Question:
Anyone know anything about Zyprexa?
I am so confused. I went to a new PCP today and he sent me home with zyprexa instead of the usual Zoloft I've been taking for about 6 months. I assumed he gave it to me for depression...I'm going back in three weeks to discuss it with him. Then I came home, got on the internet and found out Zyprexa is an "anti-psychotic" used to treat schizoprenia and bi-polar disorder! Now I'm freaking out because this was NEVER discussed and I have never been diagnosed with either of these. Only mild depression. He did ask me if I have any obsessive thoughts and I said yes, with food. I over-eat and think about food ALL THE TIME. Did he send me home with the wrong samples or does this drug also treat mild depression? — Kimberly S. (posted on April 15, 2003)
April 15, 2003
Even though Zyprexa is listed as an anit-psychotic, it is used for many
other conditions including depression - under certain situations. Many
times a med is created for one disease and in time it is found to help
others as well. I must say though, that I am surprised that a PCP would
prescribe a med like that. I think that I would call back and find out
why. If you have a mild depression and have been taking Zoloft, I would be
concerned about getting a script for Zyprexa too. Please call back asap
and make sure that this was not a mistake. Don't take any kind of psych
med until you know exactly what it is supposed to help. Waiting 3 weeks is
too long to wait in my opinion. There might be side effects that you need
to watch out for. Take good care......
— Judy K.
April 15, 2003
DO NOT take those until you check with the man. Mistake, mistake, mistake -
has to be! If you check and he says, "No, I meant to give you
Zyprexa," do this : see another doctor. No doctor should casually give
you an anti-psychotic - if he really thinks you might need such a thing, he
should refer you to a psychiatrist, just as he would refer you to a kidney
or a lung specialist, etc. If it was a mistake, which it almost has to be,
that would make me think twice. It shows kind of a lack of attention to
detail, don't you think? Good luck. Be careful.
— Kim A.
April 15, 2003
I agree with the previous poster in that many psych meds can be labelled
one way "Anti-psychotic" but have many other purposes. Another
purpose of Zyprexa is not only is it used for some depression but if you
have trouble sleeping in addition to your depression it can help you sleep.
Now, the other thing I would be asking is about weight gain as I believe
that is a side effect of Zyprexa. I worked in psychiatry for 11 years but
have been a SAHM (Stay at home mom) for the past 2 so I forget somethings.
I would definitely question him. And, in my humble opinion, I would see a
Psychiatrist. I know may PCP's prescribe psych meds, however, they are not
specialists and do not deal with these problems on a day to day basis. You
need someone who is very familiar with these medications and side effects
that they may carry. Don't let this worry you just yet, just be sure to
call your PCP asap and get this figured out. Good luck to you
— Robin V.
April 15, 2003
I agree with the previous posts. I have battled depression for years and
was put on Zyprexa by a substitute psychiatrist who decided I was bipolar.
As soon as I was available to see my regular psyciatrist again, he said,
"Stop taking that medicine immediately. It is for much more seriously
ill patients than you (and I was very depressed). It can have some serious
side effects. When I took it, I was dopey and very sleepy all of the time.
NO PCP should be subscribing this drug. Only a psychiatrist should be
writing scripts for a drug as strong as Zyprexa.
There are other anti-depressants that help with obsessive compulsive
problems, e.g., Luvox, which has none of the serious side-effects of
Zyprexa. Call him and ask why you were put on an anti-psychotic when you
only have mild depression. Ask him for a referral to a psychiatrist; you
have every right to a second oppinion.
— Jennifer R.
April 15, 2003
One of the most common complaints with Zyprexa is serious weight gain.
Please call your doc tommorrow!
— Charree K.
April 15, 2003
As bad as most hate to admit it ... Medications such as
celexa,zoloft,wellbutrin,zyprexa,prozac,buspar,
paxil,abilify,
luvox,lexapro, and many more can all be sorta considered as psych drugs.
After all. Depression & anxiety too are partly psychological.
Unfortunately any form of mental illness, no matter how small, carries an
underlying descriminatory undertone. Most people suffer from some sort of
mental dismay. It's just that some can deal with it better than others.
Some severe, some not. Some seek medical attention. Some don't. I can
understand how words such as anti-psychotic can be scary to you. But
remember it's just another label. And as said before. Most medications
are used for several different diagnois. Some that are not even listed on
medication packaging. Believe it or not. Drs are allowed to experiment
with medications. And they do it all the time. They prescribe something
to patients to achieve a certain effect .. Find out from several patients
they are benefiting in another way from that medication .. and bam! .. Dr
now can prescribe it for other diagnosis he thinks may be benificial.
