Astrid Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) i was given 6 mgs intravenously of risperodine for 20 days and then was told to take 4 mgs orally but it was giving me insomnia and constipation so i decided to stop, cold turkey. A week later i started to feel anxious and started to sweat so i started taking it again, but it then gave me the bad side effect where i could no sit still, day or night, so i again stopped cold turkey. It's been 8 weeks since then, i started to get anxiety right away but was able to deal with it, and also insomia, but that instead of getting better with time got worse, where i don't sleep at all, have the anixety where i cant even stay in bed, that also got worse, instead of better with time andnow i also have irritable bowel syndrome which i read is also a withdrawal symptom and yesterday my arm moved involuntarily, which i also read is a withdrawal symptom. Is there anything i could do at this point? and why are the symptons getting worse with time and new ones are showing up with time, instead of everythning going away, it was only for 20 days after all!! i'm scared!! any advice would be highly appreciated!! Thanks Edited May 29, 2017 by scallywag tags Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 20, 2015 Administrator Share Posted July 20, 2015 Welcome, Astrid. I've moved your topic to the Introductions section as your Introductions topic, where you can track your progress and any questions you have about your particular situation. It does sound like you have withdrawal syndrome from risperidone. Tell us more about your arm moving. Did it twitch once and stop? Do you have any tablets left? If you take even 0.5mg, it might help the insomnia. You would take this for a month or so and when your nervous system has stabilized, taper off very slowly. Here is a topic that describes how to take a very small amount of risperidone and then taper off:Tips for tapering off Risperdal (risperidone) Also see About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization 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
Astrid Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 thank you so much for your response!!! no, my arm did not twich after wards, it just sort of lifted and that was that....but i tell you this is hell, what im going through..i have an agitation that does not let me stay in bed.... when i first started getting the risperodine i stopped sleeping already....even though i wasnt anxious or anything but i wasnt able to first stay asleep and gradually i stopped being able to sleep altogether...this while still getting the full 6 mgs...do you think with that i should still try the .5 mg, i do have some pills left.... i so wish i had looked this up before stopping cold turkey, it has been something so bad that i think im not able to go on living like this....after 2 months, instead of getting better i get worse.... Link to comment
Astrid Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 and also, do you think taking that small amount will help with all the withdrawal symptoms im dealing with? when a week after i had stopped i started taking the pills again, the full 4 mgs but i got the bad reaction where i couldn't sit still and had to move all the time...do you think such small amount can cause that again? Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 21, 2015 Administrator Share Posted July 21, 2015 I don't know what the 0.5mg will do. We suggest reinstatement at a very low dosage because it often helps. Higher dosages often cause bad reactions. 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
Astrid Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 ok!!!! thanks again...having advice on this horrible situation im going through means the world to me Link to comment
Astrid Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 hi, i would like to know how do know what is 10% when you only have tablets and have no way of making them into liquid!! i have 5mgs pills of olanzapine thanks Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted April 26, 2017 Administrator Share Posted April 26, 2017 Hi, Astrid. I moved your post here. The reply gets a little complicated. Here are our Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa) Did you recover from going off risperidone? 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
Astrid Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 Thanks!! they gave me zyprexa to recover from that but that drug has soooo many side effects that i need to stop it!!! i will read through the info!! thanks again Link to comment
Astrid Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 i will add that i have been trying to get off of it for 4 months but dong it to fast i think....i started doing 5mgs every other day for a month and then 2 days in between and that's where i am right now but the insomnia is just too much....so i'm gonna start all over again following the 10% tip....i really hope that will solve the insomnia problem!! Link to comment
Plshelp Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 How is your tapering going now Astrid? Are you still having insomnia and twitching? Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 hi....i stopped tapering for 2 weeks to gain my sleep back,since i was doing it too fast & tonight i'll start again, with 10%...i'm just gonna cut off what i consider 10% of the pill ...ufff it is scary to start again.... How is your tapering going now Astrid? Are you still having insomnia and twitching? Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus SkyBlue Posted May 11, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 11, 2017 Hi Astrid, I think there may be more exact ways than just estimating what looks like ten percent. Maybe do a search on this site. It seems that precision is key; it's not something we want to estimate. Good luck to you and I hope it goes well. 2020: After 18+ years (entire adult life) on Paxil, a dangerous doctor-led "taper" in 2015, and four years tapering off the last 1 mg thanks to SA and the Brassmonkey slide, I AM COMPLETELY FREE OF PAXIL! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Forever. 2021: Began conservative, proper, CNS-respecting taper of Zoloft, led by the only expert on me -- me. Making own liquid. 5-10% plus holds. 2022: Holding on Zoloft for now. Current dose 47 mg. Hanging in, hanging on. Severe protracted PAWS, windows and waves. While I may not be doing "a lot" by outside standards, things are graaaaadually getting better. Yoga (gentle to medium); walks; daily breath practice; nutrition, fruits/veg; nature; water; EastEnders (lol); practicing self-compassion, self-care; boundaries; connection; allowing feelings; t r u s t ing that I, too, will heal. (--> may need to be reminded of this.) "You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story." - Baylissa Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 i'm in a country where is really hard to come by anything like what i would need to make a liquid form of olanzapine ...but i hope i will do ok...thanks for the well wishes Link to comment
