zyprexa withdrawal

[SandraG]

I am currently suffering from zyprexa withdrawal. I have terrible insomnia. Does anyone have any advice? I am interested to hear from others who got off zyprexa successfully, to find out how they did it and how long it took to recover.

thanks!

[Berserker]

I've been on zyprexa for eight years, I really want to stop it, but it seems like My body is addicted to it. When I first started taking it I gained fifty pounds in three months. Since then I have lost the weight, most of this was due to an unchosen low calorie diet, and exercise. Exercise is still a huge part of my lifestyle as is proper nutrition, in fact I currently am a fitness consultant for a gym. I am worried because of its effect on my liver, and the risk of diabetes, because my family tends to develop diabetes as they get older. Besides that I also take supplements that I am not sure how they are interacting in my body, especially my liver. Anyways, If you can just take small steps to exercise and avoid the binge eating, (which I did alot of when I began it) You can lose the weight. If anyone knows how to function and work while going through withdrawls, please say something. I find I get nauseated, can't sleep, of think in complete sentances when I try to go off of it. I realize these arent' symptoms, but damn, how do we get off of this stuff? By the way mine was originally prescribed for Schizo-affective disorder, which they have since changed to PTSD.

[Katness]

Ok, sorry for the double post, but I just wanted to add that the reason I'm planning on tapering off is because I have had weight problems myself since I got on this stuff, and the more I read about withdrawals the more I itentify with some of the other stuff too.

[Katness]

I have been reading these forums, as I've decided that during the summer holidays I'm going to taper off Zyprexa myself, so I've been researching and taking notes etc. And I'm going to talk to my Psych about it first. But I have a question:

I've always, I believe and from research have had depression episodes or problems with depression. But I don't ever remember having had slightly manic episodes. Not the extreme kind, just feeling very euphoric and like everything is beautiful. So my question is.

Has anyone when they started taking Zyprexa had problems like these come up stronger then before? I know Zyprexa is supposed to treat stuff like this, I was just wondering if Zyprexa could be part of my problem as well?

I'm predisposed to have manic depression or a slight case of it as my mum's mother had it. But I don't remember it being this strong before. So yeah, I just wondered if Zyprexa was making me more bipolar rather then helping.

[jograndmama]

Hi--I just got back from the doctors office here. I had a great visit with him.  He really listened to me and understood what I had been going through.  He asked me how I felt while on the Zyprexa. Which I felt great.  I don't have any bad side effects while on it, only want to eat more-especially sweets, but I guess that's something I can deal with.  He asked me how I did on 1/2 of the 5 mg pill.  I did fine on 1/2.  (They make a 2.5mg pill also).  He said he had never heard of anyone on that low of a dose, (neither 5mg or 2.5mg), having any problems with diabetes or any muscular disorder.  That usually only happens on people taking a much higher dose.  He also said that it is not unheard of to be put on Zyprexa for the problems I was having 5 years ago, especially since nothing else was working.  He said if I want to get off of it, though, to go very, very slowly, but he did not have a problem with me staying on 2.5mg indefinitely.  He was very supportive and very encouraging.  He was elated that I had lost 25 pounds since the first of May.  He said if a person loses 25 pounds in a YEAR that was great, so I was encouraged about that as well.  Everything else checked out great.  My blood pressure was 118/75, but I've never had any problem with blood pressure.  It was a very good doctor visit.  I feel so much better about the Zyprexa now, so for now I will just stay on the 2.5mg a day.   I may eventually try the 10% reduction.  My doctor had no problem with that.  I guess I just went a little overboard on my reaction to hearing and reading about the dangers of Zyprexa.  I realize now there can be SOMEONE who has had a bad thing happen from just about any medicine.  I overreacted, I know.  I do that some times.  (I really like my new doctor.)

[jograndmama]

Thank you for your encouragement.  I have an appointment with my family doctor in the morning.  But in the mean time I have talked on line to someone else and they suggested that I came off of Zyprexa too fast and that I should go back on it and do a 10% reduction every 2-3 weeks?  How fast did you taper off?  Will this help with the symptoms, especially the insomnia--I just don't do well with no or little sleep.  I took a pill yesterday and slept great last night.  The person I talked to also said not to expect my family doctor to be much help, but I felt like I needed to at least let him know what my plans are.
Thanks for letting me whine to you.  It helps to know there are those out there that have gone through or are going through this.

Jo

[rusty520]

I just stopped taking Zyprexa completely with no tapering because it caused bad side effects.  I think tapering is a better way to go, but I didn't have a choice.  I am so glad now that I am off it.  My nausea is almost gone but I still have some trouble sleeping.  I am fortunate I am able to take a small nap in the afternoon.  I have heard that many people who tried to stop had to go back on it and taper off.  Hopefully you can find a doctor to help you.