1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Olanzapine

Coming off Olanzapine

Posted , 94 users are following.

Guest
Guest

I have been on Olanzapine or over 6 years now from when I was diagnosed Borderline personality traits and all I can say is that I have endured 6 years of living hell. I have been taking 10mg every night for that time and piled on loads of weight, felt lethargic no confidence and started experiencing heart pains. I have had absolutely zero social life in that time and felt unable to think or communicate with other people. I decided just over a month ago to stop the treatment and now am starting to feel much better. I have lost a stone in 2 weeks and look much better ,I am now able to think clearly and have much more energy and motivation to do things. To help me stop the Olanzapine I have avoided alcohol completely (this always put me back to square one in the past). I am finding it difficult to get off to sleep without the aid of the drug but more excercise through the day is helping with this. I will never return to taking this drug again as I feel it has robbed me of 6 years of my life.

11 likes, 335 replies

335 Replies

Prev Next
  • Sack
    Sack

    Posted

    Hi Sue, No problem. All the best to you and yours.

    Regards,

    Colin

  • marbel
    marbel

    Posted

    Thanks Colin

    that was very heart felt. When i became unwell I was very far away from my family and supports as I was living on the other side of the world with my boyfriend where I had only been for 9 months, when he ended our relationship of six years. I felt alone and rejected but tried to be brave and stayed in a foreign land where I had only new friends to be with.

    After three months and many sleepless nights while my brain raced over the situation and tried to solve lots of unanswerable questions I started to become delusional, thinking I was sometimes jesus like and then other times that I had started a terrible war in the world and hearing the planes dropping bombs and people marching. Any way I think that these psychotic breaks are better seen as a response/ or coping mechanism to a personal crisis situation and I feel something of that as I read your personal story Colin. Apologies if you feel I am interpreting or speaking for you Colin. What I mean to say is I too have a wound.

    I think the Finnish psychiatrists are on to some thing when they get family and close associates together when first psychosis appears and try and find out what the issues are before resorting to treating psychotic symptoms with drugs.

    Thank you Matlock for info re article. Take Care All

    Marbel

  • Sack
    Sack

    Posted

    Hi Marbel, thank you also for sharing something of what has happened to you. i totally understand what you are saying about a mechanism to cope. In my case I just need to understand what it is I am trying to cope with…lol

    h I found this interesting article on Facebook today, its worth a read.

    ttp://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/04/07/non-conformity-creativity-now-listed-as-a-mental-illness-by-psychiatrists/

    I guess to add to what you are saying also Marbel is that the coping mechanism and the psychosis is the brains way of sorting out/getting rid of all the unneseccary clutter in the brain/mind?? who knows? i just know that each of my episodes where I have gone cold turkey I have learnt something from them…i.e.: my fears, old issues, neglected past etc. I also should add to that story that part of the learning process over the past 10 years has been about the negative aspects of my self and wrong doings. Learning about how I affected people and understanding what impacts my actions have had on those people. By learning this I have been able to change parts of my self and learn how to have a positive impact on people instead. Once again, its about learning from self, we are our own best teachers.

    I would really love to hear anyones story/journey along this path as I believesharing and listening is a very powerful tool that we should use. Storytelling is the oldest art form known to humans and the least used.

    Please share everyone, i don't believe anyone here is judging.

    best regards,

    Colin

  • teresa_04621
    teresa_04621 Guest

    Posted

    i am overwhelmed with joy at your recovery! I have a neice who is discussing coming off this tyranical drug which in my view should never have been prescribed to her..but who am I to say..I am aware that everyone is different and withdrawals will vary from person to person but you have given me hope in my quest to help her move forward from a place of the living dead. i am so happy i found your reponse!!!
  • Sack
    Sack Guest

    Posted

    What is psychosis?

    Psychosis as defined by Google, Wikipedia and a host of other useful medical references is:

     "a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality."

     Is that me? According to my diagnosis…yes!

     Anyway, I wanted to share two days in my life. One when I am experiencing a psychotic episode and one as a normal day so that you might see through my eyes and experience what it is to be a diagnosed psychotic.

     Here goes…

     Scenario 1:

    The day will start the night before when I stay awake for 12 hours thinking through all manner of scenarios that are affecting me. I will start to listen to the outside world and I will become frightened, is there going to be a break in, will someone try and hurt my family, am I scaring my own family or just myself, was that a voice I heard, here comes another phobia, was that person walking past talking about me, the panic sets in and I lay awake all night listening to the voice in my head. By day break I am stressed and on high alert. I cannot do the most basic tasks through being stressed. I cannot hold a conversation for fear of it being twisted. All I can do is listen to the world close in on me.

     

    Scenario 2:

    The day starts just like any other. I roll out of bed after a good nights sleep, usually around 6-630am. I say hello to my wife and give both her and my 2 year old a kiss good morning. We discuss the days events before setting off into the world in complete bliss.

    I smile at complete strangers. I mingle with my colleagues and peers during the day listening and make conversation about stuff that seems both relevant and irrelevant. I eat, I drink and I go home to my family. At the end of the day I go to bed and sleep, secure in the knowledge that the world is a relatively safe place filled with good people.

    Two days and two different situations. One normal, one psychotic.

    Are you confused? I am

    So I will now explain it a little differently.

    I am trying to understand psychosis.

    Psychosis

    "a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality."

    So what is lost contact with external reality?

    I will describe my two days another way to try and understand what is reality?

    I look and I see you. I see you looking at me and I wonder what is it that goes through your head?

