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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Doo on April 11, 2001, at 16:41:21
Hello there. I have taken zyprexa for about 2 weeks now, 2.5 mg every 2 days (SalArmy you told me it wasn't right but my doc and pharmacist told me it was okay). I don't see any real positive results yet. At some times, I feel like "wow where have I been for the last five years?!" but these are short moments. The bad thing is that the day after I take the pill, I feel bad. If it was only sedation, it would still be okay. But I feel lost, and I'm anxious and zombie. And this is not very tolerable. I feel a pressure on my forehead, and I'm simply "not there". Anyone has had these kinda side effects? Maybe it's because of the other meds I take? (Neurontin and Manerix). I'd like so much the zyprexa to work, and poeple tell me to wait a couple of days... But the day after the pill is so bad... I read some stuff on the babble, some poeple were feeling "zombieness", but I don't know if they also felt the "dysorientation", the short-term memory problem, the dryness of mouth and eyes, and the anxiety. I sometimes also have this strange feeling of not knowing if it's the morning, the afternoon, or the evening. I still wonder if I'll take the pill this evening... Thank's for any comment or advice.
Doo.
Posted by hiram2354 on April 12, 2001, at 2:47:10
In reply to Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by Doo on April 11, 2001, at 16:41:21
hi doo
I also tried zyprexa for about a week two different times. The first week I took just 2.5 mgs in the evening, and I felt that it really didn't do much but make me a bit more calm, though definitely drowsy. I think it is VERY effective in controlling suicidal thoughts that are on the "raging" side, though.
The second trial was with 5 mgs. Definitely made me feel bad. Though I have terrible insomnia, any drug (including alcohol) that causes sedation makes me feel really shitty. More of an amphetamine type guy. Anyway, I remember feeling like a total zombie all throughout the day on 5 mgs. I went to a computer programming class (usually not too tough) and I seriously couldn't understand a single thing the prof was talking about. Just his talking or anyone elses for that matter, became like a dream or something. And I thought smoking weed made me a bit lethargic. All I wanted to do on this shit was sleep and eat. The only benefit I noticed was a great increase of ability in tolerating driveling conversation and boring tv, things that most often make me really mad, then depressed.
The zombie effects wear off pretty quick after stopping zyprexa, and they may go away with time during treatment, though I wouldn't want to find out myself.hiram
Posted by Doo on April 14, 2001, at 1:40:27
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by hiram2354 on April 12, 2001, at 2:47:10
Hello hiram, thank's for your post...
I took the pill yesterday night, at about 9 pm. I was with a friend and at 10:30, I couldn't understand what she was saying. I was forgetting the words as I heard them. On my way back home, I felt I was so outside of myself... Today I felt pretty bad, too. I had to take some attivan, because I was so anxious and crappy inside. I think I'll stop it now. I guess I'll have to try something else... My pdoc suggests raising neurontin up to 2400 mg. I hope I won't have too much withdrawal effects for the zyp.
See ya,
Doo
> hi doo
>
> I also tried zyprexa for about a week two different times. The first week I took just 2.5 mgs in the evening, and I felt that it really didn't do much but make me a bit more calm, though definitely drowsy. I think it is VERY effective in controlling suicidal thoughts that are on the "raging" side, though.
>
> The second trial was with 5 mgs. Definitely made me feel bad. Though I have terrible insomnia, any drug (including alcohol) that causes sedation makes me feel really shitty. More of an amphetamine type guy. Anyway, I remember feeling like a total zombie all throughout the day on 5 mgs. I went to a computer programming class (usually not too tough) and I seriously couldn't understand a single thing the prof was talking about. Just his talking or anyone elses for that matter, became like a dream or something. And I thought smoking weed made me a bit lethargic. All I wanted to do on this shit was sleep and eat. The only benefit I noticed was a great increase of ability in tolerating driveling conversation and boring tv, things that most often make me really mad, then depressed.
> The zombie effects wear off pretty quick after stopping zyprexa, and they may go away with time during treatment, though I wouldn't want to find out myself.
>
> hiram
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 15, 2001, at 4:39:21
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by Doo on April 14, 2001, at 1:40:27
Have you tried Seroquel? Many people complain less about Seroquel than Zyprexa.
Posted by Doo on April 15, 2001, at 22:46:16
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by SalArmy4me on April 15, 2001, at 4:39:21
> Have you tried Seroquel? Many people complain less about Seroquel than Zyprexa.
Thank's for your post Sal, it's always appreciated.
No, zyprexa was the first neuroleptic I have tried. My pdoc thought it would be easier with the zyp than with Seroquel because with the later, the dose has to be increased slowly and the real antipsychotic effect is not obtained, according to her, with the lower doses. Nevertheless, it might be the next med I try, if not lamictal.
I wonder if I would obtain any results with lamictal. My major concern is my disorganized thinking and autodestructive impulses. I know the neuroleptics should work best for that, but geez I don't like taking them. Every time I took my zyp pill, I had that feeling that I was doing something wrong, like messing way too much with my brain. I sometimes think "better being myself and suffering than being someone else and easy-going". Well, it's just a thought.
I'm also concerned about moclobemide; when I took it at 600 mg, I was so anxious I almost got hospitalized. Now I take it at 300 mg and I think it would be better if I lowered the dose. I'm just scared my depressive symptoms reappear, and I heard about some "poop-out and never came back" stories out there, when poeple stopped a med and took it back.
