So, the last 10 days or so I have been taking 5mg zyprexa and 50mg seroquel. Reduced from 7.5mg zyprexa, and introduced seroquel. Sleep was my main concern, but I have slept surprisingly well.
I will hold at this dose a while, then go to 4.3mg zyprexa as the next step. I will increase seroquel as needed along the way. The goal is to get off zyprexa and be only on seroquel. Hopefully a low dose of seroquel. This process of quitting zyprexa after long term use can take a year or more from stories I have read online. But that’s ok. This project is condoned by my doctor btw.
A year?
I been on Clozapine for 10 years
I’m already on low dose but I do am planning with my pdoc to get off of it completely and probably get on Vraylar meanwhile
A year though! Oufff that’s a heck of a long time. Thought it would be 2-3 months max
Depends what drug it is, dosage, and how long you have been on it. Zyprexa is thought to be one of the worst to quit. Some people say it’s worse than quitting heroin.
Ofcourse there are individual differences as well, genetics play a role.
It could take less than a year too, but from reading stories online I expect it to take a year or more, at least if I’m going to ease off and be able to hold down my job in the process.
I have been on zyprexa for a long time…I feel a bit unlucky I ended up on this drug in the first place, but you got to play the hand you have been dealt.
@Mr_Hope Are you doing this change because you believe seroquel is a better drug than zyprexa? I’m tempted to try another drug myself, I have tried quite a few, abilify made me psychotic (can’t be sure if that was the reduction of zyprexa or the addition of abilify though), and latuda gave me anxiety. Risperidone I’m not sure if I felt any different on at all. Seroquel is a drug I have barely tried years ago, so I can’t even remember how I felt on that one.
I think seroquel might be better for me. I don’t think it’s a better drug in general. It’s weaker then zyprexa in ways, but has less side effects I would think.
I’m dependant on zyprexa for sleep which is scary and a big disadvatage. So it would be good to change that.
@Mr_Hope I hope this continues to go well for you and that your sleep is better with this switch and that your symptoms also are still under control too. I also think you are wise to do this very very slowly. I recently came off aripiprazole very very slowly. It took me over 4 months. I was on the highest dose and very very gradually came off it successfully. Best wishes to you!
It’s going ok. Just have to adapt to being less sedated.
In my opinion seroquel feels very different than zyprexa. I’m not sure it will be the right drug for me though. Still only on 4.3mg zyprexa and 50mg seroquel xr.
Sleep has not been as good as after I went down from 5mg zyprexa to 4.3mg. I’m having physical symptoms that force me to go back up on 5mg. I will probably have to stay on 5mg for at least 1 month to regain my strenght.
Then I will have to find some options to deal with poor sleep next time around. Gabapentin is on the table from my doctor. Trying to avoid benzos.
I could also try gaba and valerian root next time. Valerian seems to improve sleep but makes me pretty groggy combined with the meds. Don’t know if I can take the interaction effect, but worth a try.
Sleep has been adequate. Will reduce to 4.3mg zyprexa in two days and hold for 3-4 weeks.