Saphris And Depression

Updated

I was given saphris for depression. Saphris is a brand new drug but its labing is not for depression.
Has anyone else took this medicine

47 Replies (3 Pages)

Page:1Next PageLast Page
Earliest Newest Votes
1

Hi Beth,

I was prescribed Saphris recently for a severe and long-term depression. I have chosen not to take this drug since my APRN, in response to my questions, had no idea why or how it would work for a depressed patient. Given her lack of knowledge about prescribed Saphris off-label for depression, I've opted not to take it.

Good luck with your decision.

Grace

Was this helpful? 1
2

I have just recently started taking saphris other than the nasty taste I thnk its working great deffenitly with sleep as well. You should give it a try. Good luck

Was this helpful? 1
3

I just started taking it for depression, after 15 years of other meds failing to help. My psychiatrist is prescribing it in addition to Lexapro, which doesn't do anything for me on its own.

It's been four days. I can get used to the nasty taste--like concentrated grapefruit rind.

I don't know if I can get used to how well it helps me sleep. I had been taking Ambien to help me sleep. Saphris (alone without Ambien) has me out within 45 minutes or so. But before I fall asleep, I feel a bit of anxiety, and I can't focus on anything. And then I sleep like a rock with some trouble getting myself up in the morning.

It's the weekend, so I can afford one more night. We'll see...

I don't get scared off by testimonials about meds...because you can find horror stories about everything...so I have an open-mind about Saphris...for now.

Was this helpful? 9
4

i have found my depression is helped with 5 mg of saphris..however i have gained 7 lbs..it makes me unbelievbly hungry...also i feel alittle like speedy..but if it helps my depressions i am going to use it...but he weight gain is very bothersome to me....has anyone else had a huge appetite and weight gain? also kind of nervousness?

Was this helpful? 10
5

Lifetime depression, took tiny piece of Saprhis 5 mg tab, lifts my ood from suicidal to manageable. On Effexor, Buspar. It perks me up, so I take it in A.M.

Was this helpful? 1
6

Hi,
I've been suffering from major depression for years. I have tried almost every single medication available and none has worked, either due to lack of toleration or ineffectiveness. I've been on an MAOI called Eldepryl, which keeps me from committing suicide. I just started Saphris 3 days ago and I have actually had energy, been productive, and my mood has been much better! I may be a bit manic, which never happens, or I've just been depressed for so long that I actually care about life now. I take Ambien with it to help me sleep. I have some insomnia, but I am actually starting to sleep through the night!
I hope it continues working and there aren't too many dangerous long-term side-effects, since there is no research for use with depression, that I am aware of. I think we are both in the same boat. If it is more beneficial for you, I would try it for awhile to see if it works.

Was this helpful? 7
7

Try putting a listerine strip on the top of your tongue when you put the Saphris under your tongue, it makes such a big difference!

Was this helpful? 5
8

I started Saphris a little over a month ago, and I overall like the medicine. I am bipolar and was in a mixed episode - I felt very depressed but was having some manic symptoms too, and my doctor took me off of my anti-depressant (pristiq) and put me on Saphris. I'm now taking Lamictal (a mood stabilizer), Provigil, and Saphris. Going off the antidepressant and on to Saphris somehow helped my depression, even though Saphris is not labeled for depression.

Its labeling is for Schizophrenia, Bipolar Mania and Bipolar Mixed episodes, I believe. For me, I was having very annoying obsessive thinking, and without the Saphris, that all comes back. I'm very teary all the time now though. I don't know if that has anything to do with the med or not.


My biggest problem though is the weight gain. I've gained 14 pounds in the short amount of time I've been on it! My appetite is so insatiable, it's like portion sizes just look way smaller to me because I'm so hungry. And it makes me drowsy and I swear I'm going along like a zombie, not even aware that I'm binging. It's ridiculous!

Was this helpful? 2
9

I started Sapris about 5 wks. ago. The doc took me off of it for a very short time because I was averaging a weight gain of 5 lbs. per week. The other meds just weren't working. This one seems to do the trick, BUT I just have to somehow find a way to stop eating. I'm already obese and the additional weight is making the depression worse. The Saphris is great for the depression, but the overeating is not. No win situation?

