Can I just tell you how much I love you? (not in that creepy stalker way) No, really, I love this coverage - it's absolutely fascinating. And I appreciate your stellar (blogging) coverage on this.

Good job - enjoy your day (or two) off and I look forward to future posts.

Okay. I am so disgusted beyond what I already was before re: ZyPrexa, that I will try and make this my last rant about it.

In 2003, my daughter had blood sugar variations through-out the day so many times, that it was written into her (legal document)I.E.P. in high school, that she needed protein bars and water any time of the day, in any class, and would not be penalized for leaving class due to any symtoms regarding this need. Keep in mind, that creating, and gaining an IEP for accomodations in schools, is not easy, and for a detail like that to get into the document back then was a victory. (and now think about how unnecessary).
I took her to the doc, and she was not officially deemed diabetic.

Now that she is off of ZyPrexa, she does not have these extreme shifts (that included shaking, sweating, etc.).

I dare say, that Zyprexa has caused more harm than good for my daughter. Keep in mind I called a ZyPrexa lawsuit attorney in 2005 and asked them if they heard anyone calling in regarding Zyprexa being addictive to the brain; the cause of med-induced psychosis, etc. and they wrote me a letter that said "diabetes" only.
If they were smart, they would look into ALL of the patient complaints with a fine tooth comb and sink Lilly's ship for good.
Besides the blood sugar issues during the daytime, and afternoons, she also had to take Benedryl at school as well as at home, per the larger the dose, her eyes rolled up and would get stuck. She had to be escorted down the 2 story school building by teachers and be sent home, for inability to read a book or write this way. When I complained to (the psych that was fired in 2005)he said it was eye strain. I took her to the general doc and he said it was the ZyPrexa. This was back in 2001.
I spent so many hours in my life in the last 7 years researching the hell out of neuroleptics, the last idea I had was to fly to CA. and sit in the UCLA medical library.
Instead, I spent the last year driving to 4 hospitals in 4 cities, and saw the horrors of living inside institutions.
I do feel the use of psychiatric medications, especially ZyPrexa, contributed to my daughter's unique and complex case history.
There is no gaining back a childhood, a pre-teen years, or high school years. There is no gaining back coming home from a hospital loop after a year and finding out your Graduating Class of Friends are all gone to college.
How does an 18 yr.old move forward with this baggage? Every time I requested to reduce or remove ZyPrexa to my daughter's (now fired psych)doc, and she appeared to end up in a withdrawal state of mind, he critisized ME, and told ME, it was because *I* told him to reduce or remove the Zyprexa. That is where this guilt-trip is stopping. Here and now.
I am tired. I am physically worn out.
I am refusing to carry the guilt-ridden burden of my daughter's medication history on my back any longer.
I am not a doctor. I do not write prescriptions.
I am not the one to blame here. Though the guilt remains. It is a double-edged sword. I actually am the one who pushed for Zyprexa to be studied, and have so many notes and files, and print-offs, what good did it do?

I would like to categorize this medication a toxic substance that should be avoided at all costs.

Listen up folks. This stuff is bad ass, hardcore, brain addicting, brain damaging, metabolic syndrome causing, shit,that in my opinion, could be worse than being on crack.

Done.

Thanks for the outlet here and for the amazing series, The Zyprexa Chronicles.

They should be published.

Hi. this might not be the best place for this, but: there is a "logical" link between Zyprexa and diabetes that could explain how to prevent it. By logical I mean, "sounds good on paper" but no data yet to prove it.

Each antipsychotic can cause diabetes-- but the key is that they do not all use the same mechanism. Clozril suppresses insulin. But Zyprexa (and Remeron) don't directly affect insulin, but do increase the absorption of fructose (via frutose transporters) and hunger (ghrelin, decreased leptin, etc.)

So maybe the diabetes comes not by insulin resistance, specifically-- but fructose increases. It may be that Zyprexa causes you to eat more, and eat more fructose (i.e. high fructose corn syrup), and that's what sends the blood sugar high, etc, etc.

The question then becomes: if you never eat fructose-- if you eat only Atkins, for example-- would you still get diabetes?

Do people on Zyprexa get diabetes because they are also drinking a lot of soda and juice (high fructose corn syrup?)

I don't know, but I do spend a lot of time telling people not to drink soda and juice.

Caught with their pants down. Love it.

Last psych,
I feel it was my daughter's diligence in making sure she avoided sugar, and soda, etc during the time she was on Zyprexa, as to why she was never dx w/ diabetes.
She was a smart kid, and had proteins snacks after school, drank water only (2-3 quarts a day her own monitoring system)it was unbelievable the connection she found herself,associated to feeling good and basically did do a Atkins type of diet. She still gained weight though. she dealt with the low blood sugar stuff, She actually wrote a paper at age 17 on how to feel good and diet was key.(she also read labels and never bought anything like cereal etc with sugar in it). I often told her she had a better eating program going than I did.
Now on CLozaril, she wants juice and soda all of the time, so I have had to monitor how much gets into the house.
It is quite an interesting connection, that though she was a super-good monitor of what she ate etc, that she still gained so much weight.

I LOVE the reporting I've been doing for all these little papers around the city! I wrote a story on the Honors Program, and another on Fairfax Hospital, and it's SO much fun! After break, I'm going to be writing a story on the fancy, shmancy school my doctor's kid goes to, Open Window. Oh, and for the holidays I got his kiddos really cool gifts, and they loved them! His kids are really precocious -- the eldest one was reading by age two and a half, little genius. My doctor's always telling me all the genius things he says. My doctor also gave me pictures of them, and they're SO beautiful! I love them! Anyway, the reporting I've been doing is so fun and fufilling. Even though I'm not the hottest student, at least I have this hobby which I'm absolultly flourishing on.

It's amazing how little of my recent Overlake hospitlization I remember. I think it's becuase I was taking eight different medications at very high doses, and I was just too druged up. Like, Philip came to visit me (!!!) but I don't remember what we talked about. I remember hiding under tables a lot, and crying a lot, and stuff, but not much else... I remember the staff taking me downstairs to get eggnog lattes every morning... Oh, and Stephany sent me a card (!!!) but I can't remember what I wrote back. The only thing that I really do remember is that the staff were very nice, and it was by far the most PLEASANT hospitilzation I have ever had. But anyway, medications really do wipe out your short-term memory.

Yeah, I just want to reiterate how nice people are. Philip is nice, Stephany is nice, my doctor is nice, his kids are nice, my cat is nice, my old doctors are nice, my friends are nice, the associate director of the Honors Programs is nice, my editor from my literary magazine is nice, my editors from my little newspapers are nice. Everyone is just so damn nice!!!

I just found your website. I'm crazy or a psychiatric survivor with several psychiatric labels. Too bad there is no real test to see which one(s) are the correct one(s).I don't take medications or drugs. Congrats on the website and having the courage and strength to question authority.

Gwen,
I am so happy that you are doing well, you are a strong person, and a inspiration to me. I'm glad to see you posting here. :)
--Stephany