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Zyprexa

Posted , 3 users are following.

tonia_2003
tonia_2003

Just started on Zyprexa 1.25 mg for an add on to taper off Paxil. Paxil just stopped working suddenly in July and have heart palpitations and occasional panic attacks. Jittery and shaking hands. The Zyprexa has helped, but I'm just worried about being able to come off of it and the side effects. My doc said I shouldn't have any weight gain on 1.25 mg. Does anyone have any experience on this drug?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine tonia_2003

    Posted

    I don't know what dose my mother was on, but she ballooned from a decades stable size 14-16, to a size 22 while on the zyprexa. In addition, she was recently diagnosed with severe diabetes, with accute onset. So not prior high blood sugar levels that were worrisome.

    The family suspects the zyprexa caused the diabetes,maps she was NOT considered at risk for diabetes.

    I read wad a ton of comments by people who've been on zyprexa, and while it is very effective at controlling mental illness, so many of the comments I found were people recently diagnosed with diabetes, that I would never ever take this drug.

    I found many comments that this drug is both an extreme appetite stimulant as well as causes weight gain regardless of efforts to maintain weight.

    Check some other patient chat boards on other sites. You'll like decide this drug is not a good idea.

    Good luck!

    • tonia_2003
      tonia_2003 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      I have seen all of the side effects of the drug and especially the withdrawal ones. I was on 1.25mg for 3 days. What dose was your mom on? Did she have a hard time coming off of it?
    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine tonia_2003

      Posted

      Hi Tonia, I'd have to look up the dose. She was switched from zyprexa to Latuda. At the time they switched her, she was an absolute mess from being hospitalized from the diabetic ketoacidosis, dehydration, seizure and coding. She had lost her memory and was undergoing extensive rehab therapy during the time when she went off zyprexa. So it's hard to tell what effect going off the zyprexa may have had. She's definitely been losing weight like crazy since going off zyprexa.

      what symptoms did you have when you went off zyprexa?

    • tonia_2003
      tonia_2003 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      I wasn't on it long enough to have any side effects except I had a general feeling of malaise for about a day. I'm surprised they put her on an antipsychotic medication because of her age. I didn't think the elderly were supposed to be put on those meds. It sure did make me feel like myself again for those 3 days, but not worth the side effects.
    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine tonia_2003

      Posted

      Thanks Tonia. I read that zyprexa is not recommended for dimentia in elderly. I'm guessing it's because the side effects are so bad, it kills them.
    • caroline50055
      caroline50055 tonia_2003

      Posted

      Hi Tonia

      This is a bit late to reply but did the 1.25mg help with anxiety - it has been suggested to me as I have bad anxiety and depression but I am so scared. Did you experience many side effects?

      C

    • caroline50055
      caroline50055 tonia_2003

      Posted

      Hi Tonia

      You said it helped with the anxiety - what bad side effects did you have?

      C

    • tonia_2003
      tonia_2003 caroline50055

      Posted

      The only side effect I had was being a little dizzy when I first got up. It went away.
    • caroline50055
      caroline50055 tonia_2003

      Posted

      Yonia - you said "It sure did make me feel like myself again for those 3 days, but not worth the side effects." but it only made you dizzy - were you worried about long term side effects? and is that why you went off it?
    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine tonia_2003

      Posted

      Well, Tonia, I don't know about withdrawals, as my mother has such severe diabetic ketoacidosis due to this medication, that she nearly died. Withdrawals were pretty much a moot issue in comparison to the side effects from staying on it.
    • tonia_2003
      tonia_2003 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      I didn't think elderly people were supposed to be on these kinds of medications. What mg was she on?

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