Olanzipine for Bipolar 1 after PP

[vlk86]

Has anyone taken olanzipine for bipolar 1 after having PP? If so how much do you take? I had PP when my son was born and have since had another manic episode. I am just about to reduce from 15mg to 10mg but hope to reduce more in time. Suffering with side effects of the olanzipine so don't want to be on higher doeses forever. I have tried taking lithium but found those side effects even worse than the olanzipine

[AstroSue]

If you're finding olanzapine too sedating it might be worth asking about aripiprazole. I was on that for a while, it was slightly sedating for me when I first started it, but that soon wore off, and experience of other bipolar bears suggests I am in the minority finding it at all sedating.

[vlk86 in reply to AstroSue]

Thanks Astrosue. Does anyone else have positive experiences of antipsychotics, aside from olanzipine?

[AstroSue in reply to vlk86]

I also initially seemed to get on well with risperidone, but unfortunately it raised my prolactin levels so much I began lactating and had to come off it! But again, not too sedating. There are lots that you could try, though.

[Allokmm in reply to vlk86]

I'm taking quetiapine now. Switched from olanzapine as I was feeling quite depressed and sedated, even on 5 mg. I had 1 manic episode prior to my PP, and both times I was quite low energy/depressed/foggy for a year afterwards, regardless of type of (or no) medication. For me, manic episodes take a long time to heal and come back to feeling myself. Now the quetiapine feels like it's at a dose that's enough to protect my sleep at night with a toddler who still wakes me and breastfeeds a lot, but leaves me feeling pretty good and clear through the day. Definitely not as sharp as I used to be, but unclear whether that's the drugs or just tired mom brain. Happy to answer more questions or to chat via PM.