Supermowie Reinstatement of Zyprexa?

[Supermowie]

Hello everyone. Hope someone can answer this asap. I've been off of Zyprexa for exactly a month. Cold turkey. I was on it 4 months. Now suffering from bad insomnia, anxiety and loss of appetite. My Psych nurse practitioner just emailed me Thursday to take Ativan she prescribed or 1/2 of the 2.5mg of the Zyprexa. I took the Ativan a couple of times this week but it made me groggy the next morning.

 

So, I'm tempted to take the Zyprexa again but I know that will entail a tapering off. The NP seems to not know of the fact that one cannot take the Zyprexa occasionally for anxiety. The NP said the Ativan can be taken if I feel anxious and I can stop it when I'm not anxious. I don't think that's true.

 

I'm really desperate. I've read how to taper on this website. I will see my NP next week. Should I start the reinstatement at 1/2 of 2.5mg of Zyprexa?

 

I'd like to know if others have come off this drug successfully.

 

Thanks.

[Fresh]

Hi Supermowie , welcome to the site.

 

What dose of Zyprexa were you taking a month ago , and how did you come off?

 

Reinstatement of a small amount is likely to provide some relief of your w/d symptoms.  

The lower the dose you can stabilize on the better. Your system may react badly to 1.25mg.

Try reading the thread on reinstating here About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms

 

You should be aware that Zyprexa (olanzapine) is not an SSRI ,  but an anti-psychotic medication.  For the purposes

of your situation , it's not that important - I believe the same principles for tapering and reinstating apply.

[Supermowie]

Thank you, Fresh for your answer and support. I was given Zyprexa for anxiety and the NP thought I might have bi polar II disorder since I was a bit paranoid after this traumatic event I had experienced in June. I was taking 2.5 mg daily twice a day for 2 months and the last 2 months 2.5 mg once a day and the last two weeks every other day. I cut down because it made me sleepy. There were times I cut it in half.

So, I wasn't consistent on the daily dosage the last month. Then, I stopped cold turkey. As of yesterday, made it a month not taking the drug.

 

The nurse practitioner offered zoloft to me 2 weeks ago but I declined it in favor of Ativan so I can sleep and abate the early morning anxiety. One half of 0.5 Ativan.

[Meimeiquest]

I don't have the bandwidth right now to write the details, but I would seriously consider re-instating a tiny amount over taking the Ativan. From someone who restarted a benzo at the end of a too-quick Zyprexa taper and spent like 18 months tapering the benzo...

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Supermowie.

 

Zyprexa is not an SSRI, it is an antipsychotic. The NP's hasty diagnosis of "bipolar" sounds unlikely to me.

 

If I were you, I would reinstate 1/4 of a 2.5mg Zyprexa tablet immediately -- thank you, Meimeiquest -- and see if that helps. Unless you have an immediate bad reaction, give it at least 4 days. Let us know how you do.

 

Later, you'd taper properly off the small amount of Zyprexa. See Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa)

 

Ativan is an addictive drug. Take it as infrequently as possible. It sounds like the NP misinformed you in every possible way. I would not take advice about psychiatric drugs or diagnosis from that person.

[KarenB]

Hello Supermowie,

 

Glad you have found this site for some support and info.  Alto and the others gave you good advice, esp about reinstating.  Have a read and come back to this thread with any further questions you may have.  This is your journal for recording your progress.   

 

Now that you are in w/d you may like to start building up your self-care, which can help ease your way a bit.  That link is my fave on this site - so many practical and supportive ideas.  It's also good for learning tools to manage anxiety and sleep issues.  You can start to prepare for a life where you manage things without drugs.  

 

You're going to be fine.  I know it's a bit of a nightmare when you're in that initial phase with all the w/d hitting you hard (insomnia is a gnarly one), and decisions to make, but one step at a time you'll get stabilised.  Then, you can work out a very gentle tapering plan, with help from us if you want it.   

 

Best wishes,

KarenB 

[Supermowie]

Thank you all, most recently, Alto, meimeiquest and Karen for your replies. The last two nights, I took the Ativan. I didn't see your replies until this afternoon. I took 1/2 of 0.5 Ativan at 1a.m. I feel good now but I dont know how long this feeling will last. So, Alto is suggesting 1/4 of the Olanzapine. Is that easy to cut? I'm so afraid of that drug I didnt take it. So, cut the pill 1/4 of the 2.5 pill.

So, what is considered a bad reaction? And, Take it as soon as possible? Thank you.

[Supermowie]

Hello everyone. I cut the 2.5 Zyprexa pill into 4ths but they are not all the same size. So, how precise should parts be? I don't know if I should take this now or should this be made into liquid form. I am not good at doing stuff like that since I do have some neuropathy in my hands since I take some meds for cancer thats in remission.

 

Thanks.

[Supermowie]

I won't take the 1/4 pill until I hear from you folks.

 

Thanks again.

