Mirtazapine :: Low Dose Of Olanzapine For Insomnia
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.
Mirtazapine And Olanzapine Use - Peripheral Edema?
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.
Olanzapine And Lithium For Six Months - Cravings For Food
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.
View 2 RepliesSex / Intercourse :: No Feelings / More Effort Than Pleasure
Basically ever since i can remember, sex has been more effort than pleasure. This is extremely annoying as it can take a lot of time before i can orgasm. I can reach orgasm it just takes a lot of concentration and effort. This is with and without a condom. There is only one girl with which i have had regular intercourse with however, i have had sex with three other girls. Often when i'm having sex i realise that i'm thinking stuff completely unrelated, and i thought that when you're having sex it just feels good. However i often can't even recognise if i'm inside the girl or not...i.e we'll be having sex, i slip out and keep thrusting because i don't even realise. I thought there might be an issue with damaged nerves or something. So recently ive stopped masterbating(i used to do it daily) in the hope that this helps, however i have not been able to test out whether this helps or not. My other issue is that i can have a full strong erection just from lying next to my girlfriend, yet the second we get down to have sex, i cant get hard, and when i do it's never rock solid. i'm not the nervous type, so i've put aside the possibility of it being an anxiety thing. Any other ideas? This is an extremely uncomfortable situation for me to be in as i really like this girl. Even when i can get hard enough, i often go soft rather soon (five to ten minutes later) and then it never gets as hard again. please let me know if you can help! thanks a million, by the way, with one of my exes i was fully hard without a problem, but like i said, with limited sensitivity, and since her i haven't been able to stay fully hard with other girls.
View 2 RepliesFluoxetine :: Fear Of Surroundings And Strange Feelings
Hi - on fourth day of flu. Doctor prescribed them after telling him of my increasing inability to cope with just about everything. I am a hairy arsed truck driver and a few weeks ago started to have to think about things that would normally have been second nature - an example is when approaching a set of traffic lights I can see that a red light is showing but I have to think to myself 'does that mean stop or go'?. So far nothing untoward has happened thankfully - so I made the appointment with the Doctor before anything did. He promptly signed me off for two weeks!!
I had a similar problem eight years ago, a few months after a heart attack and 9/11. I was absolutely terrified of everything. I couldn't even go near a McDonald for fear of them being a terrorist target (no great loss there then!!).
Then as now I would start crying at the drop of a hat - though this time I have managed to hide it from the family. At work I find myself in a layby,head in hands and sobbing like a baby and wondering if it's all worth it.
I don't really feel suicidal - I'm too scared to try anything in case it goes wrong and I end up a cabbage !!. My wife is an absolute gem in these times as she is under a similar pressure to me but copes with it far better than me. Perhaps it's the 'man the provider' scenario that affects me as I feel I should be able to provide for my family better than I do. The wife had a few weeks 'between jobs' but had agency work here and there so we got a bit behind with things like the rent and HP payments on the car etc. I do all the overtime that I legally can (being an HGV driver means you can only work so many hours by law). She has a permanent full time job again now thankfully so I know things will slowly improve over time but I still can't get rid of the feeling that I have let the family down and that we wouldn't have been put in this situation if I had done something - but what?.
As you can tell my problems are 90% financial. Theory says that now we have more money coming in again that things will improve. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Even though I am signed off I am still worrying about work - is somebody doing my work properly - are they looking after my truck? etc.
As for the 'flu (20's) I have only been on it for a short time as you know but yesterday morning (3rd day) was awful - I felt as though I had swallowed some razor blades that were churning away in my guts cement mixer fashion. That seems to have subsided now - but now my poo smells!!. Oh well - we cant have everything. The only time I seem to be 'at ease' i.e. stress free is when I take the dogs for a walk. I like to go where there is nobody around - away from it all - and preferably not see another soul. But I have always been a bit solitary - I've always preferred my own company - perhaps that is part of the problem. When I used to do long distance work I may not have spoken to anyone for two or three days - bliss!!. My wife doesn't understand this as she is very much a 'people person'. Even now, I work alone and if I run into somebody (not literally) I start to feel tense just in case they say 'good morning'. I am willing them not to say anything because I feel that if they do they are invading my space. If they do say something I am always polite and respond of course as that's the way I've been brought up but inside I am saying 'You bastard - why did you have to talk to me - leave me alone and bugger off'.
