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Coming off olanzapine

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kat50
kat50

I've been on olanzapine for about a year and also take venlafaxine and mirtazipine. My doctor has decided to take me off olanzapine. I've been on 10mg so my dr has decided to take 5mg for one week then the 2nd week one tablet every other day for one week. Not feeling too great. Anybody have any have advice for me. Many thanks.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • b2wc97455
    b2wc97455 kat50

    Posted

    Hi Kat,

    your doctor must have asseding you due to your recent visit?, he or she would not take a treatment and change with other if he or she think that the treatment works well (i.e no side effect; doing what suppose to do /managing your symptom, sometime time when patient taking mistazipine at first few days they have the similar effect as you are, as long as it is not persistent and does not effect your daily chores look at the drug's SMPC as well (the leaflet in side the package) there are lots of side effect that come to it, but mirtazipine works in two ways..if you still unhappy with it, go back to your doctor express what that drug/s effect on you...he/she will be able to provide you with the advise..

    Good Luck

  • lily65668
    lily65668 kat50

    Posted

    Sounds a bit too fast to me, Kat. Was it a psychiatrist or your GP who gave you this advice? I've never taken the stuff myself but I'm a former nurse and a friend of mine is currently on it. She started on 10mg 11 months ago, cut down to 7.5mg five months ago and is just about to cut down to 5mg as of tonight. By all means follow your doctor's instructions if you don't feel too bad (and you're always going to feel a bit weird during withdrawal after a year on a drug of this category) but be prepared for the fact that you might have to slow down the withdrawal process. 
    • kat50
      kat50 lily65668

      Posted

      I saw a psychiatrist. I thought it was rather fast at coming off it. I hope my withdrawal is easy. I'm still suffering with depression which makes it all the harder. Is your friend on any other meds?
    • lily65668
      lily65668 kat50

      Posted

      Mirtazapine and Xanax. But it's not possible to make any comparisons as she's 80 years old and was prescribed olanzapine for an acute psychotic episode coming on top of vascular dementia. She wasn't able to tell me how she felt, but I noticed she was more agitated and irritable than usual after the first reduction, though this only lasted a few weeks. Sorry I can't be of more help.

      If you do need to cut down more slowly and can't get an appointment with your psychiatrist, I'm pretty sure your GP could give you a prescription for olanzapine.

  • b2wc97455
    b2wc97455 kat50

    Posted

    Yes, my  friend on Mirtazipine and Deluxicitine, she used to be on certraline  - maybe because you are still depress so your doctor might think that the treatment need to be changed, it could be withdrawal symptom...unsure about it..but I work so hard to support my friend because she likes to come off completely from the drugs and be more like me to go on natural...as I used to be a medical representative, I just do not like the side effect of all the pharma's drug at all, however NICE guideline always ask us to change our life style and exercise before taking any drug..if we still can't bear the pain of the symptom then drugs should be second option then last option would be surgical...at the end of the day our body can heal it self. If it is for depression..is quite hard isn't it, because people unable to see what you are suffering off eventhough mentally worse than anything else..as it can cause so many different condition and seriouts illness. Have you tried : meditation, gently walk or swim.., window shopping and justtry to relax...do not expect too much frolm your self, talk to your friends/families or even visit your church/mosque or whereever you pray talk to some one there what is bothering you..?, and just take it each day as it come...but breathing exercise is good asl well as relaxcetion if you are stress/depress.. I am drugs free, it took me at least a year though as I was fighting with constant battle of pain.while taking the supplements..it seems its working..unfortunately in the UK - NHS does not reimburse that..so it is quite costly for me, but it is worthwhile in the end.

    But dont forget to discuss this with your specialist

    Anyway..good luck and best wishes

  • kat50
    kat50

    Posted

    Thank you for your replies x
  • jeremy16659
    jeremy16659 kat50

    Posted

    Hi kat just read your post about olanzapine. I know it's over a year ago but did you manage to come off it? I recently came off it after being on it for 20 years. It was the hardest thing I've done but reading stuff online about how bad the drug is for you made me determined and I'm now free of it and will never go back

    Let me know how you got on

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