    I can only go on what I see, hear and feel.

    And this is what that is…

     Scenario 1:

    I see you with a gun in your hand and a dead body beside you.

    I see you with money in your hands and alarm bells ringing.

    I see you swinging your fists and another soul falling.

    I see you shouting at your wife with bruises on her cheek.

    I see you with a needle in your arm and a vacant look on your face.

    I see you sleeping alone on a park bench.

     I hear you shouting obscenaties.

    I hear you lying blatantly to cover your crimes

    I hear you twisting words to suit your own agenda.

     I hear you say if its peace you want prepare for war.

    I feel your stare.

    I feel your snide remarks.

    I feel your backchat.

    I feel your anger, your disgust.

    I watch you conspire against others

    I watch you degrade yourself.

    I watch you rape the earth.

    I watch your greed grow exponentially.

    Am I psychotic or am I normal? Have I lost contact with reality?

     

    Scenario 2:

    I open my eyes and I see you. I see you looking at me and I wonder what is it that goes through your head?

    I can only go on what I see, hear and feel.

    A smile for no reason other than to brighten my day

    A hand offered in friendship

    An ear listening intently

    An honest and open heart and mind

    A feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood.

    A show of Respect for our Elders and children.

    A life spent living in harmony with the environment.

    Am I psychotic or am I normal? Have I lost contact with reality?

    So I ask you this…what is your reality? And what is your mental state?

    Sometimes its good to know what is real to better understand what we are...

     

     

    • dhrti
      dhrti Sack

      Posted

      Hi Sack again, I went for a walk and I thought about my reply and I realised I didn't address part of it, the part where u are wondering if u have psychosis I dont' believe u do. We have had so much fear drummed into us over the years about keeping a careful eye on our children so that they don't get abducted and about terrorism, and about how we need to always lock our houses up in case someone tries to break in. So it's no wonder u sometimes feel unsafe or paranoid.

      I have done a lot of research about natural supplements to help treat bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety and sever depression. I also take B3 three times a day to treat my bipolar naturally. Yes I have been diagnosed with bipolar. At last I know why I have suffered from such severe mood swings ever since I was a teenager.

      Meditation will definitely help u get back in touch with reality try that first and try exercising each day and looking carefully at your diet. If u dont' get enough minerals and vitamins each day over time it causes mental problems. These days our soils are deficienct in minerals such as zinc and magnesium u can google these and looks at the various symptoms that deficiences of these minerals cause.

      Try to think positive thoughts too. Also ask yourself whats wrong if u stop and be still and ask yourself u will get an answer.

      All the best I hope this is helpful.

      Just remember u are not alone in how u feel sometimes.

  • Sack
    Sack Guest

    Posted

    He is some interesting info  about dopamine. Its affects on the brain and body and the effects antipsychotics and other meds have. The last line is quite interesting if people feel nausea when coming off these drugs. There is a lot of other info on wiki about dopamine receptors etc that makes for interesting readng....

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    For other uses, see Dopamine (disambiguation).Dopamine

    Dopamine (contracted from 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a hormone and neurotransmitter of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families that plays a number of important roles in the human brain and body. Its name derives from its chemical structure: it is an amine that is formed by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of L-DOPA.

    In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine systems, one of which plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior. Most types of reward increase the level of dopamine in the brain, and a variety of addictive drugs increase dopamine neuronal activity. Other brain dopamine systems are involved in motor control and in controlling the release of several other important hormones.

    Several important diseases of the nervous system are associated with dysfunctions of the dopamine system. Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition causing tremor and motor impairment, is caused by loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in the midbrain area called the substantia nigra. There is evidence that schizophrenia involves altered levels of dopamine activity, and the antipsychotic drugs that are frequently used to treat it have a primary effect of attenuating dopamine activity. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are also believed to be associated with decreased dopamine activity.

    Outside the nervous system, dopamine functions in several parts of the body as a local chemical messenger. In the blood vessels, it inhibits norepinephrine release and acts as a vasodilator; in the kidneys, it increases sodium excretion and urine output; in the pancreas, it reduces insulin production; in the digestive system, it reduces gastrointestinal motility and protects intestinal mucosa; and in the immune system, it reduces the activity of lymphocytes. With the exception of the blood vessels, dopamine in each of these peripheral systems has a "paracrine" function: it is synthesized locally and exerts its effects on cells that are located near the cells that release it.

    A variety of important drugs work by altering the way the body makes or uses dopamine. Dopamine itself is available for intravenous injection: although it cannot reach the brain from the bloodstream, its peripheral effects make it useful in the treatment of heart failure or shock, especially in newborn babies. L-DOPA, the metabolic precursor of dopamine, does reach the brain and is the most widely used treatment for Parkinson's disease. Dopaminergic stimulants can be addictive in high doses, but some are used at lower doses to treat ADHD. Conversely, many antipsychotic drugs act by suppressing the effects of dopamine. Drugs that act against dopamine by a different mechanism are also some of the most effective anti-nausea agents.

  • Sack
    Sack Guest

    Posted

    And another interesting passage if you are feeling sluggish and down and tired and unmotivated.

    Dopamine is thought to modulate the response selection process in at least two important ways. First, dopamine sets the "effort threshold" for initiating behaviors. The higher the level of dopamine activity, the lower the impetus required to evoke a given behavior. As a consequence, high levels of dopamine lead to high levels of motor activity and "impulsive" behavior; low levels of dopamine lead to torpor and slowed reactions. Parkinson's disease, in which dopamine levels in the substantia nigra circuit are greatly reduced, is characterized by stiffness and greatly reduced movement—however, when people with the disease are confronted with strong stimuli such as a serious threat, their reactions can be as vigorous as those of a healthy person. In the opposite direction, drugs that increase the effects of dopamine, such as cocaine or amphetamine, produce heightened levels of activity, including at the highest levels psychomotor agitation and stereotyped movements.

