other than constipation which was fixable (for me) by adding Colace 200mg each night. Make sure to go for the blood work because the blood work is important for you to be able to get your prescriptions. I wish you lots of luck with the switch. For me it was a great move and should you decide to make the switch, I hope it works out for you too. - Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamito Posted December 1, 2010 Share Posted December 1, 2010 I wish you good luck with it. I am also in Australia and looking at switching to Clozapine. I am resisting it as much as I can. I don't want the weight gain, blood tests, etc, but the Seroquel and Solian I am taking are not really agreeing with me. I am hoping they will settle down or I will be starting Clozapine next week. I hear its really good... BUT.... when it's your life, and your decision to make, it is not an easy one. Everyone tells me I should just take it, but nobody wants the blood tests and drooling. So I empathize with you. If the zyprexa is really unworkable then I guess you should give it a go, but it is your decision and don't let anyone bully you into it, because Clozapine has all of those allied issues like blood tests etc. And not everyone is comfortable with that. Sorry if I am rambling but basically wanted to say that I hear you.... and even if it is unpleasant, you can go back on the Zyprexa, if its working. I hope you post with your decision and experiences. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimpmaster Posted December 2, 2010 Author Share Posted December 2, 2010 Thanks for the support and kind words guys. Looks like I am staying on the olanzapine for a little while and will change to clozapine in a week or two. I will keep you posted. Thanks again. Chimp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimpmaster Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 My wife made some enquiries and it turns out there is a FREE local mental health clinic. I get to see the attending psychiatrist once per week, and also once per week with the mental health nurse. The program even pays for the clozapine. I am so relieved. I am now about 6 weeks into the clozapine trial. And guess what, it has been a wonderful change for me. I am more alert, less bombed out and doing well on a relatively small dose of 175mg. Keeping in mind I was on a whopping 40mg of olanzapine this is a miracle. I am going up to 200 mg next week. I am on day 2 without any olanzapine. I feel pretty weird but hey im coping. I also lost 4kg last week which is a minor victory for me. Anyway all is good and Im looking forward. Its great to be feeling great again, for the first time in years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crywolf2010 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 hey guys im from aus too!! i used to be on clozapine. i was doing pretty well of seroquel immediate release 1200mg. i heard about clozapine and how EVERYONE said its a "miracle drug" and the BEST. so stupidly even though i was doin well on seroquel i changed to clozapine and had to practicly BEG my doctor to put me on it. so she did. i regretted it big time. i have a lot of paranoia and clozapine DIDNT do much for that. i was on a massive dose 900MG. i think thats the max. i would still hear voices telling me to harm others especially my mum. the voices got WORSE on it. i would have to take valium PRN nearly EVERY day. i nearly got hooked on valium. i NEVER had episodes on seroquel. everyone i talked to on it including me DROOLS on it big time. mainly when you sleep. when i woke up in the morning my WHOLE bed would be COVERED in saliva. YUCK. pdocs dont give a damn about that shitty side effect. if it ACTUALLY worked i wouldnt give a damn about the drooling and the blood tests. i had to BEG my pdoc to take me off that clozapine. now im on SEROQUEL XR 1000mg and FINALLY NO MORE PSYCHOTIC EPISODES. i found seroquel xr works the best for me. if zyprexa was working well for you... then WHY did you change it!?!?!?. yes they might say clozapine is a miracle drug. but keep in mind clozapine is just a DRUG and like ANY drug it wont work for everyone...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SashaSue Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 hey guys im from aus too!! i used to be on clozapine. i was doing pretty well of seroquel immediate release 1200mg. i heard about clozapine and how EVERYONE said its a "miracle drug" and the BEST. so stupidly even though i was doin well on seroquel i changed to clozapine and had to practicly BEG my doctor to put me on it. so she did. i regretted it big time. i have a lot of paranoia and clozapine DIDNT do much for that. i was on a massive dose 900MG. i think thats the max. i would still hear voices telling me to harm others especially my mum. the voices got WORSE on it. i would have to take valium PRN nearly EVERY day. i nearly got hooked on valium. i NEVER had episodes on seroquel. everyone i talked to on it including me DROOLS on it big time. mainly when you sleep. when i woke up in the morning my WHOLE bed would be COVERED in saliva. YUCK. pdocs dont give a damn about