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realizer: Tapered too aggressively off Zyprexa / olanzapine


realizer

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Hello everyone. This is a little lengthy post although I tried to keep it shorter ...

 

I have a history of depression going back to 2008 after stressful job. In 2012 I started feeling better and was on Viepax and Zyprexa (Olanzapine) at that time. Started running 2 miles a couple times per week and also started spending more time at the beach. Felt mood improvement to the point of feeling euphoric or maybe hypomaniac, which is a good thing for me. Went from 253lbs to 190lbs and it seemed all was good as I felt there was a direction I was going, a progress.

 

Last summer started feeling anxious. I was overexercising because it helped me to maintain focus on my business. Every time I felt relief, sharp mind and could focus and accomplish a lot of tasks. I think I have pushed myself too far and became out of balance. As a consequence I have suffered anxiety and depression. I had suicidal thoughts because I felt guilty and failed to reach a goal that I had. I thought I needed medication that would relieve anxiety and depression that I experienced in the morning.

 

On February 2017 I went to psychiatrist who without reinventing the wheel prescribed me Zyprexa because it was last medication that I took before I felt better. Had I known the side-effects this medication causes I would not go to psychiatrist at all. All I needed was anxiety and stress relief because I thought once these are taken care of, this would relieve depression too. What I got was weight gain of 11lbs despite being active and eating well. It became harder to wake up and exercise as I became less motivated. I became a bit slower and noticed it was harder to focus on daily business tasks. Having heard that Zyprexa is a toxic drug that affects metabolism and causes fatty liver I decided to taper. I would be better without it because my problems were not that big of a deal when you weight in trade-off. I didn't want to gain weight that I worked hard to reduce and get in shape.

 

As I lately started tapering with 1.25mg and had missing days of medication I experienced total depression and I don't know whether it was withdrawal symptoms or something that would happen either way. I had those days with depression before I started taking Zyprexa, so I don't know. To describe, I was waking up late and had no motivation whatsoever to do anything, despite I had a lot to do. It's like all the tasks became blurred and world turned upside down. I think I was finding happiness in food only and after eating, I would go to sleep. A complete empty feeling with no purpose to live for.

 

After reading about tapering I understand that I started tapering and reduced dosage too soon. It is recommended to taper at 10% every 2-3 weeks. I did go from 5mg to 2.5mg and to missing dosage. It was less gradual than it is supposed to. Zyprexa does not have divider marks so I am not sure how to make it exact and less than 1/4 portion. The day before yesterday I missed the dosage intentionally and felt bad yesterday until I went outside in the evening and felt better. I took the 1.25mg dosage 4 hours later in the evening than I used to because I didn't want to experience withdrawal. Today feels good.

 

What wold be your advice to someone who went significantly faster from normal dosage to low dosage and no dosage? Should I get back on 2.5mg and taper off at 10% or 1.25mg and taper at 10%? Within how many weeks should I adjust taper?

 

See my signature for my tapering timeline. Thanks.

 

Thank you!

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Realizer, welcome to SA.   You were taking zyprexa and viepax in 2012, when did you stop them, and did you taper them at all?

 

We don't recommend skipping doses as it causes chaos with the nervous system. I would go back to 2.5 and hold until stable then use a liquid to taper. You can get the liquid from a compounding pharmacy, or you can make your own liquid by crushing the tablets and making a suspension. You will find the details on tapering and making the liquid here,,, 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3743-tips-for-tapering-off-zyprexa-olanzapine/

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Hi Realizer, welcome to SA.   You were taking zyprexa and viepax in 2012, when did you stop them, and did you taper them at all?

 

Hi there. I stopped them in late 2012 but I do not remember withdrawal symptoms really... I was in a very good mood at that period so maybe that could be the case? It's when I started exercising and lost weight. I didn't go cold turkey. I just tapered same way like I did recently but this time I think I have side-effects. The reason I have them I think is because I was a bit anxious and depressed before I went on Zyprexa again in February, 2017. I don't have that great mood like I did back in late 2012 so could be the case why I experience side-effects...

