Skeeziks: neuropathy due to olanzapine?

[Skeeziks]

Hi. Im new here. Ive had a nightmare time with olanzapine. Managed to withdraw from 2.5 to 1.25 in 2019 which was pure hell. Now i have symptoms of neuropathy (no dx yet) and am wondering if it could be the olanzapine. I have stabbing pains like needles that are getting worse. Zopiclone and clonazepam will temporarily improve these symptoms. These meds will also help relieve other side effects of olanzapine I have had. Is real neuropathy helped by zopiclone and clonazepam? Or is this yet another side effect from this hellish drug? Any insight would be much appreciated. 

[manymoretodays]

Hi there Skeeziks and welcome aboard,

Can you describe your symptoms of neuropathy a bit more?  It's hard for me to know what you are experiencing when you just use a general term.

Here's what I quickly found at a UK site:  Peripheral neuropathy/NHS inform (just click on the underlined passages to go to the links)

 

And then on site:

Peripheral neuropathy

Functional neuropathy from SSRI use confirmed

Paresthesia: pins and needles, numbness, tingling, burning sensations aka neuropathy

 

side effects can and should be checked, and......if given the chance prior to ingesting these types of drugs

I often use Drugs.com and here's what came up there:

Olanzapine Side Effects

Also Medscape is another site to check side effects.  We often encourage that members check drug interactions as well, at Drugs.com, or Medscape.

Zyprexa- Medscape

you'll have to scroll down in that one to see the side effects/adverse effects of olanzapine, and I do see numbness, tingling mentioned in this one.

 

If you don't see a side effect listed as common, it doesn't always mean that it does not exist.  Often they tally up side effects early on, while they are trialing drugs, and don't always show them or note them after that time.  Unfortunately.

 

So yes, your symptoms could be due to the olanzapine.

 

When did they start?

How did you taper or decrease your olanzapine?

 

*Tips for tapering off Zyprexa(olanzapine)

 

You'll also see your symptoms listed here as WD(withdrawal) symptoms:

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

listed as numbness, burning, tingling

 

Are you interested in further tapering at this point in time?  We are a site for tapering and support.

We go with a harm reduction approach to tapering and recommend that a person taper by no more than 10% of their current dose with at least a four week hold in-between decreases.  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Please do a signature for us as soon as you can.  This is different from the confidential information you supplied at registration, and once done will provide us with an easy access to your recent drug history, and will be shown below each of your posts.  Thank you.  Just follow the guidelines in the link below and the link to take you to creating your signature.  Don't forget to hit SAVE when done.

How to summarize your drug history in your signature

please list all present drugs in the signature

 

We don't recommend other drugs or many supplements, to compensate for WD symptoms, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous symptoms.  Two supplements we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3(fish oil).  Many find these to be calming to the nervous system.

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

One of the problems with using Zopiclone and clonazepam for symptom control now, is that you can become dependent on them, with clonazepam it can happen in as little as 2 weeks of usage, and then you would need to taper off them as well.

How often have you been taking the Zopiclone, and how often taking the clonazepam?

 

I think I'll stop there for now.  Welcome again.

 

This is your introduction/journal page where you have now introduced yourself to the community, you can ask questions here, regarding your tapering and symptoms, give updates, communicate with us,  and just keep a record of your journey.

 

Best, Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

 

 

 

Edited October 7, 2022 by manymoretodays
link adjustment

[Skeeziks]

My symptoms are sweating feet, prickly feelings in feet, hands and then moving to other parts of my body. I also have shooting sharp pains, especially in hands and feet. This developed quite rapidly in a couple of weeks. No other symptoms such as numbness. I'm also nauseous. wondering if this nerve pain is yet another symptom of the 1.25 MG of olanzapine that I can't get off and not neuropathy. I also having other symptoms that are definitely due to olanzapine, such as burning pain in my back, a cold shivery feeling deep in my left leg and minor muscle twitching. I've had the twitching on and off since dropping down my olanzapine. I had the other symptoms while going through withdrawal in the past, but I'm not in withdrawal now. I also feel nauseous and generally ill. I'm now off work.

 

I was going to start a taper of olanzapine in the new year after being on magnesium for a while as I had been doing well, but my nervous system is too unstable for that now.

