Posted by jms600 on June 19, 2011, at 14:54:25
It's been seven weeks since I took my last dose of Zyprexa. I was originally on 10mg per day for around four months. My doctor told me to just stop taking the drug and that no taper was necessary. However, I didn't quite trust his advice and so did a taper over two weeks. That was seven weeks ago and ever since then I have had terrible insomnia. I have difficulty getting to sleep and early morning waking. Once I wake up I really can't seem to drift off again.
I've tried various sleeping meds - but I always seem to get a hang over effect and I never feel fully refreshed the following day after taking them. Plus, the meds I've tried don't seem to prevent the early morning waking, although they do help me get to sleep when I go to bed.
My doctor has just prescribed zopiclone 7.5mg, so I'm going to try that tonight. He's also considering adding trazodone to my current combo of 225mg Effexor and 600mg lithium. I'm also taking 750mg of rhodiola rosea (but I take that in a morning, as I know that that in itself can cause insomnia).
I think Zyprexa is a very effective drug for some people. However, it made me gain 40lbs in weight and now it's left me with terrible sleeping problems following the withdrawal of the drug. I also had the usual withdrawal symptoms for a couple of weeks following my last dose seven weeks ago.
Follow a proper taper when stopping Zyprexa!
poster:jms600
thread:988797
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110619/msgs/988797.html