Wow, thats the most sedating I read.
According to this 15mg Abilify is equal to 10mg olanzapine. I think 7.5 mg Abilify is like 5mg olanzapine.
Try to convince your Drs to go down to 7.5mg olanzapine.
They’ve said they will, but it’s against her advice.
Just going go with the reduction and see how it goes.
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I am by no means a doctor, but I have been through 7 AP switches
Olanzapine was my very first, and I felt just like you do now
Unfortunately you need to be prepared for disruption if you wish to switch to a less side effect harsh drug
It will take a while, but for me, it was a price worth paying to feel as I do now
Can I ask which positive symptoms it helped with? It’s making your negative symptoms worse?
I had no negative symptoms when off of medication so don’t think I have negative symptoms just side effects of medication.
I’m in the uk and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of options.
CPN suggested quetepine
I am in England
My list was
Olanzapine - Fail
Risperidone - Fail
Abilify - Fail
Lurisadone - Worked for 18 months then got restlessness (Fail)
Haloperidol - Fail
Amisulpride - Last 3 years, great! I am actually awake and alert, and no weight gain - I have lost a lot of weight on this drug
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Still hoping to come down off of the Olanzapine and have another go at being medication free.
Only had two episodes at this point so hoping I’ve still got a chance.
Maybe will ask about amisulpride
I went off zyprexa and lost 30 pounds ! I hate olanzapine zyprexa
What did you go on to?
Well they had me on zyprexa haldol and depakote and I stopped depakote myself and my doctor tapered me off zyprexa. And so I just had haldol 10 mg but in January I cut the haldol down to 5 mg myself I still have to tell the doctor but now I’m trying to switch to something weaker!!
You are talking about this way too soon
I think the time frames after a first episode is 1-2 years of med therapy here before you come off
After a second episode, I think it may be more long term, but I may be wrong
The more times you have psychosis, the worse damage you’ll do to your brain
I talk to myself on my current dose of haldol I feel great! Just borderline psychotic how I like it but yea stay on your meds!!
First episode I came off within 9 months.
I think once you’ve had a second episode it’s 3 to 5 years if not life.
I’d adjust your expectations
I once thought I could come off meds after recovering somewhat again and again
Stuck my hands in that fire too many times, and with regret
I would buck up and stay on 10mg for a little while, a couple of weeks maybe so that you get enough drugs in your system to make sure you don’t relapse when reducing.
Personally I never had any signs of relapse with doses 7.5mg or higher. But this is ofcourse individual. I am currently doing 5mg which has been mostly working for me recent years. There is a notable difference though between 10mg and 7.5mg so it might make it better, but don’t expect too much.
If you feel that olanzapine isn’t the right drug for you I think it would be wise to try a different med rather sooner than later(many years). It can be difficult to switch later if your body gets too accustomed to a drug. But give it a go and see how it turns out.
Zyprexa is hard going off with insomnia.
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The average time to relapse is 1-2 years. If you relapsed that fast, you are quite unstable and probably have to stay on indefinite or long term antipsychotic for 5 years or more