Zyprexa tiredness

I'm on zyprexa. It seems like the best ap I've taken side effects wise minus weight gain which is under control most part. But the exhaustion is just unbearable at times. some days with enough coffee and shower I can get going. But, some days just drag and I never feel fully awake. Pdoc won't lower my dose from 15mg and doesn't seem to believe my tiredness is from the dose because some of her patients are on up to 30mg... Well I'm sorry but I know it's the zyprexa as I've been on it over three years. I feel I'd do much better on 10 or even 5 as I've been stable for a year now. Idk just frustrating as I feel like I'm wasting my life away. People always comment on how tired I look. Idk what to do I don't want to switch anything as this is working.

Thoughts?

Zyprexa tegretol Ativan melatonin

This is just my personal opinion, but I think your pdoc is heartless and ignorant.

Drugs affect everyone differently. She should know that. An extreme example of a drug that affects people differently is Abilify. Some people get revved up (manic), while others are heavily sedated. For example, one might get manic on the smallest dose (2mg), while others sleep for 12+ hours on 2mg.

Is it possible to get another opinion?

Some people take stimulants to stay awake, while others work with their therapists to come up with measures to combat sedation (e.g., diet, exercise, etc.). And of course, some people change drugs altogether. Nevertheless, there are options out there, and if your pdoc isn't willing to give you those options, consider finding someone who will.

Remember, this is YOUR life and life is too short. Some people are fine with sedation, but not everybody is, and no one should have to put up with it if they don't want to.

I think you should try to get your dose lowered or add something like Provigil. I was on 15mg of zyprexa and was tired/sleeping too much and managed to get my dose lowered down to 5mg with the option to take an extra 5mg PRN if needed and it helped a lot.

Lots and lots and lots of people have serious Zyprexa side effects at 15. 15 is actually a fairly high dose. I do great on 10, but have terrible akathesia at 15. I wish it made me tired, but it does not. Nothing does in me, though.

Are you depressed by any chance right now? Something that I refer to as the Central Fatigue of Depression can really knock people on their butts. That could also be at play here. This usually must be specifically treated if you have it, in my opinion.

Either way, if she won't let you cut the Z dose, then I agree, something like Provigil or Adderall should be strongly considered. I've been on both. Provigil is probably safer if you have an addiction history or if you are over the age of 50. The long-term saftey of Adderall has not really been studied in older folks, but it sort of stands to reason that, if there is another non-amphetamine option, and if you are over 50ish or so, it might be wise to go with that other option from a cardiac safety point of view.

Gotta advocate for yourself. In my experience, too many American psychiatrists don't really give a sh** if we are exhausted constantly by our diseases and/or treatments. All they care about is that we not be naked and running down Main Street at noon, manic out of our minds. Just a strong personal opinion and I understand others may dsiagree.