[Charixma]

Hey guys,

I've been dealing with some weird symptoms after trying to stop my AP. I've been on it since mid-April of this year and had previously been on it off and on over the course of the past year since about June of 2017. My psychotic break came after my first semester of grad school, while I was also working in the field of psychology and surprised all of us by it's severity.

I lost touch w/ reality and was in complete denial that I was experiencing delusions and hallucinations. Once they started me on AP's my thought processes began to return more to normal but it would take almost a full year (April of this year) for me to finally admit I was experiencing psychosis and was no longer in control of my life.

After being able to admit and come to terms with the fact that I had lost touch with reality (this was extremely hard for me to admit) I was finally able to receive treatment that helped resolve the delusions and voices.

5 mg of Zyprexa seems to be key in my treatment but I've had so many issues with the side effects that I've quit suddenly and cold turkey in the past, leading to more hospitalizations. My cutie (my nickname for the guy I'm dating) had to threaten me with two choices in late March: take the Zyprexa or go to the hospital. I chose to take it which made me plummet from my mania quite hard and I ended up in the hospital a week later anyways.

This time I tapered down to 2.5 mg for two weeks and I've been off of it since last Wednesday. I absolutely cannot take the weight gain and slowness in thinking. My doctor wouldn't get on board with me going off of it so I had to do it myself. The sedation and metabolic changes are just too powerful!

Since then, I've had a slow increase in my energy (yes!), decrease in my appetite (thank god!) but I'm now having almost flu-like symptoms...? My body is achey and I've developed a bit of a cough and now I'm starting to hear voices (very, very subtly) here and there. I'm starting to get anxiety off and on as well.

Is this normal? Is there anyone else out there that has successfully gotten off this medication? Any advice?

[Victoria'smom]

I only stopped zyprexa a week ago. I haven't got any cold like symptoms. My head is buzzing, I'm not sleeping, and having waves of anxiety. I started hearing voices again when I went from 15 to 10. It lasted about 3 weeks before calming down. Now I just compete with my ED voice. Communication is becoming harder for me though. I'll take communication issues over lose of personality any day.

[BipolaRNurse]

Going off Zyprexa without the knowledge and supervision of a doctor is NOT wise. Both of you need to see your providers ASAP. The "buzzing" and voices are not going to go away on their own, they'll get worse. That's what you were taking the med to prevent, remember?

^^I agree. You should really have your docs on board with whatever you're doing with your meds. Have you explained that you really absolutely cannot handle the side effects? He should be willing to work something out with you that won't land you in a psychotic state. Maybe a lower dose or a different AP would help, but again, you were on it for a reason and that reason unfortunately just does't disappear.

[Christopher1990]

Only you know what you experience its different for everyone.

If I don't take zyprexa I experience sleep problems,headaches, agitation.

I haven't really experienced the weight gain everyone complains about. I do experience movement problems and slight tremors in my hand which is annoying.

Your on a very low dose if its helping and you hear voices I would not abruptly stop it without docs knowledge.

Good luck

[Charixma]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Going off Zyprexa without the knowledge and supervision of a doctor is NOT wise. Both of you need to see your providers ASAP. The "buzzing" and voices are not going to go away on their own, they'll get worse. That's what you were taking the med to prevent, remember?

Yes, that is why I'm taking them. It's very difficult living with an ED and being forced to take a medication that causes severe weight gain and metabolic issues.

I called and left them a message yesterday and today. I'm doing better today, yesterday was a bit difficult.

[Victoria'smom]

Going off Zyprexa without the knowledge and supervision of a doctor is NOT wise. Both of you need to see your providers ASAP. The "buzzing" and voices are not going to go away on their own, they'll get worse. That's what you were taking the med to prevent, remember?

I saw my pnurse last week to the day. I see her again in 3 months. She lowered my zyprexa from 10 to 5 and said if I felt fine after two weeks to lower it to 2.5. So she knows I'm getting off it but I'd rather a quick withdraw then a drawn out one. I'm glad to see my personality coming back. I'm afraid to start it back again for fear of more weight gain. My (ex) therapist said my paranoia was actually anxiety. So I'm hoping to shift more towards the anxiety meds then the AP's.

[Charixma]

Originally Posted by spikes

^^I agree. You should really have your docs on board with whatever you're doing with your meds. Have you explained that you really absolutely cannot handle the side effects? He should be willing to work something out with you that won't land you in a psychotic state. Maybe a lower dose or a different AP would help, but again, you were on it for a reason and that reason unfortunately just does't disappear.

I did explain this to them but did not inform them of my ED. That's something I keep private because it will only encourage my doctors to put me on medications that will increase my appetite. This only serves to aggravate my ED further and causes me to try and restrict my meals further.

I have slight scoliosis in my neck from anorexia but looking at me, you would just think I'm a tiny young woman (5' 1) and at 130 pounds, I'm feeling quite large for me in my opinion. I'm usually 120.

I've heard some voices here and there but it's not getting worse. I'm able to discern what I'm hearing and what I think I'm hearing but probably isn't real. Sleep was okay last night, went to sleep at 11 pm and woke up at 7:30 am this morning so everything seems to be going alright.

[Victoria'smom]

I would tell your providers that you have had an eating disorder because that changes the meds they give you. Often most Pdocs prescribe weight neutral drugs like abilify. Some even offer it in a monthly shot. I have a history of ED because I am normal weight and no one bothers to ask, god I miss my old T. ED's are very private matters and we want to hide them. I'm much better then when I was a teen.

[Tucson]

I also think you should keep your pdoc informed. Work with them. Have them supervise any and all dosage changes. You are hearing voices now? You are OK with this? I would tell your provider of your ED. They can work with you on that.

[glennk]

Have you tried any other AAP's? Abilify might be one option.

[Charixma]

Originally Posted by glennk

Have you tried any other AAP's? Abilify might be one option.

I tried Abilify but I forget why we chose to go off of it. I do recall having issues remembering to take it once and then had serious SI the next day because that can be a side effect of missing a dose. I think I felt very worried about this and concerned for possibly missing a dose later on in life and what that could entail.

I don't recall the rest. Latuda was a disaster, so was seroquel... Hm.

So far I'm doing really well right now. This time time tapering off of Zyprexa, my antidepressant is a little lower so it's not pushing me straight into mania. Just a tad more energetic, some voices here and there but my Gabapentin and Klonopin seems to take care of that pretty well and any paranoid thoughts.

The flu-ish cold symptoms are gone but I still get some hot and cold sensations which I read can be a side effect.