Clozapine (Clozaril)

Do you feel like it is helping more than sleep? How much are you on now? I am supposed to have a pretty slow taper up because I've had so many bad med reactions but in the hospital they'll probably go fairly quickly compared to doing it at home while slowly coming off Seroquel (which I'm starting to think I should have chosen although I'd just be waiting to get on the registry and sign the papers I suppose).

I bought waterproof pillowcase covers so that I don't have to deal with sleeping on a towel. I'll just pull them off and throw them in the wash every week or so depending on need. I know they have them on Amazon and I bought them at Target so they should be pretty common. They are made so they don't have a plastic crunchy sound or anything. I haven't slept on one yet so we'll see but I can't stand the thought of sleeping on a towel every night.

i am on the opposite side here i guess, i am on clozapine but was going to ask my doc to add abilify. does this sound like a good idea if anyone here can relate?

My pdoc told me she has someone on both and doing well. That's all I know but it is a possible combination. Cash is on both and can comment more.

I'm on 50 mg now. Pdoc wants me around 200.
No, haven't noticed anything besides the sleeping. But this is only my 5th day.
I don't really mind the towel.

I just tapered off abilify last month, it didn't work for me. No effects and no side effects. But I didn't take it together with clozapine.

I'm on 100 mg now and as of tomorrow I won't be on the Zyprexa any longer. So far I'm barely having side effects. Yeah, drooling, and I might be having constipation but I'm taking macrogol as a precaution so I don't notice that side effect if it is there. I'm a bit drowsy during the day - it takes until the 3rd period at school that I'm fully awake - but not so much that it bothers me. I haven't been on my bicycle since - it says to be cautious in traffic during the first couple of days, and I take that to mean the first couple of days on a certain dose. And given that I'm still increasing my dose every 2-3 days..
Sleeping is going well. I fall asleep at a decent hour and I don't wake up until my alarm clock goes off.

How are you, BtR?

Excellent! Do keep us posted. Wishing you the best!

I take Abilify as well but I'm being weaned off of it. I was on 30 MG but now I'm down to 10 mg.

My pdoc says that Clozapine is so potent there is no need for a second anti-psychotic. My target dose is 300 MG but my pdoc says I can go as high as 500 (I think that's then number) depending on how it is metabolized. I am on 200 MG right now but am working on 25. It is taking a while for me to tirtrate up because I have to adjust to the sleepiness every increase. I will say so far I have adjusted to the sleepiness and been able to slowly increase my dose. I know my pdoc will tell me to keep trying th 250 MG dose.

My pdoc told me she has someone on a pretty high dose of clozaril who takes abilify with it and does really well.

So glad to hear this. I hope that it is the same for me. My goal is also supposed to be 200 mg but I never seem to hit my goal; I either need a high dose or a really low dose. We'll see. Eventually.

I am not doing very well. The mixed symptoms keep getting worse and I'm really struggling. Hopefully we get this started soon. I have an email in to my pdoc letting her know how bad I'm feeling right now and how scared it is making me. I hate the word crazy but that is how I am beginning to feel. I have safety plans in place for my therapist to get me IP if needed but hopefully I'll go in the other way first. I'm working so hard to cover it up with other people that I'm exhausted but I am too afraid to not cover it. This is so hard.

Hang in there....it can take some time to be fully effective.

I'm not on it yet. I have to get off Seroquel first and that has to be done in the hospital and there are staffing issues making what should be an easy direct admit turn into a very long waiting game. I was supposed to go in about 4 weeks ago and it's still up in the air.

Sorry I was confused.....but yes please hang in there.... Sounds like you have a plan and are working closely with your pdoc. Sending best wishes to all!

Thank you

I'll update this for those (BtR ) who are going on Clozapine.

I'm sleeping OK. I fall asleep at a decent hour - usually around 90-150 minutes after taking the clozapine. I usually wake once during the night but fall asleep again within 15 minutes. I'm taking the clozapine for treatment-resistant depression and I haven't had any improvement there. I'm om 200 mg now. My blood works have been good so far. I'm taking stuff for constipation (as a precaution) and that works well. I'm drooling most nights, but not all. I'm very tired - climbing the stairs is seriously difficult. Pdoc warned me about dizziness, especially when standing up, and I've had a few episodes of that - nothing serious, though.
Next Friday they'll be checking my blood levels to see if the dosage is right.

Good luck, BtR. I'm hoping for you.

Thanks breadfish. I apparently am taking it at 6 which seems weird but I guess can be adjusted if needed. My target is 200 mg. They don't expect me to be particularly tired on it. Both my pdoc and the one here have said that. Something about it having similar brain effects to Seroquel and that since Seroquel doesn't sedate me this probably won't either. We'll see. 50 mgs today. Not sure but I think 25 AM and 25 PM. When I'm home it will probably be all PM b/c I'm bad at AM meds and my pdoc knows this. We'll see I guess.

Just got back from my pdoc. My blood clozapine levels are OK, so now I'm just waiting for the stuff to kick in!

Good Luck!