medication question

[lil516]

does anybody know anything about the medication zyprexa?
my son's doctor wants to put him on it...

he is an addict....lots of anxiety but it seems anti-anxiety meds are all narcotic so the doctor won't prescribe (thank goodness!)...any one know anything about that?

he does take an anti depressent and mood stabilizer (lithium)

yikes!...just typing it all makes me shudder...so many drugs taken by a drug addict....

any info or experiences would be appreciated
thanks

[Erratic]

ive never been on it or heard of it but here is a link for you to read up about it.

http://www.zyprexa.com/index.jsp

http://www.drugs.com/zyprexa.html

[shutterbug]

Lil....i've never been on it myself, but i know it's an anti-depressant that also helps with anxiety. Peda knows more about it, i think, maybe he'll be on later?

I'm about 95% certain that it's non-addictive though. I'm on Welbutrin right now myself and it helps with anxiety a little too, but I think the Zyprexa helps quite a bit. If I have to switch meds again...i'm already planning to ask that my doc put me on Zyprexa.

As far as the lithium....i just started on it 2 weeks ago and i know it's non-habit forming. Even Patty Duke found comfort for her bipolar disorder in taking lithium...it's very common, as are Depakote and Lamictal, but lithium has been around the longest for bipolarD (about 30 years)...and it's basically a particular kind of salt.

Basically, it sounds like your son's got a good doc. I understand your apprehensions, but taking meds because you have too and taking drugs to get high are two different things...he won't get any kind of highs from taking these kinds of meds. I have a very addictive personality and my aunt died in 2001 from a prescription overdose, so i refuse to let any docs give me any addictive drugs. And i've been on about 15 different meds over the past year in trying to find the right combo...and i can tell you that none of them have given me any kind of pleasurable feelings...quite the opposite actually. If your son takes more than prescribed on any of these meds...he will get really, really sick...and never want to do it again.

For my anxiety all i take is vistaril...i can take 2 at a time if i need, but not more than 4 a day. They are very mild, but i like them because i can also take them at night to help me fall asleep (i have sleep apnea, so i can't take any stronger sleep meds than the Vistaril). Anyway, they're not really strong enough for my anxiety though. My old doc suggested putting me on Zanex, but i told him that's one of those "addictive" meds that i refuse to take. He then suggested the Zanex XR (or XL, or whatever) where it's a pill you take once a day, every day, just like other meds so there's really no chance of getting addicted. Anyway, Zanex was one of my aunt's favorite meds so I refuse to take it in any form. Valium is another one I won't mess with.

Anyway, i'm kinda rambling here....hope maybe something among this jibberish helps.

Hugs,
Jenna

[historyteach]

I would say if the doc knows your son is an addict, and won't prescribe anything addictive, listen to her/him.
I do know that BuSpar is a non narcotic/ non addictive anti anxiety drug too.
Good luck,
Shalom!

[shutterbug]

oh....HistoryTeach....I was thinking of you when I said Peda....lol

[mendingheart]

My abf is on Zyprexa for anxiety and it also helps him sleep soundly at night, he has always had sleep issues. Maybe it comes with all the anxiety? Hope this adds some light for you.