 

I took zopliclone for about 4 years and mostly discontinued it easily earlier this year taking it as a prn the odd week at a time. I'm on it again to medicate the nerve pain and help me sleep, as what's going on is quite stressful for me.

 

I am only taking the clonazepam because I feel I have no other choice. It completely takes away the nerve pain that is otherwise unbearable. I have been taking various doses of it for about a month. Some days I take more frequent tiny doses such as 1/4 of a tab three time a day. Or I take 1 mg every couple of days. Just trying to see what works best. I hate taking it for the reasons you've given, but again, I'm against a wall here.

 

Not that I want to be on another drug, but I was reading something by Altostrata, who stated a tiny bit of lamotrigine, 1.5 mg, helped to stabilize her nervous system. I would like to find out more about this. I feel at this point my nervous system is destabilized given the symptoms I'm having.

 

As well, I know it is not great to be on the clonazepam, but if I am should I just put myself on a regular dose? Medical followup where I live is difficult and I can't get in to see my doctor until Nov 4th. She probably won't know anything anyway. That is my experience with doctors and my medication problems.

 

I was taking magnesium a couple of months before the nerve pain started. I was also on three antibiotics from May to July, which always give me withdrawal symptoms from olanzapine as it must affect the metabolism. I have stopped the magnesium as I am unaware if this is affecting my condition negatively.

 

Thank you so much.

 

Here is my history until I do a signature:

 

-Was on Buspar early 2018.

-I was put on Prozac in 2018 and taken right off after it precipitated a psychotic break (no history of psychosis)

-Then I was then put on lithium, latuda 40 mg. I discontinued Buspar no problem

-I was put on olanzapine 2.5 late in 2018.

-I attempted to discontinue olanzapine fairly rapidly in fall 2019, going off 1/2 by eighths starting in Sept and then tried to completely dicontue a month . Terrible side effects including akathisia. Restarted 1.25 mg. Recovered in 5 months, with muscle twitching lessening over the years.

- discontinued latuda and lithium fairly easily in 2020.

- I took zopiclone for years every night and discontinued early this year. Have been using on and off ever since.

-current meds: olanzapine 1.5 mg, clonazepam various doses starting Sept 2022, zopliclone 7.5 taking every night.

[Skeeziks]

Also, just trying to understand how drugs work. If I was to take clonazeapam every day is this a problem with it building up is my system as the half-life is so long?

 

I really appreciate your help. I know I'm not Actively withdrawing at the moment,  but my issues started upon withdrawal from olanzapine.

 

Thank you.

[Skeeziks]

I'm really desperate for any help or guidance with this.

[concerned]

On 10/15/2022 at 7:30 AM, Skeeziks said:

My symptoms are sweating feet, prickly feelings in feet, hands and then moving to other parts of my body. I also have shooting sharp pains, especially in hands and feet. This developed quite rapidly in a couple of weeks.

 

Hello Skeeziks -- Welcome to SA! I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing these symptoms. I am a relatively new member, so you will want to hear from one of our experienced moderators before making any changes. @manymoretodays

 

I encountered something similar following my acute withdrawal from Zyprexa: burning, "pins-and-needles" sensations on my arms, hands, legs, and feet (i.e., paresthesia). A silk-like blanket helped me rest at night, as even the texture of cotton sheets would keep me up. 

 

You indicated that the "prickly feelings in feet, hands--shooting pains" developed rapidly over a few weeks. When did you start experiencing these symptoms? Did they appear immediately following your last reduction in Zyprexa (Fall 2019), around the time you were on antibiotics (May to July 2022), or possibly after you stopped taking zopiclone every night earlier this year?

 

Why did you stop taking zopiclone every night earlier this year? Did you experience any symptoms when you stopped taking it daily? When did you begin taking it again, on an "as-needed" basis? How many nights per week do you currently take it?

 

Before the introduction of clonazepam, how did you feel the day(s) after taking zopiclone? Did you have any rebound in symptoms (e.g., they become worse)?

 

Because zopiclone is rapidly eliminated (5-hour half-life), individuals may experience interdose withdrawals from this medication (i.e., symptoms may appear between scheduled doses). If this is the case, clonazepam may provide relief, as it hangs around much longer than zopiclone (30-to-40-hour half-life). Please be aware that extended use of either compound may lead to dependence. 