Depression :: Doxycycline - Anxiou Feelings, Low Mood
has anyone had any bad side effects while taking Doxy, ie anxious feelings, low mood. Do these side effects disappear when the course is finished?
View 1 RepliesViral Infections :: Severe Cough With Feelings Want To Vomit
I've been suffering this type of cough for a month. I've got doctor medication, but seemed like not very helpful. When I cough after eating, I always feel like want to vomit. That feels totally horrible. The first week when I started to show a cough symptoms, I don't mind it that much as I think it's a seasonal flu. But after a while, it doesn't seem to get away. Is there any clue of what might had invade my body, maybe some kind of virus, or even parasit? Also, I had a bronchitis when I was 17. I am 20 now.
View 1 RepliesSevere Anxiety And Depression - Tight Feelings In My Throat
I am currently severely anxious about everything even things that haven't happened or may never happen i am suffering from really tight feelings in my throat like around my voice box is this caused by the anxiety? I can't help thinking i may have cancer i worry constantly it's driving me crazy.
View 2 RepliesNervous System :: Weird Feelings And Negative Thoughts
It's been a rough two months. It started with possibly anxiety and then panic attacks. Fast heart rate, tingling feeling in hands, tight chest and as time goes by. Others symptoms. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid. I been on medication for a month already but still been feeling weird. I have good and bad days. Like yesterday, I was fine for the most part. Felt normal, then the feeling of being nauseous and thought of something is wrong with me came on. Lasted for about 40mins till I got home. This morning same thing, just a weird feeling. Discomfort in the chest area. Nauseous and the feeling something is wrong with me. I had an MRI of the heart, CAT scan of the brain and everything seemed fine. I do have to get an ultrasound for my thyroids and ct scan of the brain again to rule out MS. Other symptoms throughout the day (it varies) shooting pain in my right hand. Headache, dry mouth, chest discomfort, tired, anxious. Please, can someone help? I want to be my normal self again.
View 1 RepliesBirth Control :: Wierd Feelings After Tubal Ligation
After having a tubal and cut off my bc pills my body is mad at me. Migraines, horrible shoulder/chest pain, no taste buds on my tongue, tired and sore,plus bleeding. I just want more information and can't find any...
View 1 RepliesStrange Feelings After Falling Asleep - Possessed? Or Hallucination?
I am a 14 year old male and for the past 1-2 weeks, i have been experiencing strange feelings suddenly after falling asleep. Most of the time (In regards to religion) devilish. It started one night when I suddenly go to sleep and feel a rush go up my body, then a tap on my left knee. I disregarded it thinking i was just about to have a nightmare. About 5 minutes after that, i go to sleep again and feel another sudden rush up my body and a tap on my right bicep. This time i heard a slurred voice (I cannot recall what it said but i do believe there was laughing.) I finally got sleep and told my mom the next morning. These things had not happened again until 4-5 days later when I went to sleep and i get a sudden rush up my body but instead of a tap, I have no control over my body. After 30 seconds of not being able to move myself (Note, this was not sleep paralysis because I gained control over my body.) I regain control but then I feel another sudden rush through my body and a tap on my left leg again with another slurred voice. I want to know what is going on with me, am I being possessed? Or am I just hallucinating? I want to know your guys's thoughts and what I should do.
View 1 RepliesHypertension - Bisoprolol :: Awful Feelings Of Dread Through My Body
On Bisoprolol for a few weeks now and am getting awful feelings of dread throughout my body. Although it's a small dose 1.25mg it is horrendous. Anyone else having similar issues?
