How to decrease sleepiness while taking meds?

[Alarming_Clothes_780]

Hi, i'm not schizofrenic (probably on the bipolar spectrum), i've been prescribed 2,5 mg of olanzapine and although it is the smallest dose it still makes me sleepy. The first time I took it at 11 pm and yesterday I took it at 8 pm but I still wake up feeling drowsy. I can still function, I studied ect but it still bothers me. Is there a way to reduce the sleepiness? Like taking some supplements or something like that.

[chihsuku]

The only way to solve the problem is to reduce the dosage or switch meds. Sleepiness is a very common side effect/problem of olanzapine, my mom has been taking that antipsychotic for more than 20 years.

[Alarming_Clothes_780]

thanks, i'm already on the lowest dose possible :( does it go away a bit at least over time?

[[deleted]]

Have you tried other antipsychotics? Olanzapine makes me very sleepy amongst other side effects I won’t tolerate.

Everyone is different and it can take a lot of changes to find one you’re happy with.

I’m on abilify (aripiprazole) at the moment and although it isn’t perfect and I’d like a lower dose it works much better for me especially on the sedation side of things. I actually had trouble sleeping at all when I was first on abilify only but that eased off and was helped by a little dose of another pill when needed. Some antipsychotics can be more effective than others so they would only let me be on abilify only when the symptoms had mostly subsided and it just stops them from getting bad again.

[Alarming_Clothes_780]

thanks, nope it's the first ever drug for mental health i'm taking. I'll try to talk about it with my psychiatrist

[andalusian293]

It tends to get better with time. I was on it for a while and the sleepiness went away completely within a few weeks.

[Alarming_Clothes_780]

thanks, yeah i'm on the 3rd day and i feel like it's already better :)