 

You mention liquid and suspension to taper. Just crushing it with teaspoon, pouring a bit of water in it and swallowing won't be good?

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

It would need to be accurate, with the same amount of water each time and a syringe to measure the dose to be sure you are getting the right amount. I am sorry that I didn't provide more information, it was very late here and way past my bedtime! 

 

You would need to crush the tablet and mix it with water, if they are 5mg tablets you could crush it, put it into a medicine cup, then add water to 5ml. Take 2.5ml and discard the rest.  

 

When you are stable you can then start to taper slowly. 

 

Here is the topic for how to make a liquid from tablets or capsules. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2693-how-to-make-a-liquid-from-tablets-or-capsules/

 

About reinstating to stabilise. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

Why taper 10% 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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You would need to crush the tablet and mix it with water, if they are 5mg tablets you could crush it, put it into a medicine cup, then add water to 5ml. Take 2.5ml and discard the rest.

 

Hello. With 2.5ml that I will have left, do I throw it away or keep for my next dosage? Of to keep, does it matter where to?

 

In reinstatement link you gave me there are 2 things mentioned: withdrawal symptoms and adverse reaction. What is the difference?

 

I have made some dosage estimations based on 10% reduction for current dose and original dose:

 

Based on current (last) dose:

 

2.5mg - 10% = 2.25mg

2.25mg - 10% = 2.025mg

2.025mg - 10% = 1.823mg

1.823mg - 10% = 1.64mg

1.64mg - 10% = 1.476mg

1.476mg - 10% = 1.328mg

1.328mg - 10% = 1.195mg

1.195mg - 10% = 1.075mg

 

And so on...

 

 

Based on original dose:

 

2.5mg - 10% = 2.25mg

2.5mg - 10% = 2mg

2.5mg - 10% = 1.75mg

2.5mg - 10% = 1.5mg

2.5mg - 10% = 1.25mg

2.5mg - 10% = 1mg

2.5mg - 10% = 0.75mg

2.5mg - 10% = 0.5mg

2.5mg - 10% = 0.25mg

 

The current dose plan is a long-term one. I wouldn't want to wait entire year...

 

Maybe since I have been taking medication for 2 months and only quit cold-turkey for a couple of times I should choose reduction based on original dosage? Maybe I should taper by mixing original and current dosage reduction methods together? Like taper at 10% of original dose half way and then taper at lower dosages based on 10% off current (last) dosage?

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Realizer,

I will try and answer your questions.

 

MammaP has suggested that you discard the unused portion of the solution. But it may be kept refrigerated for up to 24 hours, so its up to you what would be more convenient.

 

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a drug has been stopped or the dose reduced. Adverse reaction occur shortly after a drug has been started or the dose increased. The actual symptoms can be similar or different, depending on the drug involved.

 

The taper plan we recommend is based on reductions of the current dose. This reduces the risk of withdrawal symptom arising and is the best option for a comfortable process of coming off the drug completely.

 

Some people can taper faster, and others need to go slower, so its best to use the calendar plan as a guide, but listen to your body and symptoms for cues about how your taper is going. If symptoms are getting worse and taking longer to subside, then you need to slow down. If you are getting no symptoms after making cuts and feel fine, then you may be able to go faster.

 

I suggest making the first 10% cut and waiting to see how it effects you.

 

Its a good idea to rate your symptoms daily to help you keep track of how you are doing. Withdrawal symptoms can distort our memory and make it difficult to accurately recall how we felt days and weeks ago. Here are some tips on how do do this:  

 

Rate symptoms daily to track patterns and progress

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Thank you Petunia, there is nothing more I can add, except that you need to cover the left over liquid to prevent evaporation if you are going to use it nest day.  :)

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Thanks guys. This week I am at 2.5mg and next week I will start with 10% reduction for a period of 3 weeks. English is not my main language and liquid with suspension is something I never heard of earlier and don't really understand. We make suspension from liquid obtained from compounding pharmacy? Is water not good enough as a liquid? Also, will I need special type of syringe to take dosages less than 1mg/ml?

