Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

Olanzapine "I've been taking Zyprexa for almost 3 years now. It has been wonderful for me and my family. I had tried so many different medicines that I had given up. I now hardly have any mood swings, and I can sleep at night. The downside is that I have gained a lot of weight, but to make me easy to live with for my family, it's worth it!"

• pre...
• March 7, 2010

Olanzapine "I have been diagnosed with bipolar for 15 years and for the first time experienced a manic state beyond anything I imagined or experienced before. I was suffering from severe paranoia and psychosomatic symptoms. Zyprexa is a Godsend, and I am happy with it. My major problem with it is the morning hangovers I feel. I have gained weight, but desperately needed to do so."

• Osk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2019

"Was on 30 mg olanzapine to get me down from a manic state - I have bipolar. Did the trick, but now I've been having side effects of panic attacks, anxiety, no appetite, bad thoughts, and can't sit still. Only been on it for 2 months. Dr. has been slowly getting me off of it so I can go back on quetiapine that I was on for 10 years. I had a previous doctor that took me off of it because I'm 75 years old, and he was afraid to keep me on quetiapine. Got a different Dr. as the other Dr. should've just left things alone. It has taken a year of this mess of changing medicines. I hope nobody has to go through what I've been through. I feel like I've lost a year of my life."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2012

Olanzapine "After the first time I took Zyprexa, my head and legs felt like they weighed one ton each! I tried it for 2 weeks, and this got worse! It increased my appetite a lot too. My doctor is currently trying to find a medicine that works for me. It's so hard as I get a lot of strange side effects on these medicines!"

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2011

Olanzapine "I have been on Zyprexa for 6 months now, and it has calmed me down quite a bit. I have no more racing thoughts. I don't hear voices or see things anymore. The only downfall to this medicine is the weight gain. I would highly recommend it though."

• cel...
• January 27, 2019

"I was diagnosed with very mild bipolar disorder and put on olanzapine. At first, it was like this drug restored me to myself - I was happy, creative, and optimistic for the first time in years, sleeping solidly, and my moods were stabilized. But after the first few weeks, I started developing anxiety, restless legs, and severe leg tremors. Yet my psychiatrist kept upping my dose. For three months, I was in an absolute hole, every minute lasting an hour, out of my mind frantic with anxiety, exercising like crazy, having violent leg tremors every time I sat down. Finally, I demanded to get off the medication, and we tapered it down over a month. I was able to relax, and the tremors and restless legs went away. But then I stopped sleeping entirely. In desperation, I got back on the lowest dose. I started sleeping again for another few months, but the anxiety, restless legs, and tremors are coming back. Now I'm unable to tolerate this drug but unable to sleep without it. I'm screwed!"

• DrS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2024

"This is the drug I was looking for years. Within 4 days of 6/50mg dose, I felt clear-headed, energetic, and less irritable. I don't snap at people anymore. I keep my things clean and tidy and feel as confident as I used to be in my teens. I am a 43-year-old man now and struggled a lot throughout my university years and then in my profession with dysthymia. It was something holding me back, which I could not figure out. SSRIs never gave me a feeling of clarity. In fact, I never knew what a normal feeling was for a healthy individual."

• CTa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2019

"My dose of olanzapine was recently increased from 2.5 mg to 5 mg for my delusions associated with my OCD and bipolar disorder. I'm not sure if I see it working or not, but I am sure that it makes me very hungry, and despite eating way less than I normally eat, I am still gaining weight. Before starting this medication, I was underweight, 94 lbs, now I am 130 lbs. The weight gain, despite exercising, is setting off my depression. Not really sure what to do."

• Gon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

Olanzapine "I gained 10 lbs in under 1 week, which sets a speed record among the weight-gain meds I've taken. Since that pushed me up to the pre-diabetic border, my psychiatrist pulled me off of it ASAP - not to mention that when you're severely depressed, how is super chunking up supposed to make you feel better no matter how well the med works? 1 month & I would have been up 40 lbs! I felt no other side effects, nor any positive effects, but 1 week probably wasn't long enough for it to make a difference in my mood - only my rear end."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2012

Olanzapine "Puerperal psychosis: Made me incredibly hungry and then not even remember eating things! One time I ate seven doughnuts in one night - I only know this because I found the empty packet the next morning. I have no memory of eating them. I put a lot of weight on doing this."

• Geo...
• October 6, 2015

Olanzapine "I was switched to Zyprexa Zydis about two weeks ago by my psychiatrist to help with the huge weight gain and compulsive overeating caused by regular Zyprexa. So far, my appetite has decreased significantly, and I'm feeling a lot better about myself physically and emotionally."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2024

"Diagnosis: Bipolar I Dosage: 2.5 mg bedtime Positive: My thoughts are significantly more collected and clear. I am able to calm myself using relaxation skills. I learned that my scattered thoughts were hampering my ability to use the multitude of skills I had! Cons: I get hungry more often, but a light snack, or a flavored drink (NON-ALCOHOL) seems to decrease the urge to eat. It’s tough but SO worth it."

• aim...
• January 13, 2011

Olanzapine "I have been on Zyprexa for over a month and feel wonderful. It has helped my depression, sleep, and paranoia. The only thing I hate is the weight gain. I have gained 20-30 pounds already and it is a huge battle. I was already 160 after having my first child. Definitely would recommend, though."

