Olanzapine And Lithium For Six Months - Cravings For Food
Mar 19, 2007
My son has been on this drug and lithium for six months after a manic episode and diagnosis of BP. I do not feel it has helped him at all. In some ways it has caused further problems as he developed cravings for foods with high fat and sugar content, he began to smoke which he hadn't previously, and then progressed to some cannabis. He has no willpower to resist these cravings and has put on loads of weight. He has also lost all spark and been very depressed despite antidepressant medication.
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I recieved super bad feelings when i got under 100% dose of olanzapine and couldn't sleep and up-ed my dose to 10mg (from around 6mg i guess). the feelings came when i was falling asleep.
it came like 3 times, like 70% of my cells were being pressured together.... (i'm describing the super bad feelings) it scared me A LOT when it happened and i am very scared to up my dose again because i think then these super bad feelings might come again...
they came for like 7 seconds these 3 times combined, these 3 times happened in like 1 minute. it would not surprise me if these super bad feelings were Life-threatening but i told my psychiatrist about it and he didn't know what it was but said that it was not Life-threatening.
so now i am trying to quit very slowly so i never have to up my dose again. lowering my dose by 0,625 mg each time.
i was hoping that someone here knows what these super bad feelings were and could shed some light on it. it would help me ALOT if i knew that these super bad feelings were not dangerous.
i'm not 100% certain that these feelings were caused by me uping my Olanzapine dose alot but i think so.
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I'm guessing you've tried the usual suspects, zopiclone, temazepam etc etc
When my insomnia got so bad I couldn't even function any more, my psychiatrist tried me on a low dose of olanzapine. It did help me. It is also a pig to get off though... There are no easy solutions I'm afraid. CBT did help me too, but I had to really work at it.
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Does anyone have personal experience of this problem? A 79-year-old friend with vascular dementia has been prescribed a whole series of atypical antipsychotic drugs over the past eight months, all with varying disastrous results. And yes - I know this is an off-label use of this group but they still get prescribed for dementia sufferers all over the western world.
She's been on mirtazapine 20mg once daily for about five years (with no apparent ill effects) and olanzapine 10 mg once a day for three months. Two months ago she very rapidly - over a few days - developed massive swelling of her left hand, with complete loss of use of the middle, ring and little fingers of that hand. An X-ray was inconclusive, mainly as she couldn't straighten the three affected fingers, and her doctor has been mystified by this ever since. He finally decided it was arthritis but it didn't look much like it to me, given the degree of swelling and deformity, and the speed with which it had come on. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been prescribed, but with minimal effect.
I visit her in her high-security psycho-geriatric unit at least three times a week. Last Tuesday (six days ago) she was still feeding herself perfectly normally with her right hand, once her food had been cut up for her. Three days later, she could no longer hold a spoon, fork or cup. Her right hand isn't swollen but I can clearly see the identical deformity in her last three fingers as in her left hand. All three fingers on both hands are curled up and twisted over each other.
After raising Cain at the home, I've managed to get her an emergency appointment at a rheumatology clinic tomorrow. In preparation for this, I've been doing some research over the weekend (and no, not on Wikipedia) and have discovered peripheral oedema (swelling) is a rare, but known, side-effect of olanzapine. I also found a long paper that had clearly been published in a learned journal on the subject of peripheral oedema with combined mirtazapine and olanzapine use. Unfortunately, it was in Turkish!
Has anyone suffered from this and how quickly did it improve once the olanzapine dosage was reduced? Also, how serious is the rebound psychosis when olanzapine is withdrawn?
She was originally on risperidone, but when that had to be tailed off because it left her with severe Parkinson-like symptoms, it left her way more psychotic than she'd been at the outset, with the result she stabbed another resident in the lovely retirement home she was living in. She's stayed that way ever since, hence the transfer to a grim high-security psychiatric unit, where she'll end her days. She was subsequently put on clozapine for a couple of months, which caused terrible athetotic movements - constant bobbing, weaving movements of head, jaw, tongue, arms and upper trunk - which made her life unbearable. I have to say, however, that when that was gradually withdrawn, I didn't notice any rebound psychosis.
