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Olanzapine for Depression User Reviews

Brand names: Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv, Zyprexa Intramuscular

Olanzapine has an average rating of 4.9 out of 10 from a total of 164 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 36% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 46% reported a negative experience.

Olanzapine rating summary

4.9/10 average rating

164 ratings from 183 user reviews.

Compare all 187 medications used in the treatment of Depression.

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Reviews for Olanzapine

  • Emero
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 13, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was put on 17.5mg of zyprexa in 2017. I took this for 6 months before I finally decided to listen to my body and stop listening to the so called experts. Zyprexa made me dull, depressed and robotic. I now lack empathy, emotion, concentration and I no longer get pleasure from things I used to enjoy. Zyprexa zaps the joy from your life basically. There is no upside. Please please avoid this drug. It will steal your personality and nobody will believe you except for the people who have also been victims of this drug."

1 / 10
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437 Report
  • Merc
  • September 7, 2020

"This drug has absolutely ruined my life. Was on 2.5mg for approximately 1 year. During that year, I slept all day, felt like a robot, had zero motivation and was horribly depressed. I managed to get off. The first 2 months of withdrawal I had severe insomnia, severe anxiety, severe depression. Also have complete anhedonia. I have have lost the ability to feel joy or happiness. I'm chronically fatigued. I have suicidal thoughts on a daily basis. The worst part is the akathisia. I can't even put into words what akathisia feels like. I'm am in shock, every day, that these pharmaceuticals companies are giving these drugs out. It is so horrible and sad to see others like myself suffering in such a way. PLS! Do not allow yourself or loved ones to go anywhere near these drugs. They will ruin your life. I am now off olanzapine for 7 months with no end to the suffering in sight."

1 / 10
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210 Report
  • Trapped
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 15, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Zyprexa made me dull and gain weight, then found its impossible to stop taking. Even with a very, very slow taper, I have terrible withdrawal symptoms that I never ever experienced before olanzapine. I only took 1.25mg, and after 3 years of tapering I'm down to about 0.7mg. Now I have heart arrhythmia, akathisia, insomnia, I feel dazed and out of it, erectile issues, and don't feel pleasure or get excited about anything. Olanzapine has ruined my life. If I could do one thing differently in my life it would be to never ever start taking this horrific drug."

1 / 10
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241 Report
  • tried...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 10, 2014

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Would give this a 10. Have tried every anxiety/depression, SSRIs and MAOIs, etc. out there. One day on this and I felt wonderful, like I woke up as a new normal person. Yes you may gain a lot of weight but only if you eat carbs. You just cannot take this and eat chips, candy, etc. Lean meats, proteins and veg and you will have NO problems, the effect is worth it. If you can put the fork down, it can change your life. My Dr. warned me about the potential for weight gain, but told me he thought I had the willpower to resist the cravings to eat junk, which I did. Try it."

10 / 10
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367 Report
  • TheGo...
  • March 22, 2015

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I am in shock as to the MIRACLE of Olanzipine. A 2 year severe depression, with extreme anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia DISAPEARED the first week on this medicine. Before, my depression was so bad, I stopped brushing my hair, I could barely function, my sadness so profound. After 1 week on Zyprexa, I am finally back to myself, taking good care of myself, sadness is 90% gone, smiling again!"

9 / 10
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316 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • serj
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 18, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "This drug is awful, I should've stopped from day 1, now I'm in the 4th year and just started tapering because I'm one of the good boys that always listen to his parents and doctors. Please don't be a fool, don't take this drug it will make you lose years of your precious life. Better be drug free as you know the only winner of your supposed condition is the big pharma that only wants your money every month."

1 / 10
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147 Report
  • Vani
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 13, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Stay away! I took 15 mg Zyprexiafor 2 weeks and I feel so tired, my vision is blurry , weak hand-eye coordination, and its difficult to speak or understand anything. Why is this drug still being prescribed???"

1 / 10
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150 Report
  • maddie
  • April 19, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "put on this drug for anxiety, loss of weight, not sleeping, all connected with something that happened to me. On it for a month at 10 mg and had pounding blood pressure in ears, sudden headaches, ankles swelled up 2x their size, gained 25 lbs. in a month, huge appetite, foggy thinking, flat personality and dizzy. After I got off, I felt much better. Off it now for 2.5 months and I can't lose any weight, and in fact am still gaining, so can't get it out of my system. How can i get it out of my system? I don't want to become diabetic or get heart disease, but this drug can do that and I'M NOT EVEN ON IT! Doctors are putting people on it that should NOT be given this drug, it should be a last resort if at all. This drug can cause permanent changes chemically, in metabolism and dopamine receptors in brain-is there no antidote?"