• edy...
• June 30, 2010

Olanzapine "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 49. I was immediately put on Zyprexa and, essentially, the next four years are a blur to me. To say I felt like a zombie is a gross understatement. I changed my doctor and insisted he take me off the drug, which he did. I am now taking 'plain old lithium' and have been doing well for the past five years. I understand that everyone doesn't have the same experience with Zyprexa that I had, but people should be aware that there are long-proven alternatives. I only wish that my doctor had considered them first."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2017

"I initially started on 5 mg, and after 2 weeks, my doctor put me on 10 mg. I feel fantastic. My mind doesn't race anymore, and I'm finally sleeping all night long. Short-lived groggy feeling in the morning, I make myself get up and move, that seems to work the best. The suicidal thoughts are gone, and I just feel really good. No weight gain yet, but I do exercise 3-4 times a week. Only noticeable side effect is I seem to be thirstier and have a dry mouth. For my Zyprexa, it has been amazing!"

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

Olanzapine "My 6-year-old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I thought it was ADHD, but they started him on Zyprexa, and we've seen a lot of improvement in his behavior. Would highly recommend. Virtually no side effects. He eats a little more, but most 6-year-old hyperactive boys could stand to eat a little more."

• reb...
• April 18, 2014

"I'm 30 years old, been diagnosed with bipolar effective disorder with anxiety. I'm on olanzapine, and it's absolutely brilliant. I take olanzapine 10 mg at night and 3 diazepam 5 mg, now down to 2 mg 3 times a day. I was put on quetiapine but had to stop that on my 4th day, it caused me to be aggressive, and I felt I was put in a coma for days. I was nearly sectioned. I would give olanzapine a 10, but it makes you go to the fridge and binge eat, lol. But I'd rather be fat and happy."

• Jor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2020

"Olanzapine at 20 mg at night pulled me out of a major depressive episode. It stopped psychotic symptoms and helped me feel normal again. Weight gain is difficult but trying to manage it. Would highly recommend this medication for getting good sleep and calming down thoughts. It also calms down the hypomanic side of bipolar for me."

• Sun...
• August 7, 2019

"Olanzapine works really well for me in the way I use it. I have bipolar, and I only use it when I feel the onset of mania. I then take 5g morning and night for 3 days, and the episode is quickly over. It slows my brain down, and combined with reducing activity, I return to 'normal'. This means I do not routinely take it, I do not suffer the side effects, and I am able to control my mania easily. I think other people could do the same and avoid becoming zombies and gaining weight. In the last few years, I have begun having bouts of depression. These I am still trying to control, and as yet have just waited them out. After 4 to 5 weeks, the depression generally lifts on its own. I would love to find a drug that I could take for depression in the same way I take for mania."

• BBP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 13, 2016

Olanzapine "First year on 5 mg at night helped my mood, anger outbursts, and anxiety a great deal. Did develop high cholesterol and gained 15 pounds, but the trade-off was worth it. Also helps wonderfully with insomnia. After the year mark, it was no longer handling my anger well. Started having 2-3 inappropriate outbursts a week. Pdoc started me on Geodon but couldn't handle the side effects, so back to the Zyprexa I went with another 2.5 mg added in the morning and gained another 6 pounds. Have tried other AAPs but can't handle the side effects, so I'm still on the Zyprexa for now until I get brave enough to try something else again. Taking with Pristiq, Trileptal, Vistaril, and Xanax."

• ola...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 3, 2023

"I've been taking olanzapine for 2 years, and it helped me, but I gained a lot of weight to the point where my doctor and I agreed that I should get off it. I've been trying to get off this drug for 6 months and keep getting back on it because the withdrawal is so bad. I started having severe anxiety, racing thoughts, adrenaline attacks, and insomnia. I'm still trying to get off it. I wish someone would have told me that getting off this drug was hard, I wouldn't ever have gotten on it. Do not take this drug, it will mess you up!"

• mee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2015

Olanzapine "I have been taking Zyprexa 5 grams a day, and I don't get any effects from the pill. It keeps me mellow but not tired like everyone says. Kinda helps with mood swings, but not really! At least not for me."

• Mat...
• May 12, 2017

Olanzapine "Avoid at all costs - Weight gain is insane. Hungry all of the time, can't stop eating even when full, and that awful feeling afterward. BE AWARE - coming off of this is hell, too. Be very careful, and come off of this very slowly."

• tay...
• September 7, 2010

Olanzapine "I take Lamictal 300 mg, Ambien 10 mg, and Zyprexa 7.5 mg daily. Until the Zyprexa was added, I still experienced bipolar breakthroughs, insomnia, and extreme anxiety and OCD on a daily basis, which exhausted me. So far, Zyprexa manages my symptoms, although I haven't been on it very long. I also have food cravings, however, no significant side effects. I'm very sensitive to medications, can only take very small doses. What works for me might be too little to help others. My doctor was very surprised to find out that a mere 15 mg Zyprexa for emergency breakthroughs would work for me. Now I don't need to carry Zyprexa with me everywhere because the nightly dose of 7.5 mg is enough."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2018

Olanzapine "I have a love-hate relationship with Zyprexa. I was initially put on it when I had a breakdown, it was the worst I ever felt mentally in my life. Before going on it, I hadn’t slept soundly for 10 years. Taking Zyprexa was a last-resort drug, and it worked great for getting me through that tough time. When I started to take it, I could finally get a good night's sleep, I can’t even explain how good that felt after going so long without it. I also feel like it saved my marriage. Now the downsides: I gained about 40 lbs since I’ve started taking it 12 years ago. It makes me feel hungry constantly and crave sweets. Another thing is I am so unmotivated, it’s so frustrating! Anytime I try to reduce it, I find I get irritable and not able to sleep, so then I go back up again. I definitely think this drug is not good for everyone, I would only recommend it as a last resort."