Withdrawal From Stelazine (Page 2)

I have been on stelaine for 25 years with short breaks but I am trying to stop it and getting nasty withdrawal effects. I have reduced from 7mg to 3mg daily but have headaches anxiety and sense of unreality. I fell perfectly rational and know it is not the ill ness returning. I am seeking advice from someone who has managed to get of this drug or for any tips. I am planning to cut down 1mg per month but am already apprehensive about this.

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I need your help about my mental illness since i've read u've been takin stelazine just like me, can u contact me please?

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Does anybody know how long it takes for the fatigue from stelazine to go away? I have been on the drug for 4 months and then discontinued due to extreme fatigue. A second opinion suggested that it was not the right prescription for my stomach ailments anyway. Thanks

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Hi,

I'm new to this site. I'm also trying to come off stelazine, which my doctor prescribed 4 years ago to help with my overactive bladder symptoms. If I'd realised how addictive it is, I would have said 'no thanks, doc'. Too late now, anyway.

I've found that if I try to cut down too quickly I go into a total crash where I'm too exhausted to do anything, and can hardly walk/eat. My GP has switched me from tablets onto the syrup form, which was a great idea as I have a tiny syringe and can measure out really accurately rather than trying to cut tablets. I'm reducing by 0.5 ml at a time (equivalent to 0.1 of a tablet).

My main problem at the moment is that when I wake up in the morning I'm feeling all 'jittery' is the only way I can describe it. My mind feels relaxed, but my body feels anxious. I don't know whether this is part of the withdrawal effects, or something else. Has anyone else had this? I've been on my current dose for about 6 weeks now, and the jittery feeling still seems to be getting worse rather than better, so getting a bit worried about it.

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Hello Sandra,
The jitteriness usually goes away as you stop the stelazine. Mine took about 3 weeks. But the fatigue is still lingering. In my fourth week after stopping the drug. You may want to consult your doc about reducing the doses ASAP and coming off it altogether. Good luck. I can feel for you, I was equally anxious 3 weeks ago.

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Hi Kiran,

Thanks so much for replying. It's always reassuring to hear other people have had the same experience. I've just reduced the dose again by a tiny amount a couple of days ago, and I'm feeling a little bit better. I'm planning to come off it completely, but I've been on it for about 4 years, so I need to take it really slowly. I'm trying to be patient, but I can't wait to be Stelazine-free!

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My mother has been on Stelazine for 30 yrs and now its now discontinued, she has been having the side effects. Fatigue, difficulty breathing, insomnia which is the worst for her, dry mouth and dizziness to name a few. The Dr has now prescribed OLANZAPINE 5mg - she is thinking of trying 2.5mg a day but I have said to her she needs to discuss this with her Dr. Has anyone been successful on anything else if Stelazine is not available to them anymore?

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I've managed to get Stelazine from Canada, available from canadadrugs.com.

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Hello Shepstar,

Congratulations to your mom for getting off stelazine. It is an awful drug. The benzodiazepines, of which olanzepine is an example also have side effects, besides being addictive. Depends on what she needs to take these for, there are newer alternatives to stelazine. Please speak to your doctor. Hope the side effects go away soon. Mine are still lingering, after being off the drug for about 6-7 weeks now. Good luck.

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I've been on this drug almost 10yrs after being on Diazepam to control muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis.
When I was taken off the Diazepam I was having panic attacks which made me very anxious and vomit!
Stelazine seemed to help although I tend not to read side effects as makes me more paranoid about the prescription drugs I take. I have reduced the drug to 2mg a day and after taking the liquid which tastes rank I'm going to stop as I don't feel I need it any more!

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I had been pregnat on a low dose of stelazine i was bit psichotic after the births but then i was fine and baby is well

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I took stelazine all through my pregnancy as told it was safe. When my son was born he kept shaking, could not feed and would not cry. They put this down to withdrawal symptoms. My son is now 8, and has need diagnosed with ADD, delayed development and dyslexia. I am not sure if they are connected. I wish you the best of luck.

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I have had 2 healthy babies whilst taking 5mg of stelazine throughout the pregnancy, even in the first trimester. I choose to breastfeed whilst taking the drug to help my babies cope with any possible withdraw symptoms in them. I was advised by my psychaitrist that it was safe. I am now struggling because it is no longer available and a substitute drug amisulperide is giving me unacceptable side effects in terms of weight gain.

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Hi Joy,
I managed to get Stelazine in the UK in liquid form in 5mg/5ml doses.
You can also get it in Canada in tablet form.
Hope this helps,
God Bless!

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Hi Eddie!
Is stelazine still available in the uk in form of oral solution? where can I purchase it from?

My mum was on the tablets 5mg dose for over 30 years and has been very ill since it was discontinued last year. Doctors have tried many modern day equivalents such as prochlorperazine and risperidone, but have been unsuccessful. They told us stelazine isnt available in the uk at all. I dont know what to do? does anybody have any advice for me?

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Hi Ash,
I get Stelazine in an Oral Solution in the UK in 5mg/5ml dose, available through boots the chemist, not all chemists can get hold of it.
The supplier is Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Leeds, LS11 9XE.
All the best,
Eddie.

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Thank you so much Eddie. I will try boots pharmacy and see if theyve got it.

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Hi Ash,
You will need a prescription and they will have to order it in.
Eddie.

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I used to take Stelzine 1 mg with other anti-depression Cipralex 10 mg and Xenax for 10 years.
This combination worked fine for me till time comes where the Stelzine wouldn't be available in my home country.
The doctor said to stop it and didn't explain any withdrawal symptoms for that.Now since the drug was out of stock (2 weeks), where I had to stop it, I experienced a lot of dizziness and continuous panic attacks with depression.
Some told me to find alternatives and others suggested that since this time the withdrawal symptoms will take place and you just need to be patience ( in other words suffer).
What shall I do?any suggestions?
Are those related to stopping the medicine?

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Hi Reza
Stelazine was a very good but addictive drug, not many people are able to come off it completely successfully, as stelazine tampers with your inner brain cells inorder to prevent you from becoming ill and over a long period of time your brain becomes use to functioning with stelazine.

Do you live in the uk?

My mum was on stelazine for over 30 years and has been very ill since february (we were unable to find it after that). My mum is showing the exact same symptoms that you have mentioned. 2 weeks after the stelazine left her system my mum lost her sense of reality and has been very paranoid, depressed and ill since then and keeps suffering from panic and anxiety attacks.

Doctors have tried many modern day equivalents since then such as risperidone and prochlorperazine but have been unsuccessful.

Stelazine has been around in the uk since 1958, but it was only now that doctors discovered how addictive and strong the drug is. Despite the fact that the manufacturers had announced back in 2007 that they were planning to discontinue stelazine, the doctors and british medical system failed to alert my mum.

Stelazine has only been discontinued in form of tablet in the uk only and is still available in most of the other countries (I think) such as usa, europe, thaildand etc.

After visiting this form a few weeks back, ive discovered that stelazine is still available in the uk in form of oral syrup and is being manufactured by Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Leeds, LS11 9XE.

But it has to be ordered especially from the manufacturers, as pharmacies dont keep it in stock, as sealed bottles expires within 6 months whilst open bottles need to be consumed within a month. Once the pharmacy has placed the order it should take about a week to arrive.

Despite stelazine still being available in form of oral syrup, doctors didnt bother to inform my mum, as it costs the nhs alot of money (£20 per 150ml bottle).

Instead they tried to fob my mum off on risperidone and prochlorperazine (cheaper option), which only cost the nhs £7.50.

Seek advice from your doctor maybe they might be able to find you alternatives, if stelazine isnt available in your country.

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Hi, Your story is so similar to ours. My mum had also been on Stelezine for 30 years, until it was discontinued in autumn of 2011. Since then, she has been ill for nearly a whole year and is currently in the mental health unit . She was on Respiridone for 9 months but it didn't work for her and is currently refusing all medication. She is very ill but denies that she is. It has been a terrible year for her and for the family and I feel that she has lost a year of her life. She cannot lead a normal life without drugs and Stelezine was the only one that worked, but now she has been off it for a year she says she hated it. Nothing else works for her though. I'm very interested in the syrup form of the drug but wondered if you get it on presecription from the doctor or pay for it yourself?

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