Which of these 2 options is better?

[JustGotOut]

Taking clozaril and gaining significant weight+ diabetes and cholersterol issues but it allows you to finish school and work a full time job and live a normal life.

Or take a drug like latuda in which you aren't able to work or go to school and are permanently disabled and deal with breakthrough symptoms every few days. 

It is amazing to me how much more effective clozaril is than latuda. Take a look at this study comparing these antipsychotics.

• Clozapine 0.88 (0.73 – 1.03)
• Amisulpride 0.66 (0.53 – 0.78)
• Olanzapine 0.59 (0.53 – 0.65)
• Risperidone 0.56 (0.50 – 0.63)
• Paliperidone 0.50 (0.39 – 0.60)
• Zotepine 0.49 (0.31 – 0.66)
• Haloperidol 0.45 (0.39 – 0.51)
• Quetiapine 0.44 (0.35 – 0.52)
• Aripiprazole 0.43 (0.34 – 0.52)
• Sertindole 0.39 (0.26 – 0.52)
• Ziprasidone 0.39 (0.30 – 0.49)
• Chlorpromazine 0.38 (0.23 – 0.54)
• Asenapine 0.38 (0.25 – 0.51)
• Lurasidone 0.33 (0.21 – 0.45)
• Iloperidone 0.33 (0.22 – 0.43)

(http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)60733-3/fulltext#article)

Obviously I care about my physical health and I am noticing some weight loss switching from clozaril to latuda. I was only on the clozaril a short time when I was psychotic. I am however wondering if instead of being in the category of too sick to work yet too well for a hospital, if going on clozaril would be worth it if it could get me in the well enough to work and function normally in society. The thing is I feel almost well enough to work now but still feel emotional pain which is probably depression after coming down from my 3 month psychotic manic high last winter. I know some people are on clozaril and still are too disabled to work but I can't help but think if I got on clozaril I would be able to fully function instead of this half functioning i'm doing. Of course clozaril made me feel extremely sedated and hungry all the time and I would sleep like 15 hours a day it was insane. So I honestly don't know what to do.

Edited August 27, 2015 by JustGotOut

[saintalto]

I'm supposed to go on clozaril as a permanent medication in November. I'm nervous about it myself.

[JustGotOut]

I'm supposed to go on clozaril as a permanent medication in November. I'm nervous about it myself.

Well the good news is it is hands down the most effective drug. And doesnt cause any eps symptoms. The bad news is the weight gain and lipid problems. But you feel very good while on it from my experience. I had to stop it because even on a low dose of 50 mgs I was sleeping 15 hours a day which is a sign the drug is too strong.

[melissaw72]

Have you tried other meds than the clozaril and latuda?  Kind of like in between what you said in you original OP ... living well enough to work, etc, and permanently disabled?

Taking clozaril and gaining significant weight+ diabetes and cholersterol issues but it allows you to finish school and work a full time job and live a normal life.

Or take a drug like latuda in which you aren't able to work or go to school and are permanently disabled and deal with breakthrough symptoms every few days. 

[JustGotOut]

Have you tried other meds than the clozaril and latuda?  Kind of like in between what you said in you original OP ... living well enough to work, etc, and permanently disabled?

Taking clozaril and gaining significant weight+ diabetes and cholersterol issues but it allows you to finish school and work a full time job and live a normal life.

Or take a drug like latuda in which you aren't able to work or go to school and are permanently disabled and deal with breakthrough symptoms every few days. 

Yeah ive been on abilify zyprexa risperdal saphris invega geodon as well. It seems to me I might as well go big or go home. But it doesnt even seem like clozaril would be an option since even at 50 mgs i sleep 15 hours a day. So it seems i might be stuck with what i have.

[jarn]

What about the typicals?  I ran out of AAPs available in Canada other than Zyprexa and Clozapine and neither me or my pdoc wanted to go down that road because of weight gain etc.  

I started on a low dose of loxapine (typical) along with my Saphris.  I REALLY, REALLY like it.  I had some start up dyskinesia but it went away after a few days, and otherwise it's basically side effect free, and so effective.  I was so closed to the typicals before but I'm really impressed.  Loxapine is kind of a bridge between APs and AAPs.   

[jt07]

I've got to agree with jarn on this. If you haven't tried the typicals, you've tried less than half of what's available.

[dancingteapot]

I went off clozaril then a few days later became psychotic and manic.

i was put back on it and I realize that I may really need it...I'm only on 100mgs I was on 550 mg at one point.

i gained 60 pounds since being on it it...started the med in October 2014

i also take a brand new AAP with it.

but yeah...clozaril can be destructive but also very helpful.