wildy: Starting my journey

[wildy]

I wish I new what i know now. Taking whatever was given whilst in a mess.

I would like to stop the olanzapine first, I am using digital scales.

Which are quite acurate but under 1mg i dont think they will cut it .

Has anybody tapered using scales all the way down?

Edited August 30, 2023 by FireflyFyte

[FireflyFyte]

Hi wildy,

 

Welcome to SA. Thank you for summarizing your drug history in your signature.

 

You can read our section on tapering Olanzapine at Tips for tapering off Zyprexa (olanzapine).

 

Many people find it more accurate to switch to a water titration method when at lower doses of the medication. Here is a short summary of the process from the user Rhiannon - 

 

We recommend dropping no more than a 10% drop of the previous dose per month. You can read more about why we recommend this at Why taper by 10% of my dosage?. Some people need to drop even smaller amounts so it is important to go slow and listen to your body during the process.

 

Thanks,

 

Firefly

 

[wildy]

If im experiencing heavy depression since dropping to 3.5mg olanzapine 4 days ago. Should i reinstate 4mg or try to ride it out ? im very lost at the moment.

[FireflyFyte]

4 hours ago, wildy said:

If im experiencing heavy depression since dropping to 3.5mg olanzapine 4 days ago. Should i reinstate 4mg or try to ride it out ? im very lost at the moment.

 

Hi wildly,

 

What was your last drop? 4mg to 3.5mg?

 

Thanks,

 

Firefly

 

[wildy]

Yes 4 - 3.5 , after reading a few posts i have realised that i may be adding to the problem. As im using scales and chopping a weeks worth of pills and storing them in a pill box .They are the orodispersable kind which i believe are to be took straight away and not stored , im not sure if this will impact the potency.

[manymoretodays]

Hi wildy,

Yes, with the orodispersable tablets I would go with this:

taken from:  Tips for tapering off Zyprexa(olanzapine) topic

 

Using orally disintegrating Zyprexa tablets or wafers to taper
Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) or wafers, which dissolve in the mouth, come in a range of dosages (see above). Conceivably, one might very carefully cut up the wafers to taper, but they may be difficult to cut accurately. (I haven't done this and don't know of anyone who has, please let us know if you try this.)
 
Making a liquid with water would seem to be a better way to taper utilizing these tablets or wafers. In fact, in Europe, patient instructions for the orally disintegrating tablets state

 

Quote

it may be dispersed in a full glass of water or other suitable beverage (orange juice, apple juice, milk or coffee) immediately before administration

 

Also see http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/25020/spc
 
One of our members has tapered successfully by making a liquid with the orodispersible wafers, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3743-tips-for-tapering-off-zyprexa-olanzapine/?p=163188
 
I would dispose of any homemade liquid left over from a dose -- do not save for another dose.

 

___________________

 

When did you go from 4 mg to 3.5 mg using cut up wafers?   Date.

When did you go from 5 mg to 4 mg?

I'm just wondering if you might be going down by too much and then too quickly(without a decent HOLD period between tapers)

 

So let's review your most recent changes.  Dates.  Drug name.  And dose change.

 

And how are you today?

 

 

[wildy]

Hi , its been a while , i got down to 2.5mg tablets. As of Monday last week I halfed the dose to 1 and 1/4 . First few days i felt better than ever no side affects, as of friday my mood has dropped completely tonnes of suicidal ideation. Anxiety and OCD through the roof and no appetite.

I reinstated 2.5 last night hoping it will help, and taper slower from there. I just want off this terrible drug!!

[FireflyFyte]

45 minutes ago, wildy said:

As of Monday last week I halfed the dose to 1 and 1/4

 

This is a 50% drop, we recommend dropping no more than 10% of the previous dose per month to try to mitigate withdrawal effects.

 

46 minutes ago, wildy said:

I reinstated 2.5 last night hoping it will help, and taper slower from there. I just want off this terrible drug!!

 

I would hold at 2.5mg for at least a month to see if you stabilize before trying to resume your taper.

[wildy]

I know it was silly , i just wanted to be free by christmas, how has your taper been doing it 10% ?

[FireflyFyte]

1 hour ago, wildy said:

I know it was silly , i just wanted to be free by christmas,

 

Often times trying to rush a taper ends up costing more time due to the need to up-dose and stabilize.

 

1 hour ago, wildy said:

how has your taper been doing it 10% ?

 

I have been dropping 5% every two weeks and am down from 2.5mg to 1.02mg with very minimal withdrawal symptoms.