Priscilla: questions about Zyprexa

[Priscilla]

Has anyone here taken zyprexa and healed after quitting the drug? What did you do to heal? How long did healing take?

[Priscilla]

Topic title:  Questions to find Commonalities

 

I was on zyprexa, 5mg for 21 days, abilify maintena 400mg, and risperdal 2-3mg for 10 days. What are my chances of recovering from withdrawal symptoms? Has anyone been in my shoes? How long did recovery take for you?

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[Priscilla]

Has anyone here taken zyprexa and healed after quitting the drug? What did you do to heal? How long did healing take?

[ChessieCat]

Hi Priscilla and welcome to SA,

 

To get you started please create your drug signature using the following format.   Keep it simple.  NO diagnoses or symptoms please - thank you.

• details for last 2 years - dates, ALL drugs, doses
• summary for older than 2 years - just years and drug/s

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

 

Once we have the details of your drug history we will be better able to offer suggestions.

 

This is your own introductions topic where your can ask questions about your own situation and journal your progress.

[ChessieCat]

Please post telling us that you have created your drug signature so that we don't miss seeing it.  Thank you.

 

[Priscilla]

Hello,

 

Thank you for the welcome to SA. My drug signature is as follows.

 

APs: 2 months - Risperdal 1-2mg for 10 days, Abilify Maintena 400mg for a month, Zyprexa 5mg for 21 days

 

Hope this is the correct format. Should I add this PLEASE NOTE:  I am not a medical professional.  I provide information and make suggestions. ?

[ChessieCat]

34 minutes ago, Priscilla said:

APs: 2 months - Risperdal 1-2mg for 10 days, Abilify Maintena 400mg for a month, Zyprexa 5mg for 21 days

 

Please use dates.  Click on this link  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature and add the above (including dates) to the signature box.  Remember to click save.  It will then appear below each post you make.  If you are using a phone, then you will not be able to see the drug signatures.

 

The additional note is what the staff add because we make suggestions to members.

[Priscilla]

Hello,

 

Thank you for the welcome to SA. My drug signature is as follows.

 

 

[Carmie]

Hi Priscilla, 

 

Welcome to SA from me too. I’m sorry you are going through withdrawals, everyone on this site is going through withdrawals or has been through withdrawals. No matter whether we’ve been on antidepressants, benzos or antipsychotics, or all of those, withdrawals happens to all of us. 

 

Yes, everyone eventually heals from the meds, it can take a long time though. There is no answer to the question how long does it take to heal, everyone is different. With some people it just takes a short time, with others like Alto ( the founder of this site ) it took eight or nine years after being cold turkeyed off meds she was on a long time. 

 

There’s a great thread under the Symptoms And Self Care section entitled Are We There Yet? How Long Are Withdrawals Going To Take? It’s very informative if you want to have to have a read. I’ll get ChessieCat to send you the link and a few other links, I’m not computer savvy. 

 

I’ve put a zyprexa tag on the top of your page here too, so if you want to chat to others that are also on that medication just press on the tag and you’ll see the threads of others on the same medication. 

 

What are your symptoms like now? When going through withdrawals we go through what we call windows and waves. The windows are when our symptoms aren’t too bad, and the waves are when we have severe symptoms crashing down on us. We have to ride the waves, there’s no escaping them while healing from these medications. 

 

What have your symptoms been like since you stopped taking any meds in November?  The only healer is time when it comes to withdrawals, but some people have found benefit in magnesium and fish oil. You start slowly start with one and work your way up. A few people can’t tolerate them though, but the vast majority find them beneficial. 

 

If people have cold turkeyed off meds or tapered too quickly sometimes a tiny reinstatement of one of their medications  works if it’s done soon enough,  but it doesn’t always work,  and sometimes it’s made things worse. It has helped quite a few people though, but sometimes it can even take as much as two years to stabilise after doing that. That being said some people have noticed benefits pretty soon afterwards, then once they’ve been stable for a while they’ve tapered slowly. We are all different and what happens with one person doesn’t happen with another, so there are no definites in this journey. 

 

You weren’t on the meds too long so hopefully it won’t take too long for you to stabilise, but we don’t really have an answer as to how long or short recovery will be. 

 

Wishing you all the best in your healing journey 💚

 

 

Edited March 15, 2019 by Carmie
Addition

[Priscilla]

It's very hard to describe what I'm going through as I have not been through anything like it. I guess I can liken it to extreme discomfort and neurological dysfunction. I recently ordered lion's mane. What type of magnesium is best. I have read a lot about Magnesium L-Threonate. Interesting, I just read your signature and you and I have in common ending up in the psych ward for akathisia. In hindsight and given what was done to me I'm wondering why didn't I go to the regular hospital as akathisia is not a mental issue per se. Hind  sight is 20/20. Thanks for the well wishes, if you are not completely healed I wish the same for you. 