 

I see you reinstated Zyprexa at [1.25 mg], yet mention later that you currently take [1.5 mg]. Is this a mistake, or did you increase your dose sometime between then and now? 

 

On 10/15/2022 at 7:30 AM, Skeeziks said:

Not that I want to be on another drug, but I was reading something by Altostrata, who stated a tiny bit of lamotrigine, 1.5 mg, helped to stabilize her nervous system. I would like to find out more about this. I feel at this point my nervous system is destabilized given the symptoms I'm having.

 

I believe using a small dose of lamotrigine is only warranted once an individual has tapered off all psychoactive medications. Like any other psychiatric medication, even this tiny dose may lead to dependence, requiring another taper. 

 

I hope this helps. I'm sure things will improve! 

 

---

 

How to summarize your drug history in your signature

 

While waiting for a moderator to get back to you, please update your drug signature (link provided above). This will help the team better interpret your medication history, allowing them to make well-informed suggestions. Below, I've included an example you could fill in. It is modeled after my drug signature, which you can view at the bottom of this post (it reads better on a computer). I hope this helps!

 

[current] Zopiclone: [start month] 2018 [dose] --> [month you stopped taking it every night] 2022 [dose] --> [nights per week] [dose]

 

[current] Zyprexa: [start month] 2018 [2.5 mg] --> September 2019, rapid taper --> [month] 2019, reinstated [1.25 mg]

 

[current] Clonazepam: September 2022 [dose] [how many times per day] 

 

[inactive] Buspar: [start month] 2018 [dose] --> [end month] 2018 [0 mg] (taper or cold-turkey?)

 

[inactive] Prozac: [start month] 2018 [dose] --> [end month] 2018 [0 mg] (how long did it take for psychosis to appear? days, weeks?)

 

[inactive] Lithium: [start month] 2018 [dose] --> [end month] 2020 [0 mg] (taper or cold-turkey?)

 

[inactive] Latuda: [start month] 2018 [40 mg] -> [end month] 2020 [0 mg] (taper or cold-turkey?)

 

Edited October 23, 2022 by concerned
To include mention of antibiotics, clonazepam dependence.

[manymoretodays]

Thank you @concerned

And hi Skeeziks, @Skeeziks

On 10/15/2022 at 5:30 AM, Skeeziks said:

Here is my history until I do a signature:

 

-Was on Buspar early 2018.

-I was put on Prozac in 2018 and taken right off after it precipitated a psychotic break (no history of psychosis)

-Then I was then put on lithium, latuda 40 mg. I discontinued Buspar no problem

-I was put on olanzapine 2.5 late in 2018.

-I attempted to discontinue olanzapine fairly rapidly in fall 2019, going off 1/2 by eighths starting in Sept and then tried to completely dicontue a month . Terrible side effects including akathisia. Restarted 1.25 mg. Recovered in 5 months, with muscle twitching lessening over the years.

- discontinued latuda and lithium fairly easily in 2020.

- I took zopiclone for years every night and discontinued early this year. Have been using on and off ever since.

-current meds: olanzapine 1.5 mg, clonazepam various doses starting Sept 2022, zopliclone 7.5 taking every night.

 

Do what you can with a signature.

How often have you been taking the clonazepam?  Drugs like clonazepam can establish dependency of a physiological type in as little as 2 weeks of regular usage.  Same with the zopliclone.

And at what doses?  How many times each day?  I see that the zopliclone is nightly now, and the dose.

 

 

Would you try to post the times on the left, and then start with today, put a date at the top.

And this will be in a reply.  This is different from your signature.  Just post times, drugs, symptoms in a reply please.

So...... times on the left,  on the right put your drugs by name, and dose taken.

Go for 24 hours and if you can, also post to the right your symptoms, your activities, your sleep(can be summarized at the start of a new 24 hours).  Describe your symptoms, you might also use a rating scale for intensity of symptoms.

Something like this:

The time of day, dosage, and severity of symptoms are essential information. Include

 

- Time and dosage for all drugs taken throughout the day, psychiatric and non-psychiatric.

- Following each dose, note any symptoms. If you are having a reaction to the drug, it may take hours for a symptom to show up -- that's why we ask you to keep notes all day long.

- If you're not taking any drugs, your symptoms throughout the day.