that shitty side effect. if it ACTUALLY worked i wouldnt give a damn about the drooling and the blood tests. i had to BEG my pdoc to take me off that clozapine. now im on SEROQUEL XR 1000mg and FINALLY NO MORE PSYCHOTIC EPISODES. i found seroquel xr works the best for me. if zyprexa was working well for you... then WHY did you change it!?!?!?. yes they might say clozapine is a miracle drug. but keep in mind clozapine is just a DRUG and like ANY drug it wont work for everyone...... I'm glad you're once again on an effective med. Chimpmaster said the zyprexa wasn't working so well for him, and that the clozapine is indeed working better for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crywolf2010 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 anyone heard of anyone who HASNT got better with clozapine other than me????does clozapine REALLY work for NEARLY everybody?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimpmaster Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hey crywolf. How are you doing? To answer some of your questions... 1000mg is the maximm dose of clozapine, so you were on a very high dose. Also, I get the drooling too. I dont consider it to be a big deal though. Whats a bit of saliva when compared with some of the more serious side effects that meds can cause. My p-doc is a big clozapine fan. And I must admit it is working well for me @ 175mg. I hope to go up to 200mg this week. As for comparative doses, I was previously on 1500mg of seroquel, and it just didnt quite work for me. I am hopeful that a low clozapine dose will do the trick for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crywolf2010 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hey crywolf. How are you doing? To answer some of your questions... 1000mg is the maximm dose of clozapine, so you were on a very high dose. Also, I get the drooling too. I dont consider it to be a big deal though. Whats a bit of saliva when compared with some of the more serious side effects that meds can cause. My p-doc is a big clozapine fan. And I must admit it is working well for me @ 175mg. I hope to go up to 200mg this week. As for comparative doses, I was previously on 1500mg of seroquel, and it just didnt quite work for me. I am hopeful that a low clozapine dose will do the trick for me. hey. i guess everyone is different when it comes to meds. i was pretty psychotic on clozapine even though its meant to be the "BEST". when i begged my pdoc to put me on it i was thinking that it will get rid of ALL my paranoia. not the case. disapppointed. i find seroquel xr more effective even though reading on the net that seroquel is the "WEAKEST" of ALL antipsychotics. i had drowsiness and dry mouth when starting seroquel xr now thats GONE no side effects YAY. and now i can actually sit still.... what side effects did you get from 1500mg of seroquel? and just one more thing i meant to say the way i felt on 300mg clozapine is the same way i felt on 900mg. so i guess going higher doesnt always mean better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimpmaster Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Thanks for posting crywolf. Thats interesting what you say about 300mg vs 900mg. I really hope that 200-->300mg is enough for me. My p-doc said that unlike some other medications, clozapine dosage does not depend on body mass. He did indicate however that smaller dose tends to equal less side effects, which makes sense. On the high dose of seoquel I felt like a zombie. It worked but I was way too sedated. Not as bad as 40mg olanzapine, but bad enough. How are you feeling now on the seroquel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blart752 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Is clozaril any more sedating than seroquel? cuz i remember i was on seroquel and it knocked the shit outta me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimpmaster Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hey Blart, Yes, clozapine is sedating but it varies from person to person and dosage plays a big part. The idea is that you take a lower equivalent dose of clozapine (compared with say seroquel). How much seroquel were you on? Seroquel tends to be initially sedating, but levels out over time. When I was on 1500mg Seroquel I was very sedated, moreso than I am now on cloz. However I was on a very high dose of seroquel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blart752 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Hey Blart, Yes, clozapine is sedating but it varies from person to person and dosage plays a big part. The idea is that you take a lower equivalent dose of clozapine (compared with say seroquel). How much seroquel were you on? Seroquel tends to be initially sedating, but levels out over time. When I was on 1500mg Seroquel I was very sedated, moreso than I am now on cloz. However I was on a very high dose of seroquel. i was on 25-100mg seroquel, as he adjusted for diferrent circumstances, symptoms. but mostly i was on 25mg, and it was still pretty sedating. yah it definitely levels out a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.