[Carmie]

Hi again Priscilla, 

 

Magnesium glycinate seems to be quite absorbable, it’s chelated. Everyone seems to use different ones. I tried magnesium once, but it ramped up my symptoms. My body is very sensitised because I’ve been on and off a myriad of meds over quite a long time period. Lots of people find it very calming though. Just start off with a small amount and work your way up. Check out the link on magnesium when it’s sent to you or just go to the Symptoms And Self Care section. 

 

Please be careful with all supplements, includes the lions mane, because when our symptoms are sensitised any supplement can ramp up our symptoms. If you decide to take it only start with a small dose to see how you react to it.

 

I’m sorry you had akathisia too, that really is the worse symptom ever. When did you have the akathisia?

 

I’m still tapering, I’ve got many years to go as I can only taper by tiny amounts. Every small drop is forward movement though. Yay! I just tapered from 7.50mg to 7.25mg last Sunday, that was just over three percent. 

 

Take care, sending hugs 🤗

[Priscilla]

I had akathisia after my first hospitalization in August.

 

Sending hugs back,

 

Priscilla 

[ChessieCat]

are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

Magnesium

Omega-3 Fish Oil

 

mushroom-supplements-lions-mane-reishi-shiitake-ahcc

 

[Priscilla]

Topic title: Questions to find commonalities

 

I'm 3 months off of taking zyprexa. Has anyone ever experienced debilitating neurological symptoms that are hard to describe as a result of taking zyprexa. How long did they last? What did you do to overcome them?

 

Edited March 15, 2019 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

I suggest you check out the Introduction topics of other Zyprexa members.

 

This is the link to a google search results.

[ChessieCat]

And this is the link to a search for Zyprexa members who have posted in the Success Stories forum.

[Priscilla]

are most withdrawal symptoms physical like nausea, vomiting, fever etc. or can they also be neurological like what I'm experiencing?

[ChessieCat]

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

[Priscilla]

Has anyone found exercise to be useful when dealing with neurological side effects of anti psychotics?

[ChessieCat]

exercise-do-more-do-less-do-nothing-what-worked-for-you

 

[Happy2Heal]

On 3/10/2019 at 3:34 PM, Priscilla said:

Has anyone here taken zyprexa and healed after quitting the drug? What did you do to heal? How long did healing take?

yes I healed from being on zyprexa

i was on other meds at the time (lithium, benzos, sleep meds, and maybe others I don't remember)

 

I've also been on very high doses of haldol and seroquel and recovered fully from those

 

more likely than not, you will recover and be just fine. your exposure was, thankfully, brief

 

good luck

[Priscilla]

thanks for the words of encouragement

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, Priscilla said:

 

How has the lion's mane been working for you?

 

 

I've moved the above post to member's intro topic:  buzon624-aka-andy

 

[Priscilla]

On 3/18/2019 at 9:59 PM, Happy2Heal said:

yes I healed from being on zyprexa

i was on other meds at the time (lithium, benzos, sleep meds, and maybe others I don't remember)

 

I've also been on very high doses of haldol and seroquel and recovered fully from those

 

more likely than not, you will recover and be just fine. your exposure was, thankfully, brief

 

good luck

Again thanks for the words of encouragement. Did you experience any withdrawal symptoms from the zyprexa? What were they (if any)? How long did they last?

Just looking for hope while in the midst of trying to heal

 

Sincerely,

 

Priscilla 

[Priscilla]

Topic title:  Mucuna Puriens L-Dopa

 

any thoughts on mucuna puriens l-dopa aiding in antipsychotic withdrawal recovery?

 

Edited March 23, 2019 by ChessieCat
added topic title

[ChessieCat]

The only supplements which SA recommends are Magnesium and  Omega-3 Fish Oil.  Try a small amount, one at a time to see how it affects you.

 

We don't know of any substance that can aid withdrawal recovery.  If we did we would most certainly tell members about it.

 

Edited March 23, 2019 by ChessieCat

[Priscilla]

An addendum: I cold turkeyed zyprexa

[Altostrata]

That was in Novembe 2018, correct, Priscilla?

 

You've been on and off various antipsychotics since August 2018. It's hard to tell which drug may have caused your current symptoms. Going on and off psychiatric drugs tends to make the nervous system hypersensitive to drugs and sometimes supplements and even foods.

 

We can't tell if you're experiencing withdrawal or an adverse effect of the drugs. Either way, your nervous system is upset. The healing pattern is the same: It can take a long time for the nervous system to settle down. Recovery can be slow and frustrating in The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization 

 

Also see

 

"Is it always going to be like this?"

 

The importance of recognizing you're feeling good

 

Withdrawal dialogues & encouragement

 

Taking magnesium and fish oil can help, see

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

(Try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.)

 

What are your current symptoms? Are you hypersensitive to light? How's your sleep?

[Priscilla]

Yes i cold turkeyed in November and also earlier in Sept. (I cold turkeyed 5mg both times). Today was a good day for me ( I just started taking fish oils today, took magnesium for 2 days, and lions mane for about a week - probably a coincidence). I'm not hyper sensitive to light as far as I know. I sleep 12+ hours. Of course I hope every other day goes like today but in case I have the symptoms again tomorrow (which have been the same for the most part) here's a mediocre description of them: the symptoms are hard to describe but I guess an example would be just not quite feeling like myself, like something is just off. 