Plshelp Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 i'm in a country where is really hard to come by anything like what i would need to make a liquid form of olanzapine ...but i hope i will do ok...thanks for the well wishes Astrid. Are you still on the olanzapine? What are your symptoms now? Has anything resolved? Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted May 13, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 13, 2017 Astrid, is there any kind of shipping service that would deliver a Gemini 20 precision scale to your country? The Gemini 20 is great for precision tapering, which is very important. We have these services in Ecuador. We buy the product on Amazon and have it sent the the shipping service in the U.S. They then deliver it to Ecuador. Or this there anyone coming to your city from the U.S. that could bring the scale. It is very light and small. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Aug 26: 4.0mg Taper is 95% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 hii i'm in a country where is really hard to come by anything like what i would need to make a liquid form of olanzapine ...but i hope i will do ok...thanks for the well wishes Astrid.Are you still on the olanzapine? What are your symptoms now? Has anything resolved? hi!! i've tried 3 nights with 10% off and i have't been able to sleep!!! i don't know what to do....if keep going because i will eventually sleep or just give up on stopping that pill!!! Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Astrid, is there any kind of shipping service that would deliver a Gemini 20 precision scale to your country? The Gemini 20 is great for precision tapering, which is very important. We have these services in Ecuador. We buy the product on Amazon and have it sent the the shipping service in the U.S. They then deliver it to Ecuador. Or this there anyone coming to your city from the U.S. that could bring the scale. It is very light and small. thanks for the tip!!! i will look into that Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 has anyone who stopped the olanzapine suffered from insomnia at first but then it got better? it is weird coz when i went from 5 to 0 i would sleep some but now just reducing 10% makes me not sleep at all... Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus KarenB Posted May 15, 2017 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted May 15, 2017 Astrid, you may need to make smaller cuts than 10%. Some of us are just more sensitive to changes. A scale would help a lot if you can get one. Can you write a signature, so we can see the helpful details easily? Perhaps you need to go back to what you were on 4 days ago, stabilise again and then try smaller cuts. 2010 Fluoxetine 20mg. 2011 Escitalopram 20mg. 2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS. Effexor 150mg. 2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants. Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms). 8 month hold. 2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent). 2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well. Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea. 2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase. 2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads. 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.' Dr Gabor Mate. Link to comment
Donkey Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 i will add that i have been trying to get off of it for 4 months but dong it to fast i think....i started doing 5mgs every other day for a month and then 2 days in between and that's where i am right now but the insomnia is just too much....so i'm gonna start all over again following the 10% tip....i really hope that will solve the insomnia problem!! Did the doctors advice you to tapper in that way? what the doctors are saying about the situation? Do you only have a problems to say a sleep or you have other symptoms like anexity? Oct2016-Jan2017 - Risperdal 4MG tappered until stopped. (Insomnia started when stopped). Feb2017-Sep2017 - Zyprexa 2.5mg (Fixed the insomnia) tappered 1/4 every month and then stopped (Insomnia started again when stopped). Oct2017-Now - 25MG Phenergan (Ant Histamine) At the beginning, now 10MG - When i am trying to stop the insomnia come back. Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 Astrid, you may need to make smaller cuts than 10%. Some of us are just more sensitive to changes. A scale would help a lot if you can get one. Can you write a signature, so we can see the helpful details easily? Perhaps you need to go back to what you were on 4 days ago, stabilise again and then try smaller cuts. Hii! i then cut the 10% in half & didn't sleep as well..i find it odd coz i was sleeping not taking the 5mgs...so for now i have stopped tapering and I'm taking the 5 mgs Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 18, 2017 Author Share Posted May 18, 2017 i will add that i have been trying to get off of it for 4 months but dong it to fast i think....i started doing 5mgs every other day for a month and then 2 days in between and that's where i am right now but the insomnia is just too much....so i'm gonna start all over again following the 10% tip....i really hope that will solve the insomnia problem!! Did the doctors advice you to tapper in that way? what the doctors are saying about the situation? Do you only have a problems to say a sleep or you have other symptoms like anexity? yes & he's reply was that i should just keep taking it, if i wasn't sleeping....i just have the insomnia problem, no other symptoms Link to comment
