Jimkhuynh: Insomnia from Zyprexa cold turkey for 3 weeks

[Jimkhuynh]

Hi everyone,

I have severe insomnia problem for more than a month. I was prescribed Zyprexa on March 29, 2018 and I took it only for less than 3 weeks. I stopped taking Zyprexa cold turkey and I switched to Risperidone 1mg. Now, I have severe insomnia. I cannot fall asleep and I just lied in bed from night to morning. My insomnia been going on for more than a 1 month. My questions for you. How many days, months, or years did it took you to sleep normal again after you withdraw or stop cold turkey from Zyprexa? Did you have to take another drug after stopping the Zyprexa to help you sleep? I’m desperate for advice and help. I really appreciate your input. Thank you.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Jim.

 

It's possible you have withdrawal insomnia from going off Zyprexa even though you're taking risperidone. It can take quite a while, perhaps months, before this gradually eases. Were you taking Zyprexa for sleep? What is the risperidone supposed to do for you?

 

How long have you been taking risperidone? Do you have any Zyprexa left?

[Jimkhuynh]

Hi Altostrata, 

 

I was taking Zyprexa for my schizophrenia and depression. I wasn't taking for sleep because I never have insomnia in my whole life. The respieridone also helped me with schizophrenia. I took resperidone before for 2-3 months and I stopped and I went back on it after I stopped Zyprexa. I don't have anymore Zyprexa at home because my psychiatrist asked me to give the bottle to her. Right now, I'm on Seroquel 50 - 200 mg for less than a week. I was thinking to quit taking Seroquel and see if I can be normal again. 

[Petunia]

Hi Jim,

I'm finding it difficult to understand your drug history. We usually ask members to fill out the signature section with a drug and withdrawal history.

It appears below each of your posts and helps us to help you. Here are instructions for how to do it:

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature

 

Please don't stop taking Seroquel just yet. When we have a few more details about your situation, we may be able to offer some better suggestions.

 

You need to take the same amount of Seroquel every day. If you change doses it will make your nervous system become unstable. How much are you taking and when do you take it?

 

Are you taking any other medications besides Seroquel?

[Jimkhuynh]

Hi Petunia, 

 

I'm sorry for getting back to you late. I just want to say thank you for replying to my message. Since my last post, I still could not sleep normally. It has been 3 months and 1 week that I'm still struggling with severe insomnia. I feel very restless during the day and I kept having suicidal thoughts because I can't sleep normal again. Do you think that the Zyprexa could caused permanent damage to my brain and make me not sleep again?  

 

On last Friday, July 13, 2018,  I went to a new psychiatrist for a second opinion about my mental health condition. I spend more than an hour with my new psychiatrist to talk about my symptoms and he convinced that I have OCD than Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. He prescribed for me Prozac which is an SSRI to help with my OCD and Gabapentin for sleep. I was pretty shocked of what his new diagnosed was for me because I could have been treated correctly. He thinks that I was misdiagnosed back in December 2017 when my old psychiatrist said that I have Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression. He also thinks that I have been on the wrong medication which was antipsychotic. I was put on Zyprexa on Mar 29 and I stopped taking it after 2 weeks because of the bad side effects I was feeling such as anhedonia, no appetite, and irregular bowel movement. After I stopped Zyprexa, I did not sleep normal again. I stayed awake every nights and I felt so tired and hopeless the next day. I been having a lot of suicidal thoughts because I can't sleep. I felt like Zyprexa has permanently damaged my brain from sleeping normal and I want to give up my life. 

 

 

 

[Lika]

On 7/20/2018 at 12:14 AM, Jimkhuynh said:

Hi Petunia, 

 

Since my last post, I still could not sleep normally. It has been 3 months and 1 week that I'm still struggling with severe insomnia. I feel very restless during the day and I kept having suicidal thoughts because I can't sleep normal again. Do you think that the Zyprexa could caused permanent damage to my brain and make me not sleep again?  

 

After I stopped Zyprexa, I did not sleep normal again. I stayed awake every nights and I felt so tired and hopeless the next day. I been having a lot of suicidal thoughts because I can't sleep. I felt like Zyprexa has permanently damaged my brain from sleeping normal and I want to give up my life. 

 

 

 

Hi Jimkhuynh,

 

I am facing severe insomnia after stopping Zyprexa and I get the same feelings about life as you do too. 

 

Have you had any improvement since your last post? How are you coping if I may ask?