Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Bokart: withdrawing from olanzapine / Zyprexa


Bokart

Recommended Posts

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Bokart, my safety mechanism was:

 

1 month with low or no symptoms

 

Think about this - it takes 3 weeks for receptors to upregulate or downregulate, and for homeostasis to set in.

 

4 weeks gives you time for that to happen, and an extra week to monitor.

 

Please don't hurry your taper.  It's better to be well the whole time - as you have found out - faster is not necessarily faster.  You've suffered great setbacks trying to go too fast.  You might be off by now, if you had stayed on the 10% per month, listen to your symptoms plan.

 

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment

Thank you for your reply JanCarol. Yes, I've still gone slightly faster, 1 month minus 3 days, but only because I want to slowly reach the point where the dose drop is in the first day of the month. Yes, silly me...

 

---

 

So I went to the psychiatrist last week, and of course that visit was interesting.

She wanted to prescribe to me all kinds of medicine, like aripiprazole (so I could switch to more "activating" antipsychotic from olanzapine. Gradually, of course). She also could have prescribe me metformin, because I mentioned I have gained weight.  But I don't even like the idea of taking more meds -or even switching my antipsychotic at all. I know olanzapine very well, and it works for me. It's relatively easy to taper in higher doses. Nope, no switching the antipsychotic.

 

She also tried to feed me that whenever I have sleeping difficulties, it's because I'm going in the direction of psychosis -like worsened sleep is a symptom of psychosis, instead of psychosis being the result of a long time of sleeplessness. Well... I don't deny the possibility, but knowing me, sleep difficulties can also be due to withdrawals, stress, or exposure to discomforting content. So it's not so simple as she claims.

 

Anyways, she kind of agreed my taper... but that's my right in Finland. They can't force me to take whatever dose they like. But either way I'm happy.

 

Hoping you are having an easy taper!
Bokart

 

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Bokart - 

 

Metformin will only complicate your taper.  If you get down to a very low dose, the metabolic symptoms should diminish, too.  I know about the sugar cravings - I remember nights that - anything in the cupboard was gone until my belly was distended and I felt sick.  And I couldn't stop!

 

But if you are NOT diabetic, there is NO reason to take Metformin (and even if you were diabetic, I would suggest trying lifestyle changes first).  It's a difficult drug  that messes up your endocrine system, damages mitochondria, and robs you of B12.  It is hard on your kidneys and liver (like olanzapine), and can cause nerve damage.  http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-discussions/general/15824-nerve-damage-caused-by-metformin  and http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/5248-metformin-as-a-psychiatric-treatment/

 

Aripiprozole /Abilify.  Well, that would put you in withdrawal from Zyprexa, and the Abilify might cover some of it, and might not.  Doctors seem to think these things are instantly interchangeable - but they don't have to live your life, they don't have to experience your symptoms - so they are quite cavalier about it.   People have a hard time coming off either one.  

 I have a lot of experience with different drugs, and I cannot tell you which one is harder.  They both attack a spray of receptrors.

 

What she's talking about is a cold switch which is destabilising.  I know how much you prize your functioning.  If you "function" better on Abilify, is it worth the 6 months of upheaval to find out?  Abilify does not have quite the metabolic profile of olanzapine (which is the worst for metabolic disorder) but it has other challenges, too.

 

https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/04/enslaved-abilify/ 

 

On 11/01/2018 at 2:34 AM, Bokart said:

but that's my right in Finland. They can't force me to take whatever dose they like.

 

(emphasis mine)

That is so beautiful to hear, when so often I hear that people have to fight their doctors for any decrease in drugging at all!

 

The thing about sleep is interesting.  Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Do you get wild when you haven't gotten enough sleep - or - do you start sleeping less when you get wild?  (did she offer you a sleep aid or something?  Sheesh!)  I've debated this with the "manic" question, too.  I think it's a spiral.  They often treat "bipolar disorder" and/or "depression" with sleep deprivation.  I just did a search on it - and all the articles seem to say "Sleep deprivation causes mania" not the other way around.  Again, I think it's a spiral - you ramp up a bit, you sleep a little less, you ramp up more, you sleep even less, etc.  At least, that's how it happened for me - I felt GREAT sleeping only 4 hours a night (but I lost all my friends because I was so obnoxious!).

 

Remember - slow and steady wins the race!  You would be on very low doses or off now, if you hadn't accelerated before.  Take it slow, take it steady.  You're doing great!  (and from our private conversations I know you are looking into the spiritual/emotional aspects of healing - which is essential!  This eases my mind greatly!)

Thanks for keeping us informed - and keep an eye on that doctor, she sounds very typical for her profession.

And - I hope you see the sun today!  
(how many hours of sunlight in Finland in Winter?)

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
On 1/12/2018 at 4:19 AM, JanCarol said:

If you get down to a very low dose, the metabolic symptoms should diminish, too.

Yes, I know, as I experienced this. Actually, my sugar cravings were gone and I actually lost my appetite. Also my irritable bowel syndrome returned, which is not so nice, but will be waiting for me again when I get closer to 1mg.

 

On 1/12/2018 at 4:19 AM, JanCarol said:

If you "function" better on Abilify, is it worth the 6 months of upheaval to find out?  Abilify does not have quite the metabolic profile of olanzapine (which is the worst for metabolic disorder) but it has other challenges, too.

 

Yes. I won't go through that. I believe my sleep will be heavily impacted if I make the switch - olanzapine is so sedating, while aripiprazole is not (it's actually uplifting). That can't not make an impact.

 

On 1/12/2018 at 4:19 AM, JanCarol said:

That is so beautiful to hear, when so often I hear that people have to fight their doctors for any decrease in drugging at all!

Of course I forgot to mention that doctors in Finland can refuse to prescribe a lower dose of the medicine... but I don't care, as I can very well use the 15mg tablets anyways. And I get the dissolving ones, too. And as it was my second psychosis, I wonder if my new doctor will ever prescribe me 5mg tablets. Well, maybe after she hears there's nothing she can do anyways concerning my taper, she will yield :) .

