Venkat: tapering olanzapine / Zyprexa

[ChessieCat]

You could try taking a smaller dose.

[Venkat]

Ok Chessiecat 

 

Will try with 50mg. Though I am scared I will try. My wife had suggested the same too.

Thank you for the support Chessiecat. 

 

Regards, venkat 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

Q:  Is magnesium the ONLY ingredient or does it contain B vitamin/s and/or calcium?

 

I can only get one brand in Australia that is only magnesium..

 

Many members find B vitamins activating, especially B6 which is the B vitamin that I have seen as an ingredient with magnesium.

 

Calcium cancels out the calming effect of magnesium and should be taken two hours earlier/later than magnesium. 

 

When trying anything new SA recommends only starting with a small amount to see how it affects us before taking a higher dose.

 

Magnesium works best if taken a few times during the day.  Split the 50mg it into at least 2, 3 or 4 doses.  If it dissolves in water you could mix it with water so that you can get a smaller dose, or even crush it up and take the powder.

[Venkat]

Hi Chessiecat 

 

it contains only magnesium. It does not contain calcium or B vitamins. 

 

It is the 'doctor's best ' magnesium glycinate brand as suggested some where on this site. 

 

I will do as suggested once I have recovered from the scare it caused and will update. 

 

Thank you Chessiecat. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[hayduke]

Maybe try one of the spray-on oils instead?

 

Or epsom salts in a bath (or foot bath - might have one now 🙂 )

 

As ChessieCat suggests, start with a little and build up till you're comfy

 

I'd be a dysfunctional mess without magnesium!

[Venkat]

Hi @hayduke

 

As you had said earlier, I have tried foot baths with magnesium sulfate. It did not have much effect.

 

Even with just 25mg of magnesium glycinate I am having strange feelings, difficult to explain. Will try still lower doses. 

 

No access to spray on oils. Hope magnesium glycinate at a lower dose works for me.

 

Thank you hayduke. Hope you are doing well. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[Venkat]

Hi @ChessieCat

 

Yesterday I took a very small amount of magnesium glycinate 12.5 mg ( 1/ 8th of a 100 mg tablet).

As earlier , initially it did calm my nerves and reduced muscle pain but when I went out I  noticed  I had reduced alertness, brain fog and a feeling of an  urge to go to sleep. Fortunately I had a driver when I went out yesterday. I sleapt very well last night maybe because of magnesium but am not able to tolerate the day time effects of it.

 

I have stopped fish oil too as it wasn't helping me.

 

Regards, venkat 

 

 

 

 

[Venkat]

Hi @hayduke

 

I have read in your thread that you are taking magnesium threonate. 

 

Can you please tell me how much dose to start with. I want to try that as I am not tolerating magnesium glycinate. I definitely feel I need some supplement to hang on to for a long time to come. 

 

Thank you hayduke 

 

Regards, venkat 

 

[hayduke]

I'm the last person to ask about dosing magnesium Venkat, I've mentioned it elsewhere but my body hoovers it up like crazy.  Maybe a genetic thing.  Even before I had big troubles I was taking it regularly from the chemist in tablets, just by feel.  I wish I'd known about better ways to take it.

 

I seem to like about 10x more than many people would!

 

If I'm reading your post right, you're concerned about Mg because you got vague while driving.  Maybe you'd be better off taking it when you're done with the day's running around and can put your feet up.  In the same way as you might have a few drinks or a cheeky spliff in Australia once the work day is finished and chores are done. 

 

It sounds like it's actually having a good relaxing effect, just that it's inappropriate while 'on duty'.  I often have a good lie down after an epsom salts bath...let it do its thing!

 

If the epsom salts bath isn't having a noticeable effect, maybe try a bit more or a bit longer soaking.  I feel it settling my nerves and like to have a 90 min nap after!

 

Cheers

 

[hayduke]

Oh yeah and eat lots of spinach, it has tons naturally.  I had saag dal today, love it.

 

Cheers

[Venkat]

Thank you so much for the response hayduke. 

You are right, magnesium is interfering while I am on duty. 

Will try taking it in the evenings after my work is done. 

Also planning to take theanine, at a very low dose though. Let's see how it works. 

One at a time ofcourse. 

Will try spinach as well. 

 

Thank you hayduke 

 

Regards, venkat 

[hayduke]

About L-theanine, it's not something I would attempt to take as part of a routine.

 

Rather, you might say hey it's one of those days, I might have a nice cup of green tea.  Or say hey i might take an NSAID now cos my muscles ache.  Etc

 

At least that's how I approach it. 

 

None of these things are gonna be any kind of saviour, it's just nourishment and support.

