low dose generic zyprexa for sleep and anxiety?

[2sungo]

so yesterday I go to the original pdoc I saw (who is far away but near my primary physician) and he suggests adding 2.5 mg of generic zyprexa to help with sleep and anxiety and maybe help my antidepressant. He really doesnt seem to like the idea of klonopin that I am on, though he did not say to change it yet, though I told him that it is needed to get onto ssris for me and others.   The nearby pdoc approves the zyprexa after I called him to ask about it said it and lexapro were a common combinination.  I'm taking 15 mg lexapro and 1 mg klonopin (in divided doses) per day, still waiting for good results, probably been on the 15 more or less for 3 or more weeks.  The zyprexa did help me sleep (I fall asleep fine on .5 klonopin alone, but wake up around 3 or so, depending, and have a hard time going back to sleep, often feeling uncomfortable).  Well I certainly slept well, maybe too well went to bed around 10, got up around 9 or later.  Still was tired this morning, till close to noon.   I did get nervous reading about the possible side effects, but the doc said this is not long term for me.   People on line seem to in general like its effects but weight gain is an issue, but most took higher doses for other conditions I don't have (mine is anxiety/panic/ followed by depression), and I am not willing to increase the dose.  Anybody else tried this out before? 
If I don't get much better in a couple of weeks I may have to go back to zoloft which worked twice in the past, or something else, I am getting tired of waiting for the lex to work fully when it worked so well before, and faster.

[2sungo]

addedum: called first pdoc about cutting the 2.5 pills in half to reduce the oversleeping, he said okay, will try tonight.  He also said they should be used only until the lexapro (or if needed some other antidepressant) takes away the anxiety/depression, then I can discontinue.  Still would have to get off klonopin later on I imagine, but first have to get the lexapro to kick in fully (if it ever will).

[insights]

I am getting tired of waiting for the lex to work fully when it worked so well before, and faster.

Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that antidepressants don't always work as well the second time around, often requiring higher doses to achieve the same results as the first time and producing more severe side-effects.

Ian

[2sungo]

Thanks Ian, I wish someone could figure out why this is so for many folks. Its so cruel, really, to think you have the answer you can always go back to, and then it changes, esp with this dreadful condition.  I do feel a bit better today, still got up late at 830 but also havent fallen back asleep.  If I could get to 20 of the lex maybe that would help more, but for now I will stay at 15 till told to go up b/c I had bad morning anxiety when I tried it a couple of weeks ago.  If I did it again I would have to go slower or use more klonopin, which the psych that first suggested the zyprexa had a dim view of.  Yet it has helped me get on ssris and a tricyclic in the past, and I usually wait months before slowly tapering it down w/o .  If I didnt get depression after the anxiety I'd probably use it as a monotherapy or as needed, I know folks who use ativan as needed and thats all they need.  But they must just have panic attacks alone without the crap that usually follows afterwards, though as you know this time I started with anxiety rather than panic.
One odd thing is that when I was okay on one med, but a new option that promised less side effects came along, the switch during those non crisis times seems easier, eg from Nortryptilene to Serzone (was a great med, felt nothing till it failed years later), and a second time with Zoloft to Lexapro.  In the past lexapro worked really well, no side effects except for "slowing me down" sexually, but they almost all do that (not serzone though).  I remember the second time I went thru this mess (this is third time), I had to switch off serzone to zoloft by cross tapering both at the same time, that was not fun, but the zoloft (with Klonopin) did work within about a month at 100 mg of zoloft.  I recall being tired, but functional.
Wonder if any new meds are coming down the pike with less side effects or better efficacy/duration?  Maybe the future lies in the magnetic or other brain stimulation once they figure it out, or maybe they could come up with a way to prevent relapses (I often wonder if the stresses of the last half year plus predisposed me to a relapse, and my mother's passing during this time makes recovery harder). 

[insights]

Wonder if any new meds are coming down the pike with less side effects or better efficacy/duration?

Probably not anytime soon. Several of the bigger pharmaceutical companies have announced they are either getting out of psyche drugs, or putting research on the back burner. Too many law suites, I suspect. 

I often wonder if the stresses of the last half year plus predisposed me to a relapse, and my mother's passing during this time makes recovery harder). 

I think they probably had a lot to do with it. My condolences for your loss.

Ian

[bluerose]

I take lexapro which works great for my OCD, but doesn't help much for my depression, but everyone is different.  I also take zyprexa for anxiety, sleep and to help my mood.  I know it can be a heavy duty med, but I've tried so many meds over the last 30 years that I'm just glad to get some relief.  And I do take klonopin for sleep and anxiety.  Thankfully my pdoc is ok with it.  Most people don't need to take so many psych meds but after several "visits" to the funny farm I'm sticking to what works.

[2sungo]

Bluerose, I am hoping its relatively short term, and my dose now is so small but its good to know you have had luck with it. I've generally had good luck in the past with klonopin plus an antidepressant of some sort, then I wean off the klonopin and remain on the antidepressant or drop the dose to minimize side effects, usually with luck for many years.  This (third) time I pretty much was off the lex for months, and some very stressful stuff started, and I seem to have had a particularly bad luck run of late, just today my car got hit as I started to pull out of my driveway.  I do feel a bit better at times lately, maybe the zyprexa is boosting the lex or the lex is finally beginning to kick in rather late.  Time will tell, and evening is usually a good time for me anyway as I write this.   I hope you continue to feel good!