 

On 1/12/2018 at 4:19 AM, JanCarol said:

The thing about sleep is interesting.  Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Do you get wild when you haven't gotten enough sleep - or - do you start sleeping less when you get wild?  (did she offer you a sleep aid or something?  Sheesh!)  I've debated this with the "manic" question, too.  I think it's a spiral.  They often treat "bipolar disorder" and/or "depression" with sleep deprivation.  I just did a search on it - and all the articles seem to say "Sleep deprivation causes mania" not the other way around.  Again, I think it's a spiral - you ramp up a bit, you sleep a little less, you ramp up more, you sleep even less, etc.  At least, that's how it happened for me - I felt GREAT sleeping only 4 hours a night (but I lost all my friends because I was so obnoxious!).

 

The thing is, I can't sleep when I'm afraid, and that can lead to psychosis. Being afraid is normal of course, but being unable to calm down is not. I remember being too afraid to sleep in my last psychosis. And some nights I was just too obsessed with some things so I didn't try to sleep. Next time I will taper much slower in lower doses, as in the lower doses my obsessive side of personality seems to return, and that has synergies with fear. I obsess with my thoughts, and some of them generate fear and anxiety. I seemed to completely forget to relax. I think relaxation is one thing I must hold on to, especially when approaching lower doses. It is one of the keys of success, I think.

 

Also, I seem to be more prone to anxiety and stress if I don't sleep well, and that can trigger further sleeplessness, so it can become a never-ending cycle if it continues for too long. Hopefully I avoid this cycle with my slower taper.

 

I was always a somewhat obsessive person in some ways, but I can't put all my symptoms on my personality, because there is a clear link with my faster dose reductions and an increase of symptoms (in the lower doses I was on). If I was the normal me back then, I wouldn't have gone to psychosis. Hell, I wouldn't have even had my first psychosis without many many other things which compounded my obsessive traits and anxiety, namely extreme lack of sleep and some harmful religious beliefs, my self-punishing mindset and a "social crisis" that happened right before the fall to psychosis. Well, these things I must learn, and some things I should unlearn or mitigate, or learn to avoid/control.

 

On 1/12/2018 at 4:19 AM, JanCarol said:

And - I hope you see the sun today!  
(how many hours of sunlight in Finland in Winter?)

Far too few, but the time is increasing now day by day!

 

---

 

Best Regards, and hoping that your taper is going well!

Bokart

 

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

Hello again everyone, it's a long time since the last time I posted, so I decided to do an update.

 

So a month ago I had a little crisis. It was little because it lasted only  three or four days, but it was a crisis because I had to resort to sleep medicine to get some sleep through the worst part of it (only one night), and it really much felt like a crisis. But without discussing too much of the whys and whats, let's just say that this crisis was sparked by my best friend's rough situation (which could be called a crisis as well). But, I recovered! And learnt a ton of how my body reacts to highly stressful situations (those signs were also evident in my last psychosis but I didn't realize those symptoms back then).

 

And how I'm doing now: relatively well. My mood is relatively neutral, with some moments of feeling good and with some moments of anxiety. So basically normal. My dose is now 7,5mg, which was one of my targets (I should throw out the targets really). This drop was only 7,4% drop from 8,1mg, but I will still hold this dose for a total of a month and a half to give me a pause.

 

My plans: I'm considering switching to 7,5% taper, but I haven't made a decision yet. I'll gauge on how I feel this month and make a decision based on that. Could be that I'll stick to 10% taper, but will hold this dose for a while longer. I think I only got good choices. I have already dropped 50% of my starting dose :) I really feel I'm not in a hurry anymore, and I should put safety first. And I will still slower my taper as I near doses below 2mg, as that's where the problems seem to occur. The moving thing is "when"... I have already decided I'll do 3,5% taper when I hit 1 mg... I'm really thinking of doing 5% taper when I hit 1,5mg (or 2mg, unsure yet), but when should I begin 7,5% taper... haven't decided yet.

 

I hope you are doing fine as well!

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

I have to post this, as my view has changed about the thing I wrote in my last post stating that feeling anxiety at times is "basically normal". Well, now I'm better, having less anxiety, but I think this anxiety is actually a withdrawal symptom. And when I examined this more, I think I see a pattern.

 

I switched to a 7,5mg tablet from 15 mg tablet (made to liquid solution). Drop was smallish 7,4%. BUT, I still had anxiety. This is not new. I remember when I switched from 15mg tablet (solution) to 5mg tablet, and the drop was supposed to be small (something like 8,5%), but I still experienced symptoms. So, I think these symptoms have something to do with switching to a smaller tablet. Or these symtoms have something to do with my dose being an actual tablet right now and not a solution. But I don't really know.

But anyways I will hold this dose for a longer total period of time (2 weeks longer). I also want 2 weeks of being symptom-free before a drop, so we'll see if this hold will be longer still.

 

Best Regards,

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Anxiety is a very common withdrawal symptom and can be felt after a drop in dosage in even a slow taper.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

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 Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the link, Gridley, I read the link, and I recognize many symptoms...

On other news, I will make my next cut in sunday. I feel it was a right decision to hold this dose for two extra weeks, I feel I have really stabilised, I actually feel great right now :)

Hoping everyone have had a nice & sunny spring day! It was certainly that in Finland :)

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 3 months later...

Hello again everyone! It's a long time since I last posted, so I thought it's time to give a small update.

I've been doing relatively well.  But there seems to be a pattern in my latest reductions that I get slight anxious spells 4 - 9 days after reductions, which then might turn to general lack of motivation, but that might have been solved by sleeping more (it seems I hadn't slept enough which turned into lack of energy which I interpreted as lack of motivation  - I have worked really long days recently). I haven't had the anxious spells after the latest reduction yet, so maybe it was something else?

 

I'm at 5 mg now, and I feel my learning abilities and motivation have already gotten better.

In other news: I got in to a university! Clearly I'm able to learn if I passed the entrance exams :) I might even have a way to earn money while studying, so everything seems to have worked out really well for me so far. This brings me to my next thoughts: I may do more holds when I'm approaching lower doses. It's simply too risky to fail now. I was thinking of maybe doing a year-long hold when I hit 2 mg, but that's still undecided. Better to be safe than sorry...

