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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Libby on June 2, 2000, at 15:03:46
My doc added Zyprexa, 2.5 mg to the Effexor XR, 150 mg I had been taking for a severe & chronic depression. The Zyprexa helped with my disorganized thinking and unstable moods, but since I started taking it two months ago, I have gained 20 pounds with no change in eating habits. Add that to the weight gain I had with the Effexor and I am now 40 pounds overweight!
I've discussed this with my doc and he suggests stopping the Zyprexa to see if I begin losing weight.
This concerns me because before I started taking the Zyprexa, my thoughts were so racy and scattered,
I couldn't function at work and I wasn't sleeping
well. When I shared my conserns with my doc, he
said that if I begin to "rollercoaster" again
without the Zyprexa, he might take me off the
Effexor.This whole process is very confusing to me. Everything I read says that Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic, but my
doc says I am taking it as a mood enhancer and so
may not need both it and an anti-depressant. What's
the difference in a mood enhancer and an anti-depressant? And does anyone have any experience with taking JUST Zyprexa for chronic & severe depression?Thanks...
Libby
Posted by ChrisK on June 3, 2000, at 6:31:33
In reply to Zyprexa - What's it for anyway?, posted by Libby on June 2, 2000, at 15:03:46
Libby,
I take 7.5 mg of Zyprexa at night and it has really cleared my mind as much as any other med I have taken. I take it in addition to my AD's.
Yes it is notorious for weight gain. just from anecdotal information the weight gain lasts for a few months and then things level off. I recently started excersizing more and went on a diet and was able to lose 20 pounds so far that was probably extra weight caused by the Zyprexa.
In my case, this was the one med that really stopped my obsessive suicidal thoughts. It was a blessing. I could tolerate the weight gain as long as I wasn't constantly thinking about death.
The other benefit is that it does have some AD qualities. I would say that it is best taken to augment an AD from what you have written. As far as I understand the only people who take it as their only med are schizophrenics or people with some sort of psychosis.
If it really helped to clear your mind, I wouldn't give up on it. You are taking the minimum dosage and from what you said it seemed to help.
Good Luck with whatever you decide to try.
Chris
Posted by Elizabeth on June 3, 2000, at 9:39:30
In reply to Zyprexa - What's it for anyway?, posted by Libby on June 2, 2000, at 15:03:46
Hi Libby.
Zyprexa helps a lot of people with mood swings (which aren't usually a feature of strict unipolar depression). It can act as a mood stabilizer (even for bipolar disorder) as well as an antipsychotic. Although the FDA has only approved it as an antipsychotic (i.e., it can only be advertised as an antipsychotic), it is legal for doctors to use their judgment in prescribing it "off-label" for other conditions, such as labile moods. 2.5mg is a very small dose; a standard starting dose for psychotic disorders is 10mg.
You might try Seroquel or Risperdal to see if they work as well as Zyprexa has without causing the weight gain. They all tend to have this side effect, but I think Zyprexa is the worst offender.
Posted by SLS on June 6, 2000, at 15:20:51
In reply to Re: Zyprexa - What's it for anyway?, posted by Elizabeth on June 3, 2000, at 9:39:30
The FDA has approved Zyprexa to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000317/in_lilly_d_1.html-------------------------------------------------------
"Lilly's Zyprexa Approved for Treatment of Acute Mania Associated with Bipolar Disorder
New hope for managing problematic phase of complex illness
INDIANAPOLIS, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY - news) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zyprexa® (olanzapine) for marketing for the short-term treatment of acute manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder."
-------------------------------------------------------
As Elizabeth mentioned, many doctors believe that in addition to its antimanic properties, Zyprexa may act as a mood stabilizer to help prevent future episodes of mania and depression. Of the newer "atypical" neuroleptics (Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel), Zyprexa shows the most antidepressant potential. Clinical trials are underway testing the ability of Zyprexa to potentiate the antidepressant effects of Prozac.
- Scott
Posted by Elizabeth on June 9, 2000, at 5:14:07
In reply to Re: Zyprexa - FDA approved for Treating Mania, posted by SLS on June 6, 2000, at 15:20:51
> The FDA has approved Zyprexa to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
Oh, cool. That's nice to hear. (I'm afraid that I haven't been following the news too well recently because of, well, apathy; thanks for the correction.)
This is the end of the thread.
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