I'm going to switch from Zyprexa to Latuda. Anyone else switched to this medication and maybe have some success stories to share?

I see, thanks for sharing! I’m worried that I will get akathisia on it, but maybe I don’t need a big dose since I’m doing fine on 7.5mg zyprexa right now, and I guess there are things to try out if I do get akathisia, like beta blockers and stuff.

I had some mild akathisia on it. So it is definitely possible. But after 2 months or so it went away and I don’t get it anymore.

1 Like

That’s nice to hear. I also got akathisia on zyprexa at first, and it also went away after about 2 months.

I have question. I’m on 7.5mg zyprexa and I asked my doctor what the dose equivalent is for Latuda, and he said something like around 70mg Latuda.

But you’re saying you were on 40mg zyprexa and switching to 60mg Latuda.

How does that add up? Did you find out you can manage on less medication, or is my doctor wrong?

1 Like

@magz Your doctor is correct. Latuda is a weaker antipsychotic than Olanzapine (Zyprexa). However everyone reacts differently to different medications so that isn’t written in stone.

However, I believe…

  1. I was over medicated when I was on 40mg Olanzapine. I reduced my dosage after about 15 years on that dosage because of side effects and I was fine until I got down to 10mg, then I had symptoms again. But I was stable on as low as 15mg so that is why I think I was over medicated on 40mg.

  2. I switched to Latuda when I was around 40 years old. And my 2nd psychiatrist told me that for men schizophrenia symptoms tend to subside at that age so I dont need as much medication anymore.

I like Latuda a lot more than Olanzapine.

2 Likes

I think Latuda was interesting the short while I was on it. I definitly felt much more alive. But my gp won’t give me a sleep med on the side, and Latuda doesen’t give me sleep alone. Maybe I should ask to talk with a pdoc about it.

2 Likes

My pdoc prescribed me 1.5mg clonazepam to sleep

1 Like

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn’t know schizo symptoms often get reduced at around 40 y.o though, that’s interesting.

1 Like

@magz Just for men, for women symptoms tend to get worse around 40…or so she (my psychiatrist) told me.

But these are just trends, not a guarantee.

1 Like

I’m relieved to be a man when I read your post. Btw, I’m starting the switch to Latuda today, fingers crossed I will get off zyprexa without much issue. I think I’ve been on zyprexa for 2.5 years now, so maybe I’m good.

1 Like

I just want to add to the conversation that some of you find that it’s annoying that you have to eat 350 kcal to your Latuda once a day. But I’ve used Geodon for 19 years twice a day and if I didn’t eat 500 kcal every time I took a Geodon pill it resulted in that I got unstable. Isn’t the 350 kcal a luxury problem.