One week ago, I switched from Zyprexa to Saphris and wrote about it at the depression forum.  For years (approx 13) I had taken Zyprexa.  Although it did amazing things for the sz and depression symptoms, it also had the bad side effects of weight gain and sedation.  I tried a multitude of other antipsychotics, trying to find one that worked as well as Zyprexa w/o the side effects.

So, last Monday, I saw my psychiatrist and asked if there was anything new on the market that he would recommend.  He said I could try Saphris, and he gave me 14 days worth of samples.  It is his habit to switch all at once from one to the other (from 15mg of Zyprexa to 10mg/day of Saphris) so my system felt a little odd for a few days.  But almost immediately, I could tell Saphris might be the med I had been hoping for.

No side effects except for occasional nausea if I haven't eaten anything in 3-4 hours.  No ravenous appetite like I had with Zyprexa, no sleepiness, no insomnia that I had experienced with Abilify and Geodon, no restlessness.  Maybe I do seem to be "going off on a tangent" at times when I rarely did before.  For instance (I know this will sound odd, but if you have sz, you know odd things can happen) I found a new post on the depression forum that I did not recall writing.  It was about happiness and rambled on, not making much sense.  I deleted it ASAP.  I have had issues in the past (about 13 yrs ago) with amnesia.  Not being able to account for my whereabouts or actions over a period of hours.  And I doubt that this is what happened, but maybe I was just really tired/sleepy when I wrote it, or distracted...or something...?

I hate it when that happens (ha.)

Anyway, the Saphris is working well and I have new energy.  Am sleeping about 7-8 hrs a night and maybe one short nap a day.  I do have to take Klonopin to help me fall asleep easier, but no real problem.  Nice to be really awake for a change.  And I'm feeling so much more like actually DOING things instead of just watching TV.  Good time of year for that!