morgana: Zyprexa / olanzapine

[hayduke]

5 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

 

You might get some relief if you see a physical therapist/physiotherapist.  And/or remedial massage therapist.

 

 

 

Remedial massage has been an enormous help for me during the last 15 years. 

 

I had read John Lilly or someone about how the body 'stores' unprocessed trauma in muscle tension, and how rolfing was one way to work through it.  (Many years before I discovered Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps The Score).   The first therapist I went to does myofascial release I think they call it, but is a bit of a hippy and knew what I was asking for help with.  I would often meditate after sessions and work through things that came up.  I'd say it's been a supportive factor in my healing.  And working through a ton of everyday aches and pains that I'd thought I was stuck with till then.   Cheers

[morgana]

i had a remedial full body massage done about two weeks ago but i have never seen a pyhsiotherapist, i am unemployed at the moment and i think they can be expensive as just getting a massage costs me $100.00 and i cannot afford to do that too often at the moment.....but i will look into it!...the truth is i dont want to admit it but i think i am "depressed", this upsets me because i do not ever want to go back on anti depressants...ever....but i honestly feel defeated in life........

[ChessieCat]

Do you ever get hip or the area at top of your leg where it meets your body and/or knee pain at night time?

[morgana]

hi chessie cat its a dull ache all the way around my lower back, in the mornings and it usually disappears within an hour of getting out of bed, now i have it pretty much all day.......my knees are fine, just move my legs alot while in bed, I havnt injured my back in anyway, and i moved to a different bed, so its not the mattress...i feel about 80 years old...i am only 50...how come?

[ChessieCat]

If you see a physiotherapist they will assess you and give you some exercises specifically for your issue.  If you explain your financial situation they would hopefully set you up with the exercises and then have you come back in for a check up after you've been doing the exercises for a while and then they might give you some additional exercises.  I think it would be worth it.  I recently hurt my lower back which healed with no problems, but because I've been mostly sitting all day for at least the last 5 years, after my back healed I started getting problems with some of my muscles being tense and some weak.  The physiotherapist is getting me to work on my core strength, which is what pilates focuses on.  She actually teaches pilates too.  It's amazing how quickly I'm noticing a difference in my posture and how much easier the exercises are becoming, which means that I'm either doing them wrong (hopefully not) or my muscles are starting to work properly.  And it is making me feel better in myself too.

 

And if your back is sore at night you will not be getting much needed rest and sleep.

 

 

[morgana]

hi chessie cat, I have been to pilates and it definitely helps with posture, it definetly makes you feel alot better, i should go back,..... i just feel, so lacking in motivation, that i feel what is the point in trying....there's a word for what i feel, i think its called "anhedonia", i feel no pleasure or reason or happiness in anything.....and no i get pretty much zero sleep, i think i sorta sleep at around 4am in the morning and wakeup about 9am, thanks for your advice

[ChessieCat]

Yes I can understand how hard it is.  But if you can do something that isn't too hard, and pilates isn't, it will probably make you feel a little bit better and then it adds up.  I'm not saying it's a magic and/or instant cure but it can make a difference.  I have found that when I start hurting I feel a bit suicidal (not planning to do anything).  Once I feel a bit better it lifts very quickly.  Not 100% great but definitely better than I had.

 

If you've already been to pilates classes you would know what exercises to do.  There are lots on YouTube.  You could try to find one or two that do a routine with exercises you are familiar with.  I'm sure it would help.

 

I've just done a search on YouTube for pilates for lower back pain exercises routine and found this one which looks good and there are lots of comments saying that it has helped them with back pain.  And of course, proceed with caution.

 

Katie Mackenzie - Pilates for Lower Back Pain

 

Here's the search results: 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pilates+for+lower+back+pain+exercises+routine

 

[ChessieCat]

And there is even an SA topic:  lower-back-pain

 

[morgana]

hi chessie cat, thanks for the advice i know the pilates class is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so i will put my name down for tomorrow, everyone does say that pilates does help alot...so thanks for your advice.  cheers 

[ChessieCat]

I will answer your question in your topic:

 

On 11/8/2020 at 1:04 PM, morgana said:

because i am tappering down from 10mg and down to 2.5mg and still going...and i am experiencing alot of withdrawal symptoms...is this classed as "protracted withdrawal", or doesnt that actually start until i am completely off meds altogether and still experiencing bad effects.. because i am sitting on the same dose for 1 year at a time...am i still going through witdrawals within that 1 year?