Hopefully you all have had great summer so far (or winter, in the southern hemisphere!)
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

This is great news, Bokart!  So happy for you!  Best wishes for you at University and for the possibility of earning money while attending. Slow and steady is always good. Glosmom

2016 - Oct -Daughter started Risperdal (for steroid induced psychosis that never went away after stopping prednisone)

Nov - dose increases stopped at 1.5mg in Dec

2017 - Jan- weaned from 1.5 to 1.0 in 2 weeks then 1.0 to .5 in two weeks and then off. Feb. 3 weeks of increased psychosis, pacing, insomnia, other awful symptoms so late Feb  - Back on 1.5 mg Risperdal. May  - decrease to 1.25mg, two weeks later 1.0mg - symptoms started again. June - held steady at 1.25mg for 6 weeks and switched to liquid (3 ml syringe). July - started 10% taper every 3 weeks, October -  .8 mg, December - .7 mg .

2018 -Jan- 0.65 mg,  Feb- 0.59,  Mar-0.50, late April - .40mg, July- .36 mg, Aug - switched from 3 mL syringe to 1 mL syringe for more accuracy (her dad and i were not sure we were giving her the same dose when in between the 'dashes' on the 3 mL syringe.) Aug -.30 mg (3mL syr)/.44 mg (1 mL syr) difference due to med in the tip of both syringes). Sept- .28 mg (3mL syr)/.42 mg (1 mL syr). Oct - .16 mg (3 mL syr)/.30 mg (1 mL syr). Nov.- .06mg (3mL syr)/.20 mg (1mLsyr). Dec. - tip only/unmeasurable (3mL syr)/.10 mg (1mLsyr)

2019- Jan -.06 mg (1 mL syr), Feb- .025 mg (1 mL syr), Feb 27, 2019 - jumped to zero!!

Link to comment
  • Administrator

Good to hear, Bokart. If you feel you need long holds, by all means, do it! Go as easy on your nervous system as you feel necessary. Going off the drugs takes as long as it takes.

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
  • 1 month later...

Hello again everyone. Its been awhile since I posted so here's an update.

 

I have decided to favour uneventful taper instead of faster taper. That means I have slowed down my taper because my last drop was causing symptoms and needed a longer hold.

 

Now I taper at 8% speed, still quite fast for all intents and purposes: My dose will be halved every 9 months instead of 7 as it would be with 10% taper. No big deal.

 

Also, my new studies started this week. This has caused all kind of symptoms (I'm naturally nervous in these kind of events), but I think I will be fine in a week or two when all the excitement and stress dissipates. Hard to tell whether my last drop contributed to these symptoms or not.

 

Anyways, I'm fine and life seems to be alright at the moment. I even managed to get fridays free so I can take work in that day! I have to say that the work I'm doing is really relaxed and light so I see no problems combining work and studies. It will be seen, however, how much home assignments I get and whether I have time for work, but I've been told that at least the first year will be relatively easy, so I'm hoping I will have time for the extra income for the time being.

 

Hoping your taper is going well!
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

Hello again, everyone. It's time for an update.

 

So, my last drop was way harder than expected. I dropped 0,2 mg which translates to 4,3% drop. The symptoms were very hard... Wasn't expecting it at all. I have the symptoms written down for future reflection. There was a quite a list of them.

 

Anyways, I got over it and I'm still holding at 4,4mg. I have plans for the next drop, though as I feel I have stabilized enough. But should I do the drop or hold even longer? What does it tell about my state when even a small drop like that was so hard? What could be the reason? I suspect stress. My studies demand more of me than ever before. That must play a part, and that is one of the most significant things that have changed compared to my last taper (had very little stress back then). Other things that are changed are the time I have been at higher doses of this medicine (I dipped below 7,5mg pretty quickly this time around) and my weight has slightly risen... Or could the reason be related to something else?

 

My next drop will be 0,1mg, which is 2,27%. A miniscule drop, but better to play it safe and test that the ice is hard enough. Or so is my plan... I plan to drop on the 16th so that this hold will be 2 full months.

 

Also, I have a new doctor now. This time luck didn't favour me and I got a doctor who totally denies withdrawal symptoms (for antipsychotics) exist and who can claim both that I can just stop taking medicine completely without any issues and still claim that "of course that causes rapid decline and psychosis". How can you claim it's safe to cold turkey but in the same breath note it leads to psychosis? Well, as long as I get my dissolving tablets, which he graciously prescribed for me (in this way I'm lucky :)).

 

Hopefully your taper is going well!
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

Hello again. It's been a while since I last posted.

 

So my 0,1mg drop routine has worked quite well. I barely have any withdrawal symptoms. As you see from my signature, I make 0,1mg drops instead of drops based on percentage. The reason for this is that it's quite hard for me to do drops lower than 0,1mg, it's really hard to measure any lower. Of course there are ways around that such as diluting a tablet, putting half of the liquid to another container and then dilute the two equal doses even more.

 

That's what I've been actually doing recently (with 20mg tablets), but I have had some problems with measuring accuracy. It seems my dropper/pipette is not very accurate and dividing the dose to two equal halves does not work: the first half seems to always be greater than the second half. I'm still seeking the perfect division of doses so they'll be exactly or close to equal.

 

Anyways, It's been on my mind that I would want to go faster. I have had 3 months with nearly no symptoms, yet the last time I had problems was ~4 months ago, so not so long ago.

My plan for the moment is to see this drop through and then decide on the 16th of February what I want to do. I could do 0,15mg drops or I could do a 0,1mg drop every 3 weeks. I'm slightly leaning for the latter option. Yet I could also just keep my current routine. I'm very aware that I will not immediately feel the effects of larger/faster drops and that it could take many months of the symptoms to arise and then they could be severe at that point. This I don't want.

 

For your Knowledge, 0,15mg drop would be 3,7%, and that percentage would rise as I go lower. I plan to make my drops even lower as I hit some thresholds. I'm currently thinking to drop to 0,05 mg drops when I hit 2mg (that would be 2,5% at that dose), but if I went with 0,15mg drops I would lower my drop in half to 0,075mg when I hit 3mg. The plan is that I never make a drop greater than 5%. That way I should hopefully be safe.

 

Hopefully your taper is going smoothly as well,

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
8 hours ago, Bokart said:

The plan is that I never make a drop greater than 5%. That way I should hopefully be safe.

 

It's good to hear that you've got it all planned.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Bokart, your journey has been an admirable one to say the least, I myself started out on 15 mg of olanazapine taking 5 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night. Currently I’m down to just 2.5 mg in the evening I have another two weeks of hold time then I’m cutting the 2.5 mg dose in half then I will hold that dosage for four weeks. Once I stabilize after the four weeks I will take 1/4 of the 2.5 mg I can’t wait to be free from this drug. Thank you for sharing your experience I look forward to the post when you say your finished, like they say though slow and steady. Cheers!

