[WastingAsparagus]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's difficult to wean gradually off of Zyprexa? I am currently on 2.5mg, and I am due to be taking 0mg as of tonight. I am currently really nervous about going off of it, but I don't know if I'm just being a hypochondriac and making up symptoms. I have told my psychiatrist that I have felt different over the weeks we have been gradually reducing the Zyprexa, and my therapist thinks I have shown positive improvements in how I look and seem more connected to people. I wonder if this is actually true?

I also just worry because I have been on this combination of medicine for so long and it has seemed to work. So I guess I am just looking for support on how to get off of this medicine and ways I can occupy myself without thinking about the med changes so much.

Thanks.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

Hi,


Does anyone know if it's difficult to wean gradually off of Zyprexa? I am currently on 2.5mg, and I am due to be taking 0mg as of tonight. I am currently really nervous about going off of it, but I don't know if I'm just being a hypochondriac and making up symptoms. I have told my psychiatrist that I have felt different over the weeks we have been gradually reducing the Zyprexa, and my therapist thinks I have shown positive improvements in how I look and seem more connected to people. I wonder if this is actually true?


I also just worry because I have been on this combination of medicine for so long and it has seemed to work. So I guess I am just looking for support on how to get off of this medicine and ways I can occupy myself without thinking about the med changes so much.


Thanks.

It took me at least a year to taper abilify....while I did get positive impacts on reading etc I started feeling increasingly irritated if I went off too fast....I know it’s not zyprexa but all APs are similar...I would do a long taper....

[splitimage]

Just wanted to say good luck. I've never tapered off an AP before, so I have no experience. With my experience going off a benzo, I'd just say take it as slowly as you need to.

splitimage

[sarahsweets]

Are you replacing the Zyprexa with a different med or going off all meds? If you dont mind, may I ask why?

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

Hi,

Does anyone know if it's difficult to wean gradually off of Zyprexa? I am currently on 2.5mg, and I am due to be taking 0mg as of tonight. I am currently really nervous about going off of it, but I don't know if I'm just being a hypochondriac and making up symptoms. I have told my psychiatrist that I have felt different over the weeks we have been gradually reducing the Zyprexa, and my therapist thinks I have shown positive improvements in how I look and seem more connected to people. I wonder if this is actually true?

I also just worry because I have been on this combination of medicine for so long and it has seemed to work. So I guess I am just looking for support on how to get off of this medicine and ways I can occupy myself without thinking about the med changes so much.

Thanks.

[WastingAsparagus]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Are you replacing the Zyprexa with a different med or going off all meds? If you dont mind, may I ask why?

I am just going off of Zyprexa. I also take four other meds -- Klonopin, Abilify, Remeron, and Effexor, so I think my doctor just wants to see how it goes off of Zyprexa because I've gained weight on it (the Zyprexa seems to be the specific culprit for this) and it also seems to have raised my cholesterol significantly. My doctor thinks that I will do fine without it (the Zyprexa). I also think it slows me down a bit. I don't know. It just seems to me like it's the logical thing to do to get off of it, but then again, I've done well on it for a while, so it definitely makes me nervous going off of it. I also think Zyprexa impacts my creativity negatively (which I know is true, though maybe the med is not directly responsible for this). I have doubts about the whole thing, but it seems like the right thing to do.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

I am just going off of Zyprexa. I also take four other meds -- Klonopin, Abilify, Remeron, and Effexor, so I think my doctor just wants to see how it goes off of Zyprexa because I've gained weight on it (the Zyprexa seems to be the specific culprit for this) and it also seems to have raised my cholesterol significantly. My doctor thinks that I will do fine without it (the Zyprexa). I also think it slows me down a bit. I don't know. It just seems to me like it's the logical thing to do to get off of it, but then again, I've done well on it for a while, so it definitely makes me nervous going off of it. I also think Zyprexa impacts my creativity negatively (which I know is true, though maybe the med is not directly responsible for this). I have doubts about the whole thing, but it seems like the right thing to do.

You’re on another AP already so you can taper much faster...usually when I switch the taper is just days....

[WastingAsparagus]

Ugh, taper is not going well. Back at 5mg of Zyprexa. That's because my doctor said I could go back up to 5mg. Well . . .

[WastingAsparagus]

I honestly hate Zyprexa though. It makes me feel like a zombie.

[WastingAsparagus]

Yeah didn't go well at 5mg either.

I am back at 10mg. Ha. That was my initial dosage. I was wondering why my psychiatrist wanted to lower it in the first place. I guess I know now that I need the 10mg Zyprexa.

[NOS-NOS]

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

Yeah didn't go well at 5mg either.

I am back at 10mg. Ha. That was my initial dosage. I was wondering why my psychiatrist wanted to lower it in the first place. I guess I know now that I need the 10mg Zyprexa.

Same here. I'm back on 10mg. I had switched to 5mg under pdoc's supervision and I think looking back it was just a slow burn for me. I'm at my optimal dosage now 10mg zyprexa, 6mg risperdal plus 10mg lexapro. Come to think of it, trying to lower my meds probably contributed in some way to my eventual divorce, but who knows. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.