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

You can make a liquid with water.  You can make enough for a few days and keep it in a bottle in the fridge. You will need some 1ml syringes and some larger ones for measuring the water accurately. I have 10ml, 5ml, 1ml and 0.5ml in my cupboard so I have what is needed. I got them all from Amazon. 

 

It would need to be accurate, with the same amount of water each time and a syringe to measure the dose to be sure you are getting the right amount. I am sorry that I didn't provide more information, it was very late here and way past my bedtime! 

 

You would need to crush the tablet and mix it with water, if they are 5mg tablets you could crush it, put it into a medicine cup, then add water to 5ml. Take 2.5ml and discard the rest.  

 

When you are stable you can then start to taper slowly. 

 

Here is the topic for how to make a liquid from tablets or capsules. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2693-how-to-make-a-liquid-from-tablets-or-capsules/

 

About reinstating to stabilise. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/7562-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-reduce-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

Why taper 10% 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Okay, got it. By the way, I am traveling and will be spending vacation in another country for 3 months. I told psychiatrist that I want to quid Zyprexa and he advised against it. I don't want to lose 3 months which is the time I could have made progress in tapering off so I will taper regardless. Would you have advice for me before I go to another country. Are there other things I might want to take with me that would aid in my taper? The only thing I can think of now is asking psychiatrist to prescribe me sufficient supply of tablets while I will be on vacation.

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Make sure you are prepared with enough tablets, and all the equipment you will need. If you are flying take the tablets with you in case your luggage gets mislaid, but put your tapering lit in your luggage to avoid any explaining at security with syringes etc. It might be ok but I always do this myself. I can do without the stress of having to explain things. Remember that liquids are restricted in hand luggage. Take a note book or diary so you can log any symptoms and not worry about remembering when they occurred.  Take your prescription if you get them in your country in case you need an emergency supply. We get a slip that lists prescribed drugs that we can take to a pharmacy if we lose or forget drugs. 

 

Having said all that, maybe it would be better to hold until you get back so you can stabilise.  You need to be stable before starting to taper again. 

 

Have fun  B)

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Thanks.

 

After my reinstatement period it is mentioned that I should give time to stabilization which can take months. However the amount of time it takes to alleviate withdrawals and stabilize is mentioned to vary per individual, ranging from immediate to a few weeks and to a few months.

 

I hoped to start taper 2.5mg at 10% reduction after my week of reinstatement. If I will be feeling good for another week, should I still adhere to month of stabilization since it's mentioned that waves of symptoms can be experienced? And does that mean I will keep taking same dosage that I started reinstatement with? 

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Yes that's right, people can feel better within days, but then have waves 2 weeks later so it is best to hold until you have been stable for at least a month without any waves.

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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@mammaP What can you tell me about alternation of dosages? For example after stabilization for 4 weeks I alternate between 2.5mg and 1/5 less than that dosage (2mg). After that for another 4 weeks I start alternating between that 2mg and further 1/5 reduce the dosage to 1.5mg and alternate within that time frame and so on.

 

Maybe by the end when I end up with 1mg I then start slowing down and reduce based on current dosage i.e. 1mg minus 1/5?

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

We don't recommend alternating doses, it is destabilising. Your brain is very sensitive and needs the same dose, same time(s) every day. It will then become stable.  The drug needs to be sneaked away very slowly and stealthily so that it can adjust to the new dose. Trying to rush leads to withdrawal and having to updose then several weeks or months to stabilise folllowed by restarting the taper. Going slow is actually faster! 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

The last 1mg needs to be very carefully tapered and still needs 10% reductions or even less. Until there can't be any more cuts, or the liquid is just water! 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Your brain is very sensitive and needs the same dose, same time(s) every day. It will then become stable.  The drug needs to be sneaked away very slowly and stealthily so that it can adjust to the new dose.

