Lost_In_Wonderland Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hello all, well I've been on Saphris for about a month now, initially 5mg at night and 5mg during the day but the 5mg during the day just caused me to fall instantly asleep again, even after a cup of coffee, and made me into a virtual zombie, so was recommended to *just* take the nighttime dose. Because of this though, my clonazepam dose was upped, from 0.5 mg nightly to 1mg during the day (I often need two throughout the day) due to extreme anxiety. I find it hits me less then the Diazepam, (10 mg) I'm used to, though. Also, my sleep pattern is weird. The Saphris knocks me out initially but night 1 I sleep 3 or 4 hours, then the next night I can usually sleep a "normal" 8. I've suffered from insomnia all my life so maybe this isn't so unusual but the nights I sleep less, the less my anxiety is where as when I'm better rested it increases rapidly. (According to my therapist, this is normal.) I've also noticed a rapid weight gain on Saphris, I've gained 6 pounds since I started taking it, and am a small person (5'0) so not used to eating much. Its also not helping with the gallstone attacks I still suffer from (although a separate medical issue, I really CANT eat a lot without getting an attack, and these meds aren't helping. Had 2 really bad ones already.) Mood wise: Better in general, but still very easy to trigger into manic/deppresive state and I hate the fact that people need to "walk on eggshells" around me, yes Im happy it seemed to stop my parents screaming as they became scared of triggering me into depression, lol, but I needed about 2 clonazepam to get through a certain situation last week (friends car broke down, leaving us stranded in a dodgy area, for 3 hours while we realized she didnt have triple A and the car needed to be towed) I'm finally seeing my PDoc today at 2, so any suggestions, especially considering the weight and insomnia issues, would be greatly appreciated (used to take Amtriptyline in London and that really helped on the sleep and depression front, but was considering suggesting Wellbutrin as I heard it could really help on the anxiety and weight front) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 My understanding is that for a short period, sleep deprivation improves your mood. But if you do it too many nights in a row, it can destabilize you. It sounds like you are managing okay, although it must be frustrating. The weight gain is something you are going to have to think about. The shitty thing about psychiatric drugs is you almost always have to make a cost/benefit analysis. It is rare that you will get a med that both works, AND has no side effects. It happens, so I don't want to imply that side effects are inevitable, but most of the time, you are going to have to decide what you can cope with. I know very little about AAPs, having only taken them for a short time last summer. Does Saphris tend to cause more weight gain than other AAPs? I will say that risperidone was weight neutral for me, but it isn't guaranteed to work, and if you are doing well on the Saphris, you need to keep in mind that if you *don't* like the risperidone, and have to go back on the Saphris, it might not work as well the second time around. I want to emphasize, I am not saying don't stop the Saphris no matter what, nor am I saying get off of it as soon as possible. I just am pointing out the dilemma that most of us face at one point or another. Definitely bring it up with your pdoc, 6 lbs. is a lot of weight on someone your height. But if you don't gain anymore (which could happen), it wouldn't seem as bad to me as it would if I knew you were going to continue putting on weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Oops, and I'm moving this to AAPs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 I never stayed on Saphris long enough to find out if it would cause weight gain or not. I'd take it and minutes later I'd see sparkles everywhere and I'd be sound asleep within another couple of minutes. I believe I lasted three days. I couldn't take it any longer. I've taken every AAP except for Latuda. At least I think I have. Oh, and that one that starts with a "C" that requires all those blood tests. I'm having recall problems tonight so rather than say they wrong med, I'm hoping someone can come up with the name. Anyway, my point was, I've gained weight on every single AAP. Every one. Some were worse than others but I never met one that didn't make me gain. The addition of Metformin helped but all it really did was slow down the gain. I'm not taking any more AAPs unless it is an emergency. I'm going to stick with the older antipsychotics. For me, the older ones have far fewer side effects. Why not go back on amitriptyline? I know you said you'd like to try Wellbutrin but for me, there is no better med for depression than amitriptyline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_In_Wonderland Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 I never stayed on Saphris long enough to find out if it would cause weight gain or not. I'd take it and minutes later I'd see sparkles everywhere and I'd be sound asleep within another couple of minutes. I believe I lasted three days. I couldn't take it any longer. I've taken every AAP except for Latuda. At least I think I have. Oh, and that one that starts with a "C" that requires all those blood tests. I'm having recall problems tonight so rather than say they wrong med, I'm hoping someone can come up with the name. Anyway, my point was, I've gained weight on every single AAP. Every one. Some were worse than others but I never met one that didn't make me gain. The