- Your sleep pattern. Since so many drugs disturb sleep, if you find you're waking in the middle of the night, it could be from a drug you took earlier in the evening. If you're not taking any drugs, there may be ways you can improve your sleep.

And so forth. A diary, in chronological order, looking something like this:
 

Example:

DATE:

 

6 a.m. Woke with anxiety
8 a.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
10 a.m. Stomach is upset
10:30 a.m. Ate breakfast
11:35 a.m. Got a headache, lasted one hour
12:35 p.m. Ate lunch
4 p.m. Feel a bit better
5 p.m. Took 2.5mg Lexapro
6 p.m. Ate dinner
9:20 p.m. Headache
10:00 p.m. Took 50mg Seroquel
10:20 p.m. Feeling dizzy
10:30 p.m. Fell asleep
2:30 a.m. Woke, took 3mg Ambien (NOT "took 1/2 tablet Ambien")
2:45 a.m. Fell asleep
4:30 a.m. Woke but got back to sleep

 

That will help us get a better objective picture of how your current drugs are affecting your symptoms.  And yes, I think we can help you with the clonazepam.  Do let us know how often you have been taking that since September.......e.g. every day, every other day, twice a week???

 

And so sorry, for the delayed response to your post. 

 

Drugs.com is an excellent resource to learn more about your drug or drugs.  Medscape is another site for this.

https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

That should take you to drugs.com, and you'll see at the top where you can fill in individual drugs to learn more.

Would you go ahead and put all your drugs in the interaction checker, you'll see that box to do that in.  And then link us to the results there, or copy and paste here.

 

I think you are on too many of what we call "brakes" right now.

Try real hard to get some NOTES done, that will really help us to further advise and support.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth, and best,

mmt

 

 

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by manymoretodays

[Altostrata]

Thanks for that fine post, @concerned

 

On 10/15/2022 at 4:37 AM, Skeeziks said:

Also, just trying to understand how drugs work. If I was to take clonazeapam every day is this a problem with it building up is my system as the half-life is so long?

 

Hello, @Skeeziks If you took clonazepam every day, it's likely your system will adapt to it and you will need to continue to take it regularly or very gradually taper off.

 

Before further discussion, Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[manymoretodays]

On 10/15/2022 at 5:30 AM, Skeeziks said:

Here is my history until I do a signature:

 

-Was on Buspar early 2018.

-I was put on Prozac in 2018 and taken right off after it precipitated a psychotic break (no history of psychosis)

-Then I was then put on lithium, latuda 40 mg. I discontinued Buspar no problem

-I was put on olanzapine 2.5 late in 2018.

-I attempted to discontinue olanzapine fairly rapidly in fall 2019, going off 1/2 by eighths starting in Sept and then tried to completely dicontue a month . Terrible side effects including akathisia. Restarted 1.25 mg. Recovered in 5 months, with muscle twitching lessening over the years.

- discontinued latuda and lithium fairly easily in 2020.

- I took zopiclone for years every night and discontinued early this year. Have been using on and off ever since.

-current meds: olanzapine 1.5 mg, clonazepam various doses starting Sept 2022, zopliclone 7.5 taking every night.

 

Hi Skeeziks,

Here is how you could arrange your signature, do please note what I put in lavender, and then just estimate if you don't remember, or leave out:

2018 Buspar and Prozac started.  Prozac precipitated psychotic break(no history psychosis) so taken right off of it.  Later d/c ed Buspar. Then put on Lithium -add the dose if recalled, Latuda 40 mg.

olanzapine 2.5 mg, late 2018

2019 tried to taper olanzapine rapidly, by reductions of 1/8 th's in September to off.  WD including akathesia.  Reinstate 1.25 mg with good recovery from WD, and recovered from muscle twitching over next years

2020 D/c ed Latuda and Lithium fairly easily

2022 Zopiclone for years every night, D/Ced, then on and off (note year zopiclone started)

current-October 2022- olanzapine 1.5 mg, clonazepam-various doses since September, zopliclone 7.5 mg nightly can you put in the dose range of clonazepam, for example 0.5 mg to 1 mg per day

You could do it out on paper, first, and then just go to AccountsSettings/signature and type it in.  Do hit SAVE at the bottom so it enters.

