Zyprexa Withdrawal OR Sleep Disorder

[Sketch2000]

In January of this year I began using Zyprexa for bipolar and psychosis. After 5 months of using the medication (20mg daily) I began experiencing some sexual side effects such as a dry orgasm, low sperm count, etc. - all of which were unexplainable. My psychiatrist asked that i stop the zyprexa immediately as it was causing an increase in prolactin levels, he asked that i stop the drug COLD TURKEY! (no weaning off)

- When I stopped the medication, i did not sleep for 4 days. Whats worse is, I just didn't feel tired anymore...obviously I feel physically tired, but I dont get that sleepy tired feeling. I called my doctor and he asked that I slowly wean off the medication, I began using it again and although i was able to sleep, again I did not feel tired - AT ALL! This is wierd as one could logically dictate if stopping the zyprexa was causing me to not sleep than once i started it i should feel the same way i did prior to stopping it. But I don't.

I have now completed weaning off the zyprexa for one month. Still problems sleeping, I AM sleeping 4-5 hours a night, but I DO NOT FEEL TIRED I CAN'T GET SLEEPY NO MATTER WHAT!! My psychiatrist has tried me on ambien, lunesta, Ive' even used 2 lunesta and I DO NOT GET SLEEPY!

I've done research on sleep disorders, zyprexa withdrawal, etc. and a lot of information states that zyprexa withdrawal can cause insomnia. However, is this the same as not feeling sleepy? Its been a month and I haven't been tired and whats even wierder is that i wasn't tired when i got back on the zyprexa after stopping it for 4 days. I am wondering if i am ever going to be sleepy tired again. Its been a month now. I called my psychiatrist office yesterday and he wanted to try using lunesta, ambien, and a tryclic antidepressant to put me to sleep. I'm paranoid after using zyprexa as i feel that stopping it cold turkey could have started all this. Even after getting back on the zyprexa after stopping it cold turkey, i dont feel tired at all! Could something have happened to me during the 4 day lapse that caused some kind of imbalance in my brain that stopped me from feeling tired alltogether? As when i got back on the zyprexa it didn't help things but i was sleeping but still no feeling of getting tired whatsoever. I'm thinking of seeing a sleep specialist and going back to see my psychiatrist this week. he says hes never heard of nor seen such symptoms after stopping zyprexa. Please help. I haven't felt sleepy tired in over a month! and although i do get 4 hours of sleep every night or so, it is VERY hard to fall asleep as i am NOT TIRED AT ALL. Please help me.

[DCROY9633]

I know it has been a considerable amount of time since you made your post, but for all I know you may still be suffering from insomnia.  I wondered if you have taken into account that hypomania (high state of arousal and manic-like w/o going to the extremes) could be the cause of your insomnia.  You could be in an early phase of mania where you would need little sleep and not feel affected by lack of sleep.  I went for 3 years in a hypomanic state once and only slept about 3 hrs a night.  But during the day I felt well and managed to make almost straight A's in my college courses.  At the end of that 3 yrs, I crashed into deep depression.  I hope that doesn't happen to you.  Also, switching to a different antipsychotic might make you feel appropriately tired.  Seroquel makes some people sleepy.  But Abilify and Geodon gave me terrible insomnia.  Right now I am taking 5mg of Zyprexa and doing okay, but would do better with 10 or 20mg.

Carolyn

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I would agree and one option as regarding sleep aides not mentioned is Rozerem which is an FDA approved medication that works like melatonin to adjust the sleep cycle. You could ask your psychiatrist about that if you still have insomnia. If you still have the problem seeing a sleep specialist does make sense if you haven't already.