Was this helpful? 0
10

ive been on a bunch of of meds for bipolar, GAD, and saphris worked the best for me. i lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks! im coming off of it, cause it gave me tremors, and i wait tables=no good. antipsychotics are nnot for everyone. in my experience between counseling and shrink visits its all a crap shoot. they know less than we do. ive taken seroquel, geodon, resperdal, zyprexa, and saphris lifted me at for a long time, but it wore off of, i will give it credit for being the most clear headed of my experience, and i lost weight and gained some self confidence back, but im weening off of it now, antipsychtoics zombie you and take away your personality, and make you fat and constipated. hope this helps, seems different than the rest, i loved it for a while.....

Was this helpful? 3
11

I have had bipolar depression on and off for more than 5 years. For the last 2 years my depression had gotten worse. I've taken Prozac, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin. I've been taking lithium for over 5 years. Thankfully I haven't had any manic episodes. But it's terrible to loose your zest for life and basically just go through the motions of living. Last week suggested I give Saphris a try. She suggested starting with the lowest dosage of 5 mg. which I take a little before bedtime. I currently am also taking 20mg. of Lexapro and 300 mg. of Wellbutrin, along with lithium. I take Ambien to help me sleep through the night. The day after the first night I took the Saphris I was pretty groggy most of the day. I got a good long night's sleep though. Prior to taking the Saphris the first night, it was difficult to get more than 6 hors of sleep a night. I also had previously started needing to take 1 mg. of Klonapin along with the Ambien to help me get to sleep.
I really didn't have much faith that Saphris could help my depression. I had taken other drugs in its class and they hadn't had any positive effects. They just made me really sleepy and hungry. Of course each person's brain chemistry is different and those drugs may work wonders for others.
I was really disappointed after the first night of taking Saphris. The next day I was sleepy and hungry. I came really close to not taking it again but my doctor had told me to give it a fair shot and at least take it 2 or 3 nights, so I took the pill the next night. When I woke up the next morning I actually felt good. Almost great! I wasn't as sleepy or hungry as I was the first morning. The next few days have gotten better and better. So, if all continues to go well I intend to keep taking the drug. I feel interested in life and living again! For the first time in a long time I no longer have a loss of interest in life. My quality of life had been so poor I had pretty much given up hope of ever feeling any kind of insentive to do the things I used to do. What a great feeling!

Was this helpful? 6
12

My doctor just prescribed Saphris today. I have gained 11 lbs in two weeks taking Zyprexa. She told me Saphris has a better metabolic profile than Zyprexa and that I shouldn't gain any more weight once I switch but these posts have me really scared!

Was this helpful? 6
13

I had been misdiagnosed as depressive 5 years ago and put on effexor by my general doc during a difficult depressive time in my life. It turned me into a frozen person who barely felt anything and lost interest in everything that I had loved in life. I gained 70 pounds and wound up hating everything. I decided to go off the effexor and became completely suicidal. I went to a shrink to get help going off the effexor and was put on a low dose of klonipin and ambien. within 10 days I was hospitalized for being suicidal. Evidentally I am actually bipolar and spent most of my life successfully manic with some depressive episodes. I was put on trileptal in the hospital and became nasty and mean. I was still weaning myself off the effexor. The depression was awful, crying all day and suicidal. I would get awful zaps of electricity in my brain trying to get off the effexor and migraines. couldn't work. new Dr offered Saphris stating it was the one med least likely to cause weight gain. took 10mg sublingual on way home from dr office. side effects awful, slurred speech, drunk feeling, dizzy, restless legs couldn't get comfortable couldn't sleep nausea, confusion. took 2 ambien & 3 knonipin to finally get to sleep. slept for 10 hours and when I got up, I never felt better actually happy and peaceful for the first time in many years. I was so afraid of the side effects I called the dr and was told to stop taking it. within 2 days the suicide returned. I took a smaller dose 2.5mg no side effects and felt great the next day. have stayed at that dose for the past three days. have energy, happy and excited about life again. I did notice some appetite with the happiness but I am trying to just eat healthy so I can finally get my weight back down. On effexor I felt I had no energy to diet and despair that drove me to snacks. Now I can eat healthy and have energy to exercise and have hope and a feeling of peace. side effects now if I don't fall asleep right away after I take it, I am up all night a little manic cleaning and organizing, but I missed that anyway. I am sure as the dose can go up I will be sleeping better and be more balanced. I did not think I would make it through the last depression without killing myself. I know there are drawbacks to the saphris, but right now I would be dead without it. I agree doctors do not have a clue what they are doing. If I hadn't taken a second chance on the saphris I don't know what I would have done. I have had a heart attack and difficulty with my asthma with all the weight gain from effexor and they could care less. There must be a better answer than the hell we are going through to just feel normal.

