Zyprexa?

Hey y'all!
It was recently suggested by my pdoc that I up my zyprexa. Only by 2.5 milligrams, making it 7.5 total. Normally it makes me really tired in the morning. Today after a cup of coffee, I became really jittery with feelings like floating. I know it isn't the coffee because I usually drink so much more. Has anyone experienced this? I wonder if its the zyprexa or something else. My diagnosis is fairly new, so I have no idea what I should be feeling while medicated.

if the zyprexa is the only thing you have changed, chances are, the feeling is from it. it may go away in a few days and the med adjusts to your system. if it doesnt then talk to pdoc about reducing if the med is working or changing to something else if it isnt. remember, the dr works for you. there are tons of bipolar meds out there. you do not have to stay on anything you dont like. it took me over two years to find the right meds. i was constantly changing because i refused to put up with side effects or meds that just sort of worked. now i am on meds that have no side effects that completely stabilize me. drove my pdoc crazy changing all the time, but i wanted what was best for me. you have to be willing to advocate for yourself.

Well that's good to know! Thanks! I was only diagnosed in September, and I already have a drawer full of med rejects! Its an exhausting process. I also had a doctor refer me out after she gave me something that made me the most harmfully manic I've been. I'll just brace myself do a few days and hope this passes. I'm seeing my pdoc on Monday.

Watch your carbs and sugar intake, well food intake in general..

Zyprexa is notorious for insatiable hunger and weight gain. Can also increase your blood sugar levels. I literally wanted to eat my sofa and I am anorexic. I was on and off it with in 2 weeks. I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks

But for many people it is there miracle medication and they are doing wonderful !

Good luck and Welcome to PC

I'm totally terrified of the weight gain issue, Christina. I think about food constantly, and nothing makes me feel as dreadful and desperate as weight gain.
Eek.

Is your Pdoc aware of this? If not he/she needs to be told asap.

There are "weight neutral "meds that can be tried.

Do you take it at night?

Sorry if that seems like a stupid question, but I was taking it in the morning for awhile before I realized why I was supposed to be taking it at night.

I'll have to let her know. She also started me on lithium which I've been told the same thing about? She knows about my tendency to over exercise but it sounds like I need to elaborate on my weight issues. Lol

I do take it at night, hexacoda. I have to take all of my meds at night or I'm a mess!

I was on Lithium for a few years, I had no weight gain , do remember to increase your fluid intake ,even more so especially if your exercising alot and follow up with your blood testing for serum levels as per your pdoc's instructions.

Yes, you should probably be specific about your weigh issues... Sometimes Pdocs don't always "hear" our concerns about weight gain in the middle of just trying to find some stability.

That's good advice, Christina. Thanks so much

I gained 4lbs in four weeks. I'm constantly eating and thirsty I'm @7.5 mg going down to 3.25 . I've tripled my intake some days. It sucked when my son said "mom... youre eating .....NORMAL!!!! " smartass. I put myself on zyprexa. Your best bet is to look at your " preferred medicine" for your insurance. Research them and choose from that list. I often feel jittery if I don't go to bed after or when I wake up it goes away in 30 or so min.

I'm just getting more jittery and "high" feeling. This feels exactly like when lexapro launched me into a nasty manic state. From what I understand that can't/shouldn't happen on an anti anxiety. Hopefully my body is just getting used to this medicine?

I'm on Zyprexa and have been now since September. I have had no side effects that I am aware of using it. The only change as you describe here is the zyprexa so it sounds like it is the culprit. I would see my doctor again and get things sorted with him re your medication chart until you hit the right combination of drugs just for your requirements. You could Google side effects of Zyprexa and see if what you are experiencing is there if that is any help.

I've been on Zyprexa for a little less than a year and a half, and it has worked wonders for me. For me, it has helped lessen the intensity of my episodes and has kept me stable for some time with my mood, meaning that my psychosis has been under control. Two biggest side effects for me are weight gain and drowsiness. I have put on about 50 lbs since I started it, and it doesn't make me sleepy necessarily since my body is used to it, but it helps me sleep fuller, which means that it is sometimes harder to wake up in the mornings. I pray that it works for you.

I've been on Zyprexa full-time for nine months and was on it PRN for months before that. I recently went from 5 mg to 7.5 mg and it's harder for me to get up in the mornings. I also have some tremors, which I attribute to being on two antipsychotics because there's no other explanation for it. However, I'll put up with a little sluggishness and shaking because I don't want to feel the way I did before I went on the medication. It's a miracle drug for me.

I definitely have tremors. I also have the most energy in the world and am having a terrible time chasing my thoughts down. I think I need to call my doc in the morning, because everything is so much larger than life. I went for my second run of the day and felt like I was flying. Nothing fits the side effects I've read about. Maybe it's me and not the zyprexa? I have no idea. Anybody else get frustrated trying to figure out what comes from where?