I have to be sedated to not go crazy.

Post Reply New Topic

I am prescribed 20mg olanzapine a day. My GP surgery gives it to me in 10mg pills (so 2 a day), probably because its cheaper for the NHS (I get free prescriptions).

I am prescribed 20mg at night. But I think I am a very fast metaboliser of olanzapine (I get challenging behaviour and meltdowns every afternoon if I take all of it at night). So I have split the dose in half and I take 10mg in the morning and 10mg at night, as of a few days ago.

So far I am managing to get up earlier due to less olanzapine at night. However the first half of the morning I am fairly sedated.

My point is - I have to be sedated in order not to be displaying frequent challenging behaviour. My self injurious behaviour has decreased a a bit too.

Is anyone in the same situation?

I will have to email my psychiatrist.

Same here, I'm on Seroquel (quetiapine). I've been prescribed 300mg at night, 12 hours before I have to get up, plus 25 in the afternoon to stabilize my evenings. The problem is that it really knocks me out. Even just 25mg makes me feel like taking a nap. I've been working my way up to acclimation: currently I'm taking 25 in the afternoon and 100 at night. I don't feel *wholly* stable on that dosage, but it's completely manageable, which is important. It may sedate me, but hey, the alternative is much worse.

That is curious because I take 20mg of Olanzapine at night and throughout the day I do not feel very sedated. About two hours after I take it I fall asleep but that's the extent of it.

I hate being sedated myself. I've only taken neuroleptics once (olanzapine coincidentally) for OCD related insomnia. It worked but I felt horrible the next day. Like a zombie. I have taken some benzodiazepines and sleeping pills but I adjust to them extremely quickly so there's really no point in my taking them. If it's a choice between injuring yourself or others and feeling sedated, then you might be better to take the medication.

You should really discuss any issues you have with whoever prescribed this medication. There may be adjustments that can be made to dosages to help you feel more alert during the day.

I'm on the fence about this. I only sedate myself herbally, which I think you might all prefer; valerian & melatonin are what I take. I also remain woozy upon waking up but tea does a nice job of minimizing the effect. Sleeping deeply is great but I wish sedation didn't affect dreams...

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos