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Olanzapine User Reviews & Ratings

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

Olanzapine has an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from a total of 1,031 reviews on Drugs.com. 46% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 33% reported a negative experience.

Condition Avg. Rating Reviews Compare
Bipolar Disorder  
6.3
307 reviews for Bipolar Disorder 35 medications
Depression  
4.9
183 reviews for Depression 76 medications
Schizophrenia  
5.2
137 reviews for Schizophrenia 52 medications
Insomnia  Off-label
5.7
110 reviews for Insomnia 113 medications
Schizoaffective Disorder  Off-label
6.0
75 reviews for Schizoaffective Disorder 22 medications
Major Depressive Disorder  
5.6
52 reviews for Major Depressive Disorder 50 medications
Borderline Personality Disorder  Off-label
7.5
39 reviews for Borderline Personality Disorder 28 medications
Agitation  
8.0
36 reviews for Agitation 7 medications
Paranoid Disorder  Off-label
6.1
28 reviews for Paranoid Disorder 5 medications
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder  Off-label
7.1
21 reviews for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 9 medications
Depressive Psychosis  
4.9
18 reviews for Depressive Psychosis 2 medications
Agitated State  
3.9
12 reviews for Agitated State 8 medications
Anorexia  Off-label
1.0
4 reviews for Anorexia 3 medications
Asperger Syndrome  Off-label
6.0
3 reviews for Asperger Syndrome 2 medications
Tourette's Syndrome  Off-label
6.0
3 reviews for Tourette's Syndrome 4 medications
Anorexia Nervosa  Off-label
1.0
2 reviews for Anorexia Nervosa 1 medications
Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced  Off-label
9.0
1 reviews for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced 58 medications
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Reviews for Olanzapine

  • Corinne
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • August 11, 2020

For Insomnia "My best friend was on 10 mg of Olanzapine for 25 years. He made the decision to get off of it with the Doctors's guidance because it caused his diabetes and was making his diabetes worse. I am also on olanzapine and my friend told me he will be the guinea pig and get off of it first and if he is ok then I will know to get off of it. He got off of it 4 months ago and his insomnia was so bad that he went 4 months with hardly any sleep at all. Doctor prescribed hydroxyzine for his insomnia but it didn't work. My friend could NOT sleep and got very very sick from not sleeping and was so confused. He took his life and died August 8, 2020 as a result. I lost my best friend due to olanzapine."

1 / 10
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  • Emero
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 13, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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436 Report
  • Mitch
  • December 4, 2018

For Insomnia "I’ve used Olazapine 2.5 mg (dosage one) for years. It works great for me, it gives me a good 8 - 10 hours sleep a night without waking up throughout the night and I always wake up feeling like I’ve had a great nights sleep. Don’t be put off by the scare tactics of other reviewers 2.5mg or 5mg dosages do affect the same neurotransmitters but only mildly. You’re not going to develop psychosis when you start taking this medication or when you stop taking it. I’ve stopped and started Olanzapine many times and I’ve no issues whatsoever, no mood changes (it actually helped improve some anxiety issues) .Just be cautious of weight gain but at a low dose you’ll barely gain any weight, and if you eat healthy and workout you’ll be more than fine."

10 / 10
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414 Report
  • Mandy
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 3, 2020

For Insomnia "Horrendous withdrawal symptoms. I was on olanzapine for insomnia for only 12 days. After stopping it I had 2 weeks of withdrawals symptoms nausea, fatigue, flu like symptoms, brain fog and more than a week of insomnia. My brain doesn’t know how to sleep without this drug and works really hard to regain the ability to sleep on its own. Even on it I didn’t have good sleep, went to bed at 11 up until 2am then slept until 11 am. It made me a zombie while on it. Stay away from this awful drug !!!!!!"

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

For Depression "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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  • Trapped
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 15, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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240 Report
  • Brett
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 31, 2021

For Insomnia "DO NOT TAKE THIS MED FOR SLEEP! It will help you sleep for a little while, then your sleep will get worse with time, then you will not be able to sleep without it once you try getting off. I'm going on 3 and 1/2 weeks off it after a slow taper and it has destroyed my sleep cycle. It's also left me with worse depression, anxiety, and exhaustion (all things that were starting to worsen after a few months on this med). Trust me, if you're not bi-polar or schizophrenic, do not take this medication, especially if you're just using it for sleep. You will regret it."

1 / 10
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172 Report
  • Sebas...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • October 17, 2018

For Insomnia "Zyprexa is not a sleep medication and should not be prescribed for sleep issues. It is a powerful anti-psychotic approved and used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is one of the most potent, if not the most potent anti-psychotic. Once on it, in most cases, it is virtually impossible to get off it. Psychiatrists and other doctors are told that it does not have addictive or withdrawal effects. Once on Zyprexa, most people cannot get off it without major side effects. Psychiatrists call this discontinuation syndrome, but for lay people, it is no different than withdrawal. At first, it will help your sleep and, over time, it will loose its potency, requiring ever higher and more dangerous amounts of a drug that affects myriad chemicals in the brain and has been shown to shrink brain tissue. Do your research. Be very careful."