 

protracted-withdrawal-or-paws-post-acute-withdrawal-syndrome-how-long-does-it-last

 

It's once you are off the drugs completely:

  

On 6/7/2011 at 9:38 AM, squirrel said:

withdrawal that lasts 6 months or more is clearly "protracted withdrawal" or "post-acute withdrawal syndrome" (PAWS), as it's known in addiction medicine.

 

I've just noticed this in your drug signature:

 

Quote

Red Wine daily approx upto 1 litre, Mid October 2020 to present

 

Q:  How much are you consuming each day?

 

alcohol-and-beer

 

Alcohol is a CNS depressant.

 

From:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26466222/

 

I know you are still taking taking Zyprexa, but please read what happened to one drug-free member.  If it can do that to someone who has been off the drug for a few years, it would stand to reason that drinking alcohol during tapering is not a good idea.  And the patient advice for people taking most psychiatric drugs is to avoid or restrict alcohol consumption.

 

From drugs.com

You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with OLANZapine.

  

On 7/6/2020 at 5:50 AM, brassmonkey said:

Some months after going off, some people report a serious wave of bad symptoms.  This is about the time that people are feeling very comfortable with their recovery, not realizing their nervous systems are still very sensitive.  This can cause them to get careless in their actions.  Drinking alcohol is a major factor in excellent recoveries getting derailed.  We just had a case of a member who has been drug free for several years with an excellent recovery underway.  They had a couple of drinks over the weekend and tripped off their symptoms all over again. 

 

[morgana]

thanks chessiecat, i updated my signature, i havnt had a drink since the beginning of november....thanks for the info on protracted withdrawal

[morgana]

Trigger warning

 

can someone please help me.....i am in hell...its been 2 years of hell, my body feels like its been hit by a bus and has felt like this for that long..joint pain,muscle cramps, body stiffness, jerky movements and spasmodic movements, inability to sleep, blurred vision, tensed up stomach, hives, sores on my face, lack of energy, motivation, crying spells, inability to feel pleasure, suicidal thoughts but know i wont as i fear not doing it properly, seen people become vegies due to lack of oxygen to the brain...but surviving...i am scared to tell anyone what i am experiencing as i know the first thing they will do is evaluate my medication and increase it, or change it to something else at a larger dose and usually with worse side effects....if their are any! I wished i had someone to talk to about how i am feeling and experiencing but i have no one......

 

Edited November 16, 2020 by ChessieCat

[ChessieCat]

On 11/10/2020 at 2:49 PM, morgana said:

i havnt had a drink since the beginning of november

 

That's only about 2 weeks ago.  And you were consuming a large amount for at least 2 weeks.  I imagine that has made things worse for you.  It's going to take some time for things to settle down after bombarding your brain and nervous system with so much alcohol over a short period of time.

 

Edited November 16, 2020 by ChessieCat

[hayduke]

Hey Morgana, sorry you're having a rough time.

 

Omega 3 and magnesium are fundamental to feeling ok through withdrawals.  Not sure how you take magnesium but the tablets don't do much IMO.  I would usually put about 300g of epsom salts or magnesium chloride in a bath and soak for 20-30 mins.  It makes a huge diff.  Daily much of the time.

 

Aside from that, yoga is one of the best things I've found for setting and turning jittery bad moods into relaxed grounded restful calm.

 

Is it warm enough to swim at the beach up your way yet?  Floating in the ocean is really relaxing too.  (not sure if the box jellyfish are due around there yet)

[Istm]

Hi @morgana, I know how you feel, but remember that with time your symptoms will very likely diminish and one day this will all be over. Don’t give up. Take a lot of care right now, your CNS is really sensitive. Eat right, get as much rest as you need, and it’s really important you stay away from alcohol or anything that can harm your nervous system and set you back. Try to do things to distract yourself if you can. It will get better, but for now just hang in there and take care.

[manymoretodays]

Hi morgana,

And hey, what's going on?

Are you sleeping okay?  And are you able to do the education/school right now?

 

It looks like you may have gone to 1/4 of your dose with liquid now too.  Right back at the start of November.

Tell me a little more about this. 

How are you measuring 3/4 dose solid and then 1/4 dose liquid?

 

And yes, agree, it may take a bit of time for things to settle after the alcohol consumption.

 

How is it going today? 

Do you have any sort of counselor, or even friend that you can talk with.........when feeling really down?  Someone who might support you in your ultimate goal to get drug free one day?  It can take time to find the right confidant. 

