CookieN Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hello, I have been on zyprexa twice. The first time I was on the medication for 4 years, then I quit and was zyprexa free for a year and a half. After my second break, my doctor prescribed it again. I have been taking it for a year. The dose I took was 1/4 of a 5mg pill (1.25mg). This january I started tapering slowly. I started getting a new symptom which I had never had before, not even when I had my first break. I am getting -paranoid attacks-. It is like a panic attack, but instead of getting tachicardia, shortness of breath, I get and explosion of paranoia, and intense feeling that someone is chasing me. Since I never had this before I feel that this is part of withdrawal. I wanted to know if you ever had this when quitting zyprexa, and what other symptoms you had when you quit the medication? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hi and welcome! Why do you want to discontinue it when you are obviously more stable when you are taking it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookieN Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 I want to quit, because zyprexa could lead to diabetes. It already caused me problems in the past : excessive weight gain and increased sugar levels. I also want to quit because I think it makes psychosis worse (in the long run) although it is very useful in the short run. It also makes me very sleepy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meganhalley Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Are you extremely sensitive to this medication? 1/4 of a 5 mg tab is a pretty small dose . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallowedink Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Have you spoken to your Pdoc about tapering Zyprexa? That would be your first port of call. You should also report these paranoia attacks to him. One possibilty might be moving from Zyprexa straight onto another AAP? It should definitely be discussed with your doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 I want to quit, because zyprexa could lead to diabetes. It already caused me problems in the past : excessive weight gain and increased sugar levels. I also want to quit because I think it makes psychosis worse (in the long run) although it is very useful in the short run. It also makes me very sleepy I hope that you are working with your doctor to taper off the Zyprexa so that you can be moved over onto a different antipsychotic (with more acceptable side effects) if your doctor thinks it is necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konings Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Some people are better without medications in the long run because they are capable of extreme compensation. Very few are though. Some people taper slowly off medications and discover their symptoms dont fully come back. However this is obviously not the case with you. Your paranoia is probably because your disease has worsened, which may or may not be due to meds. We may never know, but whats done is done, personally i would not waste even a week of my life being without medication unless symptoms are very tolerable. Thats for you to decide if your symptoms are tolerable to you. Zyprexa's side effects according to my pdoc are bad enough that she doesnt want to put me on it even if i wanted it. There are better options out there that dont cause diabetes or much anything if you are lucky with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I am in a somewhat similar situation. I wasn't stable when I tried to taper last year, my symptoms came back. I am trying again now I am stable. I have a lot of coping skills from therapy and patience to tolerate my distress. I think anyone reducing meds needs those tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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