MadHatter: tapering after being on 2.5mg Zyprexa for 2 weeks

[MadHatter]

Hello all.  Just as the title says, I've been on 2.5mg Zyprexa for about two weeks.  Initially it helped me sleep, but now it doesn't really and I don't want to up my dosage.  I'm pretty scared to just cold turkey off the drugs given all the horrible things I've read about it.  So, should I taper, and if so, how long?  One idea I had was just to do a quick 1 week taper, where I go 2.5,2, 1.5,1,.5, .25, jump.  Any opinions on that?  I'm looking for comfort, and I'm not neccessarily opposed to a longer taper, but at the same time I don't want my receptors to become even more used to it.

 

Any replies are greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[Altostrata]

Welcome, MadHatter.

 

After only 2 weeks, your risk of withdrawal symptoms is lower. Your plan sounds good over about 2 weeks -- allow 4 days between decreases.

 

See Tips for tapering off olanzapine (Zyprexa)

 

Was Zyprexa prescribed for sleep? It's a far too dangerous drug for that.

 

Also see

 

Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Waking with panic or anxiety -- managing cortisol spikes

 

What is the sleep cycle?

 

Melatonin for sleep: Many people find it helpful

 

TV or computer use in evening can disrupt sleep: Bright light signals the brain that it's daytime

 

White noise devices for sleep

 

Light therapy for sleep problems

[MadHatter]

Yes, I was prescribed this for sleep.  By two different psychiatrists!  One was a "holistic" psychiatrist.  What a bunch of crap.  What is holistic about putting me on the worst drug ever invented?  It's pure madness.

 

Thanks for the tips.

[MadHatter]

Someone messaged me asking if I had succesfully completed the taper.  In order to help other people, here is my reply to that someone:

 

"I'm about 3 days away from being done.  I was only on 2.5mg Zyprexa for 2 weeks and wanted to get off of it before it started harming me. I did it by doing a liquid taper:

 

I mix 1 tablespoon pancake syrup with 3 tablespoons water.  I use a pill crusher to grind up the 2.5mg Zyprexa.  I pour the powdered pill into the mixture and mix it up.  The syrup helps the powder be evenly distributed so that it doesn't just all fall to the bottom.  

 

Since 4 tablespoons equals 12 teaspoons, each night I take out an additional teaspoon of the mixture.  So by night 6 I'm taking out 6 teaspoons from the mixture and drinking the rest.  Tonight I'll take out 9 teaspoons and drink the remaining 3 teaspoons (which is effectively .6mg Zyprexa).  In effect, it takes me 12 nights to do the complete taper.

 

So far it hasn't been too bad.  My sleep is a little lighter, but I haven't been having the horrific Zyprexa withdrawals that I've read about, which I'm very thankful for.  

 

Hopefully this helps you.  Good luck!"

[Carmie]

Hi MadHatter, 

 

How are you doing?💚