Feeling lost and agitated

Self compassion versus Self Esteem

(you may want to contribute to some of these topics ^ too, when you find things that help)

We do, often, have to become our own best guides and friends during WD.

 

You could try some audio self compassion meditations:

I found 2 decent ones:

 

The next one is a bit longer, but I have always liked Tara Brach and her work  "Smile Yoga":

 

Some of your present symptoms may even be side effects to the Zyprexa.  You can go to Drugs.com, and put your medication in the top box there to learn more about it, if you'd like.

 

Update soon.

 

((((((morgana))))))) 

And best,

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

Edited November 16, 2020 by manymoretodays
additional link

[Altostrata]

Hello, morgana.

 

I'm sorry you're going through this. Please note that intermittent alcohol drinking is like taking big doses of another drug. If your nervous system has been sensitized by going on and off psychiatric drugs, this could cause additional upset.

 

In effect, you've been on and off a drug in addition to Zyprexa while you've been making some changes in Zyprexa. This means we can't tell where your symptoms are coming from.

 

Why are you taking part of your 2.5mg Zyprexa dose in liquid form? Suggest you go back to all-solid Zyprexa. That at least will remove one variable from the situation, while you wait for your system to settle down from the alcohol effects.

 

Highly recommend you seek physical therapy or gentle do-it-yourself exercise for your body pain. If you're getting hives, that sounds like you're allergic to something around you, may be soap, detergent, or a food.

 

We cannot offer you support for these general medical issues, you will have to pursue remedies on your own.

[street129]

@morgana

I saw your post and felt your pain.  If at anytime you want to talk you can reach out and I'll hold your hand and can be forum buddies whenever we just need that shoulder and no one is there.  We have to reminded ourselves we will get better, that's why we're here.

[morgana]

Hi everyone who commented on my cry for help thankyou....Chessiecat i have no problems talking about my alcohol...i began drinking daily red wine from the start of starting my medications 1996 and couldnt stop, i had gone to AA a couple of times in that time but never lasted stopping for no longer than 9 months and a couple of months here and there..not longer after i stopped my anti-depressant and went down to 7.5mg of zyprexa i ended up in hospital for 4 days with pancrititis doctors said it was due to alcohol and not the zprexa that caused it...i stopped drinking alcohol due to the pain in my stomach..for the next 2 1/2 years even tho i hadnt been drinking i was still getting pain in my stomach, it wasnt until i gave up chain smoking and improved my diet, cutting out junk food my stomach pain finally disappeared...i began a horticulture course in july this year as i am interested in nature, however due to my memory not being very good and struggling with it my teacher looked at an assignment i had done and skimmed through it and said "banana's, banana's, banana's", as though monkey see, monkey write, and plus some other things he said, it was soul destroying, i stopped the course and began drinking alcohol again, as i was struggling with not sleeping well, i found the alcohol helped me relax i found i was depressed, i had lost hope, tired of trying, i gave up.  I have no family or friends, no children, no partner i have no therapist, i am on my own, have been for 3 years now.  I see a pyschologist tomorrow, i could not get into see a female, so i am seeing a male, i am not too happy about that, but i have no other choice as the women are booked out until the new year and i cannot wait until then..

And chessiecat all those symptoms you said are side affects of zyprexa i get, and its difficult, i have an employment officer, who wants me to get a job asap, and keeps asking me "are you taking your medication", when i told my gp that all joints are painful, they could not find any imflammation in my body, my body has packed it in, but i still need to find cleaning work very pysical work....i cannot live on disability pension doesnt pay enough.  so yeah, thats life   

[morgana]

thankyou street129, it would be nice to have a forum buddy to talk to....i find it difficult to make friends these days, let alone keep them...i prefer due to my experiences dealing with people i tend to stay on my own, and just care about my pets....even thou i have my pets, i still for some reason need to keep asking people for help or support and trying to reach out to them, even thou i do not want to...i use to go to AA meetings and felt lonelier in a meeting than just sitting at home every night for 22 years drinking....i have alot of problems, and the medication and alcohol just numbed me completely to my pain, all i did was work and concentrate on making money just so i could buy my own home....i am unable to have intimate relationships with anyone, all i could do was work, i couldnt stop...now that my medication has been tapered down, i have reliased how lonely i really am and all those times i just shrugged off the bad things that had happened to me, and what people have said to me, is now showing up how hurtful and really painful it was to me...its like a delayed reaaction....when your on medication that is basically a tranquiliser, nothing bothers you, you dont react to things (a chemical straight jacket),  you dont get upset you, you dont get angry, you dont stick up for yourself, you dont think, and as i couldnt react to it at the time, i now am feeling the pain.....which tells me to stay away from people as its safer...i hope i havnt said too much