 

Priscilla 

[Altostrata]

Please take care of your sleep, sleep is healing.

 

It sounds like you simply need to practice patience and self-care while your nervous system rebuilds. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Priscilla]

Will do. 

[Priscilla]

I have a question, if you were on antipsychotics for a total of 62 technical days do you still need to taper eventhough you were on different antipsychotics during the time. For example, I was on antipsychotics for a total of 62 days (22 days on zyprexa, 10 days on risperdal, and an abilify maintena shot 400mg hence why I said 62 technical days).

 

I hope my question makes sense

 

Priscilla 

[hayduke]

Hi Priscilla,

 

All those drugs affect many of the same parts of brain function (serotonin, dopamine and other receptors).  While they aren't identical in which receptors they hit and how much, there are still so many in common that the effect is basically cumulative if you're taking at least one of those drugs over that unbroken time span. 

 

You might well find that you can taper more quickly than someone who's been on for longer, but I would still go with some kind of taper for the best shot at a good outcome.

 

EDIT:  Rereading your posts I see you've been clear of it for some months already after cold turkey, so I guess you might be best off just riding it out for now.  I have no personal experience with sudden discontinuation so others will likely have more informed suggestions.

 

 

 

[Priscilla]

23 hours ago, hayduke said:

Hi Priscilla,

 

All those drugs affect many of the same parts of brain function (serotonin, dopamine and other receptors).  While they aren't identical in which receptors they hit and how much, there are still so many in common that the effect is basically cumulative if you're taking at least one of those drugs over that unbroken time span. 

 

You might well find that you can taper more quickly than someone who's been on for longer, but I would still go with some kind of taper for the best shot at a good outcome.

 

EDIT:  Rereading your posts I see you've been clear of it for some months already after cold turkey, so I guess you might be best off just riding it out for now.  I have no personal experience with sudden discontinuation so others will likely have more informed suggestions.

 

 

 

i noticed that you've been on zyprexa as well. Was your experience with it positive?

[hayduke]

I wasn't in a good way when I started taking it, so the tranquilising effects did help initially with things like getting enough sleep, and I dare say making me "easier" to be around at that time for my family in particular.

 

What really didn't help was being told I had a chemical imbalance from genetic causes and would have to take it for the rest of my life.  I believe this "theory" has been pretty thoroughly debunked in recent years.

 

I had unresolved traumas and addressing them at the time with minimal or no medication was what I asked for when the trouble broke.  This is what places like Open Dialogue in Finland and Soteria House in the U.S offer.  Instead I was drugged with the olanzapine - which let me return to work before long, but I gained 30 kg within 6 months and had to struggle very hard to strip most of that fat.  I was told risperidone would be better for weight gain but it wasn't worth the switch.  Between those two drugs I became prediabetic, became much more allergic to things, got rheumatoid arthritis and weird joint issues, and one of the most brutal things is I can no longer be comfortable in any kind of heat.  Fatigue eventually became so overwhelming on this drug that I can only work part time (which is hard to find in my field) and I spend a lot of time just resting when I'd rather be with my friends, doing music or even just playing video games.  I'm apprehensive of tardive dyskinesia as well, as I taper off.  Basically Parkinson's - and the prescribing head shrinker goes "Oh it's not that bad.  Keep taking the drug!".  No!  I wish I'd never met the guy.

 

I have always worked on my healing since the break, and it has taken a long time to get to this point.  Just medicating someone who is struggling with their issues hides the problems.  It doesn't make them go away.  During my taper I've become more conscious of what really lay beneath my original struggles, found a supportive clinical psychologist and we are working on the root causes  - healing from trauma.  I'm confident that will continue to be liberating (though challenging in the short term) and probably fine to live without the meds. 

 

Getting off the meds is a long road though, but I realised I had to try when I figured I'd probably be wheelchair bound by late 50s and dead by early 60s.  Again, no!

 

So no, I'd say nearly 20 years of being poisoned hasn't helped.  Back then, a week of benzos at the right time then finding a switched-on psychologist would've saved all that.  If only I could go back and tell my 24 year old self.  But as I free myself from this hostile chemical, it's not comfortable- but life improves.  Especially communicating with loved ones.  Above 2.5mg there was just a certain level of dumbness in my ability to communicate.

 

I would encourage you to look into why you've wound up being given these strong neuroleptics, and look into how to get healthy without them.   I think you have to take charge of your healing.  When it comes to health professionals, consulting ones of your choice rather than seeing their authority as absolute or unquestionable.  Shop around!  Diet, exercise, meditation, yoga, a ton of things all help open the gate...for me it was when certain stuff started coming up after years of meditation that I realised I could use some help with that, and sought a clinical psychologist who understood, and that's really turning out to be one of the major keys.

 

It's going to be a big help that you've found the community here before you've been on those drugs for very long, I think.

 

Good luck :-)

[Priscilla]

Everyday when I struggle it's hard to believe that I will get better. I'm trying to remember that healing takes time and try to remain positive..it is just so hard