    Since reducing my meds i have felt better in some areas but worse in others. i now find it takes a massive effort to get motivated to do something. This was never the case pre meds and i was alway reasonably easily motivated.

    I find my reaction time is slower now, but that could also be age. I am hopeing these negatives will return to positives as i eventually get back to zero meds and continue living a healthy life.

    The last post i did talked about dopamine being a reward receptor. I have started to use reward as an important part of my day to day life to relearn the importance of the benefits of the reward feeling.

     Colin

    • dhrti
      dhrti Sack

      Posted

      Hi Colin that's great that u are using reward as such an important part of your day. If u go back I posted a lot of information about helpful supplements and tips as to how to get your brain back on the track of feeling more motivated. Exercise, encourages feel good endorphins which makes u feel happy and motivated. Eating healthy is important too. I have been taking spirulina every day it is a great natural multivitamin and also helps the liver cleanse the body. I went off olanzipine about 3 weeks ago and then I took it about 3 nights ago to help me get a good nights sleep, and I want to help my body get rid of the drug by taking spirulina which stimulates the liver. My sleep is great now I have had two nights of taking a herb called zizphus and better than I have been for the last 6 months. My sleep is deep and restful and I dont' keep waking up like I was. Apparently olanzipine doesn't give u that REM sleep that we need. I am so glad that I am off the olanzipine it is an evil drug. I told the doctor that I went and saw that the other day and she said she only puts people on it as a last resort.

      Yes, I take sodium valproate in order so that I could go off olanzipine without such heavy side effects and it has worked.

      My plan is to eventually wean myself off the sodium valproate and treat my anxiety and depression with B3.

    • dhrti
      dhrti Sack

      Posted

      Hi everyone, I am having great success being off Olanzipine, I was having sleep issues and I was using a herb called zizyphus for a week and now I don't need to take it anymore. Fabulous stuff.

      I am also on my third day of not taking my Sodium Valproate, I didn't like the risk of anemia and liver problems that it causes and i was already getting liver symptoms, itchy skin. So, I have been using B3 three times a day and it is working wonders. Yes, I was suffering from depression in the morning around breakfast time and everytime I took my B3 it went away. B3 treats alcholism, schizophrenia, bipolar, chronic depression, anxiety and can treat insomnia.

    • Sack
      Sack dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Dhrti, thanks for the recent posts. I read your last post with interest. Where do I find zizyphus? and what is it? Also where do I find B3?

      Glad to hear you are off olanzapine, you are a role model and inspiration. Stay in touch.

      Colin

    • marbel
      marbel Sack

      Posted

      Hi Colin and Dhrti

      Thanks for the info on dopamine and your experiences with psychosis. I enjoyed reading them.  I have not been receiving notifications of emails.  Any way I am on the last leg of coming off this drug.  I have been on a low dose of 1.25mg this last two years.  I have started alternating 1.25mg and then the next night .675.  All is going well.  I have been doing this for ten days.  And will continue for six weeks until dropping to this last dose of .675 for three months.

      I have been really eating well with a living greens smoothie every morning. I put in this the living greens  (spirulina, chorella, etc) powder, vit c, blueberries , bananas and unsweetened almond milk oh and spinach or kale or silverbeet.  I also have porridge with Lsa ( linseed, sesame seeds and almonds seeds ground up) and sunflower seeds and some fresh or tinned fruit.  I don't really eat meat though we are pescatarian so make sure we have beans and fish and prawns etc.  I do the odd juice and have introduced some organic kale into this with carrots , ginger and apples.  I also have a glass of water with lemon juice in the morning which is great for the liver. We have loads of salad in the garden at the moment so have rocket and lettuce with carrot and beetroot and seeds too.

      When I come off this drug it will be for the first time since 1998 that I will be drug free but i feel prepared.

      I went to a sleep workshop even though I sleep well but am interested in the role of tryptophan and serotonin and melatonin production in depression and sleep.  The long and short of it is 'have a great diet'.  Gut health = great mental health.  But there are supplements that help sleep such as magnesium and tart cherry extract. 

    • Sack
      Sack marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, good to hear from you! Thanks for the info re diet. I have noticed an improvement in my sleep too since getting active and also changing my diet slightly, so it is good to know that this is verified.

      I am away on holiday for 3 weeks in 10 days. when i get back i am going to start moving down from 2.5mg down to 1.25mg over a period of weeks. starting with one night for a few weeks then 2 nights for a period and so on. my aim is to be stable on 1.25mg by xmas. After reading one of your earlier posts I dropped from 5 to 2.5mg relativiley quickly. I had been following this same formula and was on 5mg for 4 days and 2.5mg for 3 days but just went all out on to 2.5mg. I was ok for about 3 weeks then had a bit of a wobble but I got through it. This told me I was on the right track both mentally and physically and that the slow approach is the way to go. 

      Good luck with it! Keep in touch as i am really interested in your progress as it inspires me to keep going. All the best. colin

    • marbel
      marbel Sack

      Posted

      Hi colin. 

      How long did you stay at four days at 5mg and three days at 2.5mg.  My advice would have been to do this for six weeks before dropping to 2.5mg?.  Any way glad you came through that ok.  And it sometimes works out that trial and error wins through for each individual. 

