How to stay awake

Since starting clozapine it have been a miracle on my depression symptoms but I can’t seem to stay awake. It has been a real problem with work. So what should I do give up the depression relief or be able to stay awake. I also have no appetite I have lost 15 pounds in 4 weeks. My regular doctor wants to put me in the hospital to help with the eating. Not sure what to do.

Look into Provigil or Adderall. Both work well for me. Never had psychosis. Don't think it is really even possible w Provigil
Awesome drug for me.
Hugs.

Crook32, I'm sorry you're struggling with the sleepiness. I wonder if that side effect will ease over time. I know that I experienced a similar issue with certain other medications (i.e. Geodon, Klonopin, Seroquel/Seroquel XR) but it eased with time. The patience was rough, but worth it.

It is concerning that your weight is dropping like it is, but you surely know many people have the exact opposite situation with clozapine. I hope you can stay on it, but find a way to regulate your hunger. The medications I am thinking of may also have excessive sedation. There's just got to be something that helps. I hope it doesn't come to going to the hospital, but if that is what is best, I hope it is a short stay. You definitely deserve the depression relief.

My first MS knocked me the eff out in the middle of my work day... For a while I chugged energy drinks to combat it, but finally told my Pdoc and all it took was for him to lower the dosage coz I couldn't afford to pass out at my desk like some narcoleptic

Didn't you have COVID? Is there any connection with the fatigue now? I hope you can get things to work. I'm glad your depression is better.

I have taken nuvigil when I've needed to be awake on clozapine and it has helped. I took it daily when I was working (before clozapine) but haven't taken it regularly for years because it can make me unstable if I'm already rapid cycling. Clozapine does make me tired enough that I should talk to my pdoc about trying it again though.

Yes I had Covid and pneumonia. That is gone but left over is unable to eat and sleep too much. I know the eating is mostly mental but I do also have nausea which has helped. Funny thing is my primary care doctor also suggested I go on disability. So all my care providers have suggesting that but all the lawyers have said no.

I, too, am wondering whether you have post-covid syndrome.


But even if you do, AP's usually cause that horribly sleepiness. I didn't know there was a treatment for it, honestly. Coffee sure doesn't help keep me awake. I wish I had a great suggestion, but I don't. I sleep a lot at night and take a nap in the afternoon, usually. It's annoying and it's discouraging; I'd like to know what it feels like to go through a day without falling asleep every few hours.

As for the disability - I posted to you in your other thread. That you've had covid seems to me to be another reason that you'd be eligible; you might very well have post-covid syndrome.


I'm not understanding why those lawyers have discouraged you.

Hi, I take klonopin at night due to my inability to control racing thoughts. I’m tired throughout the day which is frustrating but better then the dark images in my mind. Every day when I wake up with the hope of a regular day I have to realize this is my “regular/normal”. So sorry to hear your having to work while transitioning to this med. That has to be a challenge.