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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by White Stone on March 3, 2003, at 23:09:44
I have been on Zyprexa for a couple of weeks now (in addition to the 100mg of Zoloft per day). It seems like I am bloating, gaining weight, and my skin is terribly dry, despite being a very good water drinker. The side effects have been minor compared to the overall positive change in my demeanor and thought processes. I feel good for the first time in many months, perhaps even years. My doctor said this is a fairly new drug. Has anyone else had experience with this medication - positive or negative?
Posted by xjs7 on March 4, 2003, at 17:11:21
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by White Stone on March 3, 2003, at 23:09:44
If I remember correctly, Zyprexa was introduced in 1996 in the United States. So, it is new but not brand new. It is great that it is working for you. Drugs like Zyprexa are great for quieting or slowing thoughts down. There are alternatives to Zyprexa that do not cause weight gain and work about as well. If you think the weight gain is going to be a problem you could ask for Geodon or Abilify, both of which cause no weight gain and have about the same therapeutic effects as Zyprexa. I take Geodon and it hasn't caused any weight gain in the 16-17 months that I have been on it. I hope this helps.
xjs7
Posted by White Stone on March 5, 2003, at 3:02:48
In reply to Re: Zyprexa » White Stone, posted by xjs7 on March 4, 2003, at 17:11:21
xjs7,
Thanks for the heads up on Geodon and Abilify. I have an appointment in about two weeks and will inquire about both of those. I have already had some weight gain and water retention since being on AD's and/or the Zyprexa. In fact, I can't wear any of my rings. Since I didn't want to commit to sizing up my newer wedding set. I got the original set out and took it to a jeweler this morning to be restored, soldered together, and enlarged.The doctor officially changed my diagnosis yesterday from depression with general anxiety to bipolar. And he is scheduling an appt. for me with a psychiatrist. I think he has taken me as far as he can and wants a full evaluation done by a more mental health professional who specializes in bipolar patients.
Posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:43:21
In reply to Re: Zyprexa » White Stone, posted by xjs7 on March 4, 2003, at 17:11:21
> Drugs like Zyprexa are great for quieting or slowing thoughts down.
What are you on? What is your diagnosis? When you say that Zyprexa and other atypical antipsychotics are great for slowing your thoughts, in what sense do you mean? I have a pretty bad case of GAD and I am constantly thinking of the worst, I wonder if these would help me at all. Do they cause cognitive disfunction??
Posted by xjs7 on March 5, 2003, at 14:26:45
In reply to Re: Zyprexa » xjs7, posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:43:21
Hi Jack,
When I said that antipsychotics are great for slowing thoughts down, I was referring to bipolar mania. People who have mania often have what psychiatrists call "flight of ideas" in which the pressure of thought is increased and the thoughts are going extremely fast. In bipolar disorder these thoughts still make logical sense and are connected to each other logically. Antipsychotics are commonly used to treat mania, and they will slow down this form of thought disorder.
I am on Geodon, and my diagnosis is schizophrenia, although I have a lot of manic characteristics. So perhaps schizoaffective disorder would be more appropriate. I have both auditory hallucinations and an increased pressure of thought, along with some other signs of mania and psychosis. The Geodon resolves these problems quite well, and I am almost 'normal' when I take it.
I also have anxiety, but have not found the antipsychotics to be an effective long-term solution to it. If you are actually hypomanic (mildly manic) then an AP might help. Are your thoughts coming faster than usual? Do you have any other signs of mania?
I haven't noticed any cognitive dysfunction on Geodon. I hope this helps.
xjs7
Posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 20:32:42
In reply to Zyprexa, posted by White Stone on March 3, 2003, at 23:09:44
Hi, well I would rather comment on the positive but I can't here. I took Zyprexa when I was undergoing my 9 ECT treatments-Zyprexa made me eat, eat, eat, I gained, and felt bloated. I also felt out of it and got stomach pain-overall=not the med for me, but I wish YOU the best of luck and I'm glad you feel it is helping you despite the few side effects you are experiencing.
Kristen
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I have been on Zyprexa for a couple of weeks now (in addition to the 100mg of Zoloft per day). It seems like I am bloating, gaining weight, and my skin is terribly dry, despite being a very good water drinker. The side effects have been minor compared to the overall positive change in my demeanor and thought processes. I feel good for the first time in many months, perhaps even years. My doctor said this is a fairly new drug. Has anyone else had experience with this medication - positive or negative?
Posted by White Stone on March 8, 2003, at 18:16:57
In reply to Re: Zyprexa » White Stone, posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 20:32:42
Hi Kristen,
I meant to get back to you earlier, but the week got away from me. I was wrapped up in some online classes. I really understand what you mean by eat-eat-eat. The Zyprexa is effecting me that way too. I even took my original wedding set to be repaired and resized (bigger, of course) so I would have a wedding ring to wear. I wasn't quite ready to make my newer set bigger because I wasn't sure how long I would be on the Zyprexa. My experience isn't quite the same...it's not really a stomach pain, just more of a dull, unsettled feeling and I want to eat crackers or bread to settle it. I have learned recently that there are a couple of other drugs out there that might be better, such as geodon and abilify. Thanks for your support and input.
-Kristina
Posted by KrissyP on March 8, 2003, at 20:35:47
In reply to Re: Zyprexa, posted by White Stone on March 8, 2003, at 18:16:57
This is the end of the thread.
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