Was this helpful? 6
14

I have taken Saphris for almost a year now and I have actually lost weight. I was on Abilify before and had put on about 13lbs in a year. Nw that I switched I'm actually down about 10lbs and my chloesterol and trigs are down too. I didn't like the taste but they have a black cherry flavor now that is a lot better. Ask your provider about it.

Was this helpful? 3
15

6 nights of taking Saphris 5 mg off label for depression and six horrible nights of sleeplessness and grogginess in the AM...and as everyone knows, sleep is highly affective when it's good (as it used to be for me) for depression.. I could jump out of bed at 6am and BE the morning person I always was...esp. if you have to work! So, waiting for doc to call me back, but it doesn't make me sleepy at all and interrupts my night's sleep 1-3x night.
thought side effect would go away....anyone else have that happen? Also, no change in mood for the most part or anxiety/panic/depression... :(

Was this helpful? 0
16

Saphris comes in black cherry flavor it's alot better then the regular.

Was this helpful? 2
17

I have been on Lexapro and recently Viibryd for five years and started taking Saphris a week ago but have been scoring the tablets in half per doc's advice. So far, so good and life is much better; in fact, remarkably so. The black cherry flavor is not bad at all. It does put you to sleep for sure and it is too soon to tell for me whether there is an issue with weight gain but I have not noticed appetite differences. First time in five years I have felt in charge of my happiness.

Was this helpful? 3
18

Saphris took away my bad moods i was physically abusive to my boyfriend and had lots of episodes all my life i was on adderall fluoxotine and risperdal since i was six years old im now 22 and trying the saphris was the best choice i made i no longer am physically abusive and i am much happier the only thing is i sleep like crazy with it and am hungry alot but i would rather be a little more sleepy and more hungry than normal instead of being physical with and miserable to everyone i love.

Was this helpful? 2
19

that is a great idea!!!!

Was this helpful? 1
20

Let me start by saying how AWFUL Risperdal is. It made me not want to talk to anybody because of my owl eyes and I couldn't feel any emotions. I was also depressed and my buoyancy was off. NONE of these things happen with Saphris. I feel alive, my boss at work questioned me as to why I had so much energy and life. It's been a miracle and I hope it continues to stay that way. I've been on Saphris 12 days but its effects happened immediately. It might be because I went down on Risperdal at the same time I started.

But EVERYONE should give Saphris a try if they have nothing left to try. It's new... and I think that might be a good thing. Side effects: constipation and slight bloating. But that's what Senna tea is for :) Good luck

Was this helpful? 4
Page:1Next PageLast Page

Most Recent Replies:

47

Re: Jae (# 32) Expand Referenced Message

Jane, I, too, have bipolar 2 and am on the same meds. but different dosages. Wellbutrin 425 mgs, Lamictal 400 mgs and still in a deep depression (and 2 mg clonazapam for sleep). Did you try the Saphris? I'm scared to with all the side effects? 5 mgs is what I was prescribed.

Was this helpful? 0
46

I'm taking saphris for bipolar but seem to have depression that I can't shake. I would like to take an antidepressant for my illness but the Dr. Won't add or change anything.

Was this helpful? 0
45

Re: flower101 (# 4) Expand Referenced Message

Yes I have been takeing sapris 10 mg for about 17 days and have a huge increase in hunger and I have gained 13 pounds and the next day I am very fatigue but the good thing is I sleep like a rock and that is what I had a big problem with in the past but I am going to ask my DR if there is anything to boost my energy

Was this helpful? 0
44

Well, I am a Saphris success story. After all of the drugs, and horrible depression, I have my life back. I take Lexapro 10 mg and Wellbutrin 50mg in am and Saphris 2.5 mg and Klonopin .5 mg at night. I've tried Desipramine, Risperdol and no help. I was afraid of Saphris but hung in there and gave it a chance. Too many horror stories online about drugs but I decided to listen to my doctor instead.