 

I reckon the key is facing down anxiety and finding out where it came from, or some kind of inner work like that.

 

How's yoga?

 

Cheers

[Venkat]

Point taken hayduke .

 

The main reason for anxiety is related to work and socializing phobias. 

 

The very thought of not being able to focus and perform at work the next day and at socializing due to the battery of effects caused by olanzapine is the main cause of my anxiety. 

 

Doing meditation every morning regularly but yoga a bit irregular. 

 

As you had suggested I have reduced the number of working days to 3 days a week which will hold good for 7 months from March.

 

Regards, venkat 

 

 

[hayduke]

I just kept pulling on the thread of 'where did it come from before this'.  25 years later it started coming up.  YMMV as always!

[Venkat]

YMMV ? hayduke. 

[hayduke]

Also please excuse the P.S - I don't know if you work with chakras at all, but I was long aware of base chakra and sacral chakra issues, manifesting as bodily tension, social anxiety etc.  And dimming of solar plexus.

 

Turns out that all directly correlated to not having physical safety much of the time when I was small. 

 

I've always found even the pre-baked chakra balancing guided meditations grounding and supportive in demanding times.  Helps find some balance and be less reactive and more compassionate on the hard days, or set up a really nice day off.  On a good day maybe unguided :-)

[Venkat]

Your mileage may vary? hayduke 

[hayduke]

3 minutes ago, Venkat said:

YMMV ? hayduke. 

https://lmddgtfy.net/?q=ymmv

[Venkat]

Got it , thanks hayduke. 

[Venkat]

@ChessieCat

 

I am taking 12.5 mg of magnesium glycinate ( 1/8 th of a 100 mg tab ) in the evening at 5pm .

 

It seems to be helping me ,calm my nerves, reduces muscle pain, good sleep in the night and reduced anxiety in the morning and afternoon. 

 

I may develop tolerance to it in which case I will increase the dose. 

 

I am really glad magnesium combined with regular meditation is helping me.

 

Thank you Chessiecat. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[Venkat]

On 3/26/2021 at 5:51 PM, hayduke said:

Also please excuse the P.S - I don't know if you work with chakras at all, but I was long aware of base chakra and sacral chakra issues, manifesting as bodily tension, social anxiety etc.  And dimming of solar plexus.

 

Turns out that all directly correlated to not having physical safety much of the time when I was small. 

 

I've always found even the pre-baked chakra balancing guided meditations grounding and supportive in demanding times.  Helps find some balance and be less reactive and more compassionate on the hard days, or set up a really nice day off.  On a good day maybe unguided 🙂

Hi @hayduke

 

Today I was reading about chakra meditation. Yes the root chakra it seems is the seat for fear and anxiety. 

Meditation is supposed to help in balancing the root chakra and the sacral chakra.

 

Thanks for the information hayduke.

 

Regards, venkat 

[Venkat]

On 3/26/2021 at 5:45 PM, hayduke said:

I just kept pulling on the thread of 'where did it come from before this'.  25 years later it started coming up.  YMMV as always!

Hi hayduke 

 

I could not grasp the meaning of this post.

[Venkat]

Magnesium is not helping me the way it did for a few days. May be that is the way it works . Although it did relax me it reduced my alertness  at work and numbed what ever little emotions I had , in spite of taking it in a very small dose the previous evening. 

May be it is meant to be taken occasionally as hayduke had said and while at home. 

 

At this point of time I should not be complaining about the withdrawal symptoms of olanzapine as it is tolerable but definitely finding it difficult to handle the adverse effects of olanzapine. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[morgana]

hi @Venkat, i only take my magnesium half an hour before bed as i find it helps me sleep and relax, i never take it during the day when i need to stay alert..cheers morgana

[Venkat]

Thanks for dropping in @morgana

 

I am taking it in the evening but it is working till the next evening. 

Really glad you are sleeping well. 

Have the side effects of olanzapine reduced on 2.5 ?

Are you feeling better?

Wishing you all the best in your journey. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[hayduke]

Maybe just take less magnesium for now Venkat, and keep it in mind for later on in your taper when you want a bit more calm as the drug wears off.

[Venkat]

Sure @hayduke

 

Thank you for the suggestion. 

 

Regards, venkat 

[Emily02]

Hi Venkat

I’m personally don’t notice any effect of Magnesium on me. I usually take 200mg twice a day. 
 

I’m struggling with the side effects as well so I really feel for you.

 

Did anyone experience muscle stiffness in their face? For a few days I practically can’t feel my nose. Will it ever go away? What do you think?

[Venkat]

Hi Emily 

 

Hope you are doing better now. Sorry for the delay in responding. 

