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Saturday, November, 21, 2009
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Fanapt: Hope or Hype?

Christina Bruni
Christina Bruni
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Librarian and Writer

Christina has been in remission from schizophrenia, and out of the...

Christina Bruni

Wednesday, November 04, 2009
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Early next year Vanda Pharmaceutical's schizophrenia drug Fanapt (generic: Iloperidone) will hit the pharmacy shelves. Could it be the first third-generation atypical? It blocks a different combination of neurotransmitters than earlier antipsychotics. The company says Fanapt targets a more relevan...
  1. new meds
    David Robbins
    Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 05:12 AM

    Christina,

     

    You are fortunate that you received help quickly. That definately has made a difference in your life.

     

    I wasn't. I have been on many meds over the years, some made me gain weight, others made me "dance". Truth be told that not one med ever took away the voices.

     

    The is also a new shot coming out soon. It is made by the same people that make the shot I'm on now. My pdoc has assured me that it would be okay to take. I am tron because I feel good with the meds I'm on now. Isn't the old saying "if it works don't fix it" hold true?

     

    I am going to give the new shot a try. If I feel myself slipping I will ask to go back.

     

    I am also here today because of my strict manner of taking my meds, everyday at the same time, holidays included.

     

    Take care,

     

    Dave

    Reply
  2. Fanapt
    DCROY9633
    Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 09:26 PM

    I had not heard of Fanapt before, but I did read through the prescribing information and it doesn't seem to me that enough studies have been done.  I would not feel comfortable switching from Zyprexa to Fanapt because many of the side effects I don't like are frequent in both.  And at one point in the information it said 9% of the people in one study gained a significant amount of weight; yet at another point it said a frequent side effect is decreased weight....?  And the QT-wave prolongation is something I couldn't risk because the electrical activity in my heart has already slowed in the last 4 years.  In fact, this week I was put on a 24-hr heart monitor, will have an echocardiogram Monday, and then a nuclear stress test on the 17th.  But the cardiologist says he doesn't think it is a side effect of any of the meds I am taking.  At least that is good...

     

    I am still looking for the miracle drug, I guess, just like everyone else.

     

    Carolyn

    Reply
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Schizophrenia is a syndrome characterized by disturbances in emotions, thought, activity, and language, that leaves patients fearful and withdrawn.

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