      I have been mulling over what Dhrti said about olanzapine disturbing REM sleep.  I am sure when I went to the sleep workshop last week the pharmacist said that reflux medication such as losec does this too and shortens peoples lives because of the REM disturbance .  She said they have just done a study on this.  Though I can't see anything on the internet. I will check I heard this right as I had heard that olanzapine can shorten your life and wonder if this is the same mechanism they are talking about.

      REM sleep is the 4th stage of a 90 minute sleep cycle.  In REM sleep you have Rapid Eye Movement, muscle paralysis, normalising neural pathways,helps with emotions, creativity, memory, brain function.  The mind is very active but is in the process of normalising neurotransmitters.

      The brain goes through the 90 minute cycle again and again each night and the REM stage gets longer each cycle you go through it in the night.  That is if you stay asleep all night.  I think if you wake up then it doesn't lengthen so much.

      I will stay in contact on this forum Colin.  I am hoping to post a good outcome for getting off this drug slowly.  I hope you have a wonderful time away with your family.

      How are you getting on Dhrti?.

      Cheers Marbel

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      I'm doing well thanx Marbel, I have been successfully off olanzipine for 5 weeks now Yay! I have good restful sleep. My naturopath was the one that mentioned that olanzipine doesn't allow us to get REM sleep.

       

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, yes Magnesium can help with sleep, I haven't heard of tart cherry. There is a herb I was using for about a week after going cold turkey to get my sleep patterns back to normal and it was zizyphus and I found it brilliant. I was able to use it in the middle of the night too to help me go back to sleep.

      Your diet sounds fantastic, good on u.

      Keep going u will get there.

       

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Dhrti and Colin.

      I had a chat to my pharmacist today and she said there was more evidence that sleeping tablets disturb your REM sleep and then lower your life expectancy rather than losec and olanzapine but she would not be surprised if there was the same connection.  (at least that is what I interpretted she said).  She stressed the importance of B vits which you get in red meat for good mental health.  Or if vegetarian in Brewers yeast. 

      She said she had just been to a conference in Oz and that evidence shows that in all areas of health exercise is paramount and more than a leisurely stroll.  Exercise was more a predictor of longer life expectancy than diet.

      Just some tit bits I picked up today.  Have a good weekend.  Did you come off the other drug sodium valproate Dhrti?.  How did you come off the olanzapine and how long were you on it for?. 

      Marbel

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel,

      I don't agree that diet doesn't effect life expectancy of course it does what u eat affects how your body functions and how quickly u age. There is a 70 year old amercian woman who is proof of this. She has been eating raw for about 25 years now and she looks so young and amazing. I am also proof of what u eat I look the best I have ever looked and I look younger and more vibrant.

      B3 is very good for relieving insomnia, anxiety and depression I use it myself and i have been using it for aout a month now. I went back on the sodium valproate I just found that I needed it but i have cut my dosage in half because I don't want to risk getting anemia and liver problems. Apparently the dosage i'm on shouldn't cause these. We shall see.

      Just back to the life expectancy point, there is so much evidence about diet increasing life expectancy, if u look into it online u will find people who live to 100, over 90 and over 100 have a good healthy diet. Doctors and pharmacists don't want to discuss this because their business is pushing drugs.

      I had been on and off onlanzipine for about 15 - 17 years i have lost track now it was so long ago.

      My doctor put me on sodium valproate with the plan of me getting off the olanzipine easliy and it worked. I did it after about I 3 weeks of being on the sodium valproate. I just stopped taking it! I didn't wean myself off at all I just did'nt want to take it anymore, so I stopped cold turkey.

      I don't recall having any withdrawal symptoms at all, Which is wonderful, oh the only symptom I had was the sleep difficulties which in the past always made me go back on the olanzipine. So this time I used a herb called zizyphus which enabled me to sleep well and within a week I didn't need to take the natural herb zizyphus anymore.

      Yes, I agree that exercise is definitely important but diet is the core thing.

      We r affected by what our mother ate or didn't eat enough of while we were in her womb. My mother drank a lot so my husband believes that I have been suffering from the affects of that I would agree with that.

      I may try slowly weaning myself of sodium valproate in 3 months time and see how I go. I have this habit of just stopping and I need to remember that I need to do it very slowly. It was a different story with the olanzipine because the valproate took care of my symptoms. I would really like to try again and do it more sensibly and slowly next time.

      If I discover that I need to be on valproate for the rest of my life that's fine with me as long as I am off olanzipine, getting off the olanzipine is the most important thing.

      U have  a good weekend too..

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel again,

      After I posted my first post i went away and did some thing and was thinking. U know what i believe everyone's mental problems are related to not eating good food as a result not enough good gut flora in the stomach which causes digestive problems and an inability to aborb vital minerals and vitamins and liver problems. I get irritable and itchy skin when I have liver problems and sure enough after starting to drink my big natural liver flush I feel better. So I am going to focus on that each day from now on and see if I can not take my valproate by being kind to my liver. An unhealthy liver causes all sorts of problems digestive problems, it can cause pyschological problems, shizophrenia. I have looked it up over the years online and i have learnt a lot. Another symptom of an unhealthy liver is craving sugary foods. About half an hour ago I was thinking i will need to take my valproate and since having my liver flush which is hot water with a squeezed lemon, half a big clove of crushed garlic and I put some freshly cracked pepper and some salt, pepper and salt is to treat my congestive cough. I found this online. I feel relaxed, not irritable so I am going to continue down this path because i know that the valproate causes liver problems for me. Any pharmaceutical drug that is not natural does this. This is why I prefer to use food and natural supplement that work in harmony with the body.

