Posted by kotsunega on December 19, 2007, at 18:29:51 [reposted on December 23, 2007, at 9:10:59 | original URL]
In reply to Re: stopping zyprexa, posted by suebirds on December 17, 2007, at 9:22:29
I wish anyone who tries to go off Zyprexa the best of luck. I tried. I was not lucky. I switched from Zyprexa to Abilify in one episode. After several weeks, I developed severe and very painful muscle knots, and had to stay at home and be treated with serious pain meds (oxycodone) and muscle relaxants until the knots subsided. Even with the help of a massage therapist, getting the knots out took a month. But I never got past not being able to get a good night's sleep, so I caved and went back on the Zyprexa. I tried to go off of it again by replacing it with its cousin, Klonopin (both are forms of benzodiazepines, which are highly addictive in Klonopin, but maybe also in Zyprexa, even though it affects different brain transmitters). Anyway, after about 3 days I went into a highly dysphoric mania, followed by a severe depression that lasted a good month, even though I had started the Zyprexa again. That drug is certainly the monkey on my back, but it is also my salvation from severe Bipolar I with psychotic features, so I'm stuck with it. I've tried others, and nothing works like it does. Without health insurance, I couldn't "live with or without it", as the U2 song on this topic goes.
Best wishes, and Merry Christmas!
K
poster:kotsunega
thread:802207
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20070929/msgs/802213.html