[Meimeiquest]

Those little tablets are very hard to cut. I would take the one that looks the most like 1/4, at bedtime...it is possible it might really sedate you. Save the rest, so you can start a stash for dosing up or down a little. If reinstatement is working you can move to liquid measurement which is more precise. I did Zyprexa without this site, and I cut up a whole bunch of tablets at the end, then I would take the biggest piece I could find each night, so they got smaller bit by bit. But liquid is definitely more precise. Good luck!

[PoetJester]

Hey Supermowie,

 

I was on between 10 and 20 mg of Zyprexa for the better part of 15 yrs from 1998-2014.  I was also on Zoloft during this time too.  I would try to stay off of the zyprexa if at all possible.  I can definitely relate to the feeling sleepy part while on it  and the insomnia after going off of it.  During the last 8 years on the Zoloft/Zyprexa mix, I was basically just a gorging, hibernating animal, merely eating and watching t.v. and sleeping anywhere from 12-20 hours a day. I quit it cold turkey in Feb. 2014 during which time, I  went 6 straight nights without sleep while constanly vomiting everywhere.  Sleep is one of those things we take for granted and when we don't have it, it's pretty traumatizing and extremely debilitating.  Once you are in the insomnia zone, other meds and sleeping pills don't seem to help.  I took ambien for a couple days and remeron (an anti-depressant) for a couple days this past summer.  My sleep on them was short and of a poor quality.  I was confused and dizzy the following day and stopped taking both of them.  I wish I had the magic bullet for insomnia.  I have been struggling with it now for almost 2 years.  I also suffer from sleep apnea and look pretty terrible. I have huge bags under my eyes now and my powers of concentration are not very sharp.  There seems to be plenty many folks on this website who struggle with severe insomnia.  One woman went 12 straight days without sleep and almost lost her mind.  I guess we are just part of a generation of people who have been damaged by the good intentions of the psychiatric industry.  Anyways, Best of Luck to you however you choose to go on.

 

PoetJester

[Altostrata]

We're not saying stay on Zyprexa indefinitely -- like all antipsychotics, it can be wearing on your health. But reinstating a small amount now will reduce withdrawal from cold turkey, which can be brutal and last a very long time.

 

In a month or two, Supermowie can think about tapering properly off the small amount of Zyprexa.

[Supermowie]

Thanks Meimeiquest. So, you had a successful taper from Zyprexa. Did you do reinstatement or weaned off of the medication properly. I'm just very cautious just getting back on it even at a small dose.

 

Thanks again for your input.

[Supermowie]

Thank you Altostrata. So, this can take another month or two on this dose. I guess this is called stabilization. When I am having less withdrawal symptoms I suppose I can lower the dose? I will let you folks know how I am feeling and then ask if it is time to lower the dose. Thanks again.

[Meimeiquest]

Well, it was basically an eight month, fairly uninformed taper. I cut 1/8 of my 5mg dose every month. I was a "hot mess" at the end. And I made mistakes (biggest was restarting my benzo). But it is all history now, no one remotely wonders if I need it at this point. You don't have to do it "perfectly" to get off. Two years off and I still can't nap in the daytime, but maybe that is for the best.

 

I took one tiny reinstatement dose 3 months out, and it was extremely sedating. 0.2 mg. I decided it wasn't worth it. My situation was complicated by the fact that I was on a stimulating antidepressant, and didn't realize until I came here the problems it was causing.

 

Hang jn there!

[Supermowie]

Hi PoetJester. Thanks for your input. I'm sorry about what you had to go through and I hope you get better.

[Altostrata]

Please let us know how you're doing, Supermowie.

 

For more precise measuring of small dosages, see Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa) This will become very important.

[Supermowie]

Thank you, MeiMeiquest.

[OpalOwl]

Hi Supermowie,

 

I want to express my sincere empathy for what you are experiencing.  I have been on Zyprexa for 3 years and I've tried to go off of it 3 times--once CT, 1 time rapid withdrawal, and 1 time rapid withdrawal while taking lorazepam (benzo).  All of these attempts failed due to the horrendous insomnia, anxiety, and akathisia that resulted from stopping the drug.  I was always able to get down to a very small dose (0.3mg), but once I went off of it completely, hell was unleashed. This is a nasty, nasty drug and needs to be treated with the utmost caution when withdrawing.  Currently, I have been able to stabilize at 1.25mg.  I'm planning to begin my withdrawal from Wellbutrin soon and then I will take on the Zyprexa again, this time treating it with the caution of a desert scorpion.  

 

I will be following your withdrawal process and be here to cheer you on.  With due prudence you WILL get off of it.  

[Supermowie]

Thanks Opal Owl for those kind words of support. I wish you the best on your taper when you begin the process again. I took 1/2 of tab of 0.5 Ativan at 2 a.m. I didn't start the Zyprexa taper yet because one of the members mentioned it can make one extremely sleepy even at a small dose. This was based on when she tried a reinstatement. I have too many medical appointments to go to in the next few days. Gotta be able to function. I will attempt it tomorrow evening after I see my Psych NP.

