Andrei : olanzapine / Zyprexa cold turkey after 2 weeks

[Andrei]

I have OCD and because of it I have some sleeping problems . My doctor put on olanzapine 5 mg and zopiclone 7.5 mg(sleeping pill) . 

Olanzapine gave me some bad side effects like problems thinking , with memory , anhedonia ,suicidal ideation and finally decided to quit .I still find difficult to focus on studies but I hope for the better .I took it for about two weeks and in the second week a bit randomly . I have one week since I stopped and apart from some sleep difficulties  and some sleep hallucinations (which last night i didn't have them at all) I am quite ok . I also take suppliments like multivitamins( magnesium, thiamin , niacin , vitamin C, B 6 , B12 ...etc).

Reading the stories on this forum made me sad and worried . Right now I am bit confused in the sense that i do not know if what i am going through are withdrawals or not. The reason why I am on this forum is to ask for an advice on what to do if the things are getting worse . I know nothing about the taper method at that time and now I wonder if would be ok to taper just in case the withdrawals are coming and they're going to be unbearable. How is it safe to taper from 2weeks of 5 mg . I've read about the 10% in four weeks rule but that applies to my situation also?

Would be sad to live in that state for so long . Please help!

 

my timeline with olanzapine and zopiclone

28 ian 2021 - 4 feb - 5 mg ( on 31 feb I also took 7.5 mg zopiclone)

5 feb - off

6 feb -5 mg

7 feb -5 mg + 7.5 mg zopiclone

8 feb -2.5 mg

9 feb - 2.5 mg

10 feb 3/4 of 5 mg

11 feb  - off

12 feb 5 mg 

13 feb - 7.5 mg Zopiclone

14 feb - 7.5 mg Zopiclone

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by Erell
Title

[Erell]

Hello Andrei

 

And welcome on SA. 

 

This site is run entirely by volunteer Administrators and Moderators, all have been through or going through withdrawal.

There are no commercial interests or influences  involved.

 

--》 I understand that you've given the infos above but could you please create a drug signature ? Please include drugs, dates, discontinuations. Also include supplements. This will help us give you the most accurate advice we can, and allow us to see your history at a glance.
 

This is a direct link to your signature:  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

-> Are you currently still taking Zopiclone ?

 

18 hours ago, Andrei said:

.I still find difficult to focus on studies but I hope for the better .I took it for about two weeks and in the second week a bit randomly . I have one week since I stopped and apart from some sleep difficulties  and some sleep hallucinations (which last night i didn't have them at all) I am quite ok .

I'm glad to know that despite some sleep difficulties you're doing relatively ok.

 

Nobody can predict how a body will react while introducing a psychdrug, and nobody can predict how and how long it will react when quitting it.
However, you only took Olanzapine for two weeks and you're already seeing improvements which is a good sign.

 

18 hours ago, Andrei said:

I also take suppliments like multivitamins( magnesium, thiamin , niacin , vitamin C, B 6 , B12 ...etc

 

When did you start supplements ? 
We usually recommend people to avoid multivatims and to try one substance at a time and at low dose to see how it affects you.
 

18 hours ago, Andrei said:

I have OCD and because of it I have some sleeping problems .

Have you considered to learn some non-drug coping skills ? For example, some people find CBT therapy to be useful while dealing with OCD, perhaps you'll find these threads interesting : 

 

cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt-for-anxiety-depression-and-withdrawal-symptoms

 

online-cognitive-behavior-therapy-lessons

 

 

Please, let us know how you're doing and details about your current Zopiclone use, this will help us to understand better your situation and provide suggestions.

Again, welcome

Edited February 20, 2021 by Erell

[Andrei]

Hi Erell ,

 

I have stopped taking Zopiclone . Now I am in the 9th day since I quitted zyprexa cold turkey and I have some little insomnia . I still can sleep like 4-5 hours plus some naps but I do not know what to expect further . In case the withdrawals are going to be too severe what are you advising me to do? I know reinstatement is a solution but in my case I should take the same amount and taper 10% in 4 weeks? I took the for about 2 weeks ...

Please Help !

[Andrei]

The supplements I start taking them while I was on medication and I am still taking them . Are they harmful? They are just vitamins... 

[Andrei]

Hi ,

 

I took olanzapine 5mg for about 2 weeks and I stopped taking it cold turkey . At the moment I am in day 10 since i stopped and apart from some sleep difficulties( 4-5 hours per night) I do not experience any other symptoms , just some stress and worries that it could be worse in the future . Reading so many stories on this forum made me realize that the withdrawals are very unpredictable .