I'm furious with myself for not researching this sooner, as I'm a former nurse, though neuro was my speciality. I'm even more furious with her idiot doctor for prescribing a med that isn't authorised for dementia, then failing to notice she was suffering from a known side-effect. Ditto the nursing staff at the home. When I mentioned this to the head nurse today, she blithely said she'd known all along it was a side-effect of olanzapine - though I suspect she was just covering up her ignorance.
My friend is beside herself, and it breaks my heart to see her like this. She knows there's something wrong, but doesn't understand what it is. She can't feed herself at all now. I tried her with a biscuit this afternoon and she couldn't even hold that. She's already dangerously underweight (BMI 17) and now she's refusing to let the staff feed her, as she's not used to that. I'm the only one who's allowed to feed her, albeit only a few mouthfuls, but I'm 71 myself and can't continue going in twice a day. In the meantime she's screaming and shouting all day and all night in anguish and sheer terror, and attacking everyone who goes near her. She tried to bite my face today.
Sometimes patients who've been on this class of drugs for long periods know much more about them than the professionals, which is why I'm posting here. Is this terrible condition likely to be a result of olanzapine (and possibly mirtazapine)? And can we expect severe rebound psychosis if her doctor tails it off? (Always assuming he even agrees to do that.) Also, does anyone have any experience of other recently-developed anti-psychotics that don't cause appalling side-effects of one kind or another? Though I have to say, from my own nursing experience, that I suspect there's no such animal.
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Has anyone ever had problems with lithium and restless leg syndrome? I can't keep them still. I have been back on lithium about 2 months
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I have complex PTSD and Bipolar Disorder 1. I was diagnosed in September 2013 during a manic attack and started medication regime: Lithium (225+450) and 300 mg Seroquel. Now, 2 years + later, my Thyroid is underactive due to Lithium and my Psychiatrist wants to change Lithium to something else.
My challenge: I start a new job next week (after being unemployed for 7 months and really need this job!) and a few weeks ago I went low on my Lithium (skipped a few morning doses and ended up in mixed episodes and had a spider-related psychosis!)
I am really anxious about one day changing my Lithium. I was wondering how long can I be on it before it will damage my kidneys like it is affecting my thyroid now?
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Does anyone have any experience with this topic? I was told I have stage III kidney disease due to lithium use. Is there a likelihood that it can be stopped in this stage because it was caused by a medication, or will it follow the same course of progression as other causes?
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My Psychiatrist wants to prescribe for me as most of the ADs have stopped working. I would like to know if there is anyone on the Forum who has taken Lithium and what they felt about and how long they were on it.
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Anyone ever developed Hyperthyroidism after coming off lithium?
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First apologise for spelling and grammar I'm dyslexic.
I first decided to come off lithium because of wanting a child . I was now with a man I'm crazy In Love with and about to be married this summer .
Also found out though blood test the lithium was causing low kidney function to my one kidney.
Coming off was a breeze until a week after my last dose. My chest is so tight with anxiety I feel like I murdered someone and I'm running for life .
Massive sense of guilt & fear and panic. I'm not dealing well with anything.
The only thing that makes me happy and at ease is Richards unconditional love . And planning my wedding . Started a new job and may get fired due to my anxiety and hecticness . I'm all over the place racing thought . Clumsy can't remember anything . I was a fashion designer for many years now I've gone into teaching . And it's my first real course I'll be teaching .
Waiting to see my therapist again in a few weeks but this has had such a domino effect on me . I'm also not sleeping ! Two three hours if I'm lucky .
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(assuming you don't have hypothyroid, some types of heart problems, or seizures, or a few other things)
Very affordable and probably safe in low doses. Also looks like it prevents Alzheimer if you take it early enough. Lots of promising studies about lithium, but also a lot of myth orotate being better than carbonate.
