Jessica: getting off zyprexa

[Jessica]

Hi I have been on zyprexia for over 2 years. Tried to get off several times. I used to be on 10 but now I'm down to 2.5mg every 3 days. I went a week without but then I got a headache for 3 days so I had to take a pill. I want to be off for good. Should I take one every 4 days then one every 5 days  will that work?

Edited November 30, 2017 by baroquep

[AliG]

Hi Jessica. Welcome. I'm sorry that you have had such a hard time quitting. Are you tapering under a doctors care? Unfortunately, very few doctors know how to taper safely. Do you mean Zyprexa?

We have a discussion on the topic linked below:

http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/3743-tips-for-tapering-off-zyprexa-ola

 

We don't recommend tapering by alternating doses. The half-lives of almost all psychiatric drugs are too short for this to make any sense. It causes the amount of the medication in your bloodstream to go up and down, battering your nervous system, and makes withdrawal worse.

Your brain likes stability, to be treated gently.  It is ideal if you can accommodate it to lower and lower dosages. Move it slowly down a ramp by gradually decreasing dosage by an amount it may hardly notice. SA recommends tapering by 10% of your current dose with a hold of at least 4 weeks before your next decrease.The 10% taper method is a harm reduction approach to going off psychiatric drugs. This is explained in the attached link:

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

To be able to help more accurately, would you

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature?

 

Would you mind answering just a few questions? Why were you originally put on Zyprexa? Why do you want to be off Zyprexa now and did you taper down to 10 mg or was that your original dose?

 

When we have a little more of your history, we will be able to make some tapering suggestions and move you towards your goal of being totally off Zyprexa.

I'm going to post some links which may help your understanding of withdrawal: Have a read through and come back with your questions and comments.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

Brain Remodelling

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by AliG
spacing

[Madeleine]

Jessica, welcome to the Forum.    As Ali said, it's best to take same amount daily, then make a cut, stay at that level, then make another cut, not alternate doses.  
Also, 2.5 is a big amount to jump off.  I also tapered off zyprexa, and I was able to cut the 2.5 pill into 4 pieces, so I was able to taper down by approximately .6 mg zyprexa at a time . There are ways to cut  down the dose by increments even smaller than that. Instructions are found on this forum.
Best wishes,

 

M. 

[Jessica]

Hi yes I meant zyprexa sorry for the spelling error. When I get off work tonight I'll go into more details of my situation

[Jessica]

Hi Ali and Madeleine 

Over 2 years ago I suffered an injury after a wisdom tooth extraction I had severe pain like level 10 pain. Later found out a piece of tooth entered the sinus had to have surgery. Anyway I had daily constant pain and I threatened to kill myself even though I knew I couldn't. So I was put in psychiatric hospital for 4 days they put me on  zyprexia depakote and prozac and I also take norco for pain. A couple months later I got off prozac but the psychiatrist upped my zyprexia to 10mg about 4 months ago she said to go off zyprexia I tried and ended up in the hospital with severe headache no meds could touch. So my regular doctor helped me go to 7.5 then after a month to 5mg then to 2.5mg now I've been taking 2.5 about every 4 days and my reg doctor doesn't know what else to do to help me. My psychiatrist dropped me as a patient bc of a no show good riddance she wasn't treating me right. Also gained 60lb with the zyprexia and I really need to loose it.  Thanks for your help I like the idea of cutting it up. 

[Jessica]

Also each time I tried to quit I would get severe headache and burning in my face. Then I would take a pill and the burning and headache would go away.

[Jessica]

I'm on 2.5 mg of zyprexa and I need to get off. Should I just cut it on half? 

[Evoldnahturt]

I wouldn't.  The community recommends reducing the dosage by 10% each month, calculated from the previous month's dosage.  Some people taper faster and get away with it, although 50% seems kind of fast, especially if you've experienced some withdrawal syndrome symptoms.  Have you experienced any symptoms or have you remained asymptomatic up to this point?

[ChessieCat]

Hi Jessica and welcome to SA,

 

I moved your post to your Intro topic.  Please ask questions about your own situation here because it will keep all your information in one place.  Thank you.

 

Please create your drug signature as requested by AliG.  Please use the following format:

 

A request: Would you summarize your history in a signature - ALL drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly?

• Please leave out symptoms and diagnoses.
• A list is easier to understand than one or multiple paragraphs. 

• Any drugs prior to 24 months ago can just be listed with start and stop years.
• Please use actual dates or approximate dates (mid-June, Late October) rather than relative time frames (last week, 3 months ago)
• Spell out months, e.g. "October" or "Oct."; 9/1/2016 can be interpreted as Jan. 9, 2016 or Sept. 1, 2016.
• Link to Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

When to end the taper and jump to zero?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

 

Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa)

 

How do you talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal?

What should I expect from my doctor about withdrawal symptoms?

 

Brain Remodelling

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery