[HeartShapedBox]

Ive been on Zyprexa and then Symbyax for nearly 3 years now for Bipolar Type 2.

-In that time I have put on 65lbs; When I first started taking zyprexa I was underwear modeling and I was an endurance athlete having competed in several Ironman Triathlons. I don't even recognize the same guy I see in the mirror now.

-I have become a recluse. I use to travel and have friends and things to do. Now I sit in my tiny apartment and wonder whats the point.

-I use to have goals and aspirations in life. Now I wake up and go through the motions.

My general existence was numb up until 7 days ago. I went to my pdoc like normal and I discussed my weight gain (the usual subject.) She told me to stick it out 6 more months which I agreed to. I went home and was looking at myself in the mirror and I did not recognize the guy staring back at me. I couldn't do it anymore. I was done taking my medication. I will admit Zyprexa did "Stabilize" me but at what cost? I felt like I was sleeping my life away and I had no idea who I was anymore.

Within 3 days of quitting I could feel the mental cloud starting to lift, I noticed a spring in my step; but Im not manic.

I was feeling alright right up until today; I have been feeling nauseous and throwing up at work all day. I still feel like the cloud is lifting but I have never had the urge to throw up so many times in a 12 hour period.

Believe it or not I can handle throwing up over the feeling of being disconnected.

Does anyone have any experience with Zyprexa withdrawal?

Not that, but I did quit lexapro and lamictal cold turkey. It was hell. Pure hell.

[gemini_double]

Based on what you said about withdrawls: there seems to be a lot of people "withdrawing" from meds. I was on Lamictal and ability and never had sick "withdrawls." I don't understand all this. I am on something stronger now but don't plan on stopping it, so I might be wrong? I just don't get all his "withdrawl" stuff...

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[99 FAIRIES]

I quit zyprexa cold turkey and had no withrawl.

Every body and everybody is different.

[wiretwister]

I had so many (withdrawal) issues I had to quit even tapering lamictal ...

[raspberrytorte]

I don't have any experience withdrawing from zyprexa (I wasn't on it that long), but I hope you start feeling better soon!

I get very physically dependent on meds and always have terrible withdrawal symptoms. Except for with seroquel, but I went straight to geodon, so maybe that's why.

[MrD500]

I hate Zyprexa too. I gained like 50 pounds off that. I'm not sure if quitting all your meds is a good idea. Maybe your pdoc can prescribe you something else? Not sure why she would tell you to stick it out for 6 more months after you gained all the weight.

[moodycow]

I recently took myself off this for similar reasons , i halved the dose for aweek before stopping and so withdrawl was ok apart from landslide mood drop

I'm tapering off zyprexa, but as my pdoc is scared, we're doing it VERY slowly - 5 mg per 3 weeks-slowly. I was on 25 mg, am now on 10 since Wednesday.

I didn't notice anything. Yeah, my period returned after I went down to 15, but I doubt you'd experience that.

[WibblyWobbly]

I've never heard of Symbyax but I just looked it up and it's part Zyprexa, part Prozac. SSRIs give wicked withdrawal symptoms if you don't taper (sometimes even if you do). Maybe you could take one today, then start cutting them in half? If they're capsules you could take them every other day or just open them up and pour half the contents out onto some applesauce.

[liquid_Entropy]

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