 

A desert scorpion is pretty poisonous and so is this Zyprexa. Yes, we shall overcome!

[Altostrata]

Supermowie, did you mean you haven't reinstated yet?

 

If it makes you sleepy, you can take Zyprexa in the evening.

[Supermowie]

I Altostrata. I know I shouldn't wait to do this because the longer I wait the possibility it won't work. I have many appointments on Thursday and was afraid it might make me so groggy that I wont be able to go to any of them. I have to drive myself. should I just take it tonight Alto and take that chance. Two of the appointments are medical and I hate to miss them plus it cost me if they are missed. I value you your input.

 

thanks

[Supermowie]

Alto I am so sensitive that even at night when i took the ativan I was still was a little groggy in the a.m. Just an FYI how I get with meds.

[Supermowie]

I have been doing accupunture without herbs. I guess theres no problem with that and going off of Zyprexa? If they use herbs during the accupunture session will there be a problem?

[Altostrata]

I would take the smallest piece of Zyprexa about 5 p.m. and see how it affects you. It's best if you don't take Ativan too often.

 

I would avoid the herbs with acupuncture -- you don't know what's in them that might cause problems.

[Supermowie]

Hi Alto.Smallest piece that is 1/2 1.25. Like I mentioned before I had cut them up and tried to make them equal but some are slightly smaller pieces. So, I'm looking for tge piece that appears exactly half of the 1.25. As you know, I cut the 2.5 mg in quarters.

[Supermowie]

I hope I can do my errands and appointments tomorrow after taking the Zyprexa. Let's see. Wish me luck.

[Meimeiquest]

I didn't mean it was that bad . I think I was functional about 12 hours after I took it.

[Supermowie]

Dear Alto: Per your request. My update. I reinstated at 6:30 last night 1/4 pill of the 2.5mg of Zyprexa. It is 11:45 the next day, I am feeling better almost brand new but was sleepy this morning at 8 a.m. Tonight I will take another quarter of the pill. Is this correct?

 

Will see my Psych NP this afternoon. I think I should tell her about this website. Not sure if this person will be open to this. I will see what she says about tapering.

[Altostrata]

You may wish to take even less than 1.25mg, such as 1mg. For more precise measuring of small dosages, see Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa)

 

Don't expect anything of the NP regarding tapering knowledge.

[Supermowie]

Hi Alto: I did take less than 1.25. Last night I took 1/2 of that. Thanks again.

[Supermowie]

Dear Alto and others. I took the same amount 1/2 of 1.25 mg Zyprexa and woke up at 3 a.m. with anxiety symptoms. I did some meditation but it just alleviated the anxiety for a short while. I slept a little at 6 this morning. Did mindful meditation from SA's care site. Now what? I'm resting in bed right now and feeling a little anxious.

[Supermowie]

Does it make sense to go on another medication like Zoloft to stop the withdrawal torment from Zyprexa? I've reinstated Zyprexa and according to you all and my NP, I must stabilize first. According to my NP, when I stabilize, I will have no withdrawal symptoms and shpuld stay on that dosage for awhile and then taper. And, when I do taper, I am not sure if I am capable to do my own liquid suspension and get the exact mg amounts correctly.

 

I do want off this drug but I hate the withdrawal symptoms. It's wearing on my patience and it is stressing me out. I just want to be able to function to do some daily things. Anyone have advice for this sensitive person. I used to be pretty tough but quite frankly this is worse than the chemo I had gone through I a few years ago.

 

My NP agreed upon my 1/4 dosage of tge 2.5 pill. Problem is cutting it exactly the same amount every night.

[Meimeiquest]

What specifically seems too hard about making a liquid suspension?

 

What appeals to you about Zoloft? Antidepressants are quite stimulating and could make your taper from this tiny amount of Zyprexa quite miserable.

[Supermowie]

Hi Meimeiquest, It might be the math in regard to making the liquid suspension. It's probably easy but sometimes I can't concentrate on the small details. In regard to tge zoloft, I just want relief of withdrawal symptoms but you're saying that going tgat route couls complicate things in a big, negative way.

 

I'm going to take my third zyprexa dose, a quarter of the 2.5 pill. I woke up at 3 yesterday. Should the dose be upped a little. I don't have a scale to accurately measure it. I have no choice right now, but to eyeball it. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[dalsaan]

Hi Supermowie

 

The body's best friends in withdrawal are patience, conservatism and consistency. Our best recommendation to you is to go to a liquid taper to get a consistent dose, one you have stabilised you can drop down slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms and be functional. The key goal us to come off well rather than quickly. I understand the desire to come off, trust me I do. But you want to end up in a good place

 

I say switch to liquid, give that a week or so and then think about where to from there. We can help with the maths

 

Dalsaan