[hayduke]

8 hours ago, morgana said:

i have reliased how lonely i really am and all those times i just shrugged off the bad things that had happened to me, and what people have said to me, is now showing up how hurtful and really painful it was to me...its like a delayed reaaction....when your on medication that is basically a tranquiliser, nothing bothers you, you dont react to things (a chemical straight jacket),  you dont get upset you, you dont get angry, you dont stick up for yourself, you dont think, and as i couldnt react to it at the time, i now am feeling the pain.....which tells me to stay away from people as its safer

 

Really well expressed, Morgana.  Can relate to what you mean about not sticking up for yourself while drugged and just ploughing through life.  Looking at your life and the world as the numbness fades is hard. 

 

I think self care is the best thing to be working on right now.  That and finding healthy ways to deal with all the loss and anger that comes up.  Those skills will get you through.

 

The up side is now you can start enjoying those nice days, good memories come back too, tuning into life again.  Give it some time, keep holding and you'll more than likely start finding some windows.  And now you'll be better attuned to when people don't have your best interests at heart and know when to step away and find the good ones.

[street129]

10 hours ago, morgana said:

thankyou street129, it would be nice to have a forum buddy to talk to....i find it difficult to make friends these days, let alone keep them...i prefer due to my experiences dealing with people i tend to stay on my own, and just care about my pets....even thou i have my pets, i still for some reason need to keep asking people for help or support and trying to reach out to them, even thou i do not want to...i use to go to AA meetings and felt lonelier in a meeting than just sitting at home every night for 22 years drinking....i have alot of problems, and the medication and alcohol just numbed me completely to my pain, all i did was work and concentrate on making money just so i could buy my own home....i am unable to have intimate relationships with anyone, all i could do was work, i couldnt stop...now that my medication has been tapered down, i have reliased how lonely i really am and all those times i just shrugged off the bad things that had happened to me, and what people have said to me, is now showing up how hurtful and really painful it was to me...its like a delayed reaaction....when your on medication that is basically a tranquiliser, nothing bothers you, you dont react to things (a chemical straight jacket),  you dont get upset you, you dont get angry, you dont stick up for yourself, you dont think, and as i couldnt react to it at the time, i now am feeling the pain.....which tells me to stay away from people as its safer...i hope i havnt said too much

@morgana

some times we just need to talk and get it off our heart, get it all out as much as you need even talk in your mirror and as we release the pents up we feel a relief.

Keep striving in wanting to do the work and be thankful in any help that you received in your journey. Keep pushing, there's a lite at the end. I'm here.

[ChessieCat]

So as to keep each of your Introductions "on topic" I suggest that if you want to chit chat and support each other that you either create a topic in the Off-topic forum (visible only to logged in members) which would allow other members to join the conversation if they want to OR you could start a Private Message for multiple members.

[morgana]

hello chessiecat i hope i can write here? (see my response to this question) 

 

Thankyou for the support hayduke and street129 it is tough, i know if i went to a pyschotrist, they would say your depressed and put me back on large amounts of anti depressants, but i do not want to go back on these again, sure they take away your visual problems but because they mask your unhappiness and sadness, you do not feel it so you never go through the pain...i actualy like crying, i have also screamed really loud  and cried twice now, and i feel its my voice saying i cannot hold it in anymore i really need to express it....

 

Hayduke you talked about having a bath every night...i have a bath everynight, and as bath salts and magnesium is expensive i bought a large bag of it online for like $90.00 for 10kg...it lasted along time but it wasnt as soothing as when you buy a the smaller bath salts at a healthfood store, but the bags are only like 2.5kg or less and looking at $50.00.  I would like to buy in bulk but havnt found one that is really soothing....do you have any suggestions?  I also take omega-3 tablets do not know if they do anything but i do not eat meat, so i take it...