 

This is only for minority? I read that majority can taper off faster without going at 10% off long term while minority require much more delicate approach. I don't know whether I am in majority or minority. All I know is that when I went from 1.25mg cold turkey I experienced 1 day of strong withdrawal...

 

The last 1mg needs to be very carefully tapered and still needs 10% reductions or even less. Until there can't be any more cuts, or the liquid is just water! 

 

That's something that I doubt I would hear from psychiatrist. Last time I talked to one who's local I was told to stop being meticulous and start going to half dose and then 1/4 and so on...

 

But 1mg at 10% off sounds like a headache... I was surprised to read that at the end of taper some people dip toothpick into liquid to take that last dosage. Can't believe some people are sensitive to such a miniscule dosage!

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I read that majority can taper off faster without going at 10% off long term while minority require much more delicate approach. I don't know whether I am in majority or minority. All I know is that when I went from 1.25mg cold turkey I experienced 1 day of strong withdrawal...

We don't know what percentage of people can taper faster than 10% without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. But most people who post here are in the percentage who need to be careful. The fact that you have experienced withdrawal symptoms indicates that you may have to taper slowly.

 

We suggest the 10% reduction method to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms, which can make life uncomfortable and cause disruption in your normal functioning. But its completely your decision about how you taper. We can only provide the information and share our own experience.

 

Please read the information and links which MammaP kindly posted for you, and then decide what is best for you and your situation.

 

We will be here to support you, but we can't make your decisions and we don't know how faster tapering will effect you as an individual. Its your choice.

 

You either take the risk and taper faster and accept the possible consequences or you play it safe and taper at our recommended rate and reduce the risk of experiencing unpleasant symptoms.

 

I hope you enjoy your vacation, please stay in touch and let us know how your are.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Realizer - 

 

(note Petunia posted at same time as me - sorry if information is duplicated)

 

This is only for minority? I read that majority can taper off faster without going at 10% off long term while minority require much more delicate approach.

 

Okay, maybe it's the minority, maybe it's "common medical practice," but this website picks up a lot of fallout from people in distress by doing it the way the doctors told them.

 

I think that minority is something like 40-60%.  For the remaining 40-60%, there can be great distress.  When it goes bad, it can go very, very, very bad - so - wouldn't you want to say on the safer side of the fence?  Even on the safe side, the Harm Reduction side, you may still have symptoms. 

Many of us thought, "It won't happen to me, I can do this."  Many people got into a severe distress that way.  You might wish to read the excellent article, Six Mistakes I've Made In Withdrawal by Alexjuice.

 

What we recommend here at SA is called "Harm Reduction."  We recommend procedures that cause the least amount of harm, and give you the greatest amount of control over your symptoms.

 

You can do whatever you want - but we don't recommend anything faster than a 10% taper.  There are doctors who recommend starting at 25% taper, but they are doctors and can support you if things go wrong (likely they won't, though, because they don't really acknowledge the problems with the drugs, and we do).   We are voices on the internet - and want to help you as gently as possible.

 

10% is 10% of prior dose.  Did you read the link that MammaP gave you?  Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Please read all the links before asking questions.  We are volunteers here, and cannot personally attend to every detail of every person.  We'd like to, but there are so many people suffering, in crisis, so we do the best we can.  The links are a sorry substitute for personal interaction, but they are good information - and we need for you to know that information, for further discussions.

 

I have to emphasize to you - what MammaP has said a few times: Please do not alternate doses, ever.    It is destabilizing, and it is probably the reason you have had difficulty with this taper.  It is one area where we firmly disagree with doctors who recommend it.   Every-other day dosing

 

Doctors recommend it because they cannot "think outside the pill size."  They think - the pills come in these sizes, and it should be safe to come off them in these sizes.  Well, it's not.  Not with alternate doses, not with "half tablets."  The doctors are following drug company recommendations, and the drug companies haven't made it easy for us to come off.  There are petitions before the drug companies to make tapering kits with several tablet sizes - to at least give us a fighting chance.

