Olanzapine Withdrawal
Posted , 23 users are following.
Hi all,
After reading most of the posts on here, I decided to write my current experience while I realise some of the posts' age on here vary between nine months to three years, but I hope that someone can hear my shout and give me a hand.
I was put on Olanzapine back in June after trying a different medication for my paranoia and after an admission to hospital.
The initial dose was 5 mg then increased to 10 mg as the lower dose did not work on the paranoia.
Towards the end of March this year, 2017, I reduced the dose to 5 mg wrongly, not knowing that I should have done 7.5 first to avoid the horrible withdrawal symptoms.
At first, I thought everything was fine, the for the last two weeks, I started to feel depressed, lost interest in everything, got headaches, diarrhoea, strong vivid memories to when I was patronised, disrespected and put down by people. The worst of all are the violent and suicidal thoughts I have had during all this.
I would like to hear from those who had similar experiences with such symptoms and how long does it last?
Also, it will be helpful to know what is the best withdrawal plan from now on, shall I go for 2.5 gm after few months? Or shall I alternate between 5 mg and 2.5 mg for few weeks then go down to 2.5?
I am desperate to hear from people, so PLEASE help.
3 likes, 86 replies
me86638 Utopia
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apu91247 me86638
Posted
kate85501 Utopia
Posted
I was on Zyprexa 10 mg for 2 months then abruptly taken off and switched to Abilify 10 mg. The day I switched from zyprexa to abilify was the day my insomnia started. The withdrawals have been rough. I've been off of Zyprexa for about 5 weeks now. I'm no longer taking abilify either now and it's been 10 days. Reading through these comments comforts me to know that the withdrawals don't last forever, but I wonder if stopping cold turkey like I did will make the withdrawals last longer? I just so much want these drugs to be out of my system for good.
Zyprexa is a wicked drug!
apu91247 kate85501
Posted
kate85501 apu91247
Posted
I refuse to get back on psych meds. Melatonin has helped me with sleep a little and I am hopeful by week 12 being off this drug, I will be in a better place. I am 7 weeks off now and many of the bad side effects of zyprexa have slowly but surely gone away. I feel like I am getting back to normal again somewhat, although it is still hard. I so wish to be off this terrible drug asap. It feels like poison.
I hope one day to be a success story like Bridget and can encourage those who have also quit cold turkey that it is indeed possible to recover fully. I've read it's very hard to do, but I am determined and feel like I have come so far. I am a little worried what will happen when I stop taking melatonin to help me get to sleep due to what MtViewCatherine said. I am only planning to use it as a temporary sleep aid while I battle through this insomnia.
apu91247 kate85501
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kate85501 apu91247
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melvin11 kate85501
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Success? I love it.
please take a little time to read my post and thereby share a little success with me x
kate85501 melvin11
Posted
Thank you Melvin!
I feel better today than I did yesterday, and that's an encouragement to me and I hope to you all. I will take a look at your post and share when I am able. My best to you in the mean time.
Day by day.
kate85501 melvin11
Posted
Hi again Melvin. So apparently I did reply to your discussion already. Gave you a lengthy and I hope a helpful response. Most people on these forums will suggest a slow taper to get off of zyprexa; I am not in this category. I came off of the drug cold turkey and I will tell you, there were a few weeks and days of pure hell. The withdrawal was tough, and it humbled me to my core. I searched high and low for success stories of getting off of zyprexa and I did find a few success stories. The methods varied but the majority of success stories I read included a taper of some kind.
I will say this though, I have read several slow taper people coming off zyprexa that had many of the similar withdrawal symptoms as I did coming off cold turkey, I guess maybe just not as severe?
In any case, I am 2 months off zyprexa, 1 month off abilify and I have no intention to ever get on any psych med period. Exercise and sunlight and a plethora of healthy supplements has helped me tremendously through this process. Sleep is my final frontier at this point. I hope with more time and good habits (ie. limit screen exposure towards night, magnesium, omega 3, listening to sermons at night - John MacArthur helps me get a few hours of sleep albeit my sleep is still suffering compared to what it was before, chamomile tea..)
That's all I have for now Melvin. My best wishes and hope for you as we walk through this journey together. Please, remember, day by day, one step in front of the other. Much love.
melvin11 kate85501
Posted
However I did not mention sleep so I want to share my experience with you and anyone else.
in 2008 I had a breakdown caused by a plonker who is purported to be a line manager. This event triggered 6 months of absolutely no sleep.
It was a living hell. During my days I was suffering from acute anxiety and I dreaded the nights. I tried all the herbal stuff etc but nothing could make my mind shut down. Sometimes I would go for a tinkle as much as 7 times in a night.
This was simply the beginning of my illness
Now I feel so very much better. I eat well and have a happy outlook with a modest amount of activity.
I retire between 11 and1.15 am if I am busy writing! and usually sleep like a dead Angel till 5.30 when I get up for a tinkle. I usually grab a coffee and listen to the BBC World news for an hour, gently dozing a little. I rise between 5.30 and 8.00 am on a lazy day but always look forward and am ready for the blessing of a new day.
if I could bottle it I would give it to all and sundry.
Keep well, be happy, Mel
j.t.42067 kate85501
Posted
i am finally off of Zyprexa but my blood sugar hasn't leveled out. Does anyone have any advice on this. Will it ever be normal again?
me86638 Utopia
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me86638 Utopia
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i was put on this as a i swear a sick joke. 7.5 mg then 10 mg in a hospital no less!!! A psychiatrist put me back down to 5 mg and I finally quit the crap, yes i feel like _____ but i thought that seeings i was only on it for about a month or so it would be okay, oh, did i forget to mention the psychiatrist also decided to put me on 10 mg of Valium on top of it!!!!! cut that down to 5 mg then couldn't take it anymore bad anxiety thought was from the Valium and i couldn't sleep, where do some people get their licenses? YES I FEEL REALLY BAD TODAY, this stuff is no joke
heather24624 me86638
Posted
It will get better! How’s long has it been since you’ve been off of zyprexa? The anxiety is likely due to zyprexa withdrawal. I definitely don’t advocate going back on Valium though. My doctor prescribed Klonopin to help with anxiety and insomnia from the withdrawal and now I’m dealing with tapering off of a Benzo!