Lithium reduces how fast your brain can use epinephrine, the intense fight or flight chemical, so that you have a limit on how excited you get. Reduces those adrenaline surges you can get when very angry. You will still have the same opinions and think about the same things, but just won't feel the extreme stuff as extreme and won't think about the bad stuff as long throughout the day.
Carbonate might be easier on your kidneys than orotate, based on one rat study from 1979. Orotate might not be eliminated as fast, based on the same study. Orotate is not better in anyway other than being OTC in low doses, despite the online hype by people who know nothing about chemistry.
120mg of lithium orotate has 5mg of lithium.
120mg of lithium carbonate has 20mg of lithium.
Bipolar people take 100-160mg of lithium, as 600-1000mg of lithium carbonate and need blood tests to get the right blood concentration without overdosing.
A low dose of 5mg per day may prevent or postpone Alzheimers if taken early enough. More than that may be needed for an adult with anger problems. I read a report about someone overdosing from 18 orotate pills.
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Lately I've been taking lithium (this will be week 3) I finally feel I am sort of seeing a difference. I can actually think now, understand things a little better, and overall I'm feeling good. But I need to know is lithium supposed to make your moods go up and down while you are still getting used to the meds? For examp. last week (which was wk 2) I was completely manic in front of my stupid coworkers. I had no idea until I was sitting on the bus to go home. Also I've been switching moods. Like from depression to mania....
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I took a large lithium and valium (not my own medication) overdose about 30 years ago, I suffer from various mental and physical conditions and wondered if any of them could be attributed to that? Any insight greatly appreciated.
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Have been on lithium now for nearly 1 month. I have now been put up to 600 mg in the hope of hitting that sweet spot. At the moment i am feeling no effect from the medication bar bloating. just wondering what you experiences are when you do hit that sweet spot ie the optimum amount.
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Can someone tell me how to stop trembling on lithium as a side effect? My whole body shakes. I can stop
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Hi is any1 taking lithium with an antidepressant? I want to stay on the lithium bt desperately need to stop the mirtazapine.
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4 weeks ago I've begun taking lithium but still not feeling any difference- actually, my depression has been very bad lastly. How long did it take for lithium to work for you (in case anyone has actually taken it)?
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Is a low level (0.5) useful although it's not quite in the therapeutic range? Thoughts?
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At first I was on 200 mg of Lamictal and (not sure the dose) of Seroquel. Seroquel made me gain weight. Worked like a charm though! Would also make me feel like I had a major hangover the next day. I said, no more, to that med. Had a really bad Mania episode during the weekend (few weekends ago) seen my doctor two days ago. He put me on 600mg of Lithium and 200mg of Lamictal. I don't have any side effects except I am so tired all day long. I take 100mg of Lamictal and 300 Lithium BUT here is the kicker. For some odd reason, mainly because I think my body hates me, if I take 200mg of Lamictal at night, to lighten up the load of my mornings, I can't sleep.... It makes no sense to me. SO I have to drink lots of water with Lithium, I can barely take a 5 hour energy because the Lithium makes my tummy hurt. I was told the side effects are short lasting. Also, I was told I will need blood work. Do you have to have blood work every so often or just that one time?? I still have Xanax for those moments when I have a really bad bout of anxiety.
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I have been severely depressed for just over 8 months (first time in my life). My current drug regime is 300 mg Venlafaxine, 30mg Mirtazapine and 100 mg Quetiapine. I have had a very limited response to these drugs and am due back to see my psychiatrist week after next.
At my last appointment the psychiatrist said that our next option would be Lithium. I am not bipolar. I feel rather frightened by this but at the same time, am so desperate to feel better, I'm almost willing to try anything.
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My whole body shakes from lithium. Dr decreased my dose today down to 600 mg a day. Does anyone know of any essential oils that would help with this until my lithium levels decrease.
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