Posted by ronaldo on November 9, 2006, at 10:18:47
In reply to Re: Has anyone ever heard.....? » ronaldo, posted by ed_uk on November 8, 2006, at 16:24:14
> Hi
>
> >I'm surprised you say 7.5 mg FOR A FEW WEEKS.
>
> Definitely, olanzapine is not an easy drug to withdraw from!
>
> Ed
Hi Ed,I came off a course of 5 mg Olanzapine that I had been taking for just under 4 years in a matter of 4 weeks. Was this too hasty? I suffered terrible insomnia and some anxiety and the Seroquel and the Zopiclone wouldn't work to give me some sleep. Is the latter problem with the Seroquel and Zopiclone d/t coming off the Olanzapine too quickly? I was cultivating the opinion that the Olanzapine had somehow sabotaged my receptors so that nothing else would work and so I would have to return to the 5 mg Olanzpine or worse still, 10 mg. I suppose you could call it an enforced loyalty card...lol.
Now, for my sins, I am on 10 mg of Olanzapine which gives me a dull depressed feeling so that I am once again anxious to come off it. How long should I take to do so? The Maudsley Psych. Pharm. Helpline, (0207 919 2999) told me (when I was on the 5 mg) that I should reduce to 2.5 mg for 2 to 4 weeks and then STOP. BTW it is VERY hard to get through on that number; you have to LNR repeatedly for about an hour to eventually speak to someone. They are supposed to be the main fundis though. Their hours are 11.00 to 12.30 and 2.00 to 5.00. They said I could expect 'disturbed sleep and anxiety'. They weren't wrong though the anxiety only appeared when I was off the Olanz. completely. Is this what they call 'rebound anxiety' and also 'rebound insomnia'?
Experience has taught me that you are right Ed. Olanzapine is a very hard drug to withdraw from. How would you recommend I should come off the 10 mg Olanzapine? I've been on it since 15 October 2006.
I hope to speak to my pdoc on Monday, hopefully I will be able to see him next week. I am not happy with my diagnosis ('Bi-polar disorder in remission' without there ever having been a definite diagnosis of Bi-polar in the first place.)nor am I happy with my drug regime (900 mg Lithium plus 10 mg Olanzapine). Most of the pdocs who have seen me over the past four years have diagnosed me as Schizoaffective disorder, most with a question mark in front. No one has diagnosed me as Bi-polar Disorder without placing a question mark in front.
I have chronic flat affect or is it chronic mild depression? Therefore I would like to augment my Lithium with some Lamictal which I know titrates very slowly. One thing I do know I cannot carry on the way I am. Maybe I am dysthymic? One good thing is Psychobabble. If it were not for this board I would simply suffer in silence as I have for the past quarter of a century.
Thanks Ed, your opinion will be highly appreciated.
....ronaldo
poster:ronaldo
thread:700518
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061104/msgs/701982.html