Fanapt: Hope or Hype?

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

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