What Are the Signs of Olanzapine Withdrawal?

This is the worst drug to be prescribed. I trusted my doctor and I am convinced he is a pill pusher for this company. They had me on it for years. I had regular panic attacks that made it hard to breath, would swear because it hurt so much. I could not sit still and had to move around all the time. The panic attacks would last from 5 hours to 10 hours long. It was a nightmare! Thank God I stopped the medication a week ago but now I can't sleep. This drug will mess you up!

Olanzapine aka Zyprexa is the worst drug you could ever take. In my case it was a misdiagnosis and it wrecked my entire brain functionality. I withdrew cold turkey (something apparently you should never do) after 6 weeks of being turned into a space cadet (Zyprexa Zombie). Quitting cold turkey made me suicidal for 2.5 months. I am still dealing with headaches that have lasted 11 weeks so far. The insomnia was a complete nightmare. What I had was PTSD not bipolar disorder and not psychosis. Once I did EMDR therapy, my symptoms of anxiety cleared up 90%. I was also able to sleep. Do not take this drug, ever. I was originally given it as a "sleep aid". This drug is dangerous and shouldn't even be an option. I am still fighting the light-headedness and brain fog and memory loss from my D2 dopamine receptors being blocked. It's been 3 months now. I am still fighting tooth and nail to recover my mind. With God's grace, mercy, and strength I will succeed.

I have withdrawn from olanzapine to see if it relieves parkinsonism symptoms which it and other "atypical antipsychotics" cause. my latest neurologist thinks I do not have Parkinson's disease. I have been experiencing some of the symptoms referred to above but not the worst ones. you should watch out for Parkinson-type symptoms: trembling, balance problems.

I have been on 10mg for 2 months and really want to quit this due to the horror stories I read online. I wanted to go cold turkey but a taper seems to be the way forward. It's a very scary read all of this. I don't know how one survives the insomnia and nausea.

Insomnia is the worst side effect, in my opinion.

I was on 5mg for 20days stop cold and am sleepless and out of my mind now am worse than anxiety and depression. How long will this last?

Yes it is really that bad.

Yes, this a terrible medicine. I'm on only 2.5mg and the doctor told me to cut pill in half, so I could go off because of the side effects. I was only on it nine days and I woke up this morning very sick and with a a severe headache, nausea and shaking. This is a horrible drug. Beware if the doctor prescribes this. It is terrible.

I took Olanzapine for just six weeks and then reduced the dosage and finally off for about a week. I have anxiety now. Wondering how long will the withdrawal last?

I reduced my olanzapine dose just by 2.5mg and I have vision changes and dizziness. I hope it goes away in a few days.

@turquoise-- I can't speak for everyone, but withdrawing from olanzapine was very difficult for me. Withdrawing from olanzapine seems to bring back and worsen all the symptoms this medication is supposed to treat. Of course, things get better with time, but I had serious issues for several months even though I reduced my dose very slowly. I had taken olanzapine for two years.

I had insomnia, mood swings, migraines, no appetite and nausea. I lost a lot of weight and just felt terrible overall.

My sister was just prescribed this medication. I looked up the potential side effects for her and read some terrible things about withdrawal from olanzapine. Among withdrawal symptoms, I've read everything from vomiting and nausea to hallucinations.

Is it really that bad?