Success Story: Stopped Olanzapine (Zyprexa) Cold Turkey
Posted , 50 users are following.
First off thank you for this wonderful forum. I looked long and hard for success stories of people who came off Zyprexa cold Turkey successfully and was unable to. I took zyprexa for 2 months (started at high dose foolishly by psych doctors @ 30 mg) and then self lowered to 10 mg once I got out of there 1.5 weeks later. Abruptly switched to abilify (10 mg).
The withdrawal was hell on earth. I thought it would not get better. After about 3 - 4 months off zyprexa and 1.5 months off abilify, I am much better and feel much like normal self again. My sleep still needs some work, sleeping 5 hours now, from zero sleep once I stopped taking zyprexa.
So I wanted to start this thread to let anyone stopped zyprexa cold turkey or plans to stop cold turkey, that it can be done. Most people on the forums warn against it however due to difficulty of withdrawal I think.
I will post more details on how I did it soon.
7 likes, 88 replies
Pelota kate85501
Posted
horrible medicine about 4 moths to be almost normal never more in my life
jacobs05325 Pelota
Posted
What were your symptoms after being off for 4 months?
ruth75674 Pelota
Posted
Hi pelota how long were you on this stuff for and tauper down I've been off it 5 months and got no apatite still nausea in mornings
jacobs05325 kate85501
Posted
What type of withdrawal symptoms did you have?
Pelota jacobs05325
Posted
dizziness,headeache,fatigue,vomit all the time ,tummy problems ete... god was horrible still not 100 % good but a lot better ☹☹
georgia38669 kate85501
Posted
thank you all for sharing your experiences. I have been off olanzapine for almost 2 weeks and am starting to feel some side effects (dizziness, headaches, fatigue and low mood). I really appreciate your messages of positivity and hope as there is lots of reports of fear and despair out there when it comes to coming off olanzapine. I think the more we can offer support to one another the more likely we will be successful as transitioning into a drug free life. If you can, keep your attention in the present moment, see is as temporary discomfort. Be brave. You can do it. xo
hans30484 georgia38669
Posted
Hi georgia how are you now? please let me know , i am on the same condition like you 5 months ago. please let me know.
joshuapryce1987 kate85501
Posted
I agree with you, i naturally over think, if didnt i would stoop taking olanzapine.
MazziMaz joshuapryce1987
Posted
Did you manage to come off the drug?
MazziMaz kate85501
Posted
Hi Kate.
Did you get any sleep when you stopped?
I tried stopping twice but couldn't asleep AT ALL so I went back on it
gary86369 kate85501
Posted
These stories are inspiring. I've taken Zyprexa for over 20 years. I'm going off myself with little support. I went cold turkey for two weeks, then took half the dose occasionally. The first five weeks were the worst. I'm up to week seven, and I'm seriously beginning to wonder my brain will be normal again. I've wasted so much time believing this garbage was helping. I am sad and terrified.
gary86369 kate85501
Posted
These stories are inspiring. I've taken Zyprexa for over 20 years. I'm going off myself with little support. I went cold turkey for two weeks, then took half the dose occasionally. The first five weeks were the worst. I'm up to week seven, and I'm seriously beginning to wonder my brain will be normal again. I've wasted so much time believing this garbage was helping. I am sad and terrified.
MazziMaz gary86369
Posted
Are you sleeping ok Gary? Was your sleep disturbed when you first came off the drug?
gary86369 MazziMaz
Posted
Hardly at all. And the hallucinations are actually getting worse.
MazziMaz gary86369
Edited
if you're having hallucinations then you might have to go back on the meds and taper down rather than go cold turkey.
I've tried going off cold Turkey and it didn't go well every time.
jorge61128 gary86369
Posted
Hi Gary
I have taken this poison for over 12 years, for ANXIETY, what a mistake! I am at the moment in week 6 of withdrawal after a very very slow taper over the years, jumped of at 1.25 mg. First 10 days ok. After that, diarhea , headaches, flu like symptoms muscle and body pain, etc. For me the most bothersome symptom is diarrehea.
Please share me your symptoms.
Cheers and good luck!