 

There's some input from Altostrata in the post above this too.

Thanks Skeeziks, and hope to see you posting and updating soon.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

[manymoretodays]

Hi Skeeziks,

Any updates?  Or how are you doing now?

Did you see the possible I did above that could go in for your signature?

 

Best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

[Skeeziks]

Dec 21 10:00 am

 

Thank you for the kind responses. Thank you ManyMoreDay for the help with the signature. Things are very bad.

 

I had used clonazepam and zopiclone through Sept and October. The clonazepam was so haphazardly dosed I can't even begin to describe what I did. Sometimes I would use .5 mg 2 x day, other times not use for three days. I was also using zopiclone at night and sometimes in the day to manage pain. At the start of October I was feeling ill from the haphazard med doses. I think I was trying to come off clonazepam at that time as well, but used it sporadically until mid October. I am now using a journal so I can keep track of what I'm doing.

 

In mid October I went cold turkey on Clonazepam, resulting in severe withdrawal symptoms including severe suicidal thoughts and preparing suicide methods, which I have never done before. On Oct 25th I was panicked and making poor decisions, after discontinuing the clonazepam, I thought zopiclone was causing my problems, so I restarted my clonazepam for a week at .5 mg 2 or 3 x day to help me get off zopiclone. However I the clonazepam did not help and I was even worse without the zopiclone. So after a week I went back on zopiclone 11.5 night and 3.5 day in divided doses throughout the day. I discontinued the clonazepam again.

 

I had a pretty horrific November and start of December, including constant suicidal thoughts and urges and was convinced I was going to take my life. I made all the arrangements to do so. This has never happened to me before. I stayed off the clonazepam and now am off it completely. Now my withdrawal symptoms have subsided and I am just on 11.5 mg zopiclone at bedtime and am taking about 3.5 mg zopiclone during the day in 4 divided doses to stave off withdrawal symptoms (I am now physically dependent on it) and to medicate my otherwise intolerable nerve pain. The suicidal thoughts are gone.

 

This does not seem to be a long-term solution as I am already at the maximum daily zopiclone dose anyone will prescribe (15 mg) and due to tolerance sooner or later I will have to up my dose. I thought going on another med that would help with nerve pain. I'm afraid if I don't get off the zopiclone soon I will be even more dependent on it the longer I am on it.

 

I seem to have no way of getting off the zopiclone as the half-life is so short that there seems to be no way of getting off it without going cold turkey. Following The Ashton protocol substituting with the benzo clonazepam did not help. As well, when I was in clonazepam withdrawal I tried to reduce my night-time dose twice of zopiclone from 11.5 to 10.6. The afternoon of the following day I was severely suicidal almost like someone had taken over my mind. I won't discuss the details here, but it was quite serious. I am wondering if some of the reason I had this reaction was because I was also in clonazepam withdrawal at the time I tried to reduce the zopiclone. I have reduced my daytime dose somewhat with no incident.

 

I am in email contact with the psychiatrist David Healy, who just stated I had a "tricky problem" and he stated he does not think anyone in my area has the skills to help me. He can't offer me any help as he is not licensed in my area anymore.

 

I am stuck. I am very sensitive to drugs, both going on them and going off them so I am terrified of trying something like gabapentin for the pain, which is why I'm in this situation. My anxiety led me to some really poor choices. I know I've really made a mess of things.

 

Questions:

1. Is there anyway to withdraw directly from a short half life drug like zopiclone with a half-life of 5 hours without kindling my brain further?

 

2. I assume I can't just try to go off my daytime dose and stay on the night-time dose for now. If I don't take enough of my daytime dose this will contribute to kindling won't it? I assume I will have to keep my daytime dose constant or I will further kindle my brain.

 

3. If I can't withdraw from zopiclone I may have to go cold turkey. Is there any way to make this more bearable? I don't think a benzodiazepine will help me.

 

I have no idea what to do.

 

Thank you all.

 

 

[FireflyFyte]

Sadly, I can't offer you any guidance but wanted to offer some support. I ended up on Zyprexa after a disaster of a time trying to get off of Latuda which included lots of suicidal ideation, and several plans, so I know how horrifying it can be to find ourselves with those persistent thoughts. I am glad they have eased for you and hope that maintains as you work towards tapering off your current medication.