 

I would like to be advised about the taper method in case the withdrawals are going to be too brutal . Since I took to drug for about 2 weeks/ 5 mg can I taper faster and with a smaller amount ? Does anyone was in my situation ? I also want to know does anyone successfully recovered after 2 weeks of cold turkey? The protracted withdrawals are experienced by anyone that stopped cold turkey?

 

Please replay , I am very worried.

Edited February 22, 2021 by manymoretodays
name to tile

[Andrei]

These are the vitamins I am taking https://mecindo.dk/solaray-mega-b-stress-250kapsel-da?gclid=CjwKCAiAyc2BBhAaEiwA44-wW07bKywjz1crYRJMUdYeuZawT0qKeDrDjRZ0mqyJ9qCEZK6k2ltd_hoCUA0QAvD_BwE

[Gridley]

Andrei,

 

Welcome from me too.

 

Regarding the Olanzapine, at this point it looks like you've been on it a little less than 3 weeks.  A person is at risk of withdrawal symptoms after between 3 to 4 weeks on a psychiatric drug.  It's possible you could just stay off it with no reinstatement.  Your symptoms seem mild.

 

Regarding the B vitamin,  B vitamins can be too stimulating for someone affected by psychiatric drugs.  

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

In your signature, please list all drugs and dosages. 

 

If you went off olanzapine, you have no other withdrawal symptoms, and your sleep has improved to 4-5 hours a night, that's not too bad.

 

It sounds like your worrying is your worst problem and may be interfering with your sleep, which was your original problem.

 

Rather than taking psychiatric drugs for this unfounded worrying about the future, you might look into non-drug treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy for the worrying thoughts. Also see:

 

What is the sleep cycle?

 

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

 

Path to Better Sleep FREE online for everyone from the US Veterans Administration

 

Music for self-care: Calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

White noise devices for sleep

 

Melatonin for sleep: Many people find it helpful

 

You might also postpone the B vitamins for a while, B vitamins can keep you awake.

[Andrei]

Titled:  (member would like) statistical data on discontinuation of olanzapine

 

Hello everyone ,

 

I quit olanzapine/zyprexa cold turkey 5 mg after about 2 weeks and I am worried of withdrawals symptoms . It's been two weeks since I stopped and until now I've notice my sleep is affected . I wake up after about 4 hours and then I go back to sleep for another 1-2 hours in a semi conscious state. I often wake up feeling tired . At the moment I am slightly confused because I do not know if what I experience is a withdrawal symptom or simply my brain is just damaged because of zyprexa . I hope to get better but I am also stressed about getting severe withdrawals .

 

I looked into this forum for some statistical data about withdrawals and I didn't found anything so therefore I would like to ask the following questions . 

 

1. Does all the individuals who are quitting Olanzapine/Zyprexa cold turkey experience withdrawals symptoms? I am mostly interested in those with short periods of time like me. But also in those with longer periods of time. Can you estimate a percentage?

 

2.About the symptoms , usually how long does it take to kick in ? 

 

3. Does the severity of the symptoms is given by the frequency of use or dose or both ? A person like me who did CT after about 2 weeks/ 5 mg can experience the same symptoms and the same severity with a person who did CT after let's say 1 month but has taken half the dose (2.5 mg) ?

 

4. Among those who are getting withdrawal symptoms after they CT short periods of time ,  are they always getting the protracted withdrawal syndrome ?

 

 

Please reply to my post because I am worried and I do not know if I should reinstate or just continue CT .

 

Best ,

Andrei

Edited February 28, 2021 by manymoretodays
merged 2nd introduction topic to first, title of new introduction added to top of this post

[manymoretodays]

Hi there Andrei, 

I merged your 2nd Introduction topic back here, to your main Introduction.  Just one Introduction topic per member please.

And thank you, it looks like you got a signature done, although it's a bit unclear.

So I think your final dose of 5 mg olanzapine may have been February 5th.

You noted a 31 February for zopiclone, and today is 27 February.

And so I am thinking that you last dosed zopiclone on 14 February.

 

AccountSettings/signature

click on ^ and you can edit or update the signature.  You might want to just do one line, with olanzapine, dosage, and dates.  And then another for the zopiclone, dosage and dates.

 

On 2/26/2021 at 1:32 PM, Andrei said:

1. Does all the individuals who are quitting Olanzapine/Zyprexa cold turkey experience withdrawals symptoms? I am mostly interested in those with short periods of time like me. But also in those with longer periods of time. Can you estimate a percentage?  No.  I can't.

