Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is commonly utilized for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It works more on serotonin receptors than dopamine receptors, but targets both. Although this is a drug that can work well for treating severe mental illnesses, more than 50% of people quit taking it during clinical trials due to severe side effects. In comparison to the older “typical” antipsychotic drugs, the only advantage this medication has is slightly fewer side effects.
However, it is associated with greater weight gain than older antipsychotic medications. Of all antipsychotic drugs, this is the drug that has been found to cause the most weight gain. Zyprexa has been tested for eating disorders and anxiety disorders, but has not been found effective for treating either condition in clinical trials. The only conditions that this drug should be used to treat are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – after other options with less side effects have been explored.
Most people that have taken Zyprexa end up coming to a point where they have to weigh the benefits they are getting with the side effects of the drug. A majority of individuals end up quitting simply because the side effects are overwhelming. These side effects can include: increased cholesterol, weight gain, metabolic changes, increased stroke risk in elderly and/or the development of diabetes.
Factors that influence Zyprexa withdrawal
Below are several factors that influence withdrawal from Zyprexa. Perhaps the most influential factors are time span over which you took the drug and your dosage. However individual factors and how quickly you taper off of the medication can also play a role.
1. Time Span
How long were you on Zyprexa? In general, the longer you take an antipsychotic medication, the more dependent you become on it for everyday functioning. If you took this drug for many years, it will likely be much more difficult to withdraw from in comparison to someone who just took it for a month or two.
2. Dosage
Most people that are on this drug for an extended period of time end up having to increase their dosage. The greater the dosage you take, the easier it is for your body to build a tolerance to that higher dose. When you withdraw from the medication from a higher dose, you will likely need to conduct a longer taper than someone who is just on a low dose. If you quit cold turkey from a high dose, the withdrawal symptoms are thought to last much longer and be more severe.
For schizophrenia, most individuals take between 10 mg and 15 mg daily. The recommended starting dose is typically 5 mg. In general, most psychiatrists will gradually titrate a patient up to a dose that provides relief from symptoms. Antipsychotics carry powerful side effects and usually the lowest effective dose is recommended to minimize those effects.
3. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering
Did you quit cold turkey or did you conduct a gradual taper? Antipsychotics like Zyprexa are very serious drugs and the withdrawal effects can be debilitating. It is always recommended to conduct a very gradual taper to allow your body to slowly adjust to functioning without the drug over a period of time. In general the tapering period should be influenced by your current dose as well as how long you took the drug.
If you were on this particular drug for an extended period of time, it is recommended to taper at a rate of 10% per month. By slowly reducing your dose, you will give your neurotransmitters some time to accommodate and adjust to changes in the amount of the drug you ingest. If you are very sensitive to even minor reductions in dose, you can request a liquid compound that will allow you to reduce your dose by fractions of milligrams.
4. Personal Factors
Individual factors play a huge role in determining the difficulty of withdrawal. Some people naturally are very sensitive to changes in dosage and may have a much more difficult time withdrawing. Additionally some people have much more social support than others which helps them cope with their experience coming off of the drug.
People taking other medications or transitioning to another antipsychotic may not even notice much of a withdrawal compared to individuals who were only taking Zyprexa. Some individuals have better dietary habits, sleeping patterns, exercise habits, less stressful jobs, etc. – all these factors can play a role in influencing withdrawal. Therefore it is recommended to not compare yourself to that of other people when withdrawing.
Zyprexa Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below is a list of symtpoms that you may experience when coming off of Zyprexa. Keep in mind that not everyone will experience every single symptom listed below. You may experience a few of the symptoms or many and the severity of withdrawal will be influenced by individual factors.
- Anxiety: Many people report very extreme anxiety when they quit Zyprexa. This is a drug that many people find calming and when taken away, a person can feel extremely anxious. Do your best to practice relaxation exercises and recognize that the anxiety is part of withdrawal.
- Appetite changes: While on Zyprexa, many people experience significant increases in appetite. A person may feel as if they are never full and/or are transforming into Hulk as a result of the food that they eat. When coming off of Zyprexa, most people experience decreased appetite.
- Bipolar symptoms: Some people may experience a reemergence of Bipolar symptoms (e.g. mania) when they quit taking this drug. If you have Bipolar disorder and are on this medication, proceed slowly and with caution when withdrawing.
- Concentration problems: If you find it very difficult to concentrate on tasks such as reading, writing, and/or work, you are not alone. Many people have major difficulties with focusing when they are going through withdrawal. This symptom tends to improve over time as your brain adapts to functioning without the drug.
- Confusion: When you experience a bunch of uncomfortable physical symptoms accompanied by foggy thinking, concentration problems, and emotional disturbances, this can result in a state of confusion. If you feel confused often, just know that this will improve over time.
- Crying spells: The depression that people experience when quitting an antipsychotic like Zyprexa can be very tough to deal with. This may result in a person crying excessively because they feel so down in the dumps.
- Depersonalization: Do you feel unlike your old “normal” self? This is because your neurotransmitters are out of balance and have changed since you took the medication. It will likely take your brain some time to reset its homeostatic functioning.
- Depression: Many people report extreme depression when they stop taking this drug. The depression is thought to be a result of lowered levels of dopamine and serotonin. You should eventually experience some lift in mood after some time off of the medication.
- Diarrhea: Some people experience diarrhea when they discontinue this medication. This isn’t an extremely common symptom, but one that has been reported. If this is the case, you may want to consider some over the counter Imodium.
- Dizziness: Among the most common withdrawal symptoms from any psychiatric medication is that of dizziness. It is common for people to feel very dizzy, especially if the tapering was done too quickly. Dizziness will eventually lessen over time as the brain functioning readjusts.
- Fatigue: Most people report excessive tiredness and general fatigue when they come off of Zyprexa. You may have a difficult time performing everyday tasks because your energy level is so low. Just know that your energy level will eventually return as time passes.
- Hallucinations: There is evidence pointing to the fact that some people experience psychotic symptoms as a result of withdrawal. This is thought to be a result of changes in dopamine receptor functioning and dopamine levels.
- Headaches: Some people experience splitting severe headaches when they come off of this medication. Having headaches accompanied by dizziness can be a very difficult one-two punch. Just know that these should subside after your body restores proper functioning.
- Insomnia: This drug tends to calm people down and in many cases makes them sleepy. When coming off of it, the opposite can be true. Some people report such intense anxiety and an inability to fall asleep. Â Insomnia may persist for quite some time after your last dose. Â It should improve as you make some lifestyle changes and your neurotransmitter levels change.
- Irritability: Do you notice yourself becoming increasingly irritable? If you feel more irritable than normal and little things set you off, it may be a result of withdrawal. Neurotransmitter levels are in fluctuation, which is thought to lead to people feeling irritable.
- Memory problems: It is very common to experience poor memory functioning upon drug discontinuation. It isn’t well known as to why these drugs can lead to memory problems. With that said, most people do experience improvements in memory with time off of the drug.
- Mood swings: Some people experience pretty severe mood swings upon discontinuation. One minute you may feel as though the withdrawal is over, the next you may feel swamped in a state of deep depression. For this I’m not referring to “bipolar” mood swings, rather just unexpected changes in mood.
- Muscle cramps: Those who have taken this medication over the long term may experience muscle cramps and/or weakness during the withdrawal process.
- Nausea: Many people report intense nausea during the time in which they discontinue their medication. The nausea can be severe to the point that a person also vomits. In general, the nausea after the last dose shouldn’t last more than a couple weeks.
- Panic attacks: Some individuals report experiencing heightened anxiety to the point of panic attacks. In other words, a person experiences such high arousal that everyday activities lead to intense feelings of panic.
- Psychosis: It has been documented that withdrawal from antipsychotics can cause psychosis. It is not very common to experience this upon withdrawal, but it does happen. Obviously this may signify the reemergence of schizophrenia, but in those without schizophrenia, it can be part of withdrawal.
- Restlessness: If you feel especially restless for no apparent reason, it is likely due to the withdrawal that you are experiencing. The changes in neurotransmitters, elevated level of arousal, and anxious thinking can make a person restless.
- Suicidal thinking: It is extremely common to feel suicidal during your withdrawal. You may experience suicidal thoughts that seem as if they will never subside. Over time, these should gradually subside. If you feel suicidal and cannot cope with these thoughts, please seek professional help.
- Sweating: Many people sweat intensely when they withdraw from psychiatric drugs – this antipsychotic is no exception. If you notice that you are sweating profusely throughout the day and wake up sweating in the middle of the night, just know it’s part of the process.
- Vomiting: Feel flu-like to the point that you are nauseous and keep vomiting? Some people have reported intense vomiting spells during the first week or two when they initially quit this medication. To reduce this symptom, be sure to wean off of Zyprexa as gradually as possible.
- Weight loss: Taking this drug is known to increase appetite and slow metabolism, which leads to many people gaining weight. Zyprexa is one of the worst drugs for trying to keep weight off – most people eat way too much food on this drug in particular. When you stop taking it and stay off of it for awhile, you should also lose the weight that you gained.
Zyprexa Withdrawal Length: How long does it last?
When it comes to withdrawal from Zyprexa, there is really no exact timeline that can be followed. The withdrawal symptoms and length have a lot to do with individual factors such as: how you tapered off the drug, how long you had taken it, and whether you are on other medications. For people that have taken this drug for a long term, the withdrawal symptoms may linger for over 90 days. For others, the withdrawal may only persist for a couple of weeks – it totally depends.
If you worked closely with a professional for tapering off of Zyprexa and gradually weaned off of the drug over a period of weeks or months, you may not have many symptoms following your last dose. On the other hand, someone who has taken it for years and decides to quit “cold turkey” may find themselves really struggling with severe symptoms as their brain attempts to rewire itself for functioning without the drug.
I always recommend evaluating symptoms after 90 days. Many people overreact with intense panic and anxiety in the first few weeks thinking that their withdrawal symptoms will never improve. The reality is that with good sleep, proper diet, exercise, and structure (e.g. work), most people will notice improvement in their withdrawal after 3 months being drug-free. Even if you are not fully recovered after 90 days, you will likely feel much improved compared to the initial couple weeks of withdrawal.
If you have successfully withdrawn from Zyprexa or are currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Your experience may greatly help another person who is going through the same withdrawal.
I was initilly on 10 mg for five months went to 7.5 mg for two months and then 5 mg for two months and been off for a few days. The only side effect is brain shifting which happens to me from any drug. I can actually feel my brain adjusting. Completely tolerable. Lost five pounds in two days since being off.
Was on 10mg a day for 4 years. I am now a type 1 diabetic, weaned myself off and lost the weight I’d gained pretty much instantly… as for the diabetes, well that’s for life.
End of week 3. Been on this med for twenty years. Having made attempts in the past cold turkey definitely would say it’s been much easier tapering. I am not experiencing alarming weight loss this way. I also am able to manage the extremely intense dreams that come up. Being finally off I gotta say it hurts. Headaches insomnia to the point of fear and desperation in attempts to sleep.
Definitely tremors and shakes. I’m sad to see this could last three months or more. However I cannot go back. It’s so nice to feel. 30 years of my life on psych meds and at 33 years old it’s so nice to finally get to find out who I am. This process is hard, if you are doing it you are not alone. Do your best to hang in there and find good supports.