       

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Dhrti

      My pharmacist is very big on gut flora too and the importance of eating very good nutritional food.  I have learnt a lot from her.  She would totally agree that nutrition is the key to good mental and physical health.  I guess she was trying to tell me that even the best nutrition can not do all the work and that being active has been found to be a significant factor in whether you live long or not.  I hope that makes sense.

      I am totally on the same page with you about the role of nutrition.  I have just finished watching for the second time the movie 'forks over knives' which is a movie about preventing and reversing heart disease using a plant based, wholefoods diet.  There is also so much more in that movie.  I am really peeved that maybe there is no one out there looking and treating people with anxiety and depression and other mental issues with a nutritional approach.  Is there any research in this line?.  I don't know but i would like to find out about it and be able to talk with authority on these matters.  There seems to be two schools of thought about some matters like ADHD and Autism for example.  Those who think diet counts and those that don.t.  I would like to be able to convince people that diet soo matters in all aspects of health.  I think you are right that there are powerful groups who would not benefit from people eating only healthy food.  Dairy industy, meat industry, fast food companies, pharmaceutical companies to name a few.

      Dhrti have you stopped the valproate suddenly as your above posting had a slow approach in mind.  Thank you for all your helpful information and tips from your reading.  I am not sure what sodium valproate is but i will look it up.

      All the best

      Marbel

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel,

      Yes, I agree with your pharmacist about exercising, people who have long life expectancy are also quite physically active every day. It sounds like u have a really good pharmacist.

      I also totally agree with u about treating people's illnesses nutritionally, if this was done while people are kids then this would prevent so many illnesses. This is why we have a good diet and our kids r so healthy.

      I have done a lot of research about supplements for anxiety and there is a doctor who is having fantastic results treating bipolar, anxiety, insomnia, severe depression and alcholholism with vitamin B3. I have been using it myself and I find it very good for anxiety. So it is wonderful that a doctor has discovered this and is helping so many people with a natural supplement.

      Sodium valproate works by increasing the GABA levels in the brain, GABA is a natural relaxant.

      I had tried to do without my sodium valproate on saturday but realised by the early evening that my attempt wasn't successful. So I have decided that in a months' time as originally planned to wean myself off slowly. I am going to build up my magnesium levels because I can see that my symptoms that I am getting match those of being low in magnesium.

      There is a high percentage of children whose ADHD is relieved by diet alone. My daughter was very active as a child so I made sure that I kept her away from preservatives and to not give her too much sugar each day. I would notice how simply after a hot chocolate when she was about 4 years old that she would get even more active, so I would not give her those very often.

      I wish u all the best too Marbel.

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel,

      I am so pleased. I have been able to cut my sodium valproate dosage in half successfully. I have been taking a really good magnesium supplement with breakfast and vitamin B3 at lunch and dinner.

      I discovered about 5 days ago I have candida I get it every time I get carried away eating lots of sugar. I am so relieved to know why I have been irritable and moody and why my energy levels had dropped too. I read too that candida can cause mania, gosh I had no idea. So I have gone off dried fruit and sugar and I have been consuming at least a tablespoon of coconut oil each day and I feel much better today. Unfrefined coconut oil is antifungal.

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Dhrti,  that's really good news.  And thanks for the coconut oil tip.

      I will be brief as I'm not so great these last few days.  I tipped the balance and took on an extra cleaning job on Thursday (which was frantic not enough time and a dirty job) and have not slept at all well these last couple of nights worrying about payment etc which is usually a sign that I am stressed.  I will contact the Herbal Health person here and find out if I can get some of the sleeping stuff you recommended.  I had  to take a sleeping pill last night. I 've got my god daughter 3 coming for her first sleep over tonight.  Not great timing but I love her to bits so hope it is a distraction and fun.  My feeling is that this glitch is the effect of a reduced alternating dose that I have been taking for 3 weeks so I am hoping to come through it.  My mind seems to have two conversations going on at once if that makes sense, what I am doing and another that is going on about something else entirely.  I can defer my work on Monday if I need to.   I've done a few relaxation tapes and energy settling toe tapping.

      Stay in touch

      Marbel

    • Sack
      Sack marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, Dhirti.

      Thanks for your recommendation on the zizyphus Dhriti! Marbel, I can also vouch for this. I have used it three times now and each time I have had the best nights sleep and woken feeling fresh. the first night I took it with the olanzapine, slept like a babe and woke like I had not been on any meds ever, felt like I was a teenager again, lots of energy, bright eyed and ready to face the world. The next night I missed my meds and took zizyphus. Stayed awake for about 45 mins abit worried that I might have done the wrong thing in not taking meds but next thing i knew I was awake and it was morning. A solid 9 hours sleep. Woike feeling good. Had a day off yesterday as flew overseas but took half a zizyphus last night with meds, woke this morning feeling good. Considering I had spent 12 hours on a plane, then had to get through 8 hours until it was time to go to bed, then my daughter did not sleep till 1 am, all this on top of the fact that we had been on the go since 5am the previous morning Aus time which meant we had been up for nearly 30 hours......I was amazed to wake this morning feeling soooo good! I even went for my usual run.  My Psych has given me the green light to come off the meds, so when we get back from holiday I am going to alternate the meds each day whilst taking the zizyphus as my main problem, like yours, is lack of sleep when I come off this stuff. Once again Dhriti, thanks for the info on this stuff! I am also seeing a chinese herbalist who has given me some herbs to take when I get back to Aus. I hope you get throughthis period of extra stress Marbel. One other thing I notice with the zizyphus is that my mind and demeanor were so calm. I was even walking around with a smile on my face. They should call it the happy herb.