2 / 10
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145 Report
  • Gigi
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 13, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "This medication Zyprexa is a miracle worker ! I was in a very deep depression, suicide thoughts. I started feeling better after just a few weeks.I have been on it 6 weeks now and its keeps getting better. The Doctor is now increase it to 10mg, I feel more tired, but that will lessen as time goes by. I feel like me again !!!"

10 / 10
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122 Report
  • Josh
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • June 24, 2019

"I have been a teacher for the 28 years. I was diagnosed with depression. I was prescribed with olanzapine. Once on olanzapine My life was totally changed. I could not act like a good teacher. I could not work properly. I was sleeping 18 hours a day. I put on weight. I was hungry all the time. My depression did not go away, it became worse. I couldn't speak , couldn't think properly. Please don't take this medicine."

1 / 10
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138 Report
  • jpurp...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 8, 2016

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Started taking 2.5 mg Zyprexia a day 3 days ago. For years have taken 60 mg Celexa, .5 mg Clonazepam, and ( .5 mg Xanax if I need for emergency panic attack) They worked well until 6 years ago, my husband died, a year later my dad died.Two years after my dad passed his wife died, then 4mo. later my son, who had Downs Syndrome died on the operating table. I was really going into a deep black hole by then but it just got worse. A friend of 25 yrs died of cancer not even a year after my son. I can really feel a difference in just 3 days. No crying so far, been outside and to the store without panic attacks. Sleep really well. So far eating hasn't been a problem, have lots of energy, and just feel better. Hoping for a new lease on life!"

10 / 10
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199 Report
  • Josh
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 29, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Hi all, I've been on Zyprexa for about a year and a half at 15mg. I was put on Zyprexa to help with severe treatment resistant depression. I also take 150mg of Effexor and 300mg of Welbutrin. In the past year my depression has slowly gotten worse and I suspect it's the Zyprexa. About 3 months ago I decided to taper myself off Zyprexa. I went from 15mg to 7.5mg for 3 months. I experience moderate sleeping issues (I sleep between 4-8 hours and wake up about 10 times during the night), nausea and a dramatic increase in depression. My highs are lower and my downs are longer and more severe. My two questions are this: 1) Has anyone experienced increased depression as a result of taking Zyprexa 2) Has anyone experienced an increase in depression as a result of Zyprexa withdrawal. "

6 / 10
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107 Report
  • alimo...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 22, 2023

"I beg you, if you have not started taking this medication, please do not ever start. I was on it for seven months, and it turned me into a robot. I was completely depressed and devoid of any feelings until I made the decision to quit. I have quit heroin many times before, and I can say with certainty that quitting olanzapine is many times harder than quitting heroin."

1 / 10
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32 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 27, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Zyprexa made me feel very tired and irritable. I almost cussed my boyfriend over a small convenience, My eyesight kept blurring up, always hungry, and then I started getting this uncomfortable drowsy feeling that lasted the whole day. STAY AWAY from this garbage."

1 / 10
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111 Report
  • Brian
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 14, 2018

"I have been on it for a month now. Its been great. I don't have the weight gain problem or the sexual problems. I basically laid on the sofa with the blinds pulled shut for 3-4 years depressed. I take it at night and zoloft in the morning. I don't feel at all like a zombie in fact I feel great. I'm off the sofa doing things I love again. I sleep regularly and have a positive out look on life once again. This drug has changed my life for the better. I hope this helps someone."

10 / 10
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113 Report
  • Ed Mc...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • September 15, 2017

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Zyprexa withdrawal is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my 55 year old life. I took 2.5 mg for 6 years. Sure it helped me sleep for a few months and that is why I did not know what was causing the terrible grief and over all health problems I was experiencing. I was fainting without warning because of this drug. It ruined my life and I have not touched zyprexa in almost 2 years! It is a drug so terrible it should not be prescribed to anybody. The makers of this drug should be totally ashamed of themselves. They really should be punished for what they have done and continue doing to peoples lives with this drug. No joke."