 

Hello @manymoretodays , you asked about my change in how i take my medication...yes i cut the 2.5mg tablet into 1/2 and than one 1/2 i cut into a 1/4 with a pill cutter, i swallow  the 1/2 and 1/4 tablet in solid form and the other 1/4 tablet i put in 30mls of water let it dissolve and drink it...the reason i am taking it in liquid form is so eventually one day in the future i could start tapering...in liquid form that wont be until aleast mid 2021.  i am going to go slow, sit on this for two months and, see how i go...i do not want to go back to a full solid tablet now..

I see a psycologist this arvo i hope it goes ok.....

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by ChessieCat
added link to responsem added tag to MMT

[ChessieCat]

5 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

So as to keep each of your Introductions "on topic" I suggest that if you want to chit chat and support each other that you either create a topic in the Off-topic forum (visible only to logged in members) which would allow other members to join the conversation if they want to OR you could start a Private Message for multiple members.

 

4 hours ago, morgana said:

hello chessiecat i hope i can write here? 

 

I've moved you post back to your Introduction topic because you asked manymoretodays a question about your drugs.

 

Each member's Introduction topic is the best place for them to ask questions about their own situation and to journal their progress.  It's okay for members to visit another member's topic and support and encourage them.  However if there is too much general discussion (ie not directly related to your drug issues) then any questions that you ask or any responses that you give to questions asked by the moderators in your Introduction topic can get missed.

 

street, hayduke and yourself seem to have become friends and are supporting each other, which is really good.  SA encourages that.  You will probably want to talk about things which are not directly related to your tapering and this can clutter your topic with a lot of posts which the moderators are not interested in.  That is why I suggested you start a topic OR a PM where you can support each other so that your Introduction topic is kept for the important posts about your tapering and your progress.

[manymoretodays]

23 hours ago, morgana said:

Hello @manymoretodays , you asked about my change in how i take my medication...yes i cut the 2.5mg tablet into 1/2 and than one 1/2 i cut into a 1/4 with a pill cutter, i swallow  the 1/2 and 1/4 tablet in solid form and the other 1/4 tablet i put in 30mls of water let it dissolve and drink it...the reason i am taking it in liquid form is so eventually one day in the future i could start tapering...in liquid form that wont be until aleast mid 2021.  i am going to go slow, sit on this for two months and, see how i go...i do not want to go back to a full solid tablet now..

I see a psycologist this arvo i hope it goes ok.....

 

Well okay.  You might consider the full solid tablet if you keep struggling.

And oh, school can be so tough morgana.  Sometimes, it IS highly critical when one is in a sensitive state.  Try and stay with it, or get back to it when you can.  Sometimes, we just have to un-personalize what others throw at us.  I've had to.

 

When you first came on, I was really thinking that a good six months might be best, prior to tapering anymore.

 

Oh.....this:

Might help to share with your psychologist.

I have long preferred just a LCSW, or licensed clinical social worker myself.  I have a great one, that it took me years to find.  Good listener, doesn't over analyze, helps me with non drug coping, and best of all........encourages me a lot.  Points out to me what I have done well, or mastered........almost every time. 

So, just know, that you always have options.

I do hope it went well today or with that appointment.

 

Keep us updated please.

Best, L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[morgana]

hi manymoredays thanks for the reply...it will still be 1 year in all that i would of sat on 2.5mg by May 2021.  I  am just in the process of  changing it over to a liquid for the next coming six months thats all. So as of May 2021 i will be starting on 100% liquid form. I saw a psycologist yesterday and he said he would support me to come off the zyprexa, he said he had heard of surviving antideppressants, he said we would need to work on my alcohol issues, my depression and better ways on how to deal with my emotions when they are strong.....not cheap tho...lol 

Unfortunatley i quit the course 3 weeks ago now, no not going back....and as it was the second time i had tried completing it. it was my last time when it came to government finance to help me do it...i have lost interest in it now....tho i still love gardening, and in the process of digging up two gardenia's and am going to plant a native bottle brush. in their place..i find the only pleasure i get in life is seeing all the birds coming into my garden every day because of all the nectar eating plants i have planted....

thanks for the support cheers morgana

[manymoretodays]

Ahhh, morgana.......the birds were great for me too, while healing.  And nature.  I hope your interest comes back, it usually does.

21 minutes ago, morgana said:

he said we would need to work on my alcohol issues, my depression and better ways on how to deal with my emotions when they are strong.....not cheap tho...lol 

And this sounds great.  Hope it is doable for you.

 

Stick with that old adage, "A day at a time".  An hour, if you need to.

And know, it does, always, get better.  You will heal and get back into recovery.