[concerned]

Thank you for sharing with us, you are not alone. I am sorry that you have had such a difficult time. Though you may still be suffering, it is promising that your symptoms are beginning to improve. Hold on to that and know that there is more healing to come. I do not have the appropriate background to answer your questions, but I am sure a more experienced moderator will be able to help. In the meantime, I would review our material on coping mechanisms. It always gives me the strength to push on. If you are in immediate danger, please get in touch with a friend, family member, or hotline service. Being present with someone, even a stranger, has helped me. 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

Connect to a crisis responder to get help without judgement

 

--- --- ---

 

I see that you recently began taking several supplements. How is that going? 

 

Please be aware that compounds traditionally used for "energy" (such as ALA) or "adaptogens" (like Ginkgo biloba) may worsen symptoms early in withdrawal. This is not always the case, but I would exercise caution. Though we endlessly extol the virtues of magnesium and fish oil, these two supplements help many of our members. Ensure that you introduce one supplement at a time, and at a low dose, to see how it affects you. Using this strategy will allow you to isolate their effects and reduce the severity of an adverse reaction. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker

King of supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)

 

--- --- ---

 

I searched for providers (in your area) that have published material on benzodiazepine dependence. There appears to be a psychiatrist, Dr. Simon Davies, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), that has some relevant experience [Google Scholar]. I would reach out to him and see if he can help you personally or could refer you to a colleague. I have learned that it is best to be vague and non-alarming when initially contacting providers. Concerning intake forms, I would exclude past substance use (e.g., alcohol, illicit drugs). Many psychiatrists are already overwhelmed and see patients with "dual diagnoses" as a liability. Once you are sitting in their office, you can be more forthcoming but still guarded until established. A word of warning, the provider I referenced is also a psychopharmacologist. Though not always the case, these individuals can carry serious bias due to financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies. His most recent article did not disclose any conflicts of interest (this is a good sign). I would use phrases like "Dear Dr. Davies, I believe that I may be experiencing withdrawal effects from zopiclone. My current provider has suggested that I contact psychiatrists with a background in benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal. I was wondering if it would be possible to speak with you briefly on this matter for further direction. Thank you very much. Sincerely, [name]"

 

I hope this helps!

[Skeeziks]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response!

[Skeeziks]

FireflyFyte,

 

Thank you for your support. Going through this alone has been difficult. It is not something I can really talk to families or friends about.

[Skeeziks]

Concerned: I have been taking the ginkgo since 2019 when I was withdrawing from olanzapine due to some withdrawal dyskinesia at that time. I'm staying on it to hopefully prevent TD. 

 

The ALA is ok so far. I will titrate up slowly and hope it helps my nerve pain.

[concerned]

No problem, I am happy to help!

 

That sounds like a solid plan. I am using antioxidants to prevent TD as well. I'm sure another moderator will be able to give you better direction on your questions. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. 

[manymoretodays]

Hi Skeeziks, welcome back, although sorry on present circumstances and condition.

Is that a change in the dose of Zyprexa, and if so, when did you increase that dose?

Why?

And any improvement after that?

 

With all your drugs and current symptoms now, if at all possible.......and do give it your best try.....do a daily drug and symptom log, aka Notes.

I went over that above here

 

Simple.  Times on the left throughout the day and night.  On the right list medications by name, any supplements by name, and both with dosages taken at that time.  Also on the right of the times, note your symptoms as they occur.  Some do ratings.  I mean you could rate the SI(suicidal ideation), if possible.  And name and describe any other symptoms as they occur throughout the day, to the right of the times.  Note your sleep to the right as well.

 

We'll confer, but that simple drug and symptom log may shed light on what to advise or suggest next.  So do try.  Post when you have a whole days worth done.  Thanks.

 

Hang on Skeeziks.  You are so worth it and this is just temporary, although I'm sure it feels like forever.

 

And best.  L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[Skeeziks]

The Zyprexa is unchanged, I just made a typo previously. It has been at 1.25 since 2019. I do keep a log now, bit hasn't been that detailed. Thanks so much for the tips and encouragement!

 

Get Outlook for Android

[Shep]

12 hours ago, Skeeziks said:

The Zyprexa is unchanged, I just made a typo previously. It has been at 1.25 since 2019. I do keep a log now, bit hasn't been that detailed. Thanks so much for the tips and encouragement!

