How to Get Off Zyprexa Drug

Zyprexa is a drug prescribed by doctors to treat bipolar disorder as well as schizophrenia. Common side effects may include sleepiness, lack of energy, dizziness, tremors and changes in behavior. Due to these side effects, a patient and physician may decide to stop usage. If you suddenly stop taking Zyprexa, you may develop symptoms of withdrawal. Patients have reported difficulty sleeping, hallucinations, delusions, mania and depression. Due to the severity of these symptoms, care must be taken when stopping Zyprexa.

Instructions

• 1

  Speak to your doctor. Your condition will need to be monitored by the prescribing doctor if it is determined that you should stop taking Zyprexa. Never stop the medication on your own or you may experience severe withdrawal.

• 2

  Reduce your dosage of Zyprexa. Your doctor will likely recommend that you cut your dose in half.

• 3

  Continue to decrease the dosage of Zyprexa. For instance, if you are taking the maximum dosage of 20mg, your doctor may recommend that you decrease the dosage in increments of 10mg, 5mg and then the lowest 2.5mg dosage. Your doctor will likely recommend that you keep taking the same dosage for a week before decreasing to a lower amount.

• 4

  Expect to experience Zyprexa withdrawal symptoms an average of 2 to 3 weeks. The majority of patients that stop Zyprexa report that the symptoms of withdrawal only last a few weeks. Since you are gradually stopping the medication, you may not experience symptoms at all.

• 5

  Report any problems to your doctor that you may have once you are completely off of Zyprexa. It will take an average of one week to get Zyprexa out of your system once you have taken your final dose.