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253 Report
  • mags
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 23, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Bipolar Disorder "This drug Zyprexa has SAVED my life. I take 5mg every night and it keeps me so stable throughout the day! I'm eating again, feeling real happiness, and my head is clearer! It makes me really hungry which is perfect because I need to gain weight. It makes me sleep so deep its amazing. 11/10 love zyprexa. I can't complain."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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364 Report
  • Ash
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 14, 2019

For Insomnia "If you want want to have zero quality of life I urge you to take olanzapine. I was prescribed this horrific drug just for insomnia. For the first 6 months it sedated me, then I started developing horrific side effects (inability to swallow, restlessness, anxiety, being in a zombielike state, etc). Eventually I developed a tolerance so it no longer helped me sleep either. Sadly, I know others who have taken this drug who have developed permanent movement disorders and brain damage. It effect heaps neurotransmitters in your brain. After stopping this drug cold turkey because I couldn’t swallow anything, I have been left with 9 months of 0-2 hours of sleep. This drug will ruin your life. Check out all the lawsuits against Eli Lilly. You’ve been warned. I wish I had been!"

1 / 10
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211 Report
  • TheGo...
  • March 22, 2015

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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311 Report
  • j Dan...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 7, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Bipolar Disorder "Zypresa made my husband a crazy man. He had minor Bipolar. His Pychiatrist prescribed an extremely expensive drug, Zyprexa, then insisted he remain on it for 6 months then left the country. My husband ran track in our house, wore his ski parka even tho 85 degrees, took several family members to help calm him, on and on. He was uncontrollably crazed, When he developed smacking lips about 4 months in, usually permanent, we stopped Zyprexa triggering DT's. His Primary care doc stepped in and tried various meds adding up to 4 that completely incapacitated him. More crazy man, upchucking, couldn't get out of bed when beloved company visited. We traveled to Portland, Or., finding a good Psychiatrist who understood meds, put him on 4 other meds to calm him, then began slowly toggling him off the mess. It took nearly 2 years to detox him. Worse yet, he was never the same again. If you value your health, and the health of those who love you, then grab your hat and RUN FROM ZYPREXA!"

1 / 10
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142 Report
  • Joey
  • July 2, 2020

For Insomnia "Before I started taking Olanzapine I could not sleep properly losing a lot of sleep. In fact I would go 72 hours without a wink of sleep. Now I get a full 9 hours sleep throughout the night. It is a miracle drug. If you cannot sleep properly I highly recommend taking Olanzapine."

9 / 10
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134 Report
  • serj
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 18, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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
  • Tinke...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • September 9, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Schizophrenia "Zyprexa saved my life with schizophrenia. It cleared the utter chaos, despair, hallucinations, voices, bipolar mania, accelerated and disruptive thinking, unfocused mental confusion, flat out psychosis - in a matter of a day. I took 15 mg."

10 / 10
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119 Report
  • Brett
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 27, 2020

For Insomnia "Took this medication olanzapine for about 2 and 1/2 months. I was suicidally anxious when my psychiatrist decided to give this a try. Made me very tired for the first few days but it nearly eliminated my anxiety and it helped me sleep better. Over time, though, I started having diminishing returns at even 10mg, along with feeling like I was becoming dumber (having trouble focusing, trying to remember certain words)... It just made me more foggy and depressed. Decided to get off it and didn't realize til a few days after that I was having bad withdrawals (nausea, anxiety, worse sleep). I would not recommend this med. I'm trying to conquer my severe depression and poor sleep and this is making everything way worse. Even cutting to small pieces to taper is hardly helping. Wish I never started it."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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149 Report
  • maddie
  • April 19, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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) for Depression "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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121 Report
  • Josh
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • June 24, 2019

For Depression "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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  • Tano
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 25, 2018

For Insomnia "Prescribed 2.5mg for anxiety and insomnia. Helped a lot at first, then after several months sleep problems returned. Anxiety started getting worse. I tried to slowly lower my dosage and anxiety and insomnia got worse than ever. After 2 years I started having tardive dyskinesia symptoms and trembling. And never feel rested. My sleep was very light, not deep. Again tried to reduce dosage but couldn't sleep at all and had unbearably intense anxiety. 4 years later I'm stuck on this awful medication, hardly sleeping at all, high anxiety, foggy slow brain, with tardive dyskinesia. Before I took olanzapine my only problem was mild anxiety and insomnia. This drug causes permanent damage. This drug ruined my life."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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196 Report
  • Josh
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 29, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Depression "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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  • alimo...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 22, 2023

For Depression "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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31 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.