Felt like being off internet for some time. 

I do feel muscle spasms in my lower limbs.

 

Regards, venkat 

[Emily02]

Hi Venkat!

How are you?

Not to worry. I can totally understand that you were off the internet for a while. Sometimes I do the same.  I get too obsessed with Olanzapine stories.

Muscle spams in your legs can’t be very nice either. Can you do anything to ease them?

 

[Nicjk]

On 1/1/2020 at 9:07 AM, herewego said:

Hi Venkat,

I am so sorry to hear you've been having difficulty sleeping. Before I found this site I was doing 50% cuts and feeling the negative effects of that. When I had found this site I had just gone down from 2.5 to 1.25 for 2 - 3 weeks. It was recommended I go back up to 2 as I was having withdrawal symptoms, but it was knocking me out too much at 2 so I went back down to 1.8, and before long to 1.6 and stayed there for a month before tapering.  I haven't documented my journey here since then but have had ups and downs, set backs due to extra stress, etc...  I've been holding since my last cut mid October as while I mainly don't go faster than 10% per month I definitely do not always go that fast and take longer going by my symptoms. After a cut I usually have shorter nights of sleep starting 4 - 7 days later. I consider, for me adequate sleep 6-7 hrs, 5 or less (total as can be broken up sleep) to be poor and 8-9 good sleep. I find for me if I have more than 2 bad nights I will take some melatonin (cut 2mg pill into quarters as too much can have opposite effect) but not more than 2 or 3 nights per week as can become ineffective if used more than that. Also sometimes it doesn't work but sometimes it does so don't give up on it after a couple fails. Also it only helps you fall asleep not stay asleep. I also try to wind down at night limiting screen time before sleep and having a dark quiet cool room &'regular routine. I read in bed until sleepy ( but don't choose a book that is too gripping). Usually after a cut (after a week or less) I will have bad and adequate sleep intermixed for a week or so followed by mostly adequate sleep with some bad sleeps transitioning to mainly adequate sleep. I find the key to knowing when to make a cut is to wait until you've had at least a week of good sleep ( whatever that is for you) before making another cut. If you make cuts only once you hit adequate sleep, then your system didn't have time to slow enough and you'll find you are stuck between adequate and poor sleep only, starting to get more and more poor sleep as your anxiety increases with your exhaustion and the accumulative effect of making cuts too soon. Another sign not to make a cut yet is if you are too 'keyed up' and restless. Once that lifts for a week plus good sleep for a week, you are probably ready but never faster than 10% per month. If you are feeling nervous after tapering too fast for your body the past couple months perhaps try tapering 5% per month and holding longer if necessary going by how you are feeling. If you find success with that then after a bit try going back up to roughly 7.5% or 10% cuts per month (or however long you feel the need to hold more than a month according to how you are feeling symptom wise). Try not to have the goal to get off your medicine as fast as possible but to reduce as comfortably as possibly once you stabilize. 

Also, to Altostrata, sorry I haven't answered your question. I wanted to answer it privately but I'm not good with technology and haven't figured out what to press to respond privately to your question a bit ago. Perhaps someone could enlighten me what to look for on my screen?

Hi @herewego, just wondering what method you are using to taper? Do you dissolve the orodispersible olanzapine tablets? Thank you 

[hayduke]

On 4/15/2021 at 3:46 PM, Venkat said:

I do feel muscle spasms in my lower limbs.

 

Classic sign of low magnesium

[morgana]

hi @Venkat sounds like you do need magnesium, on the days you do not need to go to work the next morning, take a magnesium the night before so it wont worry about the affects in the morning because you wont be working....unless you work 7 days a week...than thats a bummer! cheers morgana 

[Venkat]

On 4/15/2021 at 1:20 PM, Emily02 said:

Hi Venkat!

How are you?

Not to worry. I can totally understand that you were off the internet for a while. Sometimes I do the same.  I get too obsessed with Olanzapine stories.

Muscle spams in your legs can’t be very nice either. Can you do anything to ease them?

 

Doing fairly ok Emily. 

Muscle spasms which starts in the morning go away by themselves by afternoon. 

[Venkat]

1 hour ago, morgana said:

hi @Venkat sounds like you do need magnesium, on the days you do not need to go to work the next morning, take a magnesium the night before so it wont worry about the affects in the morning because you wont be working....unless you work 7 days a week...than thats a bummer! cheers morgana 

Thanks for the suggestion @morgana

[Venkat]

4 hours ago, hayduke said:

 

Classic sign of low magnesium

Yes @hayduke

I am taking only 6.25mg of magnesium while at home and it is helping. Thank you.