Posted by Don_Bristol on April 15, 2006, at 19:12:33
I have recently been given some Olanzapine (Zyprexa) to add to my Parnate. The doc said to start on a 2.5mg tablet of Zyprexa but I am cautious and started on half one of those tablets (=1.25mg).
1.25mg is a near-trivial dose as the usual starting dose is approx 5mg to 15mg a day. Then it is raised but not more than 20mg a day. maintenance can be as low as 5mg.
However after just 1.25mg I feel zonked. I can't face taking the same again the next night - especially as the halflife of Zyprexa is 1 to 2 days and about half of yesterday's does will still be in me.
Maybe I have over-responded because I am also taking Parnate and perhaps the two meds together increase dopamine and, to a lesser extent, serotonin. I am assuming (with no real evidence at all) the sedation come from this sort of neurotransmitter action of Parnate and Zyprexa.
QUESTION: Does the sedation on Olanzapine improve noticeably? If so, then typically how soon? Or am I likely to be disappointed if I expect it to go to about a fourth of what it is now - especially if I have to increase the dose a little bit?
Thank you for any info.
poster:Don_Bristol
thread:633611
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060412/msgs/633611.html