Was this helpful? 0
43

My daughter is 20 she went thru a terrible divorce her father and I, her father is a recluse and sticks his head in the sand, my daughter is overweight, get dad eats his meals at the computer instead of with her at the table, she took the drug kratom, and sliced both arms and was in icu for 7 days last year, she was with me and things were going good and all of a sudden she became VERY agitated, was shaking me(I was recovering from 10 fractured ribs) plus jerking me like she did,I have chronic back pain due to having multiple myeloma, she suddenly slapped me across my face scratching it, I'm 55,I had to call 911 on her, she was acting very strange, she went to get councillor for a check up next day, from there she was sent to get psychiatrist, from there taken to seay hospital in Plano tx, they put her on latuda 120 mg,,trileptal 600 mg,ativan trazodone 50 mg at night, she wouldn't take her meds, so they got a court order to give her meds intravenous injection s she was home with her dad and he would keep all meds and knives locked in a lock box,I told him to watch her, check her mouth, and she could be throwing them up(which come to find out she was) so she had another bad episode with her dad and now she's in mental hospital greenoaks in Dallas, she's diagnosed as bypolor schizophrenia, now they took her off latuda and they are giving her Saphris,I have not seen or talked to her, her father makes sure of that, I'm very concerned about my daughter, she was into her second year of collage and seemed to be doing fine.I often wonder if she went and bought more kratom, since its legal and anyone over 18 can get this God awful stuff, oh and she's already 5/1"and weighs over 200 lbs, her father's mother is drawing a disability check because she's mentally ill,I wonder if her father is trying to get her on disability for bipolar schizophrenia? She's worth more if her had control of her money, he said he was going to go see her tonight and let me know how it's going,I want to see her,I already lost one daughter to same diagnoses, she wouldn't take her meds, she was 29, lost her Feb 3rd 2011, and I don't want to loose another, her dad doesn't have a clue of what to do except stick her in a mental hospital and so he can work his precious job of 29 years at TI in Richardson tx ,I live 50 miles(and so does he) from where she's at, please, I'm open to ANY ADVICE :-) thank you, Colette

Was this helpful? 0
42

Lisa, have you had any nasty side effects? Others report weight gain and that's been an issue with other meds I've tried.

Was this helpful? 0
41

After taking for over a month now, I see a major change in how I feel. It's a relief to know it wasn't all in my head. This drug saved my life.

Was this helpful? 1
40

I, too, was prescribed Saphris for depression. It did a 180 degree effect in me. If feel more like myself....and in the last 3 years, that's saying a lot. I do feel a little "jittery" but nothing I can't handle. I've not noticed any weigh gain but, actually a little weight loss.

Don't take it in the A.M...it's meant to help you sleep so your body can fight depression. Take the whole 5mg at bedtime.

Was this helpful? 1
39

I, too, was prescribed Saphris for depression. It did a 180 degree effect in me. If feel more like myself....and in the last 3 years, that's saying a lot. I do feel a little "jittery" but nothing I can't handle. I've not noticed any weigh gain but, actually a little weight loss.

Was this helpful? 1
38

I, too, was prescribed Saphris for depression. It did a 180 degree effect in me. If feel more like myself....and in the last 3 years, that's saying a lot. I suggest you take the medicine and decide for yourself how it makes you feel. It's been a life saver.....actually.

Was this helpful? 1
Sort Thread by Most Recent

More Discussions:

Depression and Viibryd

Anyone had any experience with Viibryd yet? My doc just gave it to me today. Just wondering... ## I just started Viibryd...

79 REPLIES
Depression and Cilift

I am Bipolar and take 900mg Epilum in the morning as well as 900mg in the evening. I suffer from severe major depression...

5 REPLIES
Depression and nightmares

taking cymbalta and having terrible nightmares.is this a side effect? ## I have had depression for as long as I can reme...

4 REPLIES
depression and anxieties

I am struggling real bad with panic attacks...lots of doctors don't understand some people need benzos to live a pro...

2 REPLIES
Depression and Cilift and tiredness

I am now day 6 on Cilift. There might be a slight lift in my depression, but I cannot get myself to get out of bed. Is t...

2 REPLIES
Depression and a lot of foot pain

Hi im 33 yrs. Yr old ive suffered with deppressed for 10 yrs now. I was taking prozac abd stopped 4 yrs ago. I have rece...

1 REPLY
depression and lack of concentration for 2 months

i m an english prof. sudden negative thoughts . unable to laugh or enjoy life .i have taken classes enthusiastically bef...

pain and depression

i have been in ever increasing pain for the past 11 years.first i was told it was in my head.then fibromyalgia.now nuero...

3 REPLIES
lyrica and depression

Just a tale of my two times of taking LYRICA. I took this years ago and stopped because I't did not take my pain awa...

1 REPLY
Eliquis and Depression

66 yr old male, 5'11", 191 lbs. Exercise daily. Prescribed 5MG Eliquis x 2 day. Since starting approximately 3 w...

23 REPLIES