View 34 RepliesCannabis Addiction :: Weird Feelings For Three Days After Smoking Weed
i smoked some weed with my friends. this my second time, but this time when i got home i suddenly felt so weird. now i feel like everything is fake, im body sometimes goes num. i had a panic attack. i went to the hospital but didn't tell them that i smoked so the doctors didn't do nothing. i swear this is the last time ill ever smoke please somebody give some advice. im only 14 i want to live life to the fullest.
Quitting Cannabis After 14 Years
I am a 28 year old male that as smoked cannabis on an of for pretty much 13/14 years the last 6 bein skunk and every single day am on day 4 and have not smoked a single bit last night I had a really good sleep for the first time in 3 nights I feel so much more alert and like I can take anything on and conquer it was before I was worried about my next bong I can honestly say I will never smoke again it ruined my life and cost me thousands and thousands of pounds of my wages over the years av also just woke up and realised i'm hungry haha anybody now how long till i'm fully clean please with being a heavy smoker am prob 6ft3 and just under 13.
View 20 RepliesQuitting Cannabis - The Best Way To Stop It?
I've been a smoker for 10 years for anxiety & manic depression i find it gives me the ability to socialise & be happy , now it's made me depend on it for sleep & other things i wish i could just get it out of my life . cost is one thing but being tired all time . feeling un well, & having to risk my lisence when i drive is why i want to quit, any ideas on best way to go about stopping , it affects my emotions bad wen i dont smoke.
View 2 RepliesQuitting Smoking After 17 Years - Tried Everything
I've been a smoker for 17 years now. I've tried everything and still can't quit. Any methods anyone can recommend that helped you?
View 1 RepliesWill Emphysema Go Away After Quitting Smoking?
I would like to know that if I were to quit smoking now, will my emphysema go away? I have been smoking for 3 years and I am only 22 year's old.
View 3 RepliesEasy Way - Quitting Smoking
Now, you've probably clicked on this link and have some serious doubts about what I'm going to say.
Quitting smoking is the easiest thing you can do and why? Because you don't want to do it in the first place.
Example 1: Let's say I invite you to your favorite food, would you say yes?
Of course you would, it's something you enjoy and it's free.
Example 2: What if I invite you to eat dog poo. Would you try it? Hey, it's free, right! But, you would probably say no.
So what do those 2 examples have in common? The #One you want to do and the other one, not so much.
Well, let's pretend I chase around the house, work and every area of your life, telling you to eat dog poo. Would you just give up and try it? Like really?
Because that's what addiction does it pokes you and chases you until you agree to do it.
I could write a whole essay on this, but I'll post some main ideas first and then will specify on some things.
Addiction is not a habit. Look it up in the dictionary. Not the same thing at all and the words are very different, even though they sound similar.
Psychiatrists classify addictions as a mental disorder.
So first admit and you've probably noticed that by being a smoker, you are different than other people. You think differently and you're aware that your life is dominated by cigarettes. When to buy, smoke etc.
If you smoke a pack a day, that's like 1 cigarette every 45 minutes, without counting 8 hrs of sleep. That is like brushing your teeth the same number of times a day. Doesn't sound like normal behavior right?
So, let's summarize this, smoking is an addiction that pokes you several times a day. And here comes the catch, why do you have to do it, just as the example with dog poo.
Because you think you are getting something out of it. Not the bad consequences, but you think it somehow lets you decrease your stress or keep emotions in control... etc..
There are two types of addictions, physical and mental. The mental part of the addiction is usually what makes it seem impossible to quit.
But there's an easy way.
Add your thoughts in some things I've said or ask more questions and I'll write some other posts that go deeper on why smoking becomes a problem and it's our mentality that makes us fail.
Quitting Smoking :: Day One Champix
So today I swallowed my first morning Champix tablet., I got them from my GP 3 days ago,. but had a real mind battle before making that 1st move.,I have smoked for 50 years,. this as taken a big toll on my Health & pocket,..hopefully now I have come to my senses to quit this awful habit,,my life can take on more meaning..
View 36 Replies