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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 7:13:03
Hi:
Due to Health Insurance change, I might force to change one of my meds. Zyprexa 5 mg. to Risperdal. I've been also on Trazodone, Lithium and Bupropion, and all of those are at low dosage. Practically, Zyprexa providing me with stability and plus, a good nite sleep.I read a number of threads regarding Risperdal, however until 'a change of Health-Insurace' by my employer, I never thought about Risperdal.
My concern is, ....
(1) Whether Risperdal is about the same effectiveness as Zyprexa? A Good-nite sleep from taking Zyprexa is God-send to me. I have Bipolar II with otherwise physical good health.(2) Also, what dosage of Risperdal is comparable to Zyprexa 5mg.
(3) What form of side-effects from taking Risperdal?
Any inputs and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 9:14:47
In reply to Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 7:13:03
If I were you I would get new insurance! Do they only provide generics, I'm guessing?
Posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 9:30:04
In reply to Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 7:13:03
I took risperdal in the past. Some versions may have worked better than others. Its what they gave me in hospital, because zyprexa was not available in canada then. They also had me on perphenazine in canada. Not sure if that one worked or not, it may have given me TD or mucile twitches. My records of canada are not clear, because they were not informing me. It apeared that the risperdal may have been working for a while.
you can try the risperdal and see what happens. If it does not work, try anouther version of it.
Posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 9:35:01
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance, posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 9:14:47
Well, my new insurance kick-in next January. Then, I plan to see my pdoc. next week if there is an opening available. However, he's always busy.
According to my new insurance brochures/booklet, 'Only' Zyprexa is eliminated from AP-category. Other APs, such as Risperdal, Abilify and others are all available.
As to another insurance, .... practically, I can NOT afford, because it may cost me around $300 or more if I want back to the previous insurance. Then,I'm a kind stuck to my employer's preferance. My employer's representative told me, first talk to my pdoc. and then decide. Before doing so, I want to know Risperdal is a good replacement to Zyprexa 5mg.
Thanks,
Posted by Racer on December 1, 2007, at 10:44:10
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance » Zyprexa, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 9:35:01
Depending on the insurance, your pdoc may be able to appeal the exclusion and get Zyprexa covered. It depends on the insurance, though -- and on your pdoc's willingness to go through the appeals process. The good news about appeals is that a doctor who is willing to appeal has probably been through the process enough to have it down to a routine. The bad news is that not all doctors will bother.
As for changing medications, I've never taken either. As far as mechanism of action goes, Zyprexa has a wider range of actions, which might make it better for you, or might include actions you aren't benefiting from. Riperdal skips the cholinergic effects, which might be a good thing for you, but it also has more serotinergic and dopaminergic effects. If those were helping you, you may find Risperdal less effective. It's probably worth giving it a try, based on your situation, though. It might be that the more targeted actions are equally effective for you.
A lot of people here like Risperdal. Others have had good results with Seroquel. And there's always the chance that the new insurance will approve Zyprexa with an appeal from your doctor.
Insurance issues just [emulate a Hoover] -- our insurance is changing in January, too, and my husband hasn't yet brought home the EOB, so I don't know what changes I'll face. It's kinda scary, though, wondering what changes I'll have to deal with. (Although I already know that the dental coverage would have covered my most recent work, which was not covered by the old insurance. Could have saved me nearly $2000!)
Good luck with it.
Posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 10:45:17
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance » Zyprexa, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 9:35:01
It may work! That is strange that they will cover abilify and not zyprexa. I wonder if its the diabettes? The other thing you could do is stock up on zyprexa before January. Get a 90 day supply for a very high dose. Also doctors have free samples.
I'm paying $450 for insurance. You are lucky.
I think it will be a good replacement. I'm guessing that 1mg x 2 is a good replacement dose, for 5mg. Just remember if you have bad side effects on one version, try anouther. It is not as sedating. If thats a problem you could take something for sleep, maybe a sedating AD, like remeron, or paxil. Anouther option might be perphenazine as AP, which is sedating.
Posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 11:13:56
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance » Zyprexa, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 9:35:01
Racer made a very good point! To try Seroquel, I know a lot of people who take this successfully. It is the best one on the list for sleep. And probably the closest thing to zyprexa.
Posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2007, at 11:45:33
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance » Happy Girl, posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 11:13:56
Zyprexa didn't know you were from Canada? Hear zyprexa other than weight is a good one. Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on December 1, 2007, at 13:13:38
In reply to Re: Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance » Zyprexa, posted by Phillipa on December 1, 2007, at 11:45:33
Yes born in Canada, spent half my life up there. Spent other half of life in USA. Duel citizen. Zyprexa is very good, and probably the only one that works so well for me, I've taken alot of others.
Posted by bleauberry on December 1, 2007, at 17:11:45
In reply to Zyprexa to Risperdal due to a change of Insurance, posted by Happy Girl on December 1, 2007, at 7:13:03
The antipsychotics are different enough that you could notice quite a difference, good or bad. Same as antidepressants. SSRIs are so similar, and yet so different. So if risperdal is a good subsitute for zyprexa is roll of the dice. Who knows. In scouting reports at askapatient.com risperdal has a trend of comments indicating it zones people out, doesn't give as good sleep, and such. It would be nice to see its overall rating higher than it was. That doesn't mean it couldn't work great though.
Honestly I do not believe anything is the same as zyprexa.
If it is primarily a sleep thing you are looking for, then seroquel might be better at that. But if you are getting other benefits from zyprexa besides good sleep, I have no idea whether risperdal will continue those benefits or not.
Generic versions of zyprexa are available from overseas mail, with or without a prescription.
This is the end of the thread.
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