 

Get Outlook for Android

 

Please post your log for a few days. This is extremely important if you wish to get feedback because it's the best way we know to help you set up a game plan for coming off these drugs. 

 

You can check for drug interactions using this online drug interaction checker:

Drug Interaction Checker

 

I know there's a drug interaction between olanzapine, many z-drugs, and melatonin, and you may find more interactions. Also, your dose of 5 mg melatonin is higher than we recommend, so you may be getting a paradoxical reaction to that, especially when combined with a z-drug and an antipsychotic. The more sedating drugs you're taking, the more likely you'll get paradoxical reactions. This nervous system alerting reaction may be causing all sorts of problems. 

 

Please see:

 

Melatonin for sleep

 

You may find some relief by spacing out your drugs differently to prevent paradoxical and adverse drug interactions, and if you provide your drug and symptoms journal, we can help you sort it out. 

[FireflyFyte]

16 hours ago, Skeeziks said:

FireflyFyte,

 

Thank you for your support. Going through this alone has been difficult. It is not something I can really talk to families or friends about.

 

I understand completely. My inbox here is open if you ever want to chat.

[morgana]

HI @Skeeziks, what you are experiencing is the same as me...it began when i started making large drops in my zyprexa from 5mg down to 2.5mg, at first, it started in my feet...only in the mornings than the pain ended up being all day in my feet and up the sides of my legs, this has lasted now maybe 3 years now, however its gotten worse, about a year ago i began getting numbness in my fingers and stiffness in my fingers, the pain has now moved upto my elbows, its worse at night...i do not take anything for it...apart from trying different supplements that do not appear to work...i kept complaining to my GP who eventually did tests as i told her i think i have pheral neuropathy or an autoimmune disease, the first test came back saying i do not have arthritis, however the tests showed i had a speckled pattern which can be a sign of an autoimmune disease so i had a second test to find out what it was...however the test came back negative and she told me i do not have lupus or any type of autoimmune disease...so basically the pain i am experiencing is all in my head...as no tests have proven i have anything....it is extremely frustrating, as it comes across as i am just a mental patient who is a hypochondriac...which is really upsetting...but understand you are not alone and i can really relate to what your experiencing because i have been dealing with it for a number of years now (only since tapering) and honestly sometimes i feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel..however i keep hanging in there hoping it will get better as people on the site says it does....i hope so...

[manymoretodays]

Hi Skeeziks,

Any luck with getting a daily drug and symptom log done?

I'm just asking for a little different organization to it than you may have done......so that it is simple when we view it.

Times on the left.  Then drugs(by name) and supplements(by name) with doses on the right.  Also symptoms and sleep, other daily activities(like eating, or if off to work or working at home) on the right.

 

That should help us figure out how to deal with your Zopicline, and get a better feel for how your symptoms relate to your drug and supplement intake.

 

On 12/21/2022 at 4:03 PM, Skeeziks said:

The Zyprexa is unchanged, I just made a typo previously. It has been at 1.25 since 2019. I do keep a log now, bit hasn't been that detailed. Thanks so much for the tips and encouragement!

 

Copy that.  Please edit your signature with corrections.  To access:

AccountSettings/signature/edit or updates  and then hit the Save button when done.

 

Yes, I agree with Shep.......I don't think anyone needs such a large dose of melatonin.  I used to get by on 1 mg, and then went off of it from that.  Many do benefit with even less too.

Are you sleeping?

 

Topics on:

Ginko and Ginseng

and I found a little bit about Alpha Linoic Acid in the first post of the Omega 3 topic:

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

Scroll down to the second quote ^, and have a read through

 

Are you a vegetarian?

 

And also, how are you doing today?

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited December 23, 2022 by manymoretodays

[Altostrata]

On 12/21/2022 at 7:52 AM, Skeeziks said:

Now my withdrawal symptoms have subsided and I am just on 11.5 mg zopiclone at bedtime and am taking about 3.5 mg zopiclone during the day in 4 divided doses to stave off withdrawal symptoms (I am now physically dependent on it) and to medicate my otherwise intolerable nerve pain.

 

What are those withdrawal symptoms?

 

As requested earlier: Please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and your symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right.