I have read every single story above, to give me the courage to persist with not taking any more Olanzapine, I have been off it for one week. Like Lady L, I have also had the unusual experience of not gaining any weight while on Olanzapine for the past 14 months. I stayed hungry but now that I’ve stopped taking it, I have virtually no appetite. What I find hardest now is the insomnia, I am trying not to let that stress me out, even getting a little sleep is good and sure I slept too much while I was on the drug!
Meditation and swimming have helped me to stay calm. I did Cognitive Behavioral Therapy last year and am thinking more positively. I wish I had got that kind of help years ago but I guess it wasn’t available the last time I had a psychotic break (16 years ago). Given the long period of relatively good mental health, my prognosis is good.
I now know that I am not a relaxed person but an anxious one. Self awareness and looking for another perspective on my own thoughts will hopefully help me to lead a happier life. Good luck to you all and stay strong.
Looking to do a taper safely off 20mg taken once per day currently of the dissolving olanzapine tablets. The doc said to try going down to 15mg for one week, then 10mg next week, then 5mg next week, and to sort of figure it out from there based on possible WD symptoms (or not). Weight gain has been negligible and have been on it for something like 3-4 months now.
Very concerned with possible issues discontinuing this as I am already underweight and have appetite problems (severe lack of) even while taking this. It seems most people have a huge surge in appetite and weight gain but unfortunately that has not been the case here. Would like to hear opinions on a safe taper with the orally dissolving tablets as they are a bit difficult to divide up and even just breaking into 4 parts.
It’s proving challenging even with a pill cutter. Anyone have a similar situation past or present? Would appreciate any and all input and ideas. Thank you!
I was prescribed Zyprexa 5mg for 7 years. I took it for a total of 8 years and just recently got off. I was on 2.5mg for roughly 1 year then thought it was time to get off. I went to my GP and he advised me to cut down to 1.25mg per night for 2/3 weeks and so I did.
I have been completely off for about 3 weeks now. I experienced nightmares (about 2 or 3) and would only sleep for a few hours for the first week but then I was fine. My appetite most definitely decreased and I do feel nauseous a lot of the time but other than that I am fine. They say the longer you are on these pills, the harder it is to get off.
Personally I think it depends on the individual. Don’t look too much into people’s experiences and be afraid to take the step of getting off the medicine. I have read a lot of reviews and I felt sick and frightened. But I take into consideration that each individual is different and I love that we can all share our experiences and get advice from one another on here. I wish you guys all the best!
Now to get off 100mg of Pristiq that I have been on for 12 very long years. ?
My name is Cengiz and I am writing from Denmark and I have read all of your stories. I was wondering how your progress on coming of the olanzapine is and if you are still experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. I too am trying to get of the zyprexa I have been taking it for 11 months now.
Currently I am on a dosage of 5 mg. I started with 5 mg but upped my dose to 15 mg but that was only for 3 months. Now I’m down to 5 mg again. Right now I don’t know if I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I freeze a lot, fever like symptoms, insomnia, stomach cramps, etc.
I am so afraid of this medication because I know it is a dangerous drug. I am afraid that it has caused brain damage. I know that you are not a doctors but it is nice to speak with someone who has tried the hell themselves. I have tried to come off of the drug 6 times but unsuccessful maybe because I did it to fast.
This time I will do it on a slower pace. Maybe we are talking months. I hope someone can answer back because I desperately need to someone who has been there themselves.
Hi Cengiz, It’s been 5 months since I stopped taking Zyprexa and recently the thing that bugged me most was itch. Now that has stopped and I am able to sleep for seven hours each night. Still I am not back to normal. I feel like there is a block of cement in my head. It’s blocking my feelings and expression. I have read about similar experiences which lasted for years before finally disappearing.
As Zyprexa is a benzo this should not be surprising. The thing that I keep in mind is that I have enough rest, food and movement. I have a full time job and I am able to do some work at home. The thing I miss most is a relationship but I am confident that one day that will be possible again. Greetings.
Hi, So I stopped taking Zyprexa about a week ago. I was taking it for about 3 months and was also taking trileptal along with it. I am starting to have some withdrawal symptoms. I constantly start overthinking things that aren’t really important, or I randomly feel depressed. Get severe headaches. Is there anything I could try while I am going through this? It really scares me to go back to the medicine and it feels like this is never going to end.
Hi Sean, I have recently experienced some very similar withdrawal symptoms. I can say that Gabapentin has helped me deal with the anxiety I was experiencing. It was really severe, but since I started taking that, it has faded. I am not 100% but better than I was when I was experiencing the withdrawal. Hope this helps. Good luck it gets better.
I was taking 10mg of Zyprexa at night and over the 5 months I took it I gained 20 lbs, my regular doctor said my blood sugars went up and now is evaluating me for diabetes. Did I like taking it? Yes, it helped me sleep through the entire night. But I felt I was becoming dependent on it and the weight gain was causing all sorts of other issues.
I quit cold turkey, probably the worst idea ever. It’s been three weeks since my last dose and I’m having several severe withdrawal symptoms. Every night I have sweat through my clothes and sheets, have incredible hot spells throughout the day, my muscles feel like I have the achy flu and I get bouts of nausea that rival morning sickness.
I keep telling myself this will all go away but I sure wish it would hurry up because it’s starting to feel like this is going to be the rest of my life. I’ve lost 12 lbs in the last three weeks and am glad about that but I sure feel weak. I highly recommend trying every alternative before starting on this powerful drug.
