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Zyprexa Withdrawal and Dopamine

There is some indication that Zyprexa blocks dopamine from the D2 receptor, which is likely what calms manic or agitated symptomology. In an effort to adapt to this dopamine deficiency, the body builds new dopamine receptors. This is thought to explain, at least in part, why withdrawal from the medication can be so incredibly harsh, even to be considered worse than heroin or benzodiazepine withdrawals.

Zyprexa restricts the expression of dopamine while it is being taken. But when the drug is reduced, even by small increments, dopamine expression will come back, flooding receptors and potentially turning on a rapid onset of mania. Withdrawal from Zyprexa or other dopamine blockers must be done conservatively, very slowly to allow the very intricately designed CNS to gradually return to a normal function.

Zyprexa is believed to influence multiple types of neurotransmitters and receptors and even after a few weeks of being on Zyprexa, the shock that can ensue when the dose is even gradually reduced can result in some acute and intolerable symptoms that can affect the entire body. The often-repeated warning, “Never abruptly stop taking antipsychotic medications” applies. It is much preferable to do a slow, carefully monitored taper in an inpatient, fully supportive atmosphere, with trained professionals familiar with safe drug tapering. The level of discomfort may be too great to bear on your own. Unfortunately, many people are forced to stay on the drug just to avoid getting too sick to function at work and cope with everyday life. We encourage you to seek help from professionals who are familiar with safe prescription drug tapering.

Zyprexa Withdrawal Treatment at Alternative to Meds Center

At Alternative to Meds Center, we provide safe and gentle withdrawal treatment for Zyprexa and other antipsychotic medications in a pristine, comfortable inpatient setting. A battery of tests is done early on to determine whether there are accumulations of neurotoxins in the body. Heavy metals, pesticides, pollutants in air and water, and other sources can be identified and gently removed through cleansing methods. These include nebulized glutathione treatments. low-temperature sauna, chelation, and eliminating chemicals and preservatives from the diet.

When the client is stable, eating well, and sleeping well, then we can begin the slow and gentle taper process. Adding targeted supplements to the diet also assists in rebalancing and normalizing neurochemistry.

Many additional therapies are provided during the client’s stay with us, to provide comfort, relaxation, healthy social opportunities, and physical treatments that can ease the withdrawal and healing process. These include Qi Gong, acupuncture, counseling, orthomolecular medicine, Equine-assisted therapy, art therapy, and many others which can be viewed on our services overview page.

Challenges of Zyprexa Withdrawal

Dopamine is only one of many chemicals that are affected by Zyprexa. We can imagine that similar interruptions and chaotic responses are going on in other areas of the brain and the central nervous system, potentially causing significant unusual, unpredictable reactions and cross-reactions. This can be very hard on a person who is also perhaps mentally fatigued or confused, and who may become resistant to taking direction. These circumstances can make the situation very difficult to manage.

If despite best efforts to guide a patient, there is yet an unwillingness or inability to adhere to tapering guidelines, preparing a voluntary safety contract, sometimes called a “Ulysses Contract” will help keep things on track should the person become resistive to following the doctor’s orders.25 We recommend inpatient antipsychotic withdrawal treatment. Where this is not possible, try to work closely with a doctor who has hospital admitting privileges and who is familiar with drug cessation, to retain control and safety for the patient. Then once the patient is stabilized, the taper may be resumed at a slower pace, with the patient’s cooperation. Slow, guided tapering can help a person transition to drug-free living, or at least to the lowest point possible that still provides for a satisfying quality of life.

Choosing Competent Care for Zyprexa Withdrawal

A note about choosing health care professionals to work with: there have been cases reported on health forums and social media sites such as going to the hospital with severe withdrawals from antipsychotic medication, but finding out that prescription medication withdrawals are often not recognized by emergency or other doctors. It is indeed unfortunate that medical school training does not include how to recognize withdrawal symptoms and how to help a person come off a potent drug such as Zyprexa. This appears to be a worldwide phenomenon, not just in the US.15 This can lead to such heartbreaking events as the person being told they are imagining things, and just sending them home to suffer alone. We do need to be aware of what we are putting into our bodies, and we also need to know who we can trust and rely on for medical and mental health support.6

General Information on Zyprexa

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is an SGA or second-generation atypical antipsychotic medication.

Drug-makers glibly state that Zyprexa changes chemicals in the brain. A more careful look finds that more needs to be known about how this medication works exactly. Zyprexa is prescribed to treat psychosis and schizophrenia symptoms. Antipsychotics have a nearly immediate dampening effect on emotions, hallucinations, mania, and other presentations associated with schizophrenia and psychosis. They have a useful role in bringing a crisis under control. However, long-term use is associated with many problems, including the fact that they stop working after some time.22

The FDA issued Black Box warnings on virtually all antipsychotic medications in use today including Zyprexa oral as well as its extended-release injectable versions. These warnings also apply to any compounds that have olanzapine as an ingredient in them. Be safe and find out about a medication before you begin a prescription, to make sure it is the best choice for you, and also learn as much as you can about safe Zyprexa withdrawal.

WARNING: Please note that an elderly patient with signs of dementia-related psychosis should not be prescribed olanzapine because of the increased risk of death.5

Below are various topics that are frequently asked about Zyprexa, its effects, characteristics of withdrawal, and other information that may help contribute to making an informed decision regarding starting or stopping this medication.

What Is Zyprexa (olanzapine) Used For?

Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication that is FDA approved, with certain age restrictions, for the treatment of schizophrenia, mixed episodes of bipolar, and for psychoses. It should not be prescribed in the elderly population where dementia-related psychosis symptoms are present, and should not be prescribed under the age of 13 due to an increased risk of suicidality.

Over the years, various off-label uses have emerged and have been documented and reported on by the Office of the Inspector General and others, warning that there is no strong body of evidence supporting the efficacy of such uses of the drug for symptoms like agitation, anxiety, obsessive behaviors, and other unapproved uses.1

However, despite these cautions, the makers of Zyprexa engaged in promoting such practices. As a result, Eli Lily has agreed to pay out an astounding figure, roughly $1.4 billion in lawsuits filed against the drug company for promoting and marketing such off-label uses of its drug Zyprexa, which figure amounts to one of the largest single corporate fine ever paid out in history.2

Astoundingly, these payouts have been topped for similar misleading practices by Abbot Laboratories at $1.5 billion,11 Johnson and Johnson at $2.2 billion,10 Pfizer at $2.3 billion,9 and GlaxoSmithKline at a whopping $3 billion.8

Consumers are cautioned to research a drug, including the FDA Black Box warnings, and investigate the way the drug works and the side effects to expect, before deciding if a drug is the best choice.

Off-Label (unapproved) Uses for Zyprexa

Certain compound drugs may contain olanzapine, such as Zyprexa Zydis. Zyprexa and related compound drugs are sometimes prescribed off-label, for unapproved uses. A useful summary authored by Corell et al covers off-label uses of Zyprexa (olanzapine) and cautions that there is no strong evidence of efficacy for any off-label use.24 Here are some of the off-label uses reported:

Depression
OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder
PTSD
Personality disorder
Tourette’s syndrome in children or teens

Zyprexa (olanzapine) Alternative Names and Slang

Zyprexa is one of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of brand names for olanzapine. The drug has been a financial blockbuster for all the pharmaceutical companies around the world who make the drug. It is not sought after or known as a street drug except perhaps as a diverted drug, so Zyprexa has not developed slang or street names in the illicit drug trade.

Some other trade names include Zyprexa Sydis, Olanzapina Arrowblue, Olanzapine Torrent, Jolyon, Dopin, Marathon, Kozylex, Olanazpine SUN, and many others.

Zyprexa Side Effects (olanzapine)

Side effects from taking Zyprexa have been a controversial subject since 2006 when some documents leaked from Eli Lily were revealed by the New York Times. These documents described illegal marketing practices, promoting illegal off-label uses of the drug, and that the company downplayed the side effects of Zyprexa in order to prevent a drop in sales.2,5,6,7,8,9,10,11

Below is a list of known side effects, including some of the most severe:5,26,27

Tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that is, sadly, irreversible in the majority of cases that causes involuntary facial movements like tongue rolling, grimacing, lip-smacking, etc.
Life-threatening allergic reaction, causing high fever, stiff rigid muscles, profuse sweating, confusion, coma, shaking, tachycardia, and can be fatal
Suicidal ideation, thoughts about harming yourself
Increased levels of prolactin, causing a woman to lose her menstrual cycle, to begin lactating, and causing males to develop breasts and experience impotence
Seizures, tremors, shaking
High blood sugar, can lead to diabetes, weight gain, drowsiness, blurred vision, etc.
Weight gain.
DRESS, a condition of multi-organ hypersensitivity, a potentially fatal condition
Yellowing of the eye whites or skin, which can indicate liver damage
Akathisia, profound internal restlessness, constant movement, intolerable to endure, inability to stop moving, can lead to suicidality for relief
Weakness
Sudden flu-like symptoms, i.e., fever, chills, general malaise, weakness, aches
Swollen gums, sores in the mouth
Drooling, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing
Changes in behavior or personality, mood swings, can be rapid
Parasomnias are acts done while sleeping, including sleep-walking, sleep-talking, leaving the home to go out running or shopping, driving, having sex, and moving possessions, all while “asleep.” The patient wakes up confused and does not recall doing these actions.
Pavor nocturnes, night terrors, usually involve screaming, flailing, kicking, panic, and terror when still asleep
Headache
Tiredness
Dry mouth
Uncontrolled urination
Restlessness
Dizziness
Abdominal or stomach pain
Memory loss, amnesia
Inability to articulate speech clearly
Pins and needles or numbness in extremities
Pains or aches, especially common in arms and legs