❤️

[morgana]

thankyou, yeah i will go slow...the pyschologist said "maybe you should stop taking the zyprexa" i said i couldnt that i needed to tapper off slowly and that maybe i may never get off it, but atleast i will keep trying....however long it takes me..

[manymoretodays]

Good for you, morgana.

If I were you, I'd prioritize working on the Alcohol problem now.   You may be able to find something affordable, that helps you to deal with the onslaught of uncomfortable emotions.  Ask about DBT:  Dialectical Behavior Therapy(DBT) and Radical Acceptance

23 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

he said we would need to work on my alcohol issues

 

Any binges will continue to set your healing/recovery back, as far as the Zyprexa tapering, and WD, goes.

 

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[morgana]

hi manymoredays, i havnt had a drink since the beginning of November, however i know i need to deal with my emotions, and sometimes i cannot and need to drink, which is one of the reasons i need to see a therapist to talk to.  I have only met this pschologist once and will see him on a fortnightly basis, and in the 45 mins that i spent with him the other day he took down a timeline and overview of my life history...the office offers these services:  cognitive behavioural therapy, Acceptance & Committment therapy, eye movement desensitisation & reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy and Internal family systems therapy... all of which i know nothing about but the next time i see him i will find out how he can help me and which therapy we would be using...

As i only live in a small regional town in Australia, we do not have any practices that offer Dialectal and acceptance therapy...i was lucky to find a practice that offered what i wrote about...but yes drinking has always been my choice of drug...ever since i was a teenager, i had always found it difficult to feel comfortable in social situations so i always got drunk...in the end all i did was drink on my own at home, and needed to drink everyday inorder to relax and feel at ease inmyself...

 

[Venkat]

Hi morgana

 

I can relate to the side effects of olanzapine you are going through like memory issues, unable to process and register information, anhedonia etc as I too am on olanzapine 5mg currently reduced from 6.5mg.

 

Hope some day we all are clear of these medications. 

 

You have so much of support on this site ,just hang on.

 

Regards, venkat 

[morgana]

thankyou venkat, i am sorry you are on zyprexa too...its a terrible drug to get off...with all my issues i have experienced it is not being able to have a nice deep sleep..the most difficult to deal with....i have found if i cannot sleep i get unwell and unable to cope with my emotions properly...and at the moment body stiffness is really bothering me at the moment when i lay down to sleep...its like i am this stiff board unable to relax my body...i am not stressed about anything...i just feel i am laying in bed not as ease...i think survivingantidepressants has been the most helpful to me, just connecting with people who understand what i am going through and letting me know it does get better, it gives me hope in continuing....i am just about to go for a bike ride to find out about yoga classes being held....i can afford 2 x classes a week...i have found for some reason meditating very difficult as staying put in one position extremely difficult, i feel i cannot just relax, i need to keep moving, which is why i can go for a 3 hour walk in the heat of the day...i find i just need to be moving...and i know thats caused by the drugs i am on...what are you experiencing the most since tapering? let me know how you are going! cheers morgana

[Venkat]

Hi morgana 

 

Insomnia is the main withdrawal symptom I am going through while tapering, along with anxiety.

 

I am currently holding on to 5mg olanzapine for a month before starting tapering again. 

 

But with very low reductions I am having some control over insomnia. I also take 1 spoon of poppy seeds powder in a glass of warm milk just before going to bed and helps me sleep better.

 

Rest of the symptoms I am suffering from are due to the side effects of olanzapine. 

 

Hope all of us sail through this safely.

 

Regards, venkat 

[morgana]

hi venkat, i might try poppy seed powder....i know cows milk is meant to help you sleep but i do not drink cows milk , so maybe i could use with some coconut milk see if that works....insominia is the worst....all i want is a good deep sleep...last night i got into bed a 1 am in the morning and got out of bed at 11.45 am this morning...i felt i didnt sleep a wink....it is torture, it can really affect your mood...i wish you luck, take it slow and let me know what symptoms you are experiencing...i would like to know if i am not the only one...cheers

[Venkat]

Hi morgana 

You are not the only one suffering from insomnia, many of us here have it.There are lot of suggestions on this site regarding coping with insomnia. 

 

You are on 2.5 mg of olanzapine, way ahead of me.

 

With my little experience I would suggest you to hold with out tapering till you are able to sleep well and then do a slow taper. 

 

Before grinding the poppy seeds slightly fry them till the color changes to slight brown. 

 

Wishing you good luck 

 

Regards, venkat