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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jared on September 14, 2000, at 19:35:55
Hello, I have recently started taking Zyprexa. The initial reason was because I had some obsessional thinking. I never had any psychotic symptoms, just obsessional fears. Ever since I started taking 10mg of the drug, I have felt this weird sensation almost constantly. Basically it feels like I'm floating, disconnected from my body, zombielike. My movements feel unreal or robotlike. It gets worse when I'm anxious or in a tight situation(e.x. job interviews). I also have a horrendous appetite, and have already gained some weight. After doing some research, I found that this feeling could be depersonalization, but I also read that one of the treatments for this feeling IS Zyprexa. My question is, can Zyprexa cause this feeling? Does Zyprexa have withdrawl like other SSRI drugs? I really don't want to feel this way, and for the most part my doctor thinks its just in my head. It hasn't changed now for over 2 weeks. I know that the best way to stop a drug is with a doctor, but what if I don't have the doctor's support? If I stop it, what will happen? Will I have a psychotic reaction?
Posted by JohnL on September 18, 2000, at 4:02:08
In reply to Antipsychotic questions?, posted by Jared on September 14, 2000, at 19:35:55
> Hello, I have recently started taking Zyprexa. The initial reason was because I had some obsessional thinking. I never had any psychotic symptoms, just obsessional fears. Ever since I started taking 10mg of the drug, I have felt this weird sensation almost constantly. Basically it feels like I'm floating, disconnected from my body, zombielike. My movements feel unreal or robotlike. It gets worse when I'm anxious or in a tight xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe already gained some weight. After doing some research, I found that this feeling could be depersonalization, but I also read that one of the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxif I don't have the doctor's support? If I stop it, what will happen? Will I have a psychotic reaction?
Jared,
My first guess would be that the zombielike disconnected feeling is related to the sedation of Zyprexa. It might not feel like outright sedation, but still Zyprexa is well known for that. But of course, anything's possible. Something similar to sedation would be my guess.A 10mg dose is fairly hefty for being new to the med. That could have something to do with it as well. Personally I know I couldn't come anywhere near tolerating 10mg. For me 2.5mg was plenty to cause a zombielike drugged-out feeling.
The increased appetite is also a famous side effect of Zyprexa.
Zyprexa has been shown in clinical studies to be useful in treating obsessive behavior, either as monotherapy or as an augment to other antiobsessional meds.
There will likely be some withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. It might be best to taper down in 2.5mg increments, staying at each new lower dose for perhaps 4 to 7 days before going lower.
If psychosis was not a problem before, then psychosis as a result of stopping Zyprexa is rather remote. Instead you'll just slowly begin to feel as you did before you started taking the med.
If your doctor won't go along with it, then you have to make a decision of whether you want another doctor or not. I do not feel a good doctor/patient relationship exists when treatment is so one-sided. The patient should have considerable input when it comes to medication choice. If nothing else, the doctor should present you with the pros and cons and several med choices, and let you ultimately decide which one you want to try. I believe that being involved in the decision making process is part of the healing process. It allows the patient to own a piece of his/her own destiny. It should not be completely dictated by someone else. After all, a doctor is not supposed to be a dictator. And there are lots of med choices. It's not as if Zyprexa is the only one. And the bottome line is, who's paying who? You're the paying customer. You are ultimately the boss and ultimately in control. The doctor's guidance is needed to become aware of your options, and to keep things relatively safe. But everything is ultimaty your decision, not the doctors. If your doctor doesn't operate that way, then you might want to either ask him/her to start operating that way with you, or else seek another doctor's assistance.
First line therapies for obsessional behaviors are the SSRIs, like Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa, Effexor. If you haven't already tried three of these, then I am surprised your doctor went straight to Zyprexa. Perhaps he/she felt your obsessional behavior was indeed in the psychotic category. But even if it was, the SSRIs are still very effective. My first experience with major depression was diagnosed as major depression with psychosis. Simple ole Paxil fixed it.
John
Posted by danf on September 19, 2000, at 6:53:07
In reply to Antipsychotic questions?, posted by Jared on September 14, 2000, at 19:35:55
I agree with JohnL that this is a med effect. This feeling is common with antipsychotics at higher doses.
would not call it sedation tho.
you will not become psychotic if you stop the zyprexa.
a lower dose like 2.5 mg may well be effective
Posted by TomV on September 23, 2000, at 21:21:59
In reply to Antipsychotic questions?, posted by Jared on September 14, 2000, at 19:35:55
> I really don't want to feel this way, and for the most part my doctor thinks its just in my head.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!Nothing on this board bothers me more than a babbler recalling his or her experience with a doctor who tells them that the drug they are taking, and its obvious adverse reaction, is all in their patient's heads. I would insist to your doc that you want to quit, and you want your doctors help... By the way, I've fired docs for telling me its in my head when a drug went dangerously wrong (besides, isn't that why I'm there in the first place anyway!?)
This is the end of the thread.
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