Link to comment

Thank you Brock for your compliments. I'm hoping your tapering will go well. However you seem to make quite a large drops. Are you sure you can withstand the symptoms? I have problems even with my current drops, which are 0,1mg.

 

About these problems: sure enough there were withdrawal symptoms after my latest drop. Actually I was surprised... I mean I do so tiny drops! And I have had 3 relatively symptomless months before this.

 

My withdrawal symptoms included:

Occasional bouts of anxiety

Loose stool / changes in digestive system

Loss of sexual desire

All-around lowered mood

Loss of appetite

 

All these symptoms were mild, but they were still present enough to be noticeable.

 

I think I will follow JanCarol's advice of having 1 month symptom-free (or with low symptoms) before making an another drop. That will mean my next drop will be 28th on the next month.

 

I mean I can stand these symptoms, but I do not want to have their intensity to rise in the next drop. I think waiting a month is a good way to achieve this.

 

Take care everyone!
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment

Bokart, I should be able to manage since when I did my cuts before from 15 to 10 to 7.5 to 5 to 2.5 things went ok, I experienced mild withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and crying spells which lasted minutes at a time for roughly 3 days. I did however recently quit smoking cigarettes (about 7 days ago) so I want to be extra careful with the next step down as to not overwhelm my brain with all the changes at once. Quitting smoking has been good with no anxiety and no desire to smoke again I feel less stress for sure. I strongly believe once I get the 2.5 mg dose down into quarters and take the quarters for 1-2 months I can completely discontinue the olanzapine once and for all. It’s been a nerve racking process but ultimately being drug free allowing my brain to work on its own excites me. 

 

The reason I ended up prescribed olanzapine in the first place was for psychosis for which I was hospitalized twice, I used to be a heavy marijuana smoker. I was diagnosed as bipolar but I firmly believe that both times I was hospitalized it was due to acute marijuana induced psychosis because I was smoking so heavily combined with a lot of stress I was dealing with at the time. I was seen by a psychologist and he seemed to agree the marijuana may have caused me to have a mental breakdown as well, he said if I stay off the marijuana this would possibly eliminate the chance of another psychotic breakdown. When I was hospitalized I was delusional believing people could communicate with me telepathically as well as believing I was a higher power almost god-like and at the time when I was smoking I couldn’t recognize these symptoms because now if I think about how I was acting it’s stupid and I’m ashamed and embarrassed that I could even believe something like that in the first place. Some people have said it was a spiritual awakening which could be true but knowing what I went through and how I was acting   It’s something I never want to experience again. I’ve been off marijuana for almost a year I will never smoke again and I feel so much better just a little bogged down due to the olanzapine so that’s why I decided to taper to get my life back. 

 

Although the the olanzapine seemed to level me out at the time when I needed it most which I’m greatful for, it has caused me to gain weight (which is partly my fault) and caused me to feel like I can’t manage my own emotions on my own. My plan is to stay off marijuana, taper off olanzapine, eat healthy, exercise and enjoy life to the fullest. 

 

Good luck to all who are going down this road to recovery and those who have made it to the finish line. Cheers!

Link to comment
  • ChessieCat changed the title to Bokart: withdrawing from Olanzapine

Hi Bookart,

 

First of all, thank you so much for detailing your progress like this. It is very informative and motivating to see both your progress and how you get past the setbacks. 

 

I'm also tapering (just starting) from olanzapine (10mgs) and I have 2 questions:

 

1- If I understood it right, you dissolve the dissolvable olanzapine tablets and measure out with a pipette. Do you do it with water, or some other solution? When I try it with water, it seems that the particles remain undissolved and quickly sink to the bottom even if I stir the mixture. It seems like there is never enough time to get them in a syringe evenly. So that seemed to be a real stumbling block for me. I would be really glad if you detail your way, which you obviously seem to be successful with.

 

2- When you say 1 month symptom free before a dosage drop, does that mean: Let's say you drop a dose, and for 2 weeks you had withdrawal symptoms, so then you start counting another 4 weeks symptom-free on top of that, to arrive at 6 weeks between the dose reductions? I'll probably be going with 8 week drops but still I wanted to ask to be sure.

 

Thank you again for diligently documenting your progress, and I hope to follow in your footsteps,

Cheers,

gladtobehere1984

 

P.S. Here's my thread if you'd want to chime in there as well: Tapering 10 mg of Zyprexa .

 

Risperidone: July 2013-July 2016, 1.5mg; July 2016-July 2017, tapered to 0mg

January 2018: First ever episode of full-blown psychosis (I believe it is rebound psychosis since I didn't have psychosis before)

Olanzapine: August 2018-February 2019, 10mg; February 11 2019, 9.375mg; March 14 2019, 8.75mg; April 17 2019, 8.125mg; May 16 2019, 7.5mg; June 13 2019, 6.875mg; 

 

 

Link to comment

I meant Bokart in the introduction. 🤭Sorry for the misspelling. Cheers

Risperidone: July 2013-July 2016, 1.5mg; July 2016-July 2017, tapered to 0mg

January 2018: First ever episode of full-blown psychosis (I believe it is rebound psychosis since I didn't have psychosis before)

Olanzapine: August 2018-February 2019, 10mg; February 11 2019, 9.375mg; March 14 2019, 8.75mg; April 17 2019, 8.125mg; May 16 2019, 7.5mg; June 13 2019, 6.875mg; 

 

 

Link to comment

Hello gladtobehere1984! I'm glad you have found this forum. I don't know if I could have ever managed to safely taper without the information and support available here :). On to your questions:

 

3 hours ago, gladtobehere1984 said:

1- If I understood it right, you dissolve the dissolvable olanzapine tablets and measure out with a pipette. Do you do it with water, or some other solution? When I try it with water, it seems that the particles remain undissolved and quickly sink to the bottom even if I stir the mixture. It seems like there is never enough time to get them in a syringe evenly. So that seemed to be a real stumbling block for me. I would be really glad if you detail your way, which you obviously seem to be successful with.

 

 

 Yes, I also noticed the same problem as you have, indeed there are parts which sink down and some parts (at least with my dissolving tablets) that float to the top.