Here at SA, we open up the capsule, we weigh milligrams on a scale, we make liquids from powders, in order to get safe, Harm Reduction sized tapering doses.

 

That's something that I doubt I would hear from psychiatrist. Last time I talked to one who's local I was told to stop being meticulous and start going to half dose and then 1/4 and so on...

 

But 1mg at 10% off sounds like a headache... I was surprised to read that at the end of taper some people dip toothpick into liquid to take that last dosage. Can't believe some people are sensitive to such a miniscule dosage!

 

Some people, especially in the last parts of their taper - have to go by smaller increments, what we call micro-tapers.  5%, 2.5% or even 1% tapers.  These drugs are powerful!  Much more powerful than the doctors understand!  They think that "therapeutic dose" is a set number, told to them by the pharmaceutical company.  We find that people can "feel" miniscule adjustments to the dose, and the doctors (and even more, the pharmaceutical companies) just ignore the power of the drugs.

You may wish to look at the charts here for "neurotransmitter occupancy curves," which help explain why the 10% rate - or slower (especially at lower doses) - is so important.  Again, these charts are for neurotransmitters - they are difficult for even the most research-y of us to find, so we don't have them for all drugs:  The importance of tapering on plasma concentration

 

The 10% per month is a guideline.  You may find, after a month of stability, and your first 10% taper, that it goes well.    You may decide to shorten the taper interval to 3 weeks (please do not go shorter than 2, because there is a neuron growth time involved in tapering, and the 2 week interval is the absolute minimum for safe tapering).   Or you may try 15% on your next taper.  

 

Or - the inverse may happen, and 10% is crushingly difficult, at which point we will tell you to hold longer and heal. After you get stable again, you may have to taper at a 5% rate.  I'm sorry this sounds tedious - but it's safer, it's Harm Reduction.  

 

These drugs are not like aspirin, you take one, and they are gone.  

Please read and watch the following to understand better:

Rhi's description of healing the brain

Withdrawal Dialogues - cartoons to encourage you (short, 6 minute cartoons talking about symptoms and withdrawal)

Healing from Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery (by Toxic Antidepressants) (excellent 4 minute summary of what we are trying to say)

Intro to Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome - topic and discussion of "how it works."

 

You may say, "but Olanzapine is not an Antidepressant."  Please be assured that all of these drugs tweak neurotransmitters, and it is the consequence of this tweaking - the restructuring of your brain and nervous system -  that we try to address with Harm Reduction.

 

If our methods are too tedious for you, then perhaps this isn't the website for you.  Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones who can get off by quarters - but you don't know if this is true or not until you do it.  And by then, it may be too late, and you may be in full symptoms.  Do you want to take that risk?

 

Let us know what you decide.

 

I  hope you see the sun today.  (oh yes, you might want to also learn about: Non Drug Techniques for Coping with Emotional Symptoms.  Not only will these help you to recover - they will be your guidebook for staying off the drugs in future.)

Edited by JanCarol
posted at same time as Petunia

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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  • Moderator Emeritus

With regards to alternate day dosing you might find this graph interesting:  Skipping Days vs Every Day Dosing Graph

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Administrator

Hello, realizer.

 

Well, you have gotten advice from the best! Thank you mammaP, Petunia, JanCarol, and ChessieCat.

 

Please do not skip dose or alternate doses to taper.

 

The 10% calculation is done on the last dosage -- the percent of reduction remains the same but the amount of reduction gets progressively smaller.

 

A 10% reduction gives your nervous system a nice gentle ramp off the drug. Very few doctors follow this recommendation, this site is filled with people suffering from their advice to reduce more rapidly.

 

We recommend waiting a month between reductions. If you go faster and get withdrawal symptoms, you are going too fast.

