Posted by ronaldo on January 1, 2007, at 5:05:48
In reply to Taking a poll - have you failed to quit Zyprexa?, posted by kotsunega on January 1, 2007, at 0:44:26
Hi kotsunega
I took Zyprexa for nearly four years. I am on my second attempt to come off this medication. Last attempt I got down to zero and held it there for 3 weeks but the rebound insomnia would not let me go. I tried to alleviate the insomnia with Seroquel and Zopiclone but neither worked. The insomnia was sending me manic (I am a manic depressive) and I had to capitulate. I also suffered anxiety and some akathisia. I returned to a dose of 10 mg whereas I was on a previous maximum of 5 mg.
Now, on my second attempt, I have so far weaned down from 10 mg to 3,75 mg (half of a 7.5 mg tablet). It has taken me 7 weeks to get this far. My previous attempt which I had to abandon took me 4 weeks to get from 5 mg to 0 mg which was much too quick. I estimate that my present w/d will take me a total of about 11 or 12 weeks - three times as long. At present my sleep is just adequate. My next step is down to 2.5 mg - this is where it starts to get tricky. I am worried about what my sleep will be like at this level.
I think it is irresponsible of Eli Lilley to market a drug with such withdrawal difficulties without having a printed w/d strategy enclosed in the box. But of course their strategy is to sell as much Zyprexa as they can. They are not interested in getting people off it even though there are compelling reasons like diabetes and weight gain for not taking this drug.
I would be interested to hear your withdrawal strategy.
ronaldo
> If you would like to comment on your experience in your attempts to quit zyprexa, I'd like to hear from you - and to learn what happened when you did attempt to quit zyprexa.
>
> How long did you take zyprexa?
> How many times have you tried to quit this AA?
> What were your (withdrawal) symptoms?
> What alleviated the symptoms, if anything?
> Were you eventually successful or not at all successful?
>
> So far, I have been unsuccessful in 2 previous attempts to quit the drug (the effects were so uncomfortable, I was driven back to taking zyprexa just to get some peace in my head). I am now making a 3rd attempt, while using a different approach. It has alarmed me to see in different threads on this board the number of people who, like me, have tried and failed to quit this atypical antipsychotic. So, I'm wondering just how many of us have tried and either succeeded or failed in getting off this drug. If you have, I'd like to know what the trick was that worked. If you haven't, I'd like to know that too - because I'm wondering if this is another "side effect" Eli Lilly has glossed over in its documented attempt to downplay any negative effects of using this drug. Thanks!!
poster:ronaldo
thread:718101
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070101/msgs/718118.html