So the psychiatrist said...

[LovelyBath]

He thinks there is a place for me to have permanent antipsychotics meds with my antidepressants

We talked it through and it's felt as a preventative measure (I have had recurrent depressive disorder with psychotic features)

Has anyone else dealt with this situation and how do you cope with the idea of taking them on a long term basis? I am taking Fluoxetine (20mg) in the mornings and Olanzapine (5mg) in the evenings, also Diazapam as required (low dose) but he wants me to wean off that, and Amitryptilline (10mg) but that is for a physical condition for pain relief.

[fluffydressinggown]

I am on anti-psychotics for the long term. It has taken me a while to get used to it but I feel so much better than I have done in years. I feel like I can think properly and I feel so much calmer.

It is a huge thing though isn't it, I wish I didn't need them.

I also take fluxoetine in the morning and anti-psychotic (risperidone) in the evening. I think the risperidone helps me to sleep and I was very drowsy when I started on it so we built my dose up slowly which has resulted in very few side effects.

I hope your new meds helps you.

[LovelyBath]

Thanks Fluffy

Yes the main problem I have with the Olanzapine is the weight gain. I too get drowsiness which is why I take it in the evening but the daytimes are OK for me at the moment. It is quite a low dose I think.

He said the things is with the weight gain is that those meds can make you stop having the feeling of 'being full' so just to be aware of that and try and be a bit 'clever' with eating for example healthy eating...it's not that easy though and I'm trying to do the 5/2 diet which he said might be a bit of a challenge.

I like the psychiatrist and feel he does listen and respond to me well. How is yours? How do you find the fluoxetine? Mine said it was the first time he had prescribed it with olanzapine, but it had helped me so much in the past eg as a student that we combined it. I find it great, with few side effects, i had to wean off it in pregnancy before and it was pretty easy to stop as it has a long half life I think. there is an interesting book called "Listening to Prozac" which I found very good.

Yes as you said about building up your dose slowly i think there's much to be said about getting a balance between a good effect and the side effects. I'm trying to find a point where I feel OK and staying there! Seeing the psych in 6 weeks and having weekly visits from the care co-ordinator who is doing relaxation sessions with me as I et really bad anxiety.

thanks for your reply and hope your treatment goes well too.

[LovelyBath]

PS Glad to hear you are feeling so much better that must be a relief x

[fluffydressinggown]

I have to admit that I have said I will never take olanzapine because of the putting on weight issue with it. That said I have lost 21lb quite easily on risperidone and it hasn't made me pig out or anything.

I get on fine with the fluxoetine, I think it makes me a bit twitchy but I take medication to help with that.

My psychiatrist is very nice, I don't really see him very often because my CPN co-ordinates stuff for me :)

I hope the olanzipine works well for you :)

[Frustratedlady]

I took olanzapine it was a wonder drug for me it cured all my symptoms but sadly caused too much weight gain so once I finished bf I switched to aripiprazole. It is a hard thing to accept but once you do life is much better.

[LovelyBath]

Hi thanks for the comments. It's good to know there are others out there which don't cause the same weight gain- he did also suggest we try quetiepine as an alternative but i read on here is also causes weight gain. he seems quite open to suggestions and me researching drugs so that's good.

I was interested to hear about losing weight with the risperidone, maybe I'll look into that one... I think fluoxetine is quite good for not putting on weight too.

[mawbroon]

I take Quetiapine and probably will have to long term. I got sugar cravings like nothing on earth and piled on over 3 stones. Since January, I have managed to lose 20lbs by cutting out refined sugar. Quetiapine works so well for me, that I can live with the extra half stone or so that I am struggling to shift now. I was too thin before, so at least I don't have to lose the entire 3 stones!

I used to hate having to take anti psychotics (and ADs) but I think that was part of the illness causing me to think like that. Now I am completely well, I accept that I need the drugs. Sure, I would rather not take them, but I can't risk another year going through psychosis and post psychotic depression.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.

[LovelyBath]

Thanks. Yes it is not easy but I think the advice I was given regarding being 'clever' with eating holds true. I'm going to try and keep going with the 5/2 and avoiding sugar etc and see how it goes. Best of luck to others in the same position. It is good to know I'm not alone x

[coxspippin]

Good luck with the olanzapine. I am on quetiapine (after risperidone) There is a sugar craving with weight gain. I think it's for my thoughts, to calm them a bit, esp. obsessive ones. A doctor specialising in MH prescribed them and my psychiatrist endorses/ prescribes them now. Been on them about 1 and 1/4 years. Glad you have a good psychiatrist.

[DiaryOfAWimpyMum]

I take 25mg of olanzapine, 12mg Nitrazipam and 25mg sertraline and haven't put on any weight, I was trying to lost 5lbs but am finding it hard to lose any weight, Im just thankful I'm not gaining weight and my moods and sleeping are stable.


I hope it works for you.

[LovelyBath]

Interesting to hear which ones cause this, yes he did say we could maybe try quitiepine if the weight gain gets bad. Noticing a sugar craving too- it's hard!

[coxspippin]

I find the quetiapine helps me sleep well. As I said, it was prescribed in part for my obsessive thinking. Well I still obsess, but my thoughts don't seem to whizz round like they used to. I have gained weight and notice a sweet tooth, though it could be for other reasons than the quetiapine (other medication has since been added, or maybe something else). Must go now. Good wishes in your medication.

[LovelyBath]

I confess I have not been taking the Olanzapine due to it giving me the munchies. It is quite a low dose and I feel OK, the Fluoxetine is having an effect.

[coxspippin]

Glad you feel ok LB.

[LovelyBath]

Thanks Coxspippin...x

[Latara]

I tried Risperidone but gained weight on it and it was ineffective for my psychosis.

So the psychiatrist put me on 15mg Aripiprazole and that is very effective, plus I've lost the weight through healthy eating.

I also take antidepressants - 300mg Venlafaxine M/R a day.

Plus anti convulsants for epilepsy; 1750mg keppra a day.

I was very sleepy on all that when I first started, now I'm used to it as long as I get 8 hrs sleep at night. I don't know how i'll cope when I eventually have children.

[dearpip]

How are you fareing, lovelybath?

[LovelyBath]

Still not taking it am scared of the cravings! Feeling the guilt, (of having to tell the psychiatrist when we see him, also DH who thinks I am taking it properly)...
I still feel OK but feel the meds were helping a little with sleep / anxiety (especially slightly irrational throughts) however i'm trying just to be aware of this... the Prozac I'm also taking makes me feel quicte 'buzzy' at times whereas the Olanzapine is a calming influence.

It is interesting these drugs and the ways they interact. Just been reading "Listening to Prozac" which was quite illuminating and I'd recommend it. Interesting to get the point of view of one who is prescribing prozac and its affects on different patients and whether it may affect personality.