 

2.About the symptoms , usually how long does it take to kick in ? It can be variable.

 

3. Does the severity of the symptoms is given by the frequency of use or dose or both ? A person like me who did CT after about 2 weeks/ 5 mg can experience the same symptoms and the same severity with a person who did CT after let's say 1 month but has taken half the dose (2.5 mg) ?

Dependency on a drug like zopiclone can occur in as little as 2 weeks.  With the olanzapine, probably closer to 1 month.

And I can't really answer your question, other than to say, you have every chance of a great recovery, as your usage of both drugs was brief.

 

4. Among those who are getting withdrawal symptoms after they CT short periods of time ,  are they always getting the protracted withdrawal syndrome ?  No.  Not everyone experiences protracted withdrawal syndrome after short term usage of 2 drugs.

 

So I'm seeing 4 doses of zopiclone, and then just 2-3 weeks of olanzapine.

I don't have statistics, but again(see the posts above this one, again too)......I think you may fare very well, depending on what your symptoms may have been like before you agreed to or opted for these medications.

 

If it was me, no, I would not reinstate either drug.  I would try for patience, hope, and non-drug coping now.  Your sleep sounds relatively okay at 4-6 hours.

If it was me, I'd get rid of any remaining olanzapine and zopiclone too.

 

I'm sorry I can't estimate percentages, or give any exact statistics.  I think you'll do okay, without any long drawn out protracted withdrawal syndrome, based on just the short usage of the 2 drugs you've mentioned.

 

And best.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

 

[Andrei]

Hi there ,

 

I have rewrite my drug signature just so you can have a better understanding . In short I took 12 pills and a half of Olanzapine (5mg) and 8 pills of Zopiclone (7,5 mg). Maybe you guys can give me a better answer now . 

I know is hard to give me a percentage but do you have any idea if everyone experience withdrawals symptoms when stopping cold turkey after short period of time(2 weeks) ? 

The symptoms are always severe when stopping cold turkey after 2 weeks ?

[Andrei]

Hi there,

 

Please ignore the above post . Tried to edit it but your forum is not allowing to so I had to write a new post. 

 

 

I have rewrite my drug signature just so you can have a better understanding of my situation and maybe you can give a more accurate answers to my questions . In short I took 12 pills and a half of Olanzapine (5mg) and 8 pills of Zopiclone (7,5 mg). See the timeline.

 

Thank you very much for reply . It means a lot to me . I appreciate your effort in trying to help others who are in pain. 

 

 

There is one answer which is not very clear to me at the point number one.  I understand you can't give me an accurate answer with percentage but can you answer the begging question? See below .

 

1. Does all the individuals who are quitting Olanzapine/Zyprexa cold turkey experience withdrawals symptoms? I am mostly interested in those with short periods of time like me(almost 2 weeks).

 

I am very interested in your opinion because I cannot trust doctors anymore .

 

Best ,

 

Andrei

 

 

[Andrei]

Topic title:  Olanzapine - cold turkey

 

Hi everyone! I have been on 5 mg of olanzapine for a period of 2 weeks and I stopped cold turkey due to side effects . It's been 2 months since I stopped and I am still having sleeping difficulties . My sleep is fragmented and quite shallow , I wake up after 3-4 hours of sleep than I go back to sleep again and I sleep in a semi-conscious state and I am dreaming vividly and waking up many times until I wake up completely. Because of this way of sleeping I am tired all the time , I cannot focus on my work and I feel weakened. Is there someone how have been in my situations and improved their sleep ? I want to mention that I take cdb oil but it didn't helped too much .

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging into Intro topic

[PoetJester]

Hi Andrei,

 

You could try reading the posts of both Zelnick and Zyprexa19, as far as short term olanzapine use and disrupted sleep.  Zelnick was only on the drug for nine days, and four years later was still suffering from the shallow, fragmented sleep and nightly nightmares.   Zyprexa19 was only on the 5 mg of drug a few months, i think, and quit cold turkey and found the insomnia unmanageable, so had reinstated to his previous dose of 5 mg, until his sleep had stabilized again and then began a slow liquid taper off of the drug that lasted about 7-8 months and had kept his sleep when he finally got off the drug this time.  The last time he had posted he said he was still sleeping good, several months off of the drug.  

 

Poetjester

[Landis]

Hello, how are you feeling now? Has your anhedonia gone?