Otherside: sertraline and olanzapine

[OtherSide]

Hello everyone,
 

This is the first time I'm writing here, even though I'm an old reader. Today, I decided to share my story here with you. In March 2022, during a very quick visit to the doctor, he prescribed sertraline and olanzapine together. I took them for 3 months and then stopped them abruptly (cold turkey), mainly because of their side effects associated with lack of motivation and ambition, some cognitive problems, and worst of all, the beginning of the development of a distressing hypomania. Other side effects such as sexual problems, hair loss, etc. existed, but I didn't seem to mind them. During the first two months, the medication was very effective and I did perform well, but at the same time, I found myself engaged in unwanted challenges with some people at work, which I would have strongly avoided before taking the meds.

 

After 1 or 2 weeks off meds, the WD symptoms came on and were the worst I'd ever experienced. Normally, before taking meds, I was faced with many serious problems, but I overcame them because I was a spiritual and ambitious person and saw things in a positive way. However, in WD, the problem is that there is no spirituality or emotions at all to feel what is positive or negative; everything is chaos. I repeatedly forced myself to use my strong positive emotions, but my situation became increasingly difficult. I gave up everything and my main focus was then getting back to my “oldself”.

 

After about three months, I somehow relatively succeeded achieving this purpose (maybe I'll talk about this period later), some of my emotions returned and my situation improved. However, the fatal mistake I made was to quickly get involved in the community and quickly return to work with the same people and the same environment. Two months later, the WD symptoms reappeared with another face accompanied by racing and depressive thoughts. Unfortunately, this time I had no purpose other than to deal with the outside problems I was already involved in, and there was no turning back.

 

After a few months, I sought help from doctors again, but I refused to take their meds, especially ADs. I read a few books by well-respected doctors and decided to take Lamictal. I bought it but didn't touch it for a long time, hoping to heal naturally, but unfortunately I was on the wrong track and healing is a mission impossible. After a long period, I took Lamictal, but stopped it after 2 weeks. I also took Lithium supplements and it really gave me some relief, but I only used that relief as an energy to engage in more bad challenges I'm already in, like someone who barely finds small sources to win money, but loses them in the night at the casino.  In March 2024, I left the group I was working with, even though it was very important to me (not the money, but my works there). My situation was very difficult, and I ended up taking Seroquel.

[Jane318]

Greetings @OtherSide and welcome to SA!  We are a community of volunteers providing peer support in the tapering of psychiatric medications and their associated withdrawal syndromes. 

 

Thank you for completing your drug signature.  If you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription drugs or supplements on a regular basis, please add these in too.

 

I am sorry for all you have suffered.  It appears that you experienced severe withdrawal from suddenly stopping both sertraline and olanzapine at the same time.  Cold turkey stops can be very stressful to the central nervous system, bringing on severe withdrawal symptoms and also making it more difficult to deal with life's stressors.  Doctors then typically prescribe more drugs.  

 

Here at SA, we do not see drugs as a solution.  Our mission is to support people who want to get off of them safely and permanently through a slow, controlled hyperbolic taper.  Are you looking for help getting off Seroquel?  You can read about this here:  

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

You may find it helpful to learn a bit about withdrawal

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Brain Remodelling 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Please let us know specifically how we can help you.

 

This is your introduction topic.  Each member gets one intro topic- please post updates and questions here, in this thread.

 

Best wishes.