I asked my son to drop his dose of Zyprexa from 6.25 to 5 mg a couple of weeks ago, because he was so depressed and unmotivated. He was doing nothing and almost never leaving the house. I was afraid he was on his way to agoraphobia - he was so scared to have any contact with anyone.

Anyway I was pretty worried because last time he dropped to 5 he started having odd thoughts and became very angry and aggressive toward me. We talked about it, and he seems to have made a commitment not to be aggressive. I think it also helps that I'm not "hovering" as much. I'm not asking him how he's doing all the time - or what he's thinking about. He knew that was code for "are you crazy?" and it irritated him. I'm also trying to not do other things that irritate him - like singing or being too happy around the house.

So this attempt is more successful than the last one. I don't know if it's because he's trying harder or I'm trying harder or having the step down of 6.25 helped (last time he dropped right from 7.5 to 5) or he's just in a different place mentally, but this time it seems to be working as I'd hoped. He's more relaxed. He's leaving the house. He's been out playing basketball, doing his own grocery shopping, and buying some new clothes. He was out until about midnight Saturday. I'm worried he was at a bar, but he wasn't drunk when he came home, so ... [not hovering, not hovering].

The pdoc doesn't know about this change yet. My son had an appointment last week with him, but we agreed we wouldn't tell him until we saw how it worked out. If things continue going well, we can tell him at the next appointment.

I always fantasize about getting that dose down really really low - or even getting him off the medication altogether. I think any future reductions will have to be tiny.