 

You may wish to wait to taper until after your vacation, so as not to add the stress and confusion of travel to the complexities of tapering.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hello. I have been taking 2.5ml for a month now by splitting 5ml whole tablet, which is not truly accurate because splits were not always even. My plan was that in June I would start tapering with more accurate dosages once I get syringe. My friend got me these 2 syringes:

 

post-9464-0-47678100-1495900146_thumb.jpg

 

Bigger syringe is of 5ml capacity and has 0.2ml steppings. The smaller syringe is of 2.5ml capacity and has 0.1ml steppings. I gather that I will have to make 5ml water solution with crushed 5ml tablet and take only 2.25ml from it if I want to start at 10% off 2.5ml dosage? In this case would it be right to use 2 syringes? 5ml to measure and make exact water solution and then once mixed with crushed 5ml tablet, I will use 2.5ml syringe because it has more accurate 0.1ml steppings?

 

I have done calculation of this method of tapering and I came to the following dosages:

 

post-9464-0-75137700-1495900901_thumb.jpg

 

I am not sure that even with 0.1ml stepping I can take such accurate dosages... As far as I am aware there are no syringes with lesser stepping measurements.

 

Thanks.

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Getting the smaller doses is easier if you make a solution with more water,  instead of using the 1-1 solution you could use 2-1, 10ml per 5ml tablet. If you are making it every day you could use 50ml to 5mg, that is much easier to get the amount needed, or near to it.  You can also get smaller syringes, veterinarians have oral syringes for small animals and might sell you some, or you can get them from Amazon.  

 

Well done with working out the amounts, it is really impressive! 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I was finding the crushed or dissolved olanzapine quickly sinks to the bottom and does not evenly go up into the syringe. I use 60% ORA-plus and 40% water - say 6 ml ORA-plus and 4 ml water to suspend the crushed or dissolved (ODT) olanzapine to get an even mix of suspended olanzapine throughout solution. Then refrigerate for up to 48 hours. You can order ORA-plus online or from a pharmacy.

Medicine History

June 2011 I was put on 10 mg Olanzapine. I stayed on that for 7 months then went down to 5 mg for 3 months and then went down to 2.5mg and slowly went down to less than .3 every few days. I have tried to come off 4 times, each time getting down to less than .3 before having to go back on at 5mg or 2.5mg. I would cut by 50% each taper. From Jan 2015 to June 2015 I reduced from about 5mg to .3 mg. This last time I went on 2.5 mg last June 2015 until July 2, 2016. July 3, 2016 I went down to 1.25mg - withdrawal hit. Up dosed to liquid 2 mg July 23, 2016.

Medicine Current

2 mg Olanzapine as of July 23, 2016

Supplements

Omega 3 1000mg, Vitamin E 400 UI, Vitamin C 1000 mg Time Released, 200 mg Magnesium Bisglycinate, Multi Probiotic, .25 mg melatonin for 3-5 days as needed

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On 6/12/2017 at 3:08 AM, herewego said:

I use 60% ORA-plus and 40% water.

 

What is ORA and ODT?

 

Also, have you experienced any inflamation of upper gastrointestinal tract? I was diagnosed with mild gastritis and when I took dissolved medicine on empty stomach, I felt slight gastritic pain in stomach. I later took it after meal and it helped but sometimes discomfort can be felt.

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Ora-PLus is a liquid that can be used to make a liquid formulation of your medication. It works on many medications that are not soluble in water.

 

ODT is a formulation of olanzapine (Zyprexa) = orally disintegrating tablets

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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You can use regular crushed olanzapine too. Just mix the water and ORA-plus first then add in your crushed pill using a pill crusher.