I am so thankful to have come to this website during my search regarding the withdrawal effects from Zyprexa. My symptoms have been pretty severe considering I quit cold turkey and I was taking the drug for nearly 2 years 10mg per day. I have been sweating profusely, can’t eat much, severe nausea periodically throughout the day, depressed, major major anxiety and irritability, but the worst feelings I have is like carrying an extra 50 lbs on my shoulders throughout the day as if I have the worst flu with no energy or motivation to do much at all.
The doctor that prescribed this for my bipolar depression didn’t explain the side effects or try any other drugs prior to zyprexa. I’ve been on Zoloft, prozac, cymbalta, and a couple other antidepressants that did little for me, so I thought this drug would work per my expectations that my doctor knew what she was prescribing me! Boy will I be more proactive when I see the new psychiatrist in a couple weeks from now! The bottom line is I have felt like shitzu for the past 2-3 weeks and don’t feel much better at all.
My recommendation would be NOT to quit cold turkey. In my case, I have outweighed the side effects as more serious to my health such as high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, lowest testosterone, and enough weight gain to make me sickened by the way my body now looks, and no matter how healthy I tried to eat, the weight gain was still a problem. I will continue to suffer the withdrawal effects as long as they last because I will never take Zyprexa ever again…and that’s my story. Thank you.
My husband was on zyprexa for a almost two months. Started with 20mg for 3 weeks, then went down to 10mg for 10 days, 5 mg for 10 days and now he is off. The withdrawal has not been bad, insomnia for the first 2 nights, a little bit of anxiety, but everything gone after a week or so. Just to give a little hope to the ones trying to get off this med. I was terrified after reading all the comments here and promised I would come back to write something if everything went ok. Good luck to everybody!
Hi, I was committed to a mental hospital after I suffered a psychotic breakdown. Over there they gave me zyprexa and put me in isolation. After a couple of weeks they released me. I’ve been on zyprexa for three years and a half. Last year on 16 November I quit taking it after tapering off for several months. The first weeks I was suffering from insomnia and was feeling anxious and agitated.
I also suffer from itching skin. Even now, four months later I have nights where I wake up and the itching almost drives me crazy. On the positive side I can say that I sleep less than I did when I was on Z. I’m also in a positive mood and I know I’m gonna get better. To all those people who are still in doubt I can recommend the books of Robert Whitaker.
In these books he explains how after taking Zyprexa the dopamine receptors, serotonin receptors, histamine receptors, adrenaline receptors and muscarine receptors get blocked. As a response the brain creates more receptors. When you stop taking Zyprexa there are too many receptors available for signaling. As a result you get a flood of different signaling responses.
In a way it’s like you’re on amphetamines. The itching comes from the histamine flood. Autopsies have shown that the number of receptors after six months is back to normal. The brain has then yet to recover from the onslaught. So there is hope for all of you. We just have to be patient.
I started taking olanzapine in 1999 and I have always wanted to cease taking them from day 1. I have tried several times to stop but the withdrawals are hellish to say the least. I have resighned myself to the fact that I may be taking it for the rest of my life, however, with a proper balance of diet and exercise and plenty of rest, I should manage, but if I could get off ’em, I would.
I have been taking zyprexa the past 6 months. After reading Andrews Salomon book about depression (The Noonday Demon), I have decided that I am not that sick and I can live without this drug, which didn’t make me feel better or different than what I felt only with serotonin, yet made me fat. I cut it of twice, but the symptoms where horrible.
First try, I wanted to kill myself. I had my first panic attack ever and I got very scared about the thoughts and feelings I had. Yet the doctor told me that if I am experimenting these reactions, is my body’s way of telling that I needed zyprexa. So I started taking it again. 3 weeks later I tried again to quit it, but same thing happened. Terrible headaches, muscular cramps and depression.
Today I have decided to cut it off again, because I read the more you take it, the more difficult is to cut it off. And it makes me fat. My doctor does not understand that this is a drug I don’t feel comfortable with, so I took this decision on my own and I will try to cut it off on my own, also.
Hi, I have been on zyprexa for over 6 years now. I went from size 12 to 22 over 6 years. My stomach looks like I am pregnant mmm I look even worse than that. I was on 5mg day 2 1/2 mg at night. I was able to get off the 2 & 1/2mg at night with no problem. I have been reducing my 5mg one day 5mg next day 2 & 1/2. OMG I cant believe it.
I have been so unwell with extreme anxiety and foggy thinking and concentration just dropping this small amount. It’s been 4 weeks and I am slowly getting use to the reduced amount. I cant believe I have been so unwell just dropping 2 1/2 mg. My goal is to get off this altogether but it looks like it is going to be a very long time. My psychiatrist has put me on Gabapentin which helped with my extreme anxiety. Good luck everyone.
I was on Zyprexa for about 4 months and slowly tapered off of it over the past month and a half with my psychiatrist’s help. I am now completely off of it but am struggling. I keep crying and am feeling really anxious. Does anyone know how long withdrawal symptoms last? I am trying to battle through it and let it take its course without going back on it but it is really hard.
I just went on Gabapentin to deal with the extreme anxiety of coming off of Zyprexa and am feeling a million times better. I felt better instantly with taking the Gabapentin. I highly recommend this to anyone going through withdrawal from Zyprexa. I’m slowly starting to see my withdrawal symptoms fade. Hope this helps and good luck to everyone out there. This has been an awful experience but it gets better!
I have been on Zyprexa for two weeks and my doc is slowly tapering me off. I am so mad because I was on the hospital and the psychiatrist there suggested I take it… now I’m out of the hospital and me regular psychiatrist is livid that I was given it and is tapering me off. I have crying spells, mood swings, panic attacks, tingling in limbs, etc. How long does the withdrawal last? I was only on it for two weeks, but this is hell!
Hi Rachel, I have been having very similar effects. I keep having crying spells and am experiencing some anxiety. I have only been off of it for five days. I’m hoping it gets better. I was on Zyprexa for 3 months and have slowly tapered off. I’m giving it a week before I make any other changes. Good luck to you.
I have been on zyprexa for 2 years. I am slowly tapering off of it, about 10 percent every 14 days. I am have severe panic attacks during the night. I fall asleep and then the attacks wake me up with severe heart palpitations This goes on for awhile until I eventually fall asleep. I cry easier too.
Has anyone used another med to get through the withdrawal symptoms. I read it could take up to 90 days to feel somewhat normal again. I was put on it for sleep. I did well on sleep but now my blood sugar is up among other things. I am currently on 2.5.
I have now been off Olanzapine for just over 4 months and I still have nausea and vomiting. This I am coping with, but in the last week I have started to have physical signs of anxiety, chest pain, a shaky feeling and crying, I did not have this when I started the drug.
I was put on Olanzapine because of feeling worried in the mornings when I woke up, it was just mild anxiety the doctor should have just tried increasing my antidepressant. Wish I had never gone near this drug but you trust doctors don’t you?!
My husband has been taking 10mg of ZyPrexa for about 3 months along with lithium and lexapro but those a lot longer. He was put on it to help with his bipolar and anxiety. He recently ran out and couldn’t get a refill right away. Now he is going through some of the withdrawals.
He is sweating at night like crazy and it’s so bad he soaks the bed, whole body is cramping, stiff neck, diarrhea, severe migraine, joints hurt, no appetite, and tired. This are what hes experiencing so far and its been one week today. He said he feels like dying. I wish the doc never put him on this drug.
This is a horrible drug and should be pulled from the market. I never noticed any difference in him by taking the ZyPrexa except weight gain and slept more. Im praying the withdrawal doesn’t last long. If anybody knows of something he could do to stop it or get it to let up some would love to know.
I was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 March 2015 which I don’t think I have Bipolar. I would say it was anxiety. Doctor put me on Zyprexa for 8 months. I gained 4kg and my cholesterol went up to 8.3. I decided to stop cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms was quite bad, I felt anxious, scared all the time. I had insomnia for 5 weeks.
I went to see GP, he gave me: cortisol, 5-HTP and GABA. After 5 weeks all the withdrawal has gone and I feel like my normal self again. Thanks to my GP. If you have decided to quit Zyprexa, just be prepared for withdrawal symptoms, fight it and you will feel so good.
Hi Ai Ling, Thanks for sharing your experience. When you were taking Olanzapine (Zyprexa), what were the side effects you faced? Also, if it’s ok, could you email me your GP contact please? My condition has worsened and to stop my yelling, my doc has upped the drugs just to sedate me. To them, it’s either sleep or yell. I feel so trapped, confused and frustrated.
I have to say that my experiences with Olanzapine have also been totally negative. I feel this drug has ruined my biological functioning nervous system capabilities. I was forcibly put on Olanzapine in 2002 after what the Mental Health Team thought I was having a psychotic episode/breakdown, schizophrenia symptoms.
Just last year I wanted to taper off a 2.5mg dose. At first I did well whilst the levels were still in my system. But since January this year withdrawal symptoms have kicked in. Insomnia, nausea, unable to eat, anxiety, depression, nightmares and ‘hearing voices’, muscular spasms and many more.
I too think this drug should be banned and I am going through an intense emotional experience realizing that being put on Psychiatric Medications have actually ruined my health. If I could bring one good thing to the world out of this experience is do not take psychiatric medication, and try and sort out issues that arise by talking to positive people.
Is it normal to have withdrawal symptoms even if I tapper dose very slow? Can anybody answer me please? I have anxiety, weakness, nausea, panic attacks, feeling tired…
Taper very slowly over several months and it will lessen the withdrawal symptoms when you do stop completely. It is easier said than done I know because I have been through it. The makers of Zyprexa should be held accountable for creating this EVIL drug.
I was on 10 mg of Zyprexa for only 3 months, but started adding weight so fast I decided to come off it cold turkey. For the first two weeks or more, I felt no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. Then I suddenly got hit by really massive anxiety, and depression, and also insomnia. Three weeks later the anxiety seems to be getting better, but I still have the insomnia, and I am only now starting to experience strong cramps in my calves at night.
I know Zyprexa is a thienobenzodiazepine, and so I read up on benzodiazepine withdrawal on Wikipedia. Apparently withdrawal is not monotonic, so it waxes and wanes, sometimes better, sometimes worse. I’m getting that with the insomnia: last week I started getting some decent sleep, and thought the insomnia was passing; this week it’s bad again. This is one nasty withdrawal.
My daughter who is 17 was on zyprexa for 8 months for bipolar. She was released out a mental hospital on 20mg of zyprexa once a day and Trileptal 900mg twice a day. By the second month she was able to go down to 15mg then 10mg the next month. Two months afterwards 7.5mg. Then 5mg the next month. By this point she had gained about 70lbs and was boderline diabetic.
I was starting to feel like she had to get off of this medicine soon ASAP. The next month 2.5mg. She was very irritable and short tempered at this dose but stabled after 2 weeks. Seems like it would take her 2weeks to stable out on each dose change. Next month 2mg (by dissolving in liquid and extracting the needed dose). 2 weeks later 1.25mg liquid. 1 week .062mg for one week then stopped.
After stopping it was at the two week mark she began to really feel the withdrawal. The trileptal was increased (mood stabilizer). It’s been 12 & 1/2 weeks off and she is better but she still isn’t out of the fire. She hasn’t become psychotic since she’s been off but she just sleeps a lot and has a hard time concentrating, focusing and anxiety. Her schoolwork is suffering. I hope she starts to level off soon.
If not may need to but her on something else. For some reason I have faith in a couple more weeks she will completely pull out of this. My suggestion for anyone coming off zyprexa for bipolar is to increase or get on a mood stabilizer after the first week this will help. Zyprexa has some mood stabilizing to it so you lose that aspect off coming off of it. Best wishes to everyone I will keep you posted on how she’s doing.
I’ve been taking 5mg of zyprexa for the last 2 yrs & 2 months. I tried about a year ago to stop taking it & the anxiety was so bad I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. I agree w/others that you just end up lazy, don’t shower, & have no desire to do anything, no sex drive either. I have gained 64 pds & I’m not happy. It’s like your appetite not only becomes insatiable but you’re never full either.
Portions become out of control. 6 months ago I went back on adderall & it just doesn’t work the same way it did for the 10 yrs I was on it prior to having it taken away & being put on this crap! I was convinced it was because I was just too fat for it to work properly even at max dose. I’m convinced it’s because of the zyprexa. I don’t know when I stopped, it was a couple days before New Year’s.
Today in Jan 6, 2015. I am nauseated 24/7 & every little movement makes me sweat. I want to do nothing but lay in bed & sleep. No anxiety or insomnia… moody… man I’m a straight b*tch! I hope the nausea goes away soon. I don’t know if I can do this for months…but I know that I’m not going back on it as a way to fix it. I just think that’s insanity. I’ll deal somehow, it’s mainly just a nuisance I could do w/o.
Shocked that my adderall isn’t nipping it in the butt though. Usually if you feel like garbage, adderall will make you feel like a million bucks! I had no idea about any of this until I just decided to look up if there was such a thing as zyprexa withdrawal. Makes me want to choke my psychiatrist for ever putting me on this crap! But I’m in it for the long haul, tried everything to lose this weight & I’m over it. I want it gone yesterday! Good luck everyone!
I am new to this site, and am glad I found it. I was given this drug for sleep and anxiety, many years ago. I started tapering off of zyprexa 2.5mg in Aug 2015 with a liquid titration at 1/2 to 1 percent per day from the original dose. I was having withdrawal symptoms that would subside. First month – 20 percent; second month – 20 percent, third month – 20 percent; 4th month – 10 percent.
I slowed because symptoms were increasing. I stopped taper late November; went into severe withdrawal. I was going too fast. Multiple symptoms. Have been holding for 32 days at .8mg/day. I was also on klonopin and successfully tapered off of that drug over 1 year (finished 1 Aug 2015). My symptoms are: skin pain, formication, burning, discomfort, agitation, insomnia, vertigo, lack of appetite, and just general unrest.
All other symptoms have primarily subsided. Symptoms are still rolling in and out at 32 days. When I stopped the taper, the symptoms maxed at about 22 days. Based on my experience, I would NOT microtaper this drug like I did. If I pull out of this and I am able to taper more, I will make small cuts, and hold for one month.
IDK if I will need to be updosed at this point. I am attempting to hold where I am. I appreciate others comments as they are going through these experiences of stopping and restarting, as well as any success stories.
Hi…I’ve been on various doses of olanzapine for 18 years or so and I finally had the courage to talk to my Doc about how it’s not working for me. I am currently on 1/4 of a 2.5 MG tablet…so many unwanted symptoms that cause me fear and grief…I regret ever agreeing to take the drug…but when a Dr tells you it is the answer (especially when you’re young) you feel uncertain about your own abilities.
My experience with the mental health system has been a negative one. I am also taking trazadone and my body keeps telling me that I don’t need these drugs… In fact, my body is fighting back. I know I will feel better once the symptoms of withdrawal subside but it’s a scary journey sometimes. Don’t forget that you are ok and that the symptoms are in reverse.
It’s hard to trust doctors who want to prescribe and I find that because they are accountable for you as a patient that they don’t use any natural judgement…at least that’s the problem I have with my doc. She over does her job. She’s just a family doctor, but I wish she would have more confidence in my opinion about my own state! I don’t need more doubt and fear put on me while I bring myself back to natural mental health.
One day at a time…believe in ourselves…we are the ones who have been through it…don’t let a doctor dominate your decisions about your own health…they are meant to be informed guides only.
My doc gave me Olanzapine 20mg a year ago for my agitation, restlessness and shouting/yelling. My symptoms became worse and I have uncontrollable loud yelling in the mornings upon waking up. My current dose is 8.4mg and I am slowly tapering off every 1-2 weeks at 5%. Has anyone experienced uncontrollable yelling?
Hi Mike. Yes…I have some form of uncontrolled yelling…it’s like a whole bunch of anger wells up inside of me and I yell or spout strange words. I was thinking it was almost like Tourette syndrome symptoms. I also move uncontrollably in the morning and during meditation…
Hi Nicki, What is your dosage? Did you manage to overcome the yelling? I have been reading on all the withdrawal symptoms, but it seems yelling is uncommon. My loud yellings and agitation/restlessness start from 7 AM till noon, and by late afternoon, I am much calmer and quieter. I also take Mirtazapine and Britellix. If this is withdrawal, why is it happening in the mornings only?
I was on zyprexa 10mg twice a day for 8 years. Though it did help with my bipolar and depression I stacked on the weight. I spoke to my psychiatrist and he dropped me down to 5mg a day and swapped me to sodium valporate. That was 8 weeks ago-I have lost 11kg, and every day I feel sick to the stomach from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. I also sweat profusely through the night. I spoke to my GP today and he said it could be another month or so before I stop feeling ill all the time. I just hope that it comes sooner than later!
How bad does it get? 20mg for 6 months. I am not sleeping, having suicidal ideation, not functional at work, lost my drive for sex and can’t perform my basic duties. Above all I feel violated.