    • sue86025
      sue86025 Sack

      Posted

      Hi! 

      Great news.Where did you get the ziziphus from? 

      Best wishes 

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, you poor thing.

      The herb zizyphus that Sack is using to help him sleep is also a great stress reliever and calmative. U can use it during the day if u need to, it can be taken in the morning and if u need to at lunch too. I tend to use Niacin a vtiamin B3 for relieving my anxiety and I find it great! I use the zizyphus to help me sleep because it is more costly than B3 but if u don't want to use two different supplements u could just use the zizyphus for sleep and for anxiety during the day.

      I hope u are starting to feel better and I hope you have a great time with your god daughter.

      If u need to defer your work until u are feeling better I would do that.

      Take care.

       

    • dhrti
      dhrti Sack

      Posted

      Hi Sack,

      I'm so glad that the zizyphus is helping u as it did me.

      Yes, it enable me to go off my olanzipine without worrying about the sleep issues which was wonderful. Thanx to this herb and the sodium valproate i am olanzipine free. Yay!

      Yes, I found that when I was taking olanzipine regularly I was only getting 6 hours sleep each night and I was waking up a lot. When I started using the zipzyphus I might wake up once in the night and I was sleeping 8 hours a night and it was such good rejuvenating sleep.

       

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi everyone.

      It feels so great to have such support from you going through this.  Really it is awesome.  I had an email from the herbal health person here.  She has zizyphus as a herbal tincture.  I guess that is drops.  Is that the form you,dhrti and Sack,  are taking it in?.  What strength do you both take.  Thank you. Not much sleep last night but I feel positive about tonight and have set up the spare room tonight for me with heated blanket and peace and quiet.  Not much on tomorrow.  Happy Solstice from the winter here. I hope your holiday is going well Colin.

      Marbel

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, yes I have been using a tincture. I was recommended to take 7mls before going to bed, u can take 7mls in the morning too if u start feeling anxious in the morning. I think I took 7mls for a couple of nights and then i cut down to 5mls per night as my naturopath said I could decrease the amount when I felt ready. She had suggested to use 7mls for a week and then start decreasing the amount but I discovered that i was able to decrease it after two nights. U need to shake the bottle before u use it and mix it with some water. I'm so glad u were able to get some it's wonderful stuff.

      Happy winter solstice to you too. Yes, we have winter solstice here too. I am looking forward to the days getting longer and the sun rising earlier. I'm an early riser but I tend to lie in bed now until it starts getting a little light.

      Good luck Marbel I hope u have a wonderful nights sleep.

       

    • Sack
      Sack dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Dyriti, Marbel. I take tablets, not sure of strength but i can take 1-2 per night. i take just 1 at moment, seems to work just fine. where are you both? i thought you were in the northern hemisphere as your messages always come through in the early hours of the morning. i am in Australia. holidaying in canada at the moment though. good luck with the zizyphus marbel, im sure you will sleep better.

      colin

    • dhrti
      dhrti Sack

      Posted

      Hi Colin, I'm in Australia too. Well, there u go what a surprise!

      Have a great time in Canada.

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Colin and Dhrti, 

      Thankyou so much for that info.  The herbalist has ordered some in and will make me up a small bottle to start with.  I should hear from her tonight.  Yesterday i had some slight anxiety about taking something new as I tend to be sensitive to drugs and some herbs.  If i am desperate I only ever take half a sleeping tablet or half an anti anxiety tablet and i never tolerated 5mg of olanzapine. But i really think ziziphus could be really great to help me get through this journey in a good way.  Thank you so much for the info.

      I live in New Zealand, luckily in a little bit of paradise with a lovely beach down the road where I walk the neighhbours dog.  I'm not doing that at the moment as feel a bit fatigued after the hectic days and sleepless nights.  I did sleep well the last two nights but think the  2 sleeping tablets and anxiety tablet (halves) I took in the weekend have wiped my body out a bit.  I also kept the level of olanzapine at 1.25mg for two consecutive nights instead of dropping the level.  Just to get a boost.  I am back alternating now with .625mg.

      I had a bit of trouble concentrating and remembering things yesterday and had a tad of anxiety.  I was super busy all day.  Today just feel tired and a bit low but I'm sure it will pass. I have three clear days including today to do NOTHING. That I am really thankful for. I feel a little bit desperately sad and tearful that this journey is so fraught.

      It's a bummer because I can only talk to you on this forum and my partner about how I am really feeling due to dropping levels of an anti psychotic drug. Family would ask why would I want to stop the meds and friends well it's a big story isn't it?. And not one they really are going to get.

      I had a dream when I woke the other morning about hanging out with some good looking guy and then realised I was married to the kind of ugly one who was small like a baby but very wise and beautiful inside.  I think it said to me about the persona I try to show every one, being the 'nice one'.  When really how i feel about myself is a little more shameful and unacceptable. (but ultimately ok?).

      Anyway enough psychoanalysis!.  I have also decided to cut a fresh 2.5 mg tablet every night as I had been using the left over part of the tablet the next night.  The tablets were never carefully wrapped in tinfoil so I may have been losing some of the potency. I was doing this because i was really looking forward to not getting a new script ever again.  But I am definately going to use a new one every night now.  Peace and many thanks to you both.

