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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on June 10, 2005, at 14:51:58
I was asked in another thread what condition I am being treated for with prozac and zyprexa.
That depends on the year and the doctor at the time. My very first pdoc diagnosis was bipolar major depression with psychotic features. GP said just depression. Later said dysthymia with anxiety. Another pdoc said my depression type symptoms might actually be negative symptoms of schizophrenia instead, since I wasn't depressed at all then but I did have crippling social withdrawal and lack of pleasure to where I could hardly function. Another pdoc said I am bipolar.
Honestly, I feel that all these different conditions are actually quite related and intertwined in complex ways.
I would say I have improved 80% to 90% with prozac and zyprexa. So if a clinical study judges success by a 50% improvement, then I can comfortably say I am doing much better than that. I think my enjoyment of everyday things is still a bit less than a normal person, and I do avoid crowds, but other than that I function very well. I feel good.
Prozac alone creates as many problems as it solves for me. Zyprexa alone really just gives me good sleep. But when they are combined, wow, what an amazing difference they make in my life. The synergy is amazing, to me anyway. I was the first patient my doc tried this combo on, and now he has hundreds of patients on it, as well as other ssri + zyprexa or seroquel combos.
Posted by TomG on June 10, 2005, at 15:25:06
In reply to Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2005, at 14:51:58
I'm definately going to suggest this combo to my doc. Zyprexa 15mgs alone also just made me gain weight and sleep. Have you ever taken Prozac alone? What did that do for you? Do you take the Symbyax or seperate pills?
Tom
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 18:40:52
In reply to Re: Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by TomG on June 10, 2005, at 15:25:06
Do the prozac and zyprexa balance each other out as far as one being activating and the other something to calm you down. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by xbunny on June 10, 2005, at 19:52:37
In reply to Re: Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by TomG on June 10, 2005, at 15:25:06
> I'm definately going to suggest this combo to my doc. Zyprexa 15mgs alone also just made me gain weight and sleep. Have you ever taken Prozac alone? What did that do for you? Do you take the Symbyax or seperate pills?
I reckon it would a good thing to try too. Prozac increased my hallucinations and delusions so I avoid it but I took clomipramine with zyprexa for quite some months and found it a good combo up until I got sick again, far better than zyprexa alone. Bunny
Posted by gromit on June 11, 2005, at 14:58:38
In reply to Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2005, at 14:51:58
> Prozac alone creates as many problems as it solves for me. Zyprexa alone really just gives me good sleep. But when they are combined, wow, what an amazing difference they make in my life. The synergy is amazing, to me anyway. I was the first patient my doc tried this combo on, and now he has hundreds of patients on it, as well as other ssri + zyprexa or seroquel combos.
Can I ask what dose of each you are taking? You said your main problems are social anxiety and anhedonia, that's me also. I don't mind crowds though, you don't have to talk to anyone. Do you find prozac and other ssri's to be sedating, activating or neutral? What kind of problems does prozac create for you?
Thanks,
Rick
Posted by ed_uk on June 11, 2005, at 18:11:18
In reply to Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2005, at 14:51:58
Hi blueberry :-)
>I was asked in another thread what condition I am being treated for with prozac and zyprexa.
That was me! Thank you for the detailed reply :-)
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by blueberry on June 12, 2005, at 7:26:47
In reply to Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2005, at 14:51:58
To answer some good questions folks asked in this thread...
Prozac 20mg with breakfast, 5mg zyprexa about 7:00p.m. Higher prozac doses for me are bad, resulting in rage and agitation. Higher zyprexa doses oddly bring on fast deep depression. Current doses are my therapeutic window, where any less or any more is bad for me.
Prozac is good for depression for me and began working on day 2 when I first started, but creates considerable afternoon anxiety and intense insomnia. The zyprexa gets rid of most of that anxiety and all of the insomnia. Prozac, like most ssris, results in some apathy, and zyprexa gets rid of a lot of it. The two meds work together synergistically, and cancel out side effects of each other.
The combination isn't perfect. But it is way more effective than anything else I've tried, and I've tried a lot of stuff. The primary benefits are that I am very functional at work, and I am one of the best in my company. Since I am the sole income producer in my household, being healthy enough to excell in the workplace is my top priority. But like most of us, there are some shortcomings.
Posted by pulse on June 13, 2005, at 19:24:29
In reply to Re: Prozac + Zyprexa?, posted by blueberry on June 12, 2005, at 7:26:47
are you experiencing the renowned weight gain issue with this amount of zyprexa? how long have you been on zyprexa w/ prozac?
i do well on prozac as long as i keep it below 20 mg. adding enough klonopin has made sleep good with (oddly) no depression.
i have, however, for some time wondered about the prozac-zyprexa combo as an option for me, but am concerned about the weight. i never gain on prozac, usually lose, but am having somewhat slow going dropping my remeron weight, this time around. tia.
This is the end of the thread.
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