Latuda, Geodon, Saphris, or Invega? Or should I stick with Zyprexa?

I've gained 30 lbs on zyprexa. I'm still relatively thin; my US size 5 jeans still fit me. But I don't like all the extra fat on my body.

I mentioned the weight gain to my pdoc yesterday, and he said that he would be willing to switch the zyprexa for a weight neutral AP. He suggested four different drugs-latuda, geodon, saphris, and invega. He told me to do some research on these four meds and to come back later with an idea of which I might like to try.

My question has two parts. First, do you consider a weight gain of 30 lbs to be a valid reason for going off a medication that has really helped? I'd rather be fat and happy than thin and miserable...

Secondly, have you had experience with any of the four meds listed? Which ones have helped you? What side effects have you had?

Thanks!

This doesn't really address the drugs you're asking about, but I've had very good luck with Abilify. It's an AP which also helps with depression (it's also weight neutral). The only problem is there's no generic & it's very expensive depending on your insurance situation.

As far as weight gain goes, I went off Zyprexa...but I gained 60 pounds in 8 months on it (but I was also on Seroquel at the time). It doesn't sound like you have a real weight problem, so you'll have to make the call on Zyprexa. I know what you mean about allowing yourself to gain weight & be happy, but the amount of weight I gained was unhealthy. Good luck making a healthy choice for yourself.

secretum... do you really believe the fat and happy line or are you just trying to convince yourself it is so?

because this is not a first or second time you complained about it and I remember thread about some ED(-lite) habits. That is not happy. And you don't have to force yourself to be "fat and happy"... it will not work anyways if you don't really feel like that.

(gaining weight is not healthy and upset metabolism will not make you happy in long term... it's not just about the extra pounds, but it's about your whole body and health).


please do not take offense.... I just speak from perspective of young femme.

Zyprexa (generic name = olanzapine) is the worst medication for weight gain, beyond any doubt.

Wikipedia:

Of all the atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine is one of the most likely to induce weight gain based on various measures.[26][27][28][29] The effect is dose dependent in humans[30] and animal models of olanzapine-induced metabolic side-effects.[31] Olanzapine may directly affect adipocyte function, promoting fat deposition.[32] There are some case reports of olanzapine-induced diabetic ketoacidosis.[33] Olanzapine may decrease insulin sensitivity,[34][35] though one 3-week study seems to refute this.[36] It may also increase triglyceride levels.[27]
Recent studies have established that:
olanzapine and clozapine disturb the metabolism by making the body take preferentially its energy from fat (instead of privileging carbohydrates). Thus, levels of carbohydrates remaining high, the body would develop insulin resistance (reduction of insulin sensitivity).[37]
olanzapine promotes fat accumulation : due to disturbances in fat metabolism, rodents become fatter (but don't have their weight increasing at first). Being fatter, they do less exercise, burning less fat and gaining weight.[38]
olanzapine may cause body weight gain and hyperphagia by altering appetite signaling in the brain and periphery[39]
olanzapine may induce hyperglycaemia leading to diabetes side-effects by altering insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cell through blockade of the muscarinic M3 receptor[40]

Yes, for a number of reasons but primarily those two reasons:

1. You have gained 30 lbs but you will gain MORE if you do not stop taking it. So it is incorrect to talk about 30 lbs.
2. Zyprexa can lead to metabolic trouble besides the actual weight gain

I stayed on zyprexa and gained 10-15 lbs over 3 months. I had my pdoc discontinue the medication and have stayed at a relative weight since. (I haven't really been able to lose zyprexa weight, but my BMI is something like 21.5)

I take seroquel now, which is known for weight gain, but haven't experienced any. I try to drink at least 32 oz. of water/liquid without high frutose corn syrup/sugar a day, if not more. I believe drinking more water has actually helped me maintain weight and not gain any more, even on a drug like seroquel.

I agree with Venus though. You don't have to be "fat and happy". I know I didn't tolerate it and switched meds for that reason.

That is a great BMI.

I did manage to lose the Zyprexa weight. I'd gained about 20 lbs. pretty much overnight, but what that drug did to my diabetes was far worse, so I had to come off of it. Which was a shame, because Z is both effective AND cheap. However, I'm on Geodon now and while it's expensive and not as effective, it does help and I haven't gained back any of the 40+ pounds I've lost since last fall. It's worth a try, anyway.

Have you tried the generic Geodon (ziprasidone)? It's way cheaper and I haven't notice a difference from the name brand. But with all medications YMMV.

I'd go with Geodon. I didn't gain any weight on that & it lifted me out of a bad depression. Only downside was the drowsiness

I'd change like right now.

Use Latuda, I'm using 80 mg, Invega makes you fat, breast milk and amenorrea, Geodon didn't work

Hey Secretum- good questions! I'd switch meds, because for me being fat is being miserable! I've tried all the AAP's, and the only one that worked ok was Abilify and I didn't get too hungry with it. Saphris and Invega didn't work, but just made hungry. Geodon made me agitated, but not hungry. Zyprexa didn't work and made me hungry. Risperdal and Seroquel made me so tired and hungry. Now, I'm on Latuda and it's helps keep me stable and not hungry! I love it! For me too, it's all about finding the right dose and med cocktail! Hope that helps at bit...best of luck as you know they all take at least two weeks to start working!

