Magnesium1: Zyprexa Trouble

[Magnesium1]

I have always suffered from Chronic Depression. 3 years ago, I got a drug induced psychosis from weed. My psych put me on 25mg Zoloft and 5mg Zyprexa. As the psychotic symptoms disappeared, I wanted to taper the Zyprexa because it made me a zombie. My psych told me to taper from 5mg to 2.5mg. Almost immediately, I didn't sleep for 4 days straight. I was crying and desperate when a friend gave me half a xanax for one day, and that seemed to let my sleep schedule to return to normal somewhat. When I wanted to taper further, I was told to cut it in half, but when I tried, the pill disintegrated. So, my psych told me to just take it every other day. It was absolutely hell again for a good 2 months. I got severe insomnia and rebound depression as withdrawals. I continued tapering like that. When I got to once every 3 days, I got so depressed, I went to the partial hospitalization program, where they switched me from Zoloft to half of a 75mg tablet of Wellbutrin IR every morning. But, the tapering cycle of hell continued for 2 years. Now I'm taking it once every 4 days and I developed really bad Akathisia. It seems to come in waves and has been progressivley been getting worse with every wave for last year. My new psych says it was stupid to skip days, and thinks the Akathisia is from the Wellbutrin IR. She wants me to start taking the Zyprexa every day and cut it in half, and to switch from 37.5mg of Wellbutrin IR to 150mg Wellbutrin XR.

 

My question is, should I do what she suggests, because I feel like I'll lose a lot of taper progress and all the suffering until now was for nothing. I almost want to just go cold turkey off the Zyprexa and deal with the withdrawals. Or, if I reinstate it every day, how much should I do it by. Also, would I benefit from switching from Wellbutrin IR to the XR version.

 

I recognize none of this is medical advice, but I would appreciate advice from anyone with knowledge or experience. Thank you

[FireflyFyte]

Hi Magnesium,

 

Welcome to SA. Thank you for completing your signature.

 

We do not recommend skipping doses as a method of tapering as it can lead to instability. You can read more about this at NEVER SKIP DOSES TO TAPER.

 

11 hours ago, Magnesium1 said:

My new psych says it was stupid to skip days, and thinks the Akathisia is from the Wellbutrin IR. She wants me to start taking the Zyprexa every day and cut it in half, and to switch from 37.5mg of Wellbutrin IR to 150mg Wellbutrin XR.

 

I agree with shifting to taking the Zyprexa every day but we cannot comment on drug changes as we are a site dedicated to the safe tapering off of psychiatric drugs. I would recommend only making one change at a time so you can determine what is helping or hurting. Instead of taking half of 2.5mg, you could try taking 0.63mg as this is the 2.5mg divided by four days so would be the same dosage you are currently on but would be taken consistently which may help ease withdrawal symptoms.

 

Thanks,

 

Firefly

[JandD]

I think I once read somewhere that the "skip days" method is not advisable with Zyprexa / Olanzapine. 

My partner takes Zyprexa every day, but slowly reduces the dose each month by about 12% (based on the previous month). So far she has had no problems with the reduction, apart from a slightly more restless sleep.