Olanzapine indefinitely

[NicJK]

Hello ladies, I hope you are all doing well. I am pregnant with my second child and I’m on 5mg of Olanzapine. I have been on it for 2.5 years now. I am consumed with fear of what it will be like when I start tapering Olanzapine in the future. I might want to stay on it indefinitely but I’m scared of things like tardive dyskinesia which can come on once you’ve been on antipsychotics for a long time. Is anyone here staying on Olanzapine indefinitely?

[Rachel_at_APP Partner APP]

Hi NicJK,

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy. I hope you’re feeling ok, aside from feeling fearful of the future of your medication.

I’m Rachel, part of Action on Postpartum Psychosis peer support team. I had my second baby following an experience of Postpartum Psychosis with my first baby. I wasn’t on Olanzipine, I took a different medication which was the turning point in getting me better. I’m really grateful of the medication I was able to access. However, I can definitely relate to feeling worried or maybe apprehensive even about medication and what the future would hold for me.

What I wish I’d known then, was that the here and now is the most important. Right now, just taking your pregnancy in your stride, pacing yourself in your pregnancy growing a new little baby and caring for your little one already here is what matters. Wrapping yourself and your family up in cotton wool as you grow together.

In terms of the future, it’s obviously absolutely more than ok to think about it. Of course it is. But do speak with your health professionals around you about any concerns you might have. Take their advice as best you can. And try to be in the here, not worried about the future. That will come, and you can access help and support as you go. What matters is that you take care of yourself for the now lovely. Thinking of you.

Rachel x

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Rachel_at_APP]

True words spoken. We have to catch the moment, always and appreciate the hear and now.

[Bulb]

Hi NicJK

My daughter is on an antipsychotic aripriprisol and antidepressants and has been for 6 years. She took olanzapine for about 18 months and then switched to aripriprisol. She has had no problems. Aripriprisol has less side effects than Olanzapine. The weight gain was the reason why she changed antipsychotics. I hope this helps put your mind at rest if you decide to stay on medication.

[bisketty in reply to Bulb]

I switched from Olanzapine to Quetiapine, and became less of a distant zombie and lost a lot of weight.

[Carmen25]

hi NicJK

Good question! I was very wary of stopping my anti psychotic meds (aripriprazole) but I wanted to try it because I felt my thinking was slowed down and my emotions were blunted. The first GP I saw told me I could just stop the meds without tappering. This was a disaster! Side effects of withdrawal were terrible and I had to restart.

The next time I tapered very slowly and used a table splitter to help with this. I withdrew over about 6 months. This time around it was successful.

I think whether to stop meds is definitely a personal choice and probably good to do when other things in your life are stable.

To be honest I am glad did stop because I feel much more alert now

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Carmen25]

Wonderful news Carmen. I was weaned off fairly quickly, despite very traditional medication. The side effects throughout the year were enormous. I am so grateful I had this wonderful Spanish Psychiatrist, who worked closely together with other health professionals, my partner and I. It is so important to have your own voice in decission making for recovery. I live with CBD oil, because of Bipolar since 2018. I lived with Insomnia after PPP (2010) for such a long time, but resisted all meds. I agree, that the support system is vital. My home environment and my partner made it possible to chose a therapeutic avenue without chemicals, but live with plant medicine and therapeutic modalities. We are all different!

[Arabella- in reply to Pikorua]

I have bipolar too. What is CBD oil? What therapies work for you? I’d love to get off Olanzapine x

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Arabella-]

Hello Arabella, I will private chat x

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Wishing you health and happiness and yes, I can resonate with Carmen's words. Live with the momentum and connect with those, who are knowledgeable and have only the best interest in you and the baby's well being. Developing a support network of health professionals combined with family and friends is very useful. Love and kindness and cherish each moment...

[Arabella-]

I’m currently on Olanzapine and have never heard of that before, I had to google it. I have been on Quetiapine before that for over ten years and am fine. I have to be careful to not take it before I go to bed or I do get muscle spasms.

Hope this helps x

[LucyG18]

Hello, I have been on 2.5 Olanzapine for 4 years now after an episode of psychosis and I am now pregnant with my first child. I hadn’t heard of that risk. For me, Olanzapine has solved the extreme insomnia I lived with and so the benefits outweigh the risks and I think I will stay on it indefinitely on this low dose as it will prevent relapse as well. It would be good to find out from your doctors what they think the long term plan will be for you, and could also help you understand if there are other medication options, including coming off it eventually if that’s what you want to do. I wish you all the best.

[Jenny_at_APP Partner in reply to LucyG18]

Hello LucyG18

I just wanted to congratulate you on your pregnancy

I hope you’ve found lots of useful information here and on the APP website already but I’m adding a link to the insider guide for planning a pregnancy below and also to our peer support information:

app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

app-network.org/peer-support/

I hope you’re keeping well.

Best wishes,

Jenny x

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi NicJK,

You’ve had some great replies already and I don’t have any experience of Olanzapine to share, but I wanted to congratulate you on your pregnancy

I agree with Rachel and others, wrap yourself in support and try not to worry too much about the future right now, but do discuss any concerns with your doctors, especially if it’s really playing on your mind and will help put you more at ease.

Take good care xx

[Chesterjackson]

Hi, I have been on olanzapine twice with my two boys. I came off them and lead a very normal life, until I hit the menopause!! Since then I have had 4 episode's and was told that I would probably be on the medication for life. I decided to talk to the doctor and he took me off them and gave me hrt patches. Fingers crossed 🤞 this appears to be working and I feel so much better for it and have lost 3 stone up to now. Don't get too disheartened things will get better for you it just takes time. Take care of yourself you've got this.

[bisketty in reply to Chesterjackson]

Thanks for sharing Chesterjackson, this is now something I will be aware of for the future.