 

My current solution has been to use ~1 part of suspending vehicle(s) and ~1 part of water. I use Ora-Plus and glycerine as those vehicles. Why 2 vehicles? Well, it's a personal preference. At first I only used Ora-Plus, but then I heard of someone using glycerine. I tried a mixture of both and found it good... better than just Ora-Plus actually. With only Ora-Plus, you have a small problem with water bubbles if you accidentally try to suck too much liquid at once. The bubbles move very slowly in Olanzapine / Ora-Plus / water compound. If you replace some of the Ora-Plus with glycerine/glycerol the bubbles move faster without affecting suspension properties (at least it seems that way to me). When the bubbles reach the top of the liquid they can be "popped" by letting out liquid fast from the pipette. Then slowly drain the liquid in again without making the same mistake of draining air bubbles in. Also glycerine is more readily available in my country than Ora-Plus.

 

 My current compound makeup is: ~3 parts Ora-Plus + ~2 parts glycerol + 5 parts water + Olanzapine (10 parts = 5ml). This is how I currently do it:

 

  •  First I put 2,5ml of water and 20mg odt-olanzapine to a beaker and let it dissolve for 20-30 minutes.
  • Then I draw 1,5ml  Ora-Plus + 0,8ml Glycerine (2,3ml total) and add it to the solution. This makes about 5ml liquid, which I base my reductions on (I then divide this solution to 2 halves, make both halves 5ml and from those solutions draw doses for 4 days @ 4,1mg each. I do this so I can get 4 days of worth of medicine in one go and also to save 5mg tablets due to monetary reasons... but this is beside the point)

The reason for measuring 2,3ml of suspension solution instead of 2,5ml is because the tablets themselves (I use 5mg + 15mg for the solution right now) add ~0,2ml to the solution. For you it will be different because I assume you are using 10mg tablets. If I had to estimate how much that would be in mls, I would say 0,1ml, but you have to test this out yourself. Also, if your tablets are not odt (orally dissolving tablets) that might also affect how many mls your tablet will add up.

 

 

  So that must be taken into account. When you know how many milliliters the tablets add you can use that knowledge to either add less water or less suspension to reach your desired total milliliters of  liquid (for me 5ml).

 

(Also, my pipette is inaccurate, so the tablets I use propably add more than 0,2ml)

 

3 hours ago, gladtobehere1984 said:

2- When you say 1 month symptom free before a dosage drop, does that mean: Let's say you drop a dose, and for 2 weeks you had withdrawal symptoms, so then you start counting another 4 weeks symptom-free on top of that, to arrive at 6 weeks between the dose reductions? I'll probably be going with 8 week drops but still I wanted to ask to be sure.

 

 

Yes, that's what I'm doing. Just one remark: if the symptoms are "barely" noticeable, I will not count that as a time with symptoms. Yet my bar is very low, so more often than not I will take the symptoms into account. If the symptoms are noticeable, I will make a drop one month after the day the symptoms were back to being barely / no more noticeable.

 

 

 

Best of luck to your taper! I know it can be hard sometimes, but you will find the best way to taper for you. For me, it changed from being 10% to being just above 2%... so this can change after unsuccessful attempts. So be careful in the first time, it could save you many months or years of tapering. 
 


Take care.

- Bokart

 

 

PS: I have to say I rarely have time to visit these forums due to my studies, so I only have time to post in this thread and seldomly at that. I hope this does not cause any bad feelings for anyone. 

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
4 hours ago, Bokart said:

(I then divide this solution to 2 halves, make both halves 5ml and from those solutions draw doses for 4 days @ 4,1mg each.

 

First of all thank you very much for your detailed reply. It makes sense how you do it.(2mg olanzapine for each millileter of liquid) Above you said you make both halves 5ml. Do you do that by adding 2.5mg of water to each solution, or by adding 2.5 mg of the Ora Plus+glycerine mixture?

 

Unfortunately, we don't have Ora-Plus here, but I guess I can import it from the U.S. with a doctor's prescription and get it through the customs with the prescription. So for now I'll continue with pill cutting, but get the Ora-Plus as I'm nearing smaller doses.

 

One last question(but a little explanation beforehand), you had a relapse and then moved back to 15mg. I admire you for keeping on like you did and re-tapering. It's really inspiring. Relapsing is one of my biggest fears. For one thing, I don't know if I'll ever get back to sanity if I have a psychotic break. I'm glad you got yours back. So my question is, after you got out of the hospital why did you not quickly (like in 2 weeks) drop to 10mg and then 5mg and then continue slow tapering from 5mg for instance? Did you think you'd have a relapse? In any case you did a relatively quick taper from 15 to 8.1 mg. (from Sept 2017 to Jan 2018) Did you not have many withdrawal symptoms at that timeframe that'd cause you to slow down the taper or was it because you were fed up and went quickly regardless of the symptoms?

 

I hope your studies are going well and want to thank you again for answering the last post in detail. 

 

Cheers,

gladtobehere1984

Risperidone: July 2013-July 2016, 1.5mg; July 2016-July 2017, tapered to 0mg

January 2018: First ever episode of full-blown psychosis (I believe it is rebound psychosis since I didn't have psychosis before)

Olanzapine: August 2018-February 2019, 10mg; February 11 2019, 9.375mg; March 14 2019, 8.75mg; April 17 2019, 8.125mg; May 16 2019, 7.5mg; June 13 2019, 6.875mg; 

 

 

Link to comment

I'm glad I could be of help. Starting a liquid taper can be difficult and it was difficult for me too. Had to figure out lots of things... change the pipette to a more accurate one... add suspension like Ora-Plus... figure out how to make a drops effectively and with most precision so my dose wouldn't fluctuate, etc...

 

By the way, are you sure the customs will confiscate your Ora-Plus? It has no medical properties. It can be compared to syrup, for example. It's just a thickener for medical solutions.

 

55 minutes ago, gladtobehere1984 said:

First of all thank you very much for your detailed reply. It makes sense how you do it.(2mg olanzapine for each millileter of liquid) Above you said you make both halves 5ml. Do you do that by adding 2.5mg of water to each solution, or by adding 2.5 mg of the Ora Plus+glycerine mixture?

