Olanzapine withdrawal

Mental health
1

I've taken every anti psychotic over the last twenty five years and the best for me has been Olanzapine, despite a six stone weight gain.

I am so well and looking for employment.

Recently I have been taking 20 mg a lot lower than the 30mg in hospital two years ago.

Recently my ECG showed prolonged QT elevation and SV block. MY prolactin was 1180 and my cholesterol was up. I had to think should I stay on the meds and be mentally well and risk my heart stopping at any time or should I come off them?

I even went for a last supper by myself. I was in a trance.

I realise that it was solveable.

I am now cold turkey. I've told my team and family

Ibe been having palpitations and excessive yawning and tightness of my jaw. My mood is fine. I Google these symptoms and it came back as anxiety although I don't feel mithered.

I have taken 1mg lorazepam at night which has helped with the yawning.

I had a head injury years ago and the yawning started after this. The Olanzapine eliminated it.

Anybody having these issues?

I must say my thoughts and speech are much clearer five days off it

2

It sounds like a neural defect caused by trauma to your brain. I do not want to say anything stupid, so I will look in to this for you. Great work getting off the drugs though. I am not a fan of olanzapine because of the side effects and I am surprised to hear you had a positive out come.

I checked the NCBI internet site and it seems there is a link to head injury for Yawning and on WEBMD a link to the drugs you were taking for tiredness, though the drugs do not seem like accurate causes from your explanation, what type of injury did you suffer to your head?

Here is a possibility for head trauma causing Yawning.

Two cases of brain stem stroke involving the upper pons and the ponto‐mesencephalic junction presented with transient excessive pathological yawning, associated with gait ataxia and in one subject with upper limb and facial hemiparesis. A causal relation is hypothesised between the brain stem lesion and pathological yawning, possibly related to denervation hypersensitivity of a putative brain stem yawn centre. Excessive yawning may herald brain stem ischaemia.Keywords: yawning, brain stem stroke.

It sounds complex though is probably explained with simpler words somewhere else, so you should look up the technical words on the internet.

A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. The way a stroke affects the brain depends on which part of the brain suffers damage, and to what degree.

Sitting just above the spinal cord, the brain stem controls your breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. It also controls your speech, swallowing, hearing, and eye movements.

Impulses sent by other parts of the brain travel through the brain stem on their way to various body parts. We’re dependent on brain stem function for survival. A brain stem stroke threatens vital bodily functions, making it a life-threatening condition.

In your case it would have caused one of the non life threatening disorders or damage.

You could have been mistakenly diagnosed with mental disorders rather than another problem caused by this, though further tests are necessary. You do not sound mentally ill to me. Though I do not have all the information. I hope this gives you greater clarity.

I will research more tomorrow.

Take care, Robert.

3

Hi Robert,

thanks for your interest. My psychiatrist of 25 years commented that the Schizophrenia (my diagnosis), was unusual at times in its presentation.

I have had two brain scans.

The first done in 2002 showed large amounts of white matter.

The second done in 2013 showed a polyp and what appeared to be either cerebral vascular disease or the results of head trauma.

I have been telling them that for years.

My consultant said on Wednesday last week, that she will send me for another one to see if there are any changes to indicate any advancing conditions.

Since coming off the Olanzapine, my thoughts are a lot clearer and my speech has improved.

I am however reserved in my outcome as When I am ill, it turns my whole world upside down.

Do you think that I need to see a neurologist with regards to the outcome of my next MRI scan?

I am an educated woman and a former nurse, so am able to understand medical terminology.

Many thanks

Mandy

4

Hi Robert,

I forgot to mention that I have what appear to be petit mals.

My thoughts totally stop and I can't remember what I was saying.

EEGs have shown changes when this happens.

I don't have any other details other than my EEGs were abnormal.

I don't have any motor problems, however I do have olfactory hallucinations.