1 / 10
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126 Report
  • kestrel
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • May 25, 2013

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I started taking Zyprexa over two years ago for intrusive thoughts I was having as a result of Obsessive compulsive disorder/depression. While the Zyprexa helped remove intrusive thinking, it added about thirty pounds onto my slender frame, made me severely tired, and took away my sex drive. In addition to these adverse effects, I was unmotivated/uninterested in many activities that used to give me pleasure. I had a "so what" attitude about life in general. All because of this medicine. What really frightened me about taking this was my cholesterol went sky high, and my blood sugar was also very high, making me an at risk candidate for diabetes. I am finally off of this. "

2 / 10
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180 Report
  • Sky
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 25, 2020

"My Dr. (The expert) prescribed this for me when I was suffering with agitation and anxiety. I took it for 2 years and my new Dr took me off it. I put on 30kgs of weight, felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin on a daily basis and was very irritable. But thats not the worst part. This medication permanently causes you to be DEPRESSED even after discontinuation! I've tried all types of SSRI's and SSNRI's and they simply don't work. I'm stuck in an incredibly bad depressive state, I can't laugh, I can't be happy. PLEASE, if your Dr. prescribes this to you, READ THE REVIEWS and do not take this horrible medication!"

1 / 10
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80 Report
  • Depre...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 15, 2019

"As far back as I can remember, I have always had anxiety and depression. But the last 2 years had been a complete awful. My doctor ‘experimented’ with more than 25 medicines including SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, TCAs, lamotrigine, lithium etc without any result. I was bedridden and had lost all hope. Enter olanzapine and life took a complete U turn within 2 days , it has worked so well for my depression, I have never felt like this since childhood. Just wanted to thank the inventors of this magical drug."

10 / 10
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92 Report
  • lovem...
  • December 13, 2014

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Had a few psychotic episode few years ago, was hospitalized and was put on Zyprexa and a few other meds. I was diagnosed with BPD (borderline personality disorder), major depression and fibromyalgia. I felt hungry all the time and gained 70lbs, my dose was 20mg a day plus I was on other meds, finally was weaned off all other meds as the months went by. I cannot say my hunger and weight gain was completely due to Zyprexa but I do know that I now take only 5mg a day, at night, sleep well, hunger is normal and I have lost weight with good healthy choices and exercise. I no longer have depression and life has never been better. Zyprexa, therapy, exercise, support and nutrition has saved my life."

7 / 10
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147 Report
  • audhep
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 16, 2021

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "After reading the reviews, I was hesitant to start Zyprexa, but I was at rock bottom with my central nervous system. Let me tell you, 2.5mg has saved my life. I have CRPS and severe anxiety. It calms down the mind, calms the severe anxiety, and makes me sleep at night. I’ve had no side effects from this med. it really is a life saver. Don’t be afraid to start this medicine if you really need it."

10 / 10
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63 Report
  • Onzin
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 23, 2021

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "So, one doctor recommended me to take this pill without no reason why. The effects of this drug were: -insomnia -bruises on my neck -weight gain -desire for sugars -anger and low estimation of situations Giving drugs for schizophrenia for just depressive People? Think about it twice."

1 / 10
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55 Report
  • Missy
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 5, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I've been on zyprexa for 9 months now, zyprexa has done wonders for me. No more spontaneous deep dark days ahead of me, my close family can really see a difference, I'm just worried about long term effects of this drug. I have bipolar 1 with psychosis."

8 / 10
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66 Report
  • Tookie
  • September 13, 2019

"I have been on many different anti depressants for depression and for insomnia/PTSD. So I started on Prozac 20mg a day. I had relatively no side effects! I started sleeping a bit better and wasn't so unhappy. But I still wasn't feeling myself. So, I read up on add-on type products and found olanzapine as a great combo with Prozac. I got that prescribed but sat on it for a while because I also read all the horrible side effects and got scared. But after a month still not feeling myself, I decided to try a very small dose.(I read you could split the pill safely),that way it would be easier to get off of it. So, I cut a 5mg into eight pieces... so .625 mg - a couple hours before bed. I slept better than I had in years! I've been taking it for about 2 weeks. I again, lucky, have had zero side effects. I feel AMAZINGLY happy!! I am going to stay on the super low dose. I hope this helps someone, maybe you can ask your MD about taking a smaller dose to get the good effects and not the bad ones."

10 / 10
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67 Report
  • wildc...
  • May 3, 2016

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Started up Zyprexa 5mg along with 80mg of Prozac and 200 mg of lamctiI don't remember the last time I have felt this good.My family feels like they are living with a different person.I feel like a different person.My does of Prozac was upped and the lamctiI the same day they added Zyprexa.I feel wonderful but gaining weight.Even if my stomach feels full and bloated I sometimes still want to eat.Afraid to stop the Zyprexa because my life was a living hell for me and everybody in it.I never want to go back there.I could not survive such a deep dark depression again.I used to believe all the good years were gone and I was just existing.But I am living and loving it!!!!But extremely worried about the weight gain.Already have type 2 diabetes."

10 / 10
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99 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.