Medicine History

June 2011 I was put on 10 mg Olanzapine. I stayed on that for 7 months then went down to 5 mg for 3 months and then went down to 2.5mg and slowly went down to less than .3 every few days. I have tried to come off 4 times, each time getting down to less than .3 before having to go back on at 5mg or 2.5mg. I would cut by 50% each taper. From Jan 2015 to June 2015 I reduced from about 5mg to .3 mg. This last time I went on 2.5 mg last June 2015 until July 2, 2016. July 3, 2016 I went down to 1.25mg - withdrawal hit. Up dosed to liquid 2 mg July 23, 2016.

Medicine Current

2 mg Olanzapine as of July 23, 2016

Supplements

Omega 3 1000mg, Vitamin E 400 UI, Vitamin C 1000 mg Time Released, 200 mg Magnesium Bisglycinate, Multi Probiotic, .25 mg melatonin for 3-5 days as needed

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Or I should say after using the pill crusher

Medicine History

June 2011 I was put on 10 mg Olanzapine. I stayed on that for 7 months then went down to 5 mg for 3 months and then went down to 2.5mg and slowly went down to less than .3 every few days. I have tried to come off 4 times, each time getting down to less than .3 before having to go back on at 5mg or 2.5mg. I would cut by 50% each taper. From Jan 2015 to June 2015 I reduced from about 5mg to .3 mg. This last time I went on 2.5 mg last June 2015 until July 2, 2016. July 3, 2016 I went down to 1.25mg - withdrawal hit. Up dosed to liquid 2 mg July 23, 2016.

Medicine Current

2 mg Olanzapine as of July 23, 2016

Supplements

Omega 3 1000mg, Vitamin E 400 UI, Vitamin C 1000 mg Time Released, 200 mg Magnesium Bisglycinate, Multi Probiotic, .25 mg melatonin for 3-5 days as needed

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hello and update. I am in Eastern Europe currently.

 

I don't have ORA where I live so I mix with just water. I am not sure whether it's due to me starting with method suggested here but I am sometimes experiencing anxiety, stemming from tension that I experience during awkward moments or moments where there's a pubic around. Example would be paying for a good with cash and coins where I tend to have a lot of small change in coins in my pocket. If product cost is one that has small change in it and I want to pay in coins it takes me time to find the right amount. During that time I get anxiety building up as I feel how people await for me to finally pay. If I feel it's taking more than acceptable I would panic and just quickly pay in banknotes to get myself from situation and forget the small change thing.

 

Those can be only my assumptions and what is acceptable wait time though but I don't even look around... So I am not sure whether this happens due to me switching to this method of taking medicine or change in dosage. I will also mention that I had days when medicine acceptance time varied because a few times I postponed it for 2-3 hours. Could it be due to my anti-social personality disorder? I also had anxiety and panic attacks before.

 

Thanks

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

realizer -- Olanazapine (Zyprexa) is soluble in ethanol. If you are avoiding alcohol, this won't be an option. If you don't have an addiction issue or other objection, you could dissolve your olanzapine dose in a small amount of clear drinking alcohol, e.g. vodka.

 

I'm trying to find reliable information for you and will post a link if and when I do.

edited to add:

This site, Selleck Chem (a bulk provider of chemicals to pharma and other manufacturers), states that olanzapine is soluble in ethanol at 9 mg/ml at room temperature.

 

The same page also states that olanzapine is soluble in DMSO to 62 mg/ml at room temperature.  You would need a formulation of DMSO intended for oral (by mouth) administration for medical purposes for humans. (That last part may seem weird but sometimes medications are approved ONLY for veterinary use.)

 

Vodka is probably much easier to find than DMSO.

Edited by scallywag

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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On 7/3/2017 at 6:59 PM, scallywag said:

This site, Selleck Chem (a bulk provider of chemicals to pharma and other manufacturers), states that olanzapine is soluble in ethanol at 9 mg/ml at room temperature.

 

Thanks for information. Is it soluble at 5mg? That's how big each tablet I have is. I see a conflict here because Olanzapine's included manual states that no alcohol should be taken while under influence of Olanzapine. Even if I do not have addiction to alcohol, I still can't use alcohol dissolving method. Will have to look for DMSO locally...

