Antipsychotics

The information below is intended as a reference only, and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have questions about your medications, consult your pharmacist, doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional.

Tapering Guidance

Clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine and trifluoperazine are the most difficult to Taper. Others like perphenazine, flupenthixol and sulpiride appear easier. Based on the effect of missing doses while on treatment, people will often know before starting to withdraw whether there is likely to be a problem.

If used daily for a month or so reduce dose by a maximum of 25% every week initially or every month if need be.
If there are indications of a problem while tapering, or if used for longer than a month, consider tapering more gradually and ideally with the help of a liquid.
For some drugs such as quetiapine and olanzapine, a combination of benzodiazepine and an anticholinergic may help.
Acute withdrawal responds to the original treatment where protracted withdrawal is less likely to – although tardive dyskinesia can be managed to some extent with the original agent.

Withdrawal Symptoms and Monitoring Guidance

Initial: Agitation, activation, insomnia, rebound psychosis, withdrawal-emergent abnormal movements, nausea, feeling of discomfort, sweating, vomiting, insomnia, sexual dysfunction
Protracted: Tardive dyskinesia, tardive akathisia, tardive dysthymia, stress intolerance, temperature dysregulation, sensory disturbances, food intolerance, enduring sexual dysfunction.

Additional Information

Bruyere Research Institute