Zyprexa dreaming and other stuff - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Lynxgrrrl · 11-13-2008, 06:22 PM

Hey all,
I've been lurking here since my diagnosis 3 months ago and first off I would like to thank everyone here who has unknowingly helped me find answers. But of course for every answer a new question comes up.

I've always known that I'm not 'wired' right but after another broken relationship due to manic violence I finally relented to getting help. Now my pysch is doing his job by striving to keep me stable (so far so good) he seems to be only interested in medicating me. I don't know the ropes with all of this and when I ask about alternative therapies he just says that nothing will get through to me whilst I'm manic. I am high functioning and have got this far with out medication until 3 months ago when I tried to take my own life. He has put me on Zyprexa 5mg daily and apart from the weight gain I don't feel much different. I do however have the worst nightmares ever. Now I have been self medicating with maijuana for many years which stopped me recalling dreams completely. It also made me sleep when sleep wouldn't come. I'm off the dope now to give this new regime a fair go. But the dreams are driving me nuts. My question is........
will this calm down in time or do I have to just get over it. My main problem being waking up 3-4 times a night then struggling to get back to sleep cos the dreams upset me so.
My second question is on another path. Does Zyprexa effect menstruation?
Or as I'm 40 could it be menopause or both?
Thanks for reading.
Lynx

tigger5150 · 11-13-2008, 07:44 PM

Lynx - can't say that I have had nightmares on my zyprexa, but I do have some of the most bizarre ones that often awake me at night tossing and turning until I finally go back to sleep. I recently added diazapime (Valium) back into my nighttime mixture which has helped, but I don't want to keep on it for very long, just to get me over this slump of depression where I have difficulty sleeping. Wish I could answer your question on menstruel issues as I have been irregular most of my life so I wouldn't know if it was the drug, the usual off beat, or the fact that I to am just over 40 and it could be that! Good luck from another melbournite.

CarenR · 11-14-2008, 03:34 PM

HI I have bipolar 1.. and I take zyprexa 5mg every night and I sleep all night long..... and I havent gained weight... I think you need to tell your dr. and maybe you need a higher dose of Zyprexa........ as it should make you go to sleep if you take it at bed time.............

good luck..,,

hugs, Caren