olanzapine?

[weeze]

Anyone else had experience with loved ones being put on olanzapine?
Mum was given it in hospital and has continued to take it in her new home but have just read some info about it and am wondering if this is causing her aggression as is listed as a known side effect.
Also read that it is recommended that elderly with dementia shouldn't take is as it can increase the risk of a stroke!

 

[Vonny]

Hi Louise,

Mu son was on Olonzapine for a year to deal with his psychosis. It had the opposite effect on him, and it removed a lot of his aggression, which was extreme when he was first sectioned. The only side effect it had on him was to make him eat...and eat...and eat. He went from being the pickiest eater in Shropshire to the most well fed.

Of course he is a teenage boy and doesn't have dementia and I suspect everyone reacts differently to medication. After a while they tried him on citalopram as well as the olonzapine and the agression came back so they withdrew the citalopram. So you have to take into account different combinations of meds too.

If it can cause strokes, not a good idea for your mum especially if she has vascular dementia. I would certainly discuss the advisability of this medication with your mum's doctor. This is why I never read the leaflets!


Vonny xx

 

[Nebiroth]

Yes, my dad was originally prescribed it by our GP - we voiced our concerns as the instruction notes said "should not be given to people with dementia due to risk of strokes" but we were assured that the doseage was so low as to not pose a substantial risk.

However, dad's consultant moves him over to quitiapine, a second generation antipsychotic, a class of drug thought to pose lower risk than the older drugs.

Has your mum been seen by a specialist who deals with dementia?

 

[Stimpfig]

=Nebiroth;229351]
However, dad's consultant moves him over to quitiapine, a second generation antipsychotic, a class of drug thought to pose lower risk than the older drugs.

All that I can say is one size doesn't fit all. The psychiatrist who saw my mother prescribed quitiapine whichhad an adverse effect on her. She was extremely agitated, aggressive and picked a stick to hit the woman in the mirror (see my previous posts). I had to be on vigil the whole night and it was one of the most horrendous nights of my life. It was easy to see that this was a reaction to Quitiapine.

I then resorted to Olanzapine and she has been on this for about 4 years now and it did cut down on the aggression.

Almost all of the drugs have some side effect or the other, so I suppose one just has to make an informed decision.

Good luck to you.

 

[gigi]

Hello Louise...

I have no experience of Olanzapine in the elderly with Dementia..

But my son, like Vonny's was put on it a couple of years ago ..also for Psychosis. And like Vonny's son his appetite increased tremendously.
Last year, against medical advice he decided to stop taking it..and his psychosis returned big time..which culminated in him being readmitted to hospital for his own safety.

He now takes it regularly..and his paranoia is just about under control.

If you're worried about the aggression being a possible side effect it's worth discussing it with the doctor who prescribed it for mum.

xx

 

[lizb]

Switched the light off...

My mum was prescribed it and it was as if someone had switched the light off. Her usual jolly disposition dissappeared and it was as if someone had switched the light off. She became really tired on it too. I stopped it after a week. She's now on risperedone (spelt?) which doesn;t really seem to be having an effect either way. it stinks the way the medical profession say you just have to try them out to see what works........
Good luck. x

 

[Tarika]

Olanzipine

mum was precribed this in the early stages and it did work. She had a stroke about 3 months after- not sure if it was related. She's now on citalopram and quitiepine which do help her anxiety and agitation.
Love Tarika