Looks like you’re getting it as bad as it gets to be honest. I think the real question is how long can you bear with it. It’s possible you might be tapering too fast, but I’m no medical expert so you may want to ignore my advice. It’s totally understandable to want to be off the stuff as soon as possible, but perhaps you should remain at 5 or 2.5 until you stabilize a bit and then continue with the tapering process when you’re not feeling as terrible. Instead of going with a fixed timeline, maybe you should go with feeling. Your brain and body may not be ready for another drop. I hope you are successful in getting off the poison.
This drug is no joke. It’s been my 3rd month on taper at 50 percent. 20-10-5 in 3 months. I have mild hallucinations, panic attacks, diarrhea, impending sense of calamity, insomnia and a metallic taste in my mouth. I go back in 7 days to move to 2.5 mg. Is this going to get worse?
Me too. Been up all night. Been getting minimum sleep, despite exercising like crazy during the daytime. Trying to eat healthy etc., but still feel angry and sad, then confused. My memory problems make it all the more embarrassing.
Like I promised! On Nov 17 2015 I left a comment that I was stopping Olanzapine and it was hell. I promised to let you know if I made it, but I did not. I had to start taking it back and at soon that I did I felt better. So I guess I’m stuck with it. It is a very bad drug but when you have to take it, you take it, at least so you can live your life. Just want to tell those who can stop taking it… you’re lucky, but for the others, please don’t suffer for nothing. Take it and do the best you can… you’re not alone. Maybe one day I’ll try again, but for now, it’s the way it goes. There you go.
I was put on 2.5mg of Olanzapine a few months ago alongside antidepressants to help with depression. It did initially lift my mood at first but that unfortunately didn’t last; my depression came back pretty hard after about a month and a half. I wasn’t best pleased with the physical side effects either – A friend noticed I’d seemed a bit withdrawn; I was permanently hungry, noticeably gained weight, and became more lethargic than usual, which only added to the depression I already had.
I came off Olanzapine two weeks ago (mostly due to frustration at the sudden weight gain), and I’ve already mostly lost the weight I put on, and feel more awake, more cheerful and less sluggish, but the withdrawal symptoms initially came with a rather persistent out-of-nowhere anxiety attack that lasted about a week (cheerful and anxious at the same time = a hell of an experience…) and four days of the most terrible insomnia. (Over-the-counter sleep aids have helped with the insomnia and my sleep patterns are now mostly back to normal.)
I’m not a doctor, and I expect Olanzapine probably works pretty well for some people, but I didn’t have a particularly good time of it, and would definitely not go on it again.
I have been on this drug for over 10 years, on 10mg for a long time but now on 20mg for the past few months following a hospital admittance for schizophrenia. Over this time I have put on some weight like many others. I’ve decided to go cold turkey and not tell my doctors and mental health team as I’m sure they will not approve, or worse, section me. I feel this drug doesn’t help me compared to the side effects and after 10+ years on chemicals I want to regain my own mental balance drug free. I have to say at this point, reading the withdrawal symptoms, I’m quite worried about how I’ll handle it, hoping it goes relatively smoothly. Wish me luck and good luck to everyone else coming off this drug.
I have been on Zyprexa for 16 years, ever since a couple of psychotic episodes. I gained 180 pounds at the worst of it. I was on 30mg for a short time, but have been on 25mg for about 15 of those years. I have to say it is very effective in terms of making you feel well mentally, but I think it was totally unnecessary to have me on such a high dose. I will start tapering off shortly, but I am very mad that my father and psychiatrist were both advocates for this dosage.
I have developed man-breasts, my concentration has been very bad for those 16 years (haven’t been able to read books, which was a favorite past time of mine) , I’ve had panic attacks, had issues with personal hygiene, frequent crying, and I am lucky I don’t have diabetes (yet). Schizophrenia is a horrible mental illness and Zyprexa may be the most effective drug to treat it, but try to be aware of the side effects and, more importantly, try to come to an agreement with your doctor to not put you on a dosage higher than 20mg daily. 10 to 15mg a day is more reasonable.
My husband has been on Olanzapine for 2 years. He has been reducing it slowly for 6 months (on medical advice). He has not had any for 2 weeks but wants to stay in bed. He is very shaky, having difficulty holding cutlery and mugs. His memory seems to have been affected too. In all the forums I have read no-one mentions shaking.
I have been on Zyprexa for two years. I started at 2.5 mgs following a breakdown that required hospitalization. Over time, I have gone to 5 mgs. I have tried repeatedly to come off Zyprexa but have never been successful. Confusion, dizziness, anxiety eventually take over. I caution everyone against taking a medication for which there is no withdrawal protocol. That should tell you volumes about the danger of taking this drug – psychiatrists have no idea of its withdrawal effects (I have had the best p-docs in the field) and generally will simply tell you not to get off it once you are taking it. Definitely a dangerous drug that will place you in a straight jacket from which you will not be able to escape.
About a year ago (November 2014) I was put on 10mg zyprexa after a psychotic episode which resulted from severe insomnia. I continued taking the drug for 2 and half months but being aware of the potential side effects I decided to get off it. I tapered to 5mg after 2 weeks and to 2.5mg 2 weeks later. I didn’t feel any change in symptoms no return of insomnia and everything felt fine. After another 2 weeks I reduced to 1.25mg and then to 0.625mg after another 2 weeks. I still felt OK, and then I quit entirely in march 2015. I have not since had any withdrawal symptoms. I am writing this to give hope to someone out there that quitting zyprexa is possible. I read of the same experience from the internet and that gave me the confidence to quit zyprexa. All the best to anyone trying to come off this drug.
I decide to stop taking Olanzapine because I was feeling always sleepy and no energy. I was taking 2.5 mg for about 4 years. It’s been 3 weeks now and I feel down, have severe anxiety, I’m not hungry but make myself eat anyway, have trouble sleeping, and difficulty having a normal conversation with friends and family. I will keep trying to get off because they say it could take 6 weeks and getting better. So I will keep you informed of my progress.
I’ve been on Zyprexa for 5 years and felt really good while taking it – my depression was under good control. Unfortunately, I have gained 50 lbs, am now diabetic and my cholesterol is all over the map. I tapered my dose down with my psychiatrist’s direction. While the side effects have not been as severe as what some people have described, I am anxious, have been having mood swings and some of my thoughts have not been pretty. It is reassuring to know that others have been going through this. My doctor’s recommendation was to take a low dose for another month before stopping – maybe this will work for someone else.
Well, it’s been a bumpy road. Still attempting to wean myself off. Still experiencing pretty severe insomnia, sweating and anxiety at times. A work in progress. Damn, what wicked stuff!
My son was put on Zyprexa in May for a psychotic episode that put him in the hospital for a week. He has been on a maintenance does of 5mg daily since then, but has been trying to get off for a couple of months due to lethargy, anxiety and weight gain. It has been HORRIBLE and now he’s had another psychotic episode because he couldn’t sleep for 4 days – nothing over the counter helped.
He even took a Klonopin, which he swore he wouldn’t take again. Finally, we all gave in Monday night and he took 5 mg. because he thought his brain was dying and insisted on going to the ER. He was asleep within 30 minutes. His psychiatrist has created a drug addict! Surely, someone knows how to get him healthy again!!!
I have a love/hate thing for Olanzapine. I was prescribed 10mg per day for dypshoric mania, and it did completely get rid of those symptoms. However it also made me gain a lot of weight very quickly, made me feel completely numb and apathetic about everything, and reduced my cognitive performance noticeably.
I decided I wanted off the drug, but felt like I couldn’t tell anyone. My relatives would be very disapproving and upset with me, and my psychiatrist would never agree. It’s like I don’t have the right to weigh the pros and cons for myself and make my own decision.
So I quit cold turkey by myself 12 days ago. So far I have had severe lethargy, body aches, constant nausea, cold sweats, insomnia and mental fog. It really feels like I have the flu. Luckily so far there has been no return of BP symptoms other than the insomnia.
I have been taking Symbyax for about 4 years. I was not aware of Zyprexa being a component of Symbyax until the side effects from it started to destroy my life. I have cut my doses in half and have been feeling the withdrawal symptoms. I would never have taken any of this medicine had I known beforehand about the terrible consequences of quitting taking it.
I have bipolar 1. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) knocks me out, which is great when I can’t sleep/ have anxiety (I also have anxiety and panic attacks), but terrible the rest of the time. I love the medical profession’s silent weighing up of risks when they prescribe this stuff. Psychosis > Diabetes > Obesity > Other stuff … yet realistically the top three are bad news >.<
My doctor's good, and tailors medications to my mood episodes, using Olanzapine only when I'm hypomanic. Even then, I don't take it every day, because of the side effects, and because hypomania is fun! I want to enjoy feeling great when depression feels so awful and is a strong memory. Once out of the woody danger of mania (I can get psychotic), the Olanzapine isn't something I take.
I feel for people who are on it long term.
I was on Zyprexa for last six years for panic attacks and anxiety (first on 5 then 3.75mg), two months ago I started to taper it slowly, every 25 days 1/10. Right now I am on 7/10 of 3.75mg and last tapper was 9 days ago but I still have nausea, dizziness, weakness, tremor, high anxiety and panic. Does anyone have similar reactions when tapering this medications and how long did they last? Please help me, I am desperate.
Hi I was put on olanzapine zyprexa a year ago after suffering psychosis. I have tried coming off this drug several times as I don’t have psychosis anymore but have failed to due to side effects. I last about 10 days before the headaches and fever gets too much and I start taking it again. I have switched to another antipsychotic which is quetiapine seroquel. It’s been about 10 days on this and I’m still suffering from olanzapine withdrawal hoping it stops soon as I can no longer take being depressed and fat. I have put on 40kgs in a year since being on this horrible drug called zyprexa or olanzapine.
I have been on Zyprexa for over five years. At first I was on 2.5mg but a couple years in I increased to 5.00. My psychiatrist recommended I go down to 2.5mg again. It’s been three days since I went on the lower doses. What I am experiencing is that I sleep until 11:00am and then I still don’t want to get up. I’ve decided to go back on the 5.0mg because I cannot sleep my life away. I forgot to mention previously that decreasing the Zyprexa dosage from 5.0mg to 2.5mg also gave me nightmares.
I’ve been on Zyprexa for about 4 years now, initially 10mg, increasing to 20mg after being sectioned six months ago. Schizophrenia is the latest diagnosis, but I’ve previously been diagnosed Schizoaffective with Major Depressive Disorder. Olanzapine was a walk in the park compared to Rispiridone, which I was initially given, and was pure nightmare fuel. I’m also on 375mg of Effexor XR.
The weight gain is now noticeable, I’m constantly hungry and making quite poor dietary choices. Food tastes amazing and is now the biggest pleasure in my life. Incredible carbohydrate cravings. I used to be lean – skinny – but I’ve now grown breasts (I’m a guy!) and feel like any attempt to lose weight is doomed because of this drug. I’ve kind of resigned myself to being a blob with no sex drive and no chance of finding another partner.
So Olanzapine did quell my psychosis, which is good, but has made me a fat, doped-out hermit. I’d love to be able to quit it, but I am truly afraid of my schizophrenia symptoms returning, along with the horror stories people are telling about withdrawal – I honestly don’t think I could cope with what people here are describing on top of my illness.