addition of Metformin helped but all it really did was slow down the gain. I'm not taking any more AAPs unless it is an emergency. I'm going to stick with the older antipsychotics. For me, the older ones have far fewer side effects. Why not go back on amitriptyline? I know you said you'd like to try Wellbutrin but for me, there is no better med for depression than amitriptyline. I asked my pdoc if I could go back to amitriptyline, but as I'm diagnosed bipolar and not just deppressed, apparently it might make me worse...although it really did help in the past O.o I was only really thinking Wellbutrin as a weight stabilizer... I was taken off the Saphris as he was alarmed at the weight gain, and put on Lamictal, which just made all my muscles ache day 1 and I spent all day two vomiting into the bathroom toilet. Not fun =/ I think he's given up on me. I was also prescribed clonazepam to ween me off diazepam but it took far to long to kick in so he put me on 2mg of diazepam which is just a joke as I was on 10mg in London so my tolerance is pretty high. And I really dont WANT to abuse my benzos, but they simply will not work otherwise. I agree about older ones being better...my pdoc in London wanted to put me on a low dose of lithium but apparently its not even prescribed here across the pond. Which is shite as far as I'm concerned but I need to stay here as 1. Still newly sober and drug-free and need SOME form of stabalization before jumping on a plane, 2. No job here=no money=no place to live in London and 3. I really did miss my family, and they are finally starting to understand me a bit more. I miss the boyfriend terribly though, and also feel incredibly lonely as all my old high school friends here moved away or are travelling :/. Seeing a new pdoc tomorrow...hopefully she will be able to help...*fingers crossed* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I'm bipolar and I'm on amitriptyline. I know that it can make some people worse. It doesn't make me worse. It doesn't make me rapid cycle. It helps the depression, oh, and it helps with muscular pain that I have from another issue. I've tried so many meds that it isn't funny. My pdoc is willing to try things that aren't "typical" because, no matter what the literature says, I have to do what works for me. If they won't give you lithium, what about Depakote or Trileptal or Tegretol? Have you tried any of those? As far as the older antipsychotics go, I really like perphenazine. It worked for me 30 years ago and it still works today. I tried almost all the AAPs. The weight gain was horrible. I gained about 100 lbs. I too, am 5 feet tall so I know where you're coming from on the weight thing. Good luck with the new pdoc. Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I don't understand, why do you think lithium isn't used in the US? You keep saying that, and yet look at everyone's signatures around the boards. We aren't all from the US, but a plurality of us are. My dad was treating manic-depressives (as they were called) with lithium in the 60s, in New Haven, Connecticut, which is definitely in the US. It is still considered the best mood stabilizer for bipolar people, 40 years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I hadn't caught that you're in the US and think lithium isn't used here. I've been on and off of lithium for 35+ years. I've got a couple of bottles in the cabinet right now. If your pdoc isn't comfortable prescribing lithium then I'd suggest maybe you need to look for another pdoc. You want someone that has experience with patients that are bipolar. If the pdoc isn't comfortable with lithium then I'd think they aren't all that experienced and I'd start looking elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfranco92 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 I never stayed on Saphris long enough to find out if it would cause weight gain or not. I'd take it and minutes later I'd see sparkles everywhere and I'd be sound asleep within another couple of minutes. I believe I lasted three days. I couldn't take it any longer. I've taken every AAP except for Latuda. At least I think I have. Oh, and that one that starts with a "C" that requires all those blood tests. I'm having recall problems tonight so rather than say they wrong med, I'm hoping someone can come up with the name. You're thinking about Clozapine (Clozaril). I tried Saphris while I was inpatient, but I had an allergic reaction to it so I had to stop it immediately. I empathize with you on the weight gain, as I gained 30 pounds while I was on Zyprexa and Seroquel, and I am 4'10 (and I was 105 originally). I've been on lithium for seven years and it hasn't caused me any problems. Its a great mood stabilizer, you should consider it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_In_Wonderland Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 I don't understand, why do you think lithium isn't used in the US? You keep saying that, and yet look at everyone's signatures around the boards. We aren't all from the US, but a plurality of us are. My dad was treating manic-depressives (as they were called) with lithium in the 60s, in New Haven, Connecticut, which is definitely in the US. It is still considered the best mood stabilizer for bipolar people, 40 years later. It was my old pdoc, who said it "was hardly ever prescribed" and "really bad for your kidneys." So it was the only information I had to go on, at the time... The new pdoc today prescribed me with Lithium, 300mgs twice daily, and Trazodone 50 mgs before bed for the insomnia. Thank you for the advice, as always *fingers crossed* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.