 

I use the same formula in this case too, so 1 part water & 1 part suspension. So I would first fill pipette with 1,2ml water, then fill it to 2ml with Ora-Plus, and lastly fill it to 2,5ml with glycerin. So all the incredients will be in the pipette at the same time to make measuring easier. Also you must first fill water, then Ora-Plus and finally glycerin/glycerol. Otherwise they will get mixed up, because water is the "lightest" liquid (and glycerin the heaviest) and if it would be below Ora-Plus, for example, it would rise to the top by itself and then get mixed up with Ora-Plus. Just like with water and oil: oil is lighter so it floats on water. At least I noticed this when I first drew glycerol and then Ora-Plus: Ora-Plus started to go up instantly and it got mixed with glycerol.

 

This is important because if you have water bubbles, you can get rid of them by ejecting some liquid fast back to its bottle which many times pops the bubble, but if the liquid is mixed, I don't think it's a good idea to eject a mixed solution and "contaminate" the glycerin bottle with Ora-Plus or water, for example.

 

One thing to take into account with liquid taper in general is that in my opinion you should try to only do drops that are max. half of the minimum scaling units. So for example my pipette measures 0,1ml minimum and I can confidently add or remove that amount of liquid. But what if I have to do 0,033ml drop? Then it becomes hard because you have to remove approximately that... there's no scaling unit for that small amount of liquid so you just have to deduce the drop. That's why I currently make 0,05ml drops and even those are not optimal. I'd rather do 0,1ml drops, but then I'd have to use 5mg tablets diluted to 5ml and I would have to use 7 of the 5mg tablets a week compared to ~2 of the 5mg tablets I use now. But I will move to using only 5mg tablets when I can get more than 2 doses from 2 tablets (I have 2 beakers so I can combine the leftovers, at some doses I start getting an extra dose(s) out of them)

 

56 minutes ago, gladtobehere1984 said:

One last question(but a little explanation beforehand), you had a relapse and then moved back to 15mg. I admire you for keeping on like you did and re-tapering. It's really inspiring. Relapsing is one of my biggest fears. For one thing, I don't know if I'll ever get back to sanity if I have a psychotic break. I'm glad you got yours back. So my question is, after you got out of the hospital why did you not quickly (like in 2 weeks) drop to 10mg and then 5mg and then continue slow tapering from 5mg for instance? Did you think you'd have a relapse? In any case you did a relatively quick taper from 15 to 8.1 mg. (from Sept 2017 to Jan 2018) Did you not have many withdrawal symptoms at that timeframe that'd cause you to slow down the taper or was it because you were fed up and went quickly regardless of the symptoms?

 

To be frank, I was scared. And doctors made me promise I wouldn't do that, and it was hard going against that as it was written in their systems. I could have dropped to maybe 7,5mg instantly and then continue from there. I don't know about dropping to as low as 5mg... I think it's a risk, because, at least for me, the after-effects of psychosis did linger on with me for some time. I think it took quite a lot of time for me to get back to normal. Many months... maybe half a year. Normal in this case means no intrusive thoughts, no spontaneous anxiety, no sleeping problems, no running mind, no hypersensitivity to stress, etc. And I did have intrusive thoughts as late as last summer! And I still have some sensitivity to stress. So the effects can linger on. I also had a crisis some time in the beginning of 2018. Could have led to psychosis, but I managed it with sauna and other enjoyable activities (sauna is great for calming the body & mind!). But it was rough, very rough. I also had a small crisis in last autumn, which is the reason I do such small drops now. My body can't take larger drops any more, it seems. I can't risk having any more crises either.

There were evidently withdrawal symptoms between Sept 2017 and Jan 2018, but these were hard to recognize because of the psychosis after-effects. Only did I notice something was wrong when things started to really go wrong. I had no discernment of the subtleties... and this is because my mind was still not completely calm, relaxed & still to be able to spot any withdrawal symptoms. My mind was far from it, actually. If your baseline is almost the same as the withdrawal symptoms, it's hard to spot the difference.

 

Yeah, I think that's all. I hoped this helped to clarify things for you :)

All the best!
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment

Hi gladtobehere1984,

 

I have a question for you, did you by any chance smoke marijuana before your psychotic break? In my experience marijuana causes psychotic features, a lot of people are with the thought that marijuana is natural therefore it’s safe but for me that couldn’t be further from the truth. If i smoke i tend to have paranoia, anxiety, rapid cycling thoughts etc. it makes me feel unstable as if I might lose my mind and have to be admitted to a mental health facility so I stay away from it completely. 

 

I’m currently on 1.25mg (since January 30, 2019) of olanzapine down from 15mg daily, I have another 4 weeks before I make my next cut to 0.625 if the withdrawal symptoms are too problematic I’ll just taper to 0.9375 mg and hold for 6 weeks (2 week withdrawal period then an additional 4 week stabilization period). My last cut was from 2.5 mg to 1.25 mg when I did that I felt withdrawal symptoms for 4 solid days, an uneasy feeling combined with anxiety and dizziness with  residual symtoms for about 10 days following that. Today is day 14 since the cut and I feel a lot better, part of me wants to make the next cut sooner but I’m definitely going to wait another 4 weeks as mentioned above just to be on the safe side, slow and steady is my train of thought.

 

Besides, after tapering down you don’t want to jeopardize your wellbeing by tapering too fast, for me my biggest fear is going to fast and having to reinstate then not feeling stabilized after reinstatement.

 

Another thing I get nervous about is that when I actually taper down completely off how will I feel, it’s just that I’ve been taking the olanzapine for 9 months (since May 30, 2018) and being free from it is exciting on one hand but scary on the next. My inspiration comes from that there are many people that have been taking olanzapine for years (5, 10, 15, 20 years) that have successfully tapered off it’s just a slow process that’s all there is to it. 

 

I’ve stayed strong and it is getting better everyday a little bit at a time, cheers!

 

-Brock

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Bokart,

 

It would be really helpful and appreciated by other Zyprexa users if you could make a post explaining your method in the Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa) topic.

 

Thank you.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment
15 hours ago, Bokart said:

Yeah, I think that's all. I hoped this helped to clarify things for you :)

All the best!
Bokart

 

You have covered everything perfectly! There are some very important gems to take in from your experience, so thank you once again for sharing them so openly.

 

15 hours ago, Brock702 said:

have a question for you, did you by any chance smoke marijuana before your psychotic break?