Latuda seems to be working for me. My appetite has actually decreased from when I was on Abilify.

Firstly, just how happy will you be when you realize the weight gain isn't stopping or slowing down?

Generally weight gain is bad for 2 main reasons.

1. Rapid gaining can cause metabolic problems that you will have to medicate too.

2. The weight gain generally continues, until you're miserable or physically sick enough to ask for a med change.

I don't recall hearing people discuss how they only gained for the first month, like how some are only sedated for the first few weeks.

Generally people talk about how no matter how healthy they eat or how often they exercise the punds pack on... not healthy.

I encourage you to ponder this, how many pounds later will you still feel happy and will diabetes or metabolic syndrom worth it.

^

In Czech we say healthy spirit resides in healthy body. I rather like that saying. Of course in extreme cases you can feel happy when totally paralyzed and still get PhDs and all... but that is so uncommon they make a feel good docus about such people. And to wreck your body kind "intentionally" in name of being "happy" or "stable"? (it's not "vanity" that should come before "sanity". Imho "sanity" is knowing physical symptoms mean something is wrong with your body and should not be dismissed). You will end up fat and miserable in general. And when after years your joints and back hurts from carrying around the extra weight... try telling yourself you are "happy".

I was on Zyprexa, gained a ton of weight. Since it was working, I insisted on staying on it, big mistake. I continued to gain, and am now 40 pounds overweight. Finally I asked the pdoc to switch me to something else. I am now on Saphris and Lithium, working for me. I've been on this combo for 3 years now...haven't lost the weight, but I haven't gained any, either. Only problem with Saphris is the taste, yucky.

Weight gain is a deal breaker! As everyone else has stated, there are more reasons than just vanity! Since there are other options I would explore them, 100%

Geodon was the drug that seemed to wake me up from some of the depths of depression. I have taken Latuda as well, but didn't seem to really respond to it. I think weight gain is not something that you hold accept when there are so many drugs to try. I have been on a roller coaster ride for over a year trying to find the right med, so I can relate if your frustrated in your journey.

I have actually LOST weight since I went on Geodon. I've put a few pounds back on because I had to restart Zyprexa, but thankfully I only have one more week on Z and then I can lose those pounds again. (Well, maybe after Thanksgiving. ) I've also been watching my blood sugars because I am a diabetic whose sugar levels were out of control when I was on it before; so far, so good. It's just so hard NOT to eat everything that isn't red hot, nailed down, or running for the hills!!

Hey, since starting this thread I first tried Geodon, and then Latuda.

Geodon made me nauseous. I was vomiting 3-4 times per week. I was willing to put up with this, but then I started not being able to sleep, I think from the lack of nutrition. Sleep deprivation makes me feel severely physically ill. I was nonfunctional after 2 sleepless nights; dragging myself to the doctor to beg for help took all the energy I had. And I'm usually pretty good at ignoring both physical and mental pain and discomfort, but this was unlike anything I had ever experienced. So there was no question. I had to go off of Geodon.

Latuda was even worse. I was just as nauseous, but I took more care to eat properly and do my best to keep it down, so my sleep wasn't affected. However, I became really anxious. I thought that I was going to become homeless, that I would lose all my friends, even that I was headed for hell. I know that these worries were from the Latuda, because I skipped a dose once and they went away.

So now I'm back on Zyprexa. It works really well against my depression. A higher dose would probably control the mania as well, but I'm not too bothered by it and I don't want to risk more side effects. I managed to lose nearly ten pounds in October while on Zyprexa with diet and exercise, so it is possible. I unfortunately am having a hard time following the diet now and have gained some back. Overall, I've gained about 35 lbs since I started Zyprexa in August of 2012.

It was worth it. I never would have envisioned that I could have the life I have, with so much hope and confidence. I honestly believe that people don't hate me now! In fact, I think that they probably like me, because I have a lot of admirable qualities. I was way too depressed to see the world this way before Zyprexa.

Just wanted to share the other side. I hope to God that I don't develop diabetes, or become obese (I'm in the upper range of "normal BMI" now), but if I do I know I can deal with it. I couldn't deal with the depression, or the sleep deprivation from Geodon, or the excessive anxiety from Latuda.

Secretum, you may want to ask an endocrinologist for a trial of Metformin (Glucophage). I take it for extra protection from diabetes, because I use Zyprexa PRN (for sleep), infrequently, but still. My blood sugar is normal, but I still take Metformin for an extra assurance. I do not experience any side effects on Metformin; it is very cheap without insurance (no wonder - it was developed in the 1920's, so no patents); I figure - why not? If you develop side effects to Metform, then drop it, but if you do not develop side effects, then why not add an extra degree of protection from diabetes?

I was on Metformin while I was on Zyprexa and it did help.