Well, at least I have my good old benzos (!) to help me cope.
See ya,
Doo
Posted by hiram2354 on April 16, 2001, at 4:32:58
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by Doo on April 15, 2001, at 22:46:16
Now of course just a few replies back I mentioned how much I disliked zyprexa, what with feeling like a zombie and all, but...
I think a lot of people (myself included) hear the word antipsychotic and automatically start thinking schizo wards (the ones from the movies of course). Nobody wants to be like that, no doubt, so they never give the drugs a chance.
Most people on zyprexa and other similar drugs for depression/anxiety and NOT schizophrenia take a much lower dose than that indicated for the latter. I'm sure they've recently been hyped up a great deal (when does prozac's patent expire and who makes zyprexa?), but nonetheless, I think many people do benefit from them.
Myself, unfortunately, did not. It made me tired, hungry, and just shitty feeling. So I'm trying something else. Do give it a chance, though, especially if you've got some left in a sample pack (lilly loves throwin' sample packs around). Maybe just try taking half the zombie dose, and go from there. Couldn't hurt to try.
Posted by Doo on April 16, 2001, at 11:06:56
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by hiram2354 on April 16, 2001, at 4:32:58
Hello hiram. Thank's for your post.
I thought about the half-pill thing, but my pharmacist told me the pill was 'unsecable'. It is designed in a way that the body will absorb it gradually, and I guess breaking it in two would result in a too fast absorbtion. Wouldn't like being a double zombie !!
Now it's been 3 days since my last zyp pill, and the zombie effect is washed away. I feel 'okay'. In general, two days after the pill, I felt some kind of benefit from it. But really, the day after was really too bad.
See ya,
Doo
> Now of course just a few replies back I mentioned how much I disliked zyprexa, what with feeling like a zombie and all, but...
>
> I think a lot of people (myself included) hear the word antipsychotic and automatically start thinking schizo wards (the ones from the movies of course). Nobody wants to be like that, no doubt, so they never give the drugs a chance.
>
> Most people on zyprexa and other similar drugs for depression/anxiety and NOT schizophrenia take a much lower dose than that indicated for the latter. I'm sure they've recently been hyped up a great deal (when does prozac's patent expire and who makes zyprexa?), but nonetheless, I think many people do benefit from them.
>
> Myself, unfortunately, did not. It made me tired, hungry, and just shitty feeling. So I'm trying something else. Do give it a chance, though, especially if you've got some left in a sample pack (lilly loves throwin' sample packs around). Maybe just try taking half the zombie dose, and go from there. Couldn't hurt to try.
Posted by Doo on April 17, 2001, at 16:32:49
In reply to Re: Zyprexa and zombieness, posted by Doo on April 16, 2001, at 11:06:56
Today and yesterday I felt kind of good. Three days ago, I stopped taking the 2.5 zyprexa pills because I felt too much like a zombie. Now, the question I have in my mind is this one: does the relief I feel today and felt yesterday come from the zyprexa effect? Is it long-lasting enough?
I talked to my pdoc about cutting in two the zyp pill. She says it's allright, but a pharmacist told me that I should not do that. I don't know who to listen to, but I'll try anyway.
Has anyone tried that on the board?
Any feed-back appreciated.
See ya,
Doo
Posted by JohnL on April 17, 2001, at 17:56:43
In reply to cutting 2.5 zyprexa pills... who do I listen to???, posted by Doo on April 17, 2001, at 16:32:49
It's no problem cutting Zyprexa in half. I've done it many times. It's tricky to cut though, so getting exact size pieces is hard. No big deal if the halves aren't exactly accurate. I think though it begins to oxidize and breakdown when it is exposed to air. So if that is true then just cut one at a time as needed instead of a bunch all at once.
John> Today and yesterday I felt kind of good. Three days ago, I stopped taking the 2.5 zyprexa pills because I felt too much like a zombie. Now, the question I have in my mind is this one: does the relief I feel today and felt yesterday come from the zyprexa effect? Is it long-lasting enough?
>
> I talked to my pdoc about cutting in two the zyp pill. She says it's allright, but a pharmacist told me that I should not do that. I don't know who to listen to, but I'll try anyway.
>
> Has anyone tried that on the board?
>
> Any feed-back appreciated.
>
> See ya,
> Doo
Posted by Doo on April 17, 2001, at 22:51:42
In reply to Re: cutting 2.5 zyprexa pills... who do I listen to???, posted by JohnL on April 17, 2001, at 17:56:43
Hello John, thank's for your post.
I did it. I have a small gadget especially for cutting pills, so it's no big deal. It doesn't cut'em in perfect halves, but almost! I took it at 8 pm and now it's almost midnight and I'm a bit zombie but looks like it's not as intense as usually. And oh yeah thank's for the tip about the pills oxydating!
See ya,
Doo> It's no problem cutting Zyprexa in half. I've done it many times. It's tricky to cut though, so getting exact size pieces is hard. No big deal if the halves aren't exactly accurate. I think though it begins to oxidize and breakdown when it is exposed to air. So if that is true then just cut one at a time as needed instead of a bunch all at once.
> John
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