Hi Brock, No I didn't smoke marijuana before, but like you I've heard that it can make people psychotic. I hope yours was related to that and you never have to go through a psychotic break again. 

About your taper, it might be considered too fast to drop from 1.25mg to 0.625 mg, wouldn't it? In my own case in the past I withdrew from Risperdal 1.5mg in 1 year, and then had my very first psychotic break 4-5 months after my taper was over. Bokart also had psychosis at little doses when he went too quickly with the drops. Just something to think about. Other than that, I wish you a stress-free taper period, however you decide to do it. Cheers

 

Risperidone: July 2013-July 2016, 1.5mg; July 2016-July 2017, tapered to 0mg

January 2018: First ever episode of full-blown psychosis (I believe it is rebound psychosis since I didn't have psychosis before)

Olanzapine: August 2018-February 2019, 10mg; February 11 2019, 9.375mg; March 14 2019, 8.75mg; April 17 2019, 8.125mg; May 16 2019, 7.5mg; June 13 2019, 6.875mg; 

 

 

Link to comment
On 2/12/2019 at 12:43 AM, ChessieCat said:

Hi Bokart,

 

It would be really helpful and appreciated by other Zyprexa users if you could make a post explaining your method in the Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa) topic.

 

Thank you.

 

Hi ChessieCat.

 

I have decided to make a post of my methods in that thread when I have available time (maybe in the weekend? It might take an hour or two to write the post... I hope...). I'm thinking of the subjects, and these are what I have in mind:

 

Measuring a dose:

    Suspensions (Ora-Plus/glycerine, etc.)

    Air bubbles

    Measurement inaccuracies in pipette or other measuring equipment

    Minimum scaling unit

    Making your reduction compatible with minimum scaling unit by dividing doses

    Saving pills/tablets

Withdrawal symptoms I have noticed in my taper

 

This will be quite large a text, but I hope to make it in the weekend, but I can't promise that because I have so many school assignments right now. Also, should there be something more I should write about?
 

Cheers,

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...

Hello all,

 

I have a question for you. I hope somebody here knows something about this.

 

I have decided to begin a weight loss program. I have chosen LCHF -diet (Low Carbohydrates High Fat).

 

My question is: how does this mesh with my taper? Should I put my taper on hold or continue as normal?

Another question is that does this affect my medicine levels? If I, for example, lose 10 or 20 kgs, what happens with the medicine? Does the amount that reaches the brain remain the same? This is important because olanzapine causes sugar cravings... for me it's at its worst in the evenings, just before bedtime. I can not imagine my weight loss attempt being successful if my sugar cravings rise.

These sugar cravings do seem to stop for a while after each drop. It seems to be a withdrawal symptom for me... a "good one" at that. I don't mind losing my cravings for a while.

So if any of you have some advice or some material I could get familiar with, I would appreciate it very much.

Thank you all & I hope your taper is going well,

Bokart

PS: I made a drop 12 days ago and I had the same withdrawal symptoms with the same intensity as I did with my previous drop. This is the first day without symptoms. I might delay my next drop again, but I'm thinking of "testing the waters" with a slightly smaller hold... Haven't made a decision yet though.

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Link to comment

Thanks ChessieCat. I gathered from the thread that ketosis diet might be too hard while tapering. So I just started to eat less. I think I'm losing about ~0.2kg per week if I keep to it, but that's fine. I just have to really avoid sugar binges... I can gain up to 2 kgs in a weekend if I'm not careful.... and it could take 10 weeks to lose that weight...

So I am also thinking of making an adjustment to my taper. I was thinking of halving my drops and making them more frequent. The reason for this is that I think I'm having too much symptoms right now for my liking. I especially dislike the disturbances in sleep and random bouts of anxiety, both of which will begin after 5 or 6 days and last for 6 to 8 days after each drop.

So I think my updated drop schedule will be 0.05mg every 3 weeks. So this means it will take 6 weeks to drop the same amount I did in a month previously. Of course my drops haven't been monthly due to my rule of being symptom-free for at least 4 weeks, so actually if we take that into account my speed will be roughly the same.

If you have any pointers about the new taper method, I'd be glad to hear them.

Thanks everyone & I hope your taper is going well,

Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 6 months later...

Hello again! It's been a while and I thought to let you know I'm alive and give an update while I'm at it.

So these past months since March, I tried many different ways to of taper, mainly trying faster (and faster) taper but with smaller reductions. Surprisingly, at 0,05mg reduction 3-weekly, I actually suffered more withdrawal symptoms. I stopped doing this fast taper somewhere in May, had a long break till August, and started 0,1mg bi-monthly taper.

After this chance of pace, everything started to go smoothly. I have some withdrawal symptoms, but mostly I'm symptom free and actually enjoy life. I do have sugar cravings still, and I expect it to go away when my dose closes 1mg. At the reduction speed of 0,6mg per year, it will take 4 years to even get close to that dose. But I think it's better this way, I just have to watch my weight, but unfortunately it seems to climb almost a kilo a month. Well, actually it doesn't climb when I go to school and it only climbs when I spend my vacations with my family (whole summer & Christmas are the main vacations). So it climbs more like 2 kilos a month when with my family. I can see the problem here.... My sister, though, is such a bad influence in that regard. I don't even buy sweets, but there's still aplenty in the house... And I can't not eat when it's evening / night. I mean I must take a few snacks. If there's no sweets, those snacks aren't actually that big of a deal.

So that's where I'm at. I do consider doing bigger reductions, but I'll have to be very careful if I even try. Last time I did a 0,2mg drop it was a disaster -which was last Fall (15th Sep). It does seem possible that with this slower pace, it might be possible.

So all-in-all, I guess I'm officially micro-tapering! I have heard someone doing very large drops but with very long reduction periods (like 3 months or so -this was actually in Success Stories and it was an olanzapine taper). Anyways, at least for my taper with olanzapine, tapering speed is a huge factor, and the line seems to be somewhere at ~1,5 months that my body requires between drops. I hope this helps others who think they might have hit the wall. It might be about the time between drops.

I hope everyone has colourful and beautiful autumn days wherever you live,
Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 5 months later...

Hello again everyone. It's been some time since my last update, so here's one.

 

I'm now settled on 0.01mg drops every 2.5 months. It's been great at this phase. I didn't really understand before that the time between drops is such a huge factor for me.