      Marbel

       

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, That's great that u will be getting the zizyphus soon. I hope u will find it as effective as Colin and I did.

      It's nice having support on the forum here isn't it!

      Just a thought I have been adding some apple cider vinegar to my drink bottle and sipping it throughout the day it is good for cleansing the liver. Just a thought it might pick u up give u some energy and lift your mood because the sleeping tablets and anti anxiety may have effected your liver. Did u know that freshly squeezed lemon and warm water is also a good liver cleanse and freshly beetroot I put it fresh beetroot in my salad.

      I hope u start feeling better over the next couple of days.

      U sound like a good person try to build your level of how u see yourself up. I over the years at times felt like a bad person because of my illness I was dealing with now I accept myself for who I am faults and all and I have learnt to not give myself a hard time. I am aware of things that I might say that i review at a later point and I think ok well I could have said that differently or I said too much but I have learnt now to learn from these incidents and not dwell on them.

      Peace be with u too.

      Good luck my friend.

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      It sounds like u live in a beautiful part of New Zealand how fortunate u are.

      I have to go now and pick up my kids from school.

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Just one more point when I referred to how over the years I would feel bad due to my illness i am talking about how I would behave at times in my relationship with those closest to me. I have done a lot of work on myself over the years and like I mentioned before there are things about myself that i just accept now.

      Gotta go.

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Thank you dhrti

      your comments are very helpful. I will take some lemon juice and water. And also I am going to pick up some vit B3 tomorrow.  I made a great hearty pumpkin soup tonight with spices and ancient grains to keep me grounded.  I feel settled in front of the fire and tele and also felt better after being able to share on line and even rang a friend to share what was happening.  Thank you

      Marbel

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, Your'e welcome.

      I'm so glad that you're feeling better.

      It's nice for me to be able to talk about and share my realisations too.

      Yum pumpkin soup. That is something I need to make soon I just love pumpkin soup.

      When purchasing B3 make sure u get the one that has the warning that it may cause flushing. U want to create the flushing effect. I started by taking 50mgs after my meal and found that it wasn't enough so I took 100mgs and found that i started getting the flushing effect which is a tingling and heat and sometimes u can experience a rash all over your body. It's ok it will clear up it should clear up within 10 minutes if u have it for half an hour that means u have taken too much. I bought 100mg capsules online so that i could halve them if I wanted to. The one I bought had Niacin on the container and it was a nicotinic acid but more importantly it must have the warning about the flushing effect. Today out of curiousity I wanted to see if I could manage without taking my sodium valproate because I have been taking good care of my liver and sure enough so far I have managed without it and it is the evening. I have it on hand in case i need to take it. I have been experiencing a terrible itchy scalp and itchy skin and so I wanted to see if I could manage without it. A week ago I didnt' realise that it was my liver that was not well. I thought it was candida but it turns out as I discovered a couple of days ago that it is my liver. Don't worry I won't be silly if I need to take my sodium valproate I will.

      Allright I had better go and see if my kids want some more dinner.

       

    • Sack
      Sack marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel,

      Well well, isnt it a small world. Im from NZ myself. Grew up in a small village just inland from Greymouth on the west coast of the south island.

      Where are you living? and where are you from originally?

      i like your use of the word "Journey" because it is a journey Marbel. Over the last 10 years I have had many ups and downs as I have posted on this forum some of them. I am at a good point now but it has taken a lot of work to get here and I have been lucky with the support of initially my mum and now my wife. i think the best way I can sum it up is each day I learn something new about myself, which I never did before psychosis. You said you were from away Marbel, i know how hard it is to live in a foreign country so I would look at that as a positive, your strength and determination to make it work and get through. I pretty much focus on all the positives in my life now no matter how small. This keeps me away from the negatives. I think this is one lesson I learnt, I am a positive person and i felt early on in the psychosis that everything was negative and my life had been ruined. This was very hard to take as I was so fun and outgoing. I can tell by your posts Marbel that you are a positive person as well. I do all it takes now to stay positive. When I need to rest I rest as this is vitally important, especially on the olanzapine even at a small dose. Actually, I find I am more tired now on the smaller dose than I ever was on the higher dose....bizarre! But this could also be attributed to the fact I am exercising quite hard at the moment? NZ....I love NZ. I am so envious of you being there Marbel. It will always be home to me no matter where I live. I have to at least once a year return to put my feet on home soil again just to feel connected. I did a quest here in Aus 2 years ago where I went out into the outback for ten days. one night while I was alone out there by myself I lay down in the dark, it was so quite, like not a sound or breath of wind. At first I was a little afraid as I have always been scared of the dark but as I lay there in the stillness I felt a warmth like a blanket being wrapped around me, literally. It was like mother nature was welcoming me and saying you are safe. That night I slept so soundly all night and woke feeling refreshed. It also made me more aware of what has happened in this country in terms of the aboriginal people. Since then I have felt very at home here in australia. I think being a male I needed to have that connection with the feminine side of myself, mother nature and the culture. It was almost a healing experience.

      Last night I sat outside here in Canada and listened. I got a feel for the land and the wildlife. It is very different here, almost a cross between NZ and Aussie. I also felt the local indigenous presence. This is just one little  example of a positive for me that has come out of my journey through psychosis, being more in tune and connected, something I never was before.

      I hope you are feeling better today Marbel.

      Colin

    • marbel
      marbel Sack

      Posted

      Thanks Colin

      I always love to read your thoughts and experiences that you share.

