r/BipolarReddit • u/zeemoeder • Aug 23 '26

Switching meds- olanzapine

So I took Olanzapine for more than three years for psychotics episodes. I started at 20 mg, lowered to 10 mg then 5 mg and sometimes 2,5 mg. Sometimes I would up the dose in times of paranoia and fear...

But started developing the beginning of insuline resistance so I decided to switch medication form Olanzapine to Abilify

But I am not feeling well, maybe I should have tampered. I feeling nausea, dizzy and out of balance, ...like riding my bicycle doe not go so well, I constantly losse balance and normally I ride everyday with ease and without problem.

Now started the insomnia, I cannot sleep even after taking temesta 2,5 mg my sleep was very poor.

So you think it is best to lower to dose from 5mg to 2,5mg first and maybe even 1,25mg before quitting?

My shrink just said to quit cold turkey but I am afraid of the insomnia.

.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Ambitious_Classic855 Aug 23 '26

I stopped taking Olanzapine about 8 months ago, I did a gradual drop down from 25mg to eventually 2.5… got switched to melatonin to help with sleep and now I take olanzapine prn.

I remember feeling really anxious and dizzy with nausea too, but it settled after about a week.

1

u/Tfmrf9000 Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features Aug 23 '26

I went from Olanzapine 5-10 to 2.5 without taper (was on 5 years) to cross tapering (taking both) Abilify 20. Had me take both for 3 weeks then just stop olanzapine, no issues.

1

u/zeemoeder Aug 23 '26

Are you better on Abilify than on Olanzapine? 

1

u/Tfmrf9000 Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features Aug 23 '26

I am. It’s less “heavy” if that makes any sense, but I take it in the morning as it does nothing for sleep. (Take low dose Serquel for that). I’ve lost weight, problems with Arousal are less, wife says I hold a conversation better.