Desiderata Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 (edited) I recently found this site following a Mad in America online town hall. I decided to discontinue my use of olanzapine which I have been on since 2012 and went online searching for help. My psychiatrist basically said I could cut my 2.5mg pill in half, take 1.25mg a couple of weeks and stop! Instinctively I knew it would not be that easy. I was prescribed olanzapine in 2012 during one of many ( my last ) hospitalizations for Bipolar disorder, specifically caused by extreme mania. At that time I was also on 1000 mg Depakote which I had been prescribed in 1997 but was repeatedly non compliant in taking and thus landed in the hospital. The olanzapine seemed to put an end to that. I remain on the Depakote, take it faithfully, and have no plans to discontinue. But I very much want to be off the olanzapine. My only attempt at tapering consisted of alternating 2.5mg with 1.85mg for a couple of weeks, then dropping to only 1.85mg for a couple of weeks I did this by cutting the already tiny pill in 1/4s. I’m sure it was far from an accurate dose. I suffered extreme headaches and I knew there had to be a better way. After finding this site I insisted my psychiatrist give me a prescription for 2.25mg which I picked up from a compounding pharmacy last week. I am back on 2.5mg and waiting to have a string of days with no headaches before I begin a 10%% taper. Depakote 1000mg 1997-present, olanzapine 2.5mg 2012 - present Edited June 23, 2021 by arbor Depakote 1000 mg. 1997-present. Olanzapine 2.5 mg. 2012-present Attempted taper of olanzapine by alternating 2.5 mg with 1.85 mg April, May 2021 Reinstated 2:5 mg June 2021 Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus arbor Posted June 24, 2021 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted June 24, 2021 Welcome to SA, @Desiderata, I hope you are feeling better after reinstating the olanzapine. We are a non-profit site run by volunteer Administrators and Moderators who have been through or still are going through withdrawal. To give members the best information, we ask you to summarize your medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly. Just drugs, dates and dosages in a list format. In your case, include the dates of your recent attempt at tapering. Please use the following link and press "save." You'll need to use a computer rather than a phone. Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. I'm glad you've found a steady rhythm with the Depakote. And I agree that waiting until you feel more stabilized and the headaches have improved before starting another taper of olanzapine. Going slowly is really important. Here are three sites to help you with this: Tips for tapering off Zyprexa (olanzapine) Why taper by 10%? Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable Preparing to taper As you are currently dealing with symptoms, these sites can be helpful: What is Withdrawal Syndrome? Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms We don't suggest many supplements, but 3 that many of us find helpful are magnesium, omega-3, and melatonin. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. Magnesium Omega 3 Fish Oil Melatonin It sounds like your doctor is willing to work with you. We don't recommend skipping doses and this site can explain why: NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER When you decide to begin your taper then we can help further with the methods of tapering. You can also find a lot of information about tapering under Tapering on the Forum page. Tapering This is your Introduction site where you can ask questions and connect with other members. I'm glad you've found us. Hope your headaches get better soon. Arbor Zoloft: 1995 - 2015 Prozac: 2015 - 2018 (tapered from 40mg x day on July 31 to 30mg on August 31 to 20mg on September 31 to 10mg October 31 to 0mg on December 15, 2018 Gabapentin: 2016 to 2019 (tapered from 300mg x day to 150mg on August 31, 2019 to 75mg on September 15 to 50mg on September 31 to 25ishmg on October 15 to 0mg on December 1, 2019 Enalapril: 2010 - 2019 Lipitor: 2017 -2017 Metformin: 2000 - 2020 Liothyronine: 2007 - 2019 Levothyroxine: 2000 - 2022 Link to comment
Desiderata Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 Thank you Arbor for your kind reply to my introduction. I’m wondering if you or anyone else has used a compounding pharmacy to crush zyprexa tablets and put contents in capsules to taper with increasingly smaller doses. I have a lot of anxiety surrounding this entire journey and just want to make I don’t continue to make mistakes. I look forward to learning more from this site. Thanks again! Depakote 1000 mg. 1997-present. Olanzapine 2.5 mg. 2012-present Attempted taper of olanzapine by alternating 2.5 mg with 1.85 mg April, May 2021 Reinstated 2:5 mg June 2021 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 24, 2021 Administrator Share Posted June 24, 2021 Welcome, @Desiderata It is very possible to have a compounding pharmacy make custom capsules of olanzapine. I updated with this information. Prescription tapering strips from the Netherlands also will provide custom doses in tablet form, see Prescription compounded tapering strips from the Netherlands 1 This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Desiderata Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 I actually already ordered and have received tapering strips from Netherlands but based on 10% recommendation I’m afraid the standard ones I ordered taper too fast, going from 2.5mg to 0 in only 84 days. I suppose I could order custom strips? Are you finding people are having success with these? Depakote 1000 mg. 1997-present. Olanzapine 2.5 mg. 2012-present Attempted taper of olanzapine by alternating 2.5 mg with 1.85 mg April, May 2021 Reinstated 2:5 mg June 2021 Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted June 25, 2021 Administrator Share Posted June 25, 2021 When you order tapering strips, you decide the length of your taper. If you said you wanted to go to zero in 84 days, that's how they calculated your packets. To get a 10% taper, you'd have to calculate with 2.5mg as starting dose and some mg as the ending dose over 3 months. @brassmonkey, can you show Desiderata how to calculate this? This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Desiderata Posted June 25, 2021 Author Share Posted June 25, 2021 Thank you Altostrata! Not yet knowing about the 10% reduction taper I had ordered the “standard” strips and only after I got them did I realize they might be too fast. Since you confirmed for me that a local compounding pharmacy can crush tablets and make custom doses into capsules I think I’m more comfortable going that route. Thanks again! Kind regards! Depakote 1000 mg. 1997-present. Olanzapine 2.5 mg. 2012-present Attempted taper of olanzapine by alternating 2.5 mg with 1.85 mg April, May 2021 Reinstated 2:5 mg June 2021 Link to comment
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