      I hope your holiday is going really well.  I have noticed over the years that every 10 weeks I really need a week off to regroup.  What tend s to happen at that point for me is I decide to take on more work then crash!.  Just like last week I guess,  So I hope you are  recharging your batteries in Canada.

      I got my zizyphus tincture today and we discussed my sensitivities.  She recommended I try one drop today to see how it goes.  I tried one and it felt good so I'll play around with it a bit.  Maybe have one tonight before bed.

      I have been having my lemon and ginger tea in the morning with fresh ingrediants and that is such a nice way to start the day. Thanks for that idea Dhrti.

      I will private message you Colin with answers to your questions as I am aware this is not a secure conversation!

      I hope you had a good day Dhrti and thank you both for your good wishes.

      Peace Marbel

       

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Marbel, my day was ok, I had another odd night of not sleeping very well. Perhaps it is related to not taking my vitamin B3 at all yesterday because that can help relieve insomnia.

      So I have been using it today and hopefully I will sleep better tonight. There is no full moon so I can't blame it on that, shame about that hee hee!

      So today I just took it easy and watched a bit of a movie and had a nice hot bath.

      I'm glad you have your zizyphus now. Does your tincture taste really bitter like mine?

      Perhaps all these plans of us moving house at some stage is playing with my mind and effecting my sleep. We have looked at a couple of houses and I have been having  a dilemma about which house. So today I found another house which we haven't looked at yet which I have a good feeling about because I wasn't completely sold on the other two.

      So we shall see, I will get a better idea when we actually go and have a good look inside the house.

    • marbel
      marbel dhrti

      Posted

      Hi Colin and Dhrti

      I have had a nice weeks holiday and even though we had a storm come through which took the power out I got out and put some winter veges in the garden today.  Also took the neighbours dog for 40 minute walk. Enjoyed it all.  Sleep is good and no anxiety.

      I have been taking 10 drops of Zizyphus which is .5 mls three times a day which is going fine.  A low dose.

      I talked to the other pharmacist about b3 and b12 (as eat very little animal products) and she said there are two places in the local city where you can have blood tests and get personal compounds made up that are tailored to your needs.  So I might look into that.  Prob be costly but if it can help me stay well then might be exactly what I need.

      Still alternating 1.25 and .675mg.  I have been doing this for nearly six weeks but due to the hiccup I had a couple of weeks ago I am going to keep at this dose for a while.  I am cutting a new pill every day.  I hope your holiday is great Colin

      Greetings Marbel

    • Sack
      Sack marbel

      Posted

      hi marbel, thanks for the email. glad to hear you are well! the holiday is nearly over so back to the winter in 4 days. i dropped a day out completely of meds and took zizyphus instead on sunday night. slept well and had lots of energy. i am thinking i might try this each sunday as a stater to getting off the meds. or go to 1.25 if its too much. will see how i go. grateful to you dhirti for the zizyphus! all the best to you both.

      colin

    • dhrti
      dhrti marbel

      Posted

      Hi Sack and Marbel,

      I am feeling so much better after seeing my naturopath and following her guidelines. The acidophilus that she put me on is really helping relieve my IBS which is great! I just wanted to share with Sack, as i have explained this to Marbel in a message to her that the majority of serotonin is produced in the gut so if u r having any digestive problems then this will create a drop in serotonin and this causes depression anxiety and mood swings.

      I have also been really focussing on my meditation each morning, I get up before the my husband and kids and I find this works wonders.

      Sack, you're welcome I'm glad that the zizyphus is working so well for u.

      Marbel, u mentioned about the possibility of getting a compound made up for u which would be expensive. I have found following what my naturopath suggested has been working wonderfully. I take an ethical nutrients magnesium which contains zinc morning and night, magnesium is good for nerves, anxiety and insomnia, and I take my acidophilus in the morning too. I take a B complex once a day, sometimes I take it morning or lunch, it is also good for nerves and relieves stress, and I take vitamin B3 in the evening and morning.

      Be well Marbel and Sack.

    • Michael2345
      Michael2345 dhrti

      Posted

      Hello dhrti this is jan ive been taking olanzapine 5mg for over 7 years now and at first it was good i was able to sleep better and later on i noticed that i became more and more sluggish and slow in reaction time and i feel also slow when it comes to problem solving and i gain weight fast, but to contradict the effects of olanzapine ive been exercising and eating healthy food every day mainly, wheat, oats, tuna ,brown rice and fruits, is there any chance that i can get off olanzapine after 7 years of taking them and get a good nights sleep? And every day im late for work due to olanzapine thankfully its a fam business so they cut me some slack but i feel as though they are judging me from coming to work late even thought i explained to them that i have bipolar depression disorder, man it's not easy there are times when i feel all hope is lost and i think about suicide even though my problems aren't that heavy and there are times i'm over the roof happy, is there a chance to become normal again and have a normal life with a wife and kids by the way i'm 30 now thanks very much
    • niemtin
      niemtin dhrti

      Posted

      Hi, great to hear that you came off olanzapine successfully. Could you tell me how is your feeling when you are olanzapine free. I managed to be free of it for 8 continous months (the longest time) and my feeling at that time was so high. My face looked brighter and more beautiful. I mind and thought were so clear. I could reason better and had passion to do things. My mood and characteristics also changed. I heard that the withdrawal effects will last 3 months as the longest, thus I could not understand why after 8 months free of olanzapine, my illness relapse, the voices started again and I had to come back to use olanzapine?
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.