I do think I will try bigger drops, just to test things out. When I try this, I will also probably make my time between drops longer to 3 months. But this drop has to go well for me to consider this. And it goes well if there's barely any noticeable symptoms. I cannot rush things as like before. Symptoms may arise not in a time frame of a single drop, but even in a span of 6 months. So that has to be taken into account. I will do 0.015 mg drops if this drop goes well.

 

In other news I'm doing well at uni, I sleep well (I can even take naps!), I am stable (with some small hiccups here and there). I am meditating every day, I try to do two 30-minute-sessions a day. Meditation definitely helps. I can also account my stability to my spiritual practice, of which inner listening is a great part. Even if with my current speed it will take me close 8 years to finish my taper, I am still not regretting my decisions so far. Stability over speed, it must be.

I hope everyone is okay wherever they are. Stay safe and don't forget to give yourselves time.

-Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 6 months later...

Hello again, everyone. Here's my progress so far. 🙂

 

I have been dropping my dose steadily and slowly, and it has mostly gone well. I did try that 0.015 mg drop, and the results were not good. I do not know if it was due to circumstances or not, but I decided to not do another 0.015mg drop. I dropped 0.01 mg 4th. of September, so my dose is now 3.25mg.

I'm wondering now if I really need my drop schedule to be every 3 months. I know it has to be at least bi-monthly, but maybe I could squeeze some time off there, if it doesn't hurt my well-being.

Yeah, that's basically all. With this pace of dose reduction I feel I can keep the symptoms at minimum and enjoy my life without the symptoms being too interfering in my life.

Thank you all. I hope your tapering goes well as well.

-Bokart

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment
  • 5 months later...

Hi Bokart!

How are you doing now?

2019 Nov-2020 January 5mg Olanzapine 

2020 January-2020 March 2,5 mg Olanzapine 

2020 March- 2020 August 5mg Olanzapine

2020 August-2020 Sept 2,5 mg Olanzapine 

2020 September-2020 November 5mg Olanzapine 

started 10% reduction 

2021 March 3,5 mg Olanzapine 

2021 April 2,5 mg Olanzapine 

Link to comment

Hi @Emily02. I'm doing well. Actually I hit 3,0 mg in my last drop! So I'm closer and closer. I remember the benefits of going closer to 2 mg and I'm looking forward to that. I remember having much more energy when I approached that daily dose.

I have also been experimenting with faster taper, but I found it didn't sit well with me. I tapered ~0.1125mg every 2 months. Before that my speed was 0.1 mg every 3 months. I have now fallen back on tapering every 3 months, but I will keep the reductions in ~0.1125mg (11% more then before). I will ramp it up to 0.125 at some point, if all goes well. It feels to me that my body can't stand faster taper than 3 months, but can handle larger drops (at least so far).

I'm experimenting because I feel I'm comfortable with it. I do have limits, but I still want my taper to be as fast as possible, while at the same time I need to be fully functional and able to work & study and do other needed things. With my 2-month taper experiment, there were days (10 days at worst) where I had a hard time to be productive. That's not viable for me as a student.

So these are the news. I have been thinking of dropping here and giving an update, and now, at least, it's done :). I appreciate any comments and questions you might have.

I hope you have a good day today,

Bokart

 

EDIT: When editing my signature, I wasn't really sure what my drops have been. It seems the numbers don't add up. I'm pondering if I've accidentally made an unintentionally large drop somewhere along the way... Anyways, the I'm not sure at all about the numbers. I'll have to check my notes.

EDIT2: I found the discrepancy. Signature should now be correct. The review did reveal that I indeed tapered too fast the last time. I didn't wait full 2 months for the next drop.

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment

I also want to mention that I managed to shake off 17 kg of weight (that's 37½ lbs)! I implemented a pretty strict diet that was based on 16-hour fasting and a ketogenic diet. Over time it became harder to lose weight. I stopped the diet when I just couldn't lose any more weight despite doing some very strict measures. But in the beginning I lost a ton of weight.

 

I'm still slightly overweight, but at least not obese anymore :) 

Just 10 kg to lose now! I'm thinking of starting some kind of a diet again, with the lessons learned from the past attempt.

2015 Started on Olanzapine 10 mg, 2016:18th January Down to 7.5 mg (from 9,38 mg) 1st of June 6.75 mg (began 10% taper!) [...] 1st December 3.65 mg

 

2017: 1st Jan. ~3.3 mg, 1st Feb 2.95 mg, 22nd Feb 2.65 mg (began 3-week taper) 15th Mar 2.38 mg, 5th Apr 2.14 mg, 26th Apr 1.94 mg  17th May ~1.74 mg (began 19-day taper) 5th June ~1.56 mg 24th June 1.4 mg (began 17-day taper) 11th July 1.26 mg 30th July 1.13 mg 24th Aug 1.0 mg(!)

17th Sept 15 mg 11st Oct 13.5 mg 26th Oct 11.75 mg 18th Nov 10 mg 15th Dec 9 mg

2018: 12nd Jan. 8.1 mg 15th Feb 7.5 mg 1st Apr 6.75 mg 1st Apr 6.08 mg 1st Jun 5.48 mg 1st Jul 5 mg 15th Aug 4.6 mg 15th Sep 4.4 mg 18th Nov 4.3 mg 16th Dec 4.2 mg

2019: 16th Jan 4.1 mg 28th Feb 4.0 mg [...] (began 0.1mg per 2.5 months taper!) 1st Oct 3.7 mg 15th Dec 3.6 mg

2020: 1st Mar 3.5 mg (began 0.1mg per 3 months taper!) 1st Jul 3.35 mg (<-- trying a larger drop) 4th Sep 3.25 mg (started 0.1125mg / 2 months) 10th Dec ~3.1125 mg

2021: 1st Feb 3.0 mg 26th May 2.9 mg 1st Sep 2.8 mg

2022: 1st Mar 2.7 mg 1st Aug 2.6 mg | 2023: 1st Jan 2.5 mg 1st Sep 2.4 mg
Other medications: Temazepam for sleep, don't want to use it (has too many side effects). Melatonin too, except that doesn't work for me with high doses of olanzapine.

Haven't used any sleeping medications for a long time. Temazepam caused withdrawal symptoms when I last tried it.

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy