Hi, I'm HopeNeverFails

September 21, 2026

Hi, I'm new to the community and actively tapering off Zyprexa and Doxepin...and it's challenging at (most) times. I'm about 60 years old so the side effects, especially the insomnia can be debilitating. I suffered from a severe PTSD and anxiety the 1st 4 months of 2026, briefly trying various drugs (Hydroxyzine, Ativan, Lexapro, Paxil, etc) to no success, suffering terribly from nonstop panic attacks with nausea and panic insomnia. Then, about the time I seriously embraced my Christian faith, I started Zyprexa (2.5mg/night) and I improved. After a month I tried jumping off CT per Dr advice for a week, but that got rough so I jumped back on at about 2mg. My Dr suggested Doxepin to help with insomnia, so I started it also at 2mg/night. I then began slow tapering and did pretty well until a few weeks ago where the insomnia and associated anxiety have been very frustrating. I'm now at 0.8mg/night for both drugs and the insomnia is pretty bad most nights; I've averaged about 3.75h/night sleep the last 3 weeks. I'm married, and currently unemployed, primarily due to this health issue, but was fortunately semi-retired before this anyway. I exercise, live and eat fairly healthy. I use Mg, melatonin, ashwaghanda, and Tylenol, as well as daily multivitamin. I don't smoke or drink alcohol or caffeine. Out of all the symptoms I've experienced this year with various mild psychoses, panic, etc, the insomnia and it's consequences, are the worst. I feel for everyone experiencing psychological illness and especially the insomnia. I keep the faith and believe God gives us the strength to prevail!

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

7 Replies

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CatinaSep 21

Community AnchorEffexor

"actively tapering off Zyprexa and Doxepin" — @HopeNeverFails

Hi @HopeNeverFails, I like your username! Welcome.... A suggestion would be to taper only one drug at a time. It might make things a bit easier on you. There is lots of helpful information in the Symptoms & Self-Care section and the I Need Support section about anxiety, insomnia, and how to handle them. Click on the Guide tab at the top to pull up all the articles. You might want to rethink the melatonin and ashwaghanda too. Both of those things can actually have the opposite effect on people, so it's just something to be aware of. https://taper.community/thread/57d0fb51-6e6e-4517-9d3d-1dd2f2e3880c Hope this helps! Catina 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

StuartSep 22

LighthouseEffexor · supporting

Welcome @HopeNeverFails ! Insomnia is so rough and challenging, I feel for you...

Historic experience tapering off: Citalopram 20mg | Zyprexa 2.5mg | Effexor 75mg | Valium 20mg

Gigi‎Sep 22

LighthouseZoloft · active

Hi @HopeNeverFails, I'm glad you have your faith. That is truly the strongest medicine of all. I wish you the absolute best on your healing journey. As you can see, you are not alone. Warmly, Gisa

Withdrawal is not a preview of who you are without the drug.
Zoloft — 10 years, 50 mg — currently 20.5 mg — actively tapering

HopeNeverFailsSep 25

LighthouseZyprexa · active

"suggestion" — @Catina

Hi Catina, I'm going to try your suggestions, stopping the Doxepin taper and also begin tapering the melatonin and ashwaghanda. Last night I slept about 15-30 minutes, so the drugs and supplements did nothing; and this isn't that unusual (which is why I started the doxepin taper). Thanks again to you and everyone for your tips and encouragement!

Zyprexa started at 2.5mg in late April26 — 0.63mg at Nov 2026— actively tapering
Doxepin (Silenor / Sinequan) — started at 2mg in June26 - 0mg at Nov 2026— completed tapering

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CatinaSep 25

Community AnchorEffexor

Glad to hear it! Keep us posted on how things go; we'll be thinking of you! 💜

TracySep 30

WelcomerZoloft · researching

Hello @HopeNeverFails I am going through the same thing right now, tapering off Zyprexa. I am holding at 1mg because of insomnia that started a couple of nights ago. We will get through this! We just need to keep our faith in the lord, and remind ourselves that this won’t last forever. I was originally prescribed it in November of 2025 for insomnia (caused by severe health anxiety). I started at 5mg and can now see the finish line! We got this!

Zoloft — 100 mg — 1 year — researching taper | Zyprexa — 1 mg — 11 months — actively tapering | without clinician

anne noni mossOct 1

LighthousePaxil · holding

Welcome @HopeNeverFails . I too suffer insomnia and the pain it causes. We are all doing our best here to have HOPE...it indeed, never fails. I'll remind you if you remind me when things tempt us to lose hope. :)

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

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