Unfortunately too .. As much as we hate to admit it .. Some Drs prescribe
medications partly due to influence by drug manufacturer representatives. A
Pharmacist is by far the best in answering your questions when it comes to
any medication. If they do not immediately know the answer .. They can
sure find out the answer. Even by speaking with your Dr if necessary,to
discover his objective. Did you know that many times Drs call Pharmacists
to find out proper or safe dosages for medications? And/or many times RPhs
have to call Drs to question dosages and/or combinations of medications
he(the RPh)feels unsafe? Many times to be over ruled by the Dr and recorded
by the Pharmacist as such. Make your RPh your best friend. Develop a
relationship. (Think about it .. Would you want your friend taking
something you think is unsafe?) They are more knowledgable than you may
realize. Pharmacy consultation booths are there for a purpose. Do not be
afraid to use them. Your confidentiality is even more important now than
ever before due to new federal HIPPA regulations just implimented. Good
luck to you. Just remember. It never hurts to be safe. Side effects, both
immediate and long term can be very serious. You go girl ... Go ask those
questions!!
— Sarah H.
April 15, 2003
I was on Zyprexa for about 2 years. My psychiatrist used it to "Jump
Start" the other medications I was on. Even though I was on other
medications I was still depressed so he gave me that and it did the trick.
I have been off it for quite a while now. Just mt two cents.
— armonce G.
April 16, 2003
Just to clarify...someone said, Medications such as
celexa,zoloft,wellbutrin,zyprexa,prozac,buspar, paxil,abilify,
luvox,lexapro, and many more can all be sorta considered as psych
drugs....well, they all ARE classified as psych drugs. All are
psycho-active, but not all are <b>anti-psychoti</b>c. Meds
such as zyprexa and risperdal, although used primarily for
schizophrenia/bi-polar, can be helpful for a paranoid-type depression as
well. But, as another poster said, I believe ALL psych drugs should be
prescribed ONLY by a psychiatrist, not a family doc or PCP. I think a lot
of patients are sent off with prescriptions for psycho-active drugs and NOT
FOLLOWED afterwards. And this is wrong, wrong, wrong, and in many cases,
dangerous. In the case of this questioner, I would definitely ask for
clarification of why I was prescribed an anti-psychotic drug. Also, (just
my humble opinion), I would be seeking care from a psychiatrist for my
depression, mild or not. Love and hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
April 16, 2003
You've received many good answers here. I would definitely double check
with the doctor that he meant to prescribe Zyprexa, and then regardless I
would arrange for a consult with a psychiatrist. It is not too uncommon
for psychosis to accompany depression, but you would know if you're
experiencing visual or auditory hallucinations or paranioa. I do think
that MOST pcp's are well-equipped to prescribe SSRI's and other
anti-depressants, but not other psychotropics. Just my $.02!
— [Deactivated Member]
April 16, 2003
Hi everyone! Original poster here... I called Eckerd's Pharmacy this
morning. The pharmacist says Zyprexa was approved by the FDA for treating
bi-polar and schizophrenia. However, like many drugs, it has been helpful
for the treatment for mild to severe depression and anxiety disorders. He
said doctors including PCP's regularly prescribe medicine for other than
the intended use. He also said many patients have been reporting that
Zyprexa is working better for them than the Zoloft. We'll see. I feel a
lot better about that. When I checked the ELI LILLY site, it only talks
about bi-polar, schizophrenia, auditory and visual hallucinations, etc.
That really freaked me out. The pharmacist said the drug companies can't
advertise the use of Zyprexa for any other use than what it was originally
intended, but not to worry because doctors do it all the time. I am a
little concerned about the weight gain, but I'm still in weight monitoring
to get approved, so I guess I won't worry about it until after surgery.
Thank you for your posts. They really made me feel better. K
— Kimberly S.
April 16, 2003
To follow up on my previous post. I was just trying to help with the
original question. I am sorry if my words or wording was not correct to
one. Anyhow. I am glad that you called your RPh which was what I did
recommend. Psych drug... anti-psychotic drug .. I was just trying to be
helpful. Sometimes things typed here seem to carry such a harsh undertone.
Good luck to you.
— Sarah H.
April 16, 2003
Sarah, I don't think you need to apologize. You said they were all psych
drugs and they are. I was a psych emergency clinician for 6 years and the
advice to speak to a pharmacist and become knowledgeable about medications
is a great one.
I would also echo the advice of others to find out WHY a PCP would order an
anti-psychotic such as Zyprexa in place of a run of the mill SSRI such as
Zoloft. That's not a logical pharmacological leap unless something else is
going on (and the base noter doesn't make it sound like it is). While
Zyprexa does have more uses than as an anti-psychotic such as treating
paranoid depression, but I would question why it's being prescribed for
mild depression when the patient is having success with a "usual"
antidepressant such as Zoloft. I would inquire about it just to be certain
why it is being prescribed because he may have indeed written the wrong
thing down. Double check with your PCP, please.
— susanje
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