Hi Mary Alice,

I've been taking Zyprexa for over four years until recently when my Psych switched me to Abilify. The Zy worked great. It was the med that turned the corner for me. It helped get my ruminating thoughts under control, and I was having trouble with some very intense suicidal thoughts before starting it.

The drawback to it for most people, me included, is weight gain. I went from about 212 lbs up to 254 in the first six months. Then it evened out. With the help of Tina to get me on a good diet and exercise program, and my Psych starting me on Topamax for mood swings (the Top also carries the added benefit of helping you lose weight), I started slowly but surely to lose weight. I'm now back down to 190 lbs. I think if you're aware of the weight gain problem to begin with, and you start to diet and exercise right away, you can avoid a great deal of the weight gain. No promise there, but it seems logical to me. Especially avoid the carbs when you eat, they are your biggest enemy.

But like I said earlier, the Zy is an excellent med, at least it was for me. I hope you have the same benefit from it. Please let me know if you have any questions, I'll be glad to help. I was on the same dose you're on BTW. Is it helping you sleep any better?

Love,
Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"