How long did it take to "get used to" your med(s)?

FireKitty · Jul 27, 2015, 06:30 AM

I am currently on Latuda (60mg) and Buspar (10mg). Occasionally I take Trazodone for sleep issues.

I'm fine with the Buspar and Trazodone, so far no side effects.

However, I've noticed that with the Latuda, I get VERY sleepy about 2hrs after I take it. A pharmacy tech friend of mine said to give it another week before telling the doc, but I feel like I'm quite the party-pooper when I pass out at 8 or 9 pm.

I was thinking of asking my doc if it was ok to push back the time I take it (I have to take it with a meal/snack of at least 350 calories). I was thinking I could have a night snack of a protein bar that met the caloric mark. I remember reading something about protein being an important part of the med delivery process.

I've only been on these meds for a week. I know it takes about a month for my body to get used to things. Any thoughts are appreciated!

Crazy Hitch · Jul 27, 2015, 06:45 AM

Some take longer than others ... I kind of estimate mine at the 4-6 week mark but honestly it is so so dependent on what med exactly I am on. An antidepressent would have to be about 4-6 weeks. Mood stabilisers included.

Antipsychotics if started at a high enough dose can work pretty quickly and I can adjust to them quite soon.

ensconce · Jul 27, 2015, 06:58 AM

Usually with the latuda I would take take it two hours before sleeping because it did the same to me. Sadly the sleep thing never went away for me even after 6 months. When I would go out I would take it right when I got home whether its 3Am or midnight and my doctor again said that was fine. With the latuda the food content isn't very important according to my doc but the 350 calories is very important. Sometimes I would forget to eat and I would get a really bad stomach ache for a few hours. The one thing I never got used to was the akasthesia I got a month after taking it

Moogieotter · Jul 27, 2015, 08:04 AM

I also take Latuda at bedtime, 40 mg. I was not happy with this med for 4-5 weeks. It was the hardest to start, but I am sure glad I stuck it out.

Let us know how you progress. Thanks,

moogs

CopperStar · Jul 27, 2015, 09:55 AM

I figure it's like a relationship, things change, sometimes better, sometimes worse. And I will just roll with it and keep pdoc informed. First night on Olanzapine I got dry mouth, but then it never came back again. After weeks side effect free, suddenly Olanzapine makes me fart for like an hour, about an hour after I take it. So uh. Here's to hoping that goes away soon lol.

raspberrytorte · Jul 27, 2015, 11:51 AM

I never got used to the side effects of seroquel, and I was on it for seven months. lol

SillyKitty · Jul 27, 2015, 11:58 AM

I take mine about 30 minutes before bed because it knocks me out. I've been on it since before the commercials came on. lol I'm on a larger dose, though.

Jul 27, 2015, 12:01 PM

Depends on the med. You are asking about Latuda specifically, and I took it for about a month. What I remember for me was horrible night sweats (and they weren't menopause-related). It disrupted my sleep and just caused more issues than helped. I asked to be taken off of it, and I'm not one to generally have side effect issues that I can't tolerate. The night sweats resolved very quickly once I stopped taking it.

Nammu · Jul 27, 2015, 12:44 PM

I pushed mine to 8-9 pm so I could go to bed at a decent time. I ate very little to supper since I had to have the 350 calories with the latuda. After a while I probably could have gone back to taking it with supper but I was used to the routine. Other than the sleepyness a couple hours afterward I had no side effects.

yanks7 · Jul 27, 2015, 03:49 PM

I had to take it before bedtime as well. It really knocked me out which honestly was one of the reason I stayed on it for so long. It made it really easy to stick to a constant bedtime. Unfortunately I had constant stomach problems with it and had to go off it. I was on it for nine months of emotional bliss (and physical hell) and it always knocked me out like clock work

wiretwister · Jul 27, 2015, 04:20 PM

yes they do , yes you can, patience ........

Jul 27, 2015, 08:34 PM

The first time I took Latuda I was at work (I work in a hospital so I get my meds from the pharmacy there) any who bad idea I was struggling to stay awake rest of the day. So after that I moved it to my 6:30pm meds after dinner. This was making me sick to my stomach so my pdocs nurse recommend taking with my bedtime meds at 8:30pm so I could just sleep through the nausea. Since then I haven't had any problems. I also normally judge a med after 3 - 4 weeks that way it can get to a therapeutic level in my body.

FireKitty · Jul 28, 2015, 04:35 PM

Thank you for all the support! I have split dinner into two meals so that I can take the Latuda later. I'm glad that it's not one where I have to be EXACTLY 24 hrs with each dose (that'd drive me bonkers). So far, sleep is the only issue.

Well, I did have a slightly upset stomach last night because my night snack was only 250 calories instead of 350. It was very mild nausea, so I'll see what I can do to slightly up the calorie count.

loophole · Jul 28, 2015, 04:49 PM

Latuda at 8 just before bed also seroquel and lamictal... Easy pz also about 4 weeks on meds to get used to

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FireKitty · Jul 30, 2015, 05:14 AM

My roommate is on lamictal for seizures. We had a scare with her back in June, she had a seizure while we were out. She's better now.

Adjusted the time with the Latuda to taking it about 8pm. Need to find a better snack. If I just have the Clif bar, it's just shy of the caloric count and my stomach gets a little unhappy.

ensconce · Jul 30, 2015, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireKitty

My roommate is on lamictal for seizures. We had a scare with her back in June, she had a seizure while we were out. She's better now.

Adjusted the time with the Latuda to taking it about 8pm. Need to find a better snack. If I just have the Clif bar, it's just shy of the caloric count and my stomach gets a little unhappy.

Oh man I hate it when my stomach feels bad sometimes it prevents me from sleeping.

FireKitty · Aug 02, 2015, 05:30 PM

Thankfully it's just light rolling, nothing that I couldn't ignore long enough to fall asleep.

Taking the Latuda later is helping.

FireKitty · Aug 10, 2015, 06:09 AM

The Latuda has finally stopped making me sleepy! Hurrah!!!!!

FireKitty · Aug 18, 2015, 01:23 PM

New pdoc - med change. Latuda is too expensive and the card won't work with my insurance. Soooooo, I start Geodon tomorrow....

raspberrytorte · Aug 18, 2015, 01:58 PM

I've been on geodon for about a month. I like it. No real side effects I've noticed, except in the beginning it made me sick feeling. I'm supposed to take it twice a day, but have just been taking the full dose at night because it makes me feel weird and spacey, and I don't want to feel spacey and weird all the day, and I don't eat in the morning and you're supposed to take it with food.

Good luck! Let us know how it works out for you!

(My pdoc wanted me on latuda, but even with the card it would have been one hundred dollars a month. Not happening.)

secretgalaxy · Aug 18, 2015, 07:04 PM

It takes me a couple of days, and then the drowsy side effects don't effect me any longer. My Pdoc kept increasing the dosage but it doesn't last. Without Lunesta, I could still go days without sleeping, even though I am taking 500 mg of seroquel and 120 mg of Latuda. The hunger part and the dry mouth side effects of Seroquel went away after a week of taking Benzotropine. I take my meds around 7 at night and it takes a couple of hours for the lunesta to start working. I usually get to sleep around 10 and wake up at 6 in the morning.

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How long did it take to "get used to" your med(s)?

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