 

I use small shot glass where I crush pill that I dissolve with room temperature water. It does not dissolve very well until I start moving shot glass in circles to help medication dissolve. Works for me but could be not perfect. Maybe I should increase water temperature for more accurate dissolution?

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

If your tablet is 5 mg and the solubility is 9 mg/ ml, the least volume of ethanol you'd need is 0,6 ml. I'd start with an easier measurement 5 ml or 10 ml.  If you're wary of using an alcohol solution, then your option is to seek oral/medical grade DMSO locally or to order Ora-plus or the DMSO online.  Several members have obtained the ORA-plus from amazon.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I have a problem with syringes I use. Their measuring points are disintegrating and I wonder if there is a way to prevent that. They are stored in a sealing plastic box:

 

595e8c1735b71_2017-07-0621_48_15.jpg.2852b247364e144f7b7fc7ddcaf66123.jpg

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Have you looked at glass pipettes? The markings on glass are a paint rather than an ink. 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

Link to comment

I bought my oral syringes in bulk - they were still pretty cheap so even if markings wear off, just take out another one.

Also, the amount of alcohol needed to dissolve the olanzapine is small enough it should barely affect you - just a thought

Medicine History

June 2011 I was put on 10 mg Olanzapine. I stayed on that for 7 months then went down to 5 mg for 3 months and then went down to 2.5mg and slowly went down to less than .3 every few days. I have tried to come off 4 times, each time getting down to less than .3 before having to go back on at 5mg or 2.5mg. I would cut by 50% each taper. From Jan 2015 to June 2015 I reduced from about 5mg to .3 mg. This last time I went on 2.5 mg last June 2015 until July 2, 2016. July 3, 2016 I went down to 1.25mg - withdrawal hit. Up dosed to liquid 2 mg July 23, 2016.

Medicine Current

2 mg Olanzapine as of July 23, 2016

Supplements

Omega 3 1000mg, Vitamin E 400 UI, Vitamin C 1000 mg Time Released, 200 mg Magnesium Bisglycinate, Multi Probiotic, .25 mg melatonin for 3-5 days as needed

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  • 3 months later...

I have been dissolving 5mg Olanzapine tablets with room temperature water in what resembles small coffee creamers. Using pestle I crush them and facilitate dissolution by slightly shaking and turning the object around.

 

I can't say whether Olanzapine helps me feel better or worse because there are other factors involved like my life is not where I would want it to be and once in a while problems emerge that make me feel from bad to awful like almost complete bottom (anxiety, panic, depression, suicidal thoughts). If my life was the way I want it then it would be easier to track how medication affects me. I know however that it causes me to gain weight so that's the first reason I decided to taper.

 

I am currently at 1.9 mg from 2.5mg and I take medication in the evening at 7PM. I wonder if this is optimal time to take it and at what time others in this forum take that medication? Is there doctor recommended time or you take it at a time you set?

 

Thanks.

02/15/17 - 03/24/17 ► Started taking Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 5mg
03/25/17 - 04/02/17 ► Between 5mg (5 days) and 2.5mg (4 days) 
04/03/17 - 04/09/17 ► Between 5mg (3 days), 2.5mg (3 days) and 1 day off
04/10/17 - 04/16/17 ► Down to 1.25mg (5 days) and 2 days off
04/17/17 - 04/20/17 ► At 1.25mg (days) and 1 day off

04/21/17 - 05/20/17 ► Down to 1.25mg every day

05/21/17 - 05/29/17 ► Upped to 2.5mg every day

05/30/17 - 06/30/17 (today) ► Down to 2.1mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

07/01/17 - 07/31/17 (today) ► Down to 1.9mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

08/01/17 - 10/01/17 (today) ► Down to 1.6mg with water, using syringe for accuracy

10/02/17 - 10/18/17 (today) ► Upped to 1.8mg, crushed with water, using syringe for accuracy

Medication is normally taken at ~7PM.

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