Symptoms of a Drug Prescription
Medication ♥ Nikki’s Story
November 30, 2023 by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ Nikki’s Story: Journey through Zyprexa
This week we continue our journey through another prescription drug, Zyprexa. Even though this journey lasted a very short time, the knowledge we provide you is significant to your wellness journey.
Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following journey through Nikki’s eyes.
Nikki’s Story:
Journey through Zyprexa
By the summer of 2013 when I was prescribed Zyprexa, my physical and mental health was deteriorating.
Since changing to my current health care provider, Zyprexa was the fourth drug I tried as an addition to the three existing drugs considered to be my base medications.
Becoming increasing discouraged with my overall health, I was willing to try anything that had the potential to help. So, I started on Zyprexa which was in a different class of medications, one that I haven’t tried before, atypical antipsychotics.
During this time in my life, my medication was altered constantly. I have little to no recognition of exactly what drug did what. And honestly, I don’t even remember being on Zyprexa.
Frankly, I consider this time of my life like participating in a game of drug roulette.
One of the side effects I was having at the time was that I wasn’t able to truly comprehend things. However, I was encouraged not to have my mom be present during my meetings with my provider. In fact, she was more or less told to wait in the waiting room.
Luckily, I continued having an open communication with my mom, and she was able to gather information for me in a journal. Logging all my medications I was prescribed and the effect they had on me.
According to this journal, I started feeling sick shortly after beginning Zyprexa. My dosage was 2.5 mg which was the lowest dosage available.
With no potential of my health improving on Zyprexa, my healthcare provider stopped Zyprexa in a short period of time.
At this point, I remained on the same base drugs for a few months with slight alternations in dosage. No new drugs were added and unfortunately, none of the existing drugs were eliminated.
As months past, I continued reaching out for help from my healthcare provider, but no help was provided.
Periodically she would mention cognitive programs I could possibly go into, but then didn’t follow up with it. If I mentioned it, she indicated the program wouldn’t accept me due to my insurance.
With my health declining each day, in 2014 she decided to start with adding new drugs to my regime again.
Over a year had passed but still no relief from my mental or physical pain. I decided it was time to find someone new for my healthcare treatment.
Surprisely not, at my first appointment with my new healthcare provider, additional medications were added to my current prescriptions.
Tips to Recognize
Number 1:
- Recognize how you feel from the first medication prescribed.
- Do you feel even worse mentally or physically?
- Should you continue on this medication or stop and try something else?
- If you continuously feel increasingly unwell, is your diagnosis accurate?
- Can the drug be making you ill?
Number 2:
From the beginning, the medication made my symptoms of depression, negative thoughts, and anxiety even more severe. But now I had a new added negative feeling, physically I was unwell.
I no longer was able to communicate the way I use to. With my anxiety worsening, I could no longer speak with people let alone in front of an audience.
Doing things that I loved doing such as going on roller coasters and watching movies, was becoming nearly impossible.
I was told this was because my “mood disorder” or now referred to as bipolar disorder was worsening.
- Look at yourself from the beginning of the treatment plan.
- Try to recognize if changes are for the better or worse.
- Realize you may not be able to see changes for yourself. If possible, ask someone else who can make a determination.
Number 3:
When withdrawing off a medication, it may be difficult to recognize if it is a withdrawal.
- Withdrawals may last longer than your healthcare provider states.
- Sometimes when a medication is stopped abruptly, you can experience severe symptoms.
- Even when a medication is stopped as per guidelines, negative effects can occur.
Number 4:
Remember, we are all different.
If your healthcare provider doesn’t look at you as an individual, maybe you should question it.
Knowledge is key to wellness!
The goal is to live a happy and healthier lifestyle!
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”
– Albert Einstein –
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
Medical Disclaimer:
We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the Website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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