Donkey Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Maybe you need to speak with other doctor that will help you with stopping the pill... Did you try long acting melatonin ? Oct2016-Jan2017 - Risperdal 4MG tappered until stopped. (Insomnia started when stopped). Feb2017-Sep2017 - Zyprexa 2.5mg (Fixed the insomnia) tappered 1/4 every month and then stopped (Insomnia started again when stopped). Oct2017-Now - 25MG Phenergan (Ant Histamine) At the beginning, now 10MG - When i am trying to stop the insomnia come back. Link to comment
simack Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Hey Astrid, I'm also trying to taper olanzapine. If your having trouble tapering with the cutting method another way to make a it into a liquid is to use the Orodispersible tablets, mix them with water and measure that way. MEDS HISTORY 2004 hospitalized for acute alcohol induced psychosis and started on my psych drug merry-go-round.2004-2006 SSRI > SNRI Merry-go-round finally settled on Effexor. Also was started on Risperdal in 2004 but switched to seroquell after I had a bad reaction to it.2008. Was switched from Effexor to pristiq, Also managed to successfully Quit Seroquel Cold Turkey.Asenapine- 5mg- August 2014 ~ May 2015. Was put on for Social Anxiety, was great at first then started developing disabling side effects, did a rapid taper and so started my withdrawal nightmare... MEDS CURRENT Pristiq-100mg ~ Currently holding Olanzapine- 3.75mg May 2015 ~ Currently tapering by -.06mg per week (Jan 2016, 3.5mg ~Feb 2016 intractable insomnia updose to 3.75mg) Quetiapine- 50mg June 2015 ~Dec 25 2015 Quit cold turkey. ~(Feb 6 2016 hit with intractable insomnia - reinstated 50mg.) August 2016 : Became destabilised after messing around with cutting doses, trying THC oil etc eventually stabilised, Held doses for 5 years. January 2022: Hit poop out, struggling to get more than 3 hours sleep, been one week straight of pure hell, praying to hold on. Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Maybe you need to speak with other doctor that will help you with stopping the pill... Did you try long acting melatonin? yes, ive thought of that!! ...and i have melatonin here, 5mg....did it work for you? Link to comment
Astrid Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 Hey Astrid, I'm also trying to taper olanzapine. If your having trouble tapering with the cutting method another way to make a it into a liquid is to use the Orodispersible tablets, mix them with water and measure that way. i haven't been able to find those here! how are you doing with your insomnia and how far down on your dosage are you? Link to comment
Plshelp Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 I didn't know about dissolving tablets. Also, are we allowed to be taking melatonin for sleep when withdrawing? Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg Link to comment
simack Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Hey Astrid, I'm also trying to taper olanzapine. If your having trouble tapering with the cutting method another way to make a it into a liquid is to use the Orodispersible tablets, mix them with water and measure that way. i haven't been able to find those here! how are you doing with your insomnia and how far down on your dosage are you? Sorry to hear that you can't find them where you are. I've been doing an extended hold recently and my insomnia had mostly been resolved, however I tried to cut down from 3.75mg to 3.625mg last Friday and only managed two hours last night MEDS HISTORY 2004 hospitalized for acute alcohol induced psychosis and started on my psych drug merry-go-round.2004-2006 SSRI > SNRI Merry-go-round finally settled on Effexor. Also was started on Risperdal in 2004 but switched to seroquell after I had a bad reaction to it.2008. Was switched from Effexor to pristiq, Also managed to successfully Quit Seroquel Cold Turkey.Asenapine- 5mg- August 2014 ~ May 2015. Was put on for Social Anxiety, was great at first then started developing disabling side effects, did a rapid taper and so started my withdrawal nightmare... MEDS CURRENT Pristiq-100mg ~ Currently holding Olanzapine- 3.75mg May 2015 ~ Currently tapering by -.06mg per week (Jan 2016, 3.5mg ~Feb 2016 intractable insomnia updose to 3.75mg) Quetiapine- 50mg June 2015 ~Dec 25 2015 Quit cold turkey. ~(Feb 6 2016 hit with intractable insomnia - reinstated 50mg.) August 2016 : Became destabilised after messing around with cutting doses, trying THC oil etc eventually stabilised, Held doses for 5 years. January 2022: Hit poop out, struggling to get more than 3 hours sleep, been one week straight of pure hell, praying to hold on. Link to comment
Astrid Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 On 5/23/2017 at 0:51 AM, Plshelp said: I didn't know about dissolving tablets. Also, are we allowed to be taking melatonin for sleep when withdrawing? i think yes....i tried it but it didnt help...i got an adverse reaction to it Link to comment
Astrid Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 On 5/24/2017 at 5:49 AM, simack said: Sorry to hear that you can't find them where you are. I've been doing an extended hold recently and my insomnia had mostly been resolved, however I tried to cut down from 3.75mg to 3.625mg last Friday and only managed two hours last night wow bummer!!! how are you doing now? Link to comment
Plshelp Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 On 6/6/2017 at 10:59 PM, Astrid said: i think yes....i tried it but it didnt help...i got an adverse reaction to it I heard that taking melatonin while on antipsychotics can cause serotonin syndrome. So hopefully that's not the reaction that you had. Dec 2016 Risperidone 1 mg, Seroquel 25mg, Latuda 40mg Jan - Mar 2017 Paliperidone (invega) 6 -9mg, Zoloft, Mirtazapine, Proprananol, Ativan Mar - Apr 2017 Aripiprazole (abilify) 10 mg Apr 2017 - July 2017 Olanzapine (zyprexa) 5 mg tapered to 0mg Oct 2017 - Present Effexor 37.5mg and Prozac 10mg Link to comment
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