Olanzapine for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• aya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2016

"I had severe depression and was told by the psychiatrist that I also have psychosis. I was given 2.5 mg of olanzapine. Maybe it helped with psychosis a bit, but it made me even more depressed because I kept gaining weight, started to think slower, my vocabulary decreased, and I found it difficult to express myself or make jokes. I started to have difficulties with doing my job and comprehending new information. Olanzapine really slows down your cognitive abilities and information processing! I found the benefits not worth the drawbacks and stopped taking it. Now I am taking Cytomel, and it has been helping me much more - I lost all the weight that I gained, have much more energy during the day, and am back to normal thinking abilities."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2019

"I was prescribed 10 mg of this rubbish. Now, after 1 year, I feel totally like garbage. Was prescribed for schizophrenia, and now I wonder if it damaged my brain. I lack motivation, I've gained weight, I feel tired and unmotivated to do just regular activities, like brushing my teeth. I'm off of it. Don't take it, it is just a bunch of rubbish."

• Mik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 3, 2021

"Have taken olanzapine 2.5 mg with Prozac 20 mg for years. For the last month, I have quit Prozac and just been taking olanzapine. From what I can tell, the olanzapine has been what has made me happier and stabilized my mood and quit ruminating thoughts. So far, so good. I have gained weight, but not sure it's the drug. I am just going to continue the olanzapine. I like it. And way cheaper than Prozac...so far, I am singing in my car and happy..."

• Cho...
• July 20, 2015

Olanzapine "This medication has made me unemotional and boring, and like many others, I'm forever hungry. I have put on an insane amount of weight, admittedly needed, due to suffering anorexia, but when I started on this medication, I weighed 37 kg, and 6 months later, I nearly doubled to 65 kg. This I feel is an unnatural weight gain in such a short time, and now I don't go out due to feeling bad about how I look."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2020

"Had a very bad effect with olanzapine with hair loss. I don't know if anyone had this effect, but for me, it was really bad. I'm trying to stop olanzapine now, waiting for the doctor to prescribe something else. I had weight gain too. I wish I could continue with it, but unfortunately, I have to stop. Has anyone experienced hair fall? Please advise."

• Des...
• July 8, 2023

"Olanzapine is a very good drug in my opinion. It balances the mood well. It is very nice to use it under the supervision of a doctor and at the appropriate dose. I am using this drug. A great remedy for insomnia and depression."

• y-t...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2016

"This med is the only thing I tried that worked for my anxiety and depression. It might just be the way my brain is made, but every other antidepressant I tried made me worse or caused reactions. Anti-psychotics, however, help me. I've been taking olanzapine for a year and haven't noticed much side effect, no weight gain at all. It doesn't completely cure my depression, but I feel much better. Dr. suggested that I take a higher dose, but I'm a bit worried about diabetes."

• Max...
• December 23, 2016

Olanzapine "Definitely relieved morning anxiety attacks. I'm also taking Effexor and Klonopin. I take the Zyprexa at night because it does make me sleepy. I wasn't eating anything at all before starting this drug, so I'm not worried yet about the weight gain; I'm not overdoing it with the food. I don't plan to be on this for long; my doctor told me it's not really a maintenance medication. But if it gets me through the holidays and my horrible anxiety about work, I'm fine with that."

• Mom...
• October 28, 2010

Olanzapine "My doctor started me on 5 mg of Zyprexa, and the first 2 days I slept over 14 hours, falling asleep within 20 mins of taking it. By day three, I couldn't sleep at all and went on for days, making me feel out of control, confused, forgetful, pretty much out of it and unable to even have my daughter home with me. I was also very bloated, feeling and looking. On the start of the 7th pill/day, I began swelling to the point of gout, had breathing problems, dry mouth, was oddly emotional, crying a lot, and hurting badly due to the massive swelling and couldn't put on any of my pants. I quit taking the medicine, but the next night it all got worse with the addition of tightening in my chest. I am now having skin irritations on my hands. This medicine is bad news."

• nei...
• August 29, 2016

"I'm 47 and have had classic depression and anxiety since my early 20s. Been on citalopram, fluoxetine, maritizapam, and now sertraline. Also have diazepam as a backup. This year has been extremely difficult, no major incidents, but my depression was changing from day to day. No ups, but plenty of downs. Finally, couldn't cope and pressured the doctor to give me something for mood swings in addition to my sertraline. I can say I have felt the best I ever had in 20 years!!!! My mood before was a 4/10 and now it's a 7/10, which is great for me. I even seem to get excited about life, which I haven't done for years. It does make me hungry, but I don't care as this so far is a lifesaver. Also gives me a very dry mouth, so need lots of water."

• Ano...
• October 29, 2011

Olanzapine "After taking the 2.5 dosage for 4 days, I feel very irritable. I am experiencing crying spells, tiredness, extreme moodiness, and just want to be alone. This medicine was prescribed for a mood disorder that I have been experiencing. I also take other antidepressants. I don't think this is a good mix with other medicines or just not right for me."

• zus...
• April 26, 2019

"I have been taking half of a 2.5 mg dose for a few months. It makes me so exhausted I can barely think straight. It does help with anxiety, but only so much in that it puts me into a complete state of exhaustion. I feel mentally and physically depleted. The level of drowsiness/impairment concerns me at what is probably considered a sub-therapeutic dose."

• Col...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2016

"This drug did horrible damage to my life! When I went on this medication, no one told me I would gain 60 pounds in a matter of months! I would have never gone on it. Even after getting off the drug, I could not lose that weight. Fortunately, after 10 years, a doctor suggested testosterone therapy in hopes it would take the weight off. It was a miracle! I lost about 45 lbs. BUT I also lost 10 years of my life. Now I have permanent damage to my skin. Excess skin on my face and body after I lost the weight. The doctors tell me it won't return to its original state because I gained the weight so fast. I was a zombie while on the drug. Don't let your loved ones take it! I want to cry when I look in the mirror at my body now!"

• Geo...
• February 26, 2021

"I was prescribed 2.5 mg of this medication for sedation. I took it for roughly a week, and it caused my hunger to skyrocket. I stopped it, and my otherwise mild depression has become unbearable. I am crying and scared. Never felt this bad ever before. I was so much better. Hope this ends someday, and I am back to my previous self. I am not the only one with such an experience. Can anyone with a similar experience please share how long the worsened depression lasts?"

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2012

"I was prescribed olanzapine as an off-label mood stabilizer for clinical depression. It took away all my positive emotions, leaving me feeling permanently 'grey' and essentially soulless. I lost interest in all activities I previously found enjoyable. In four months of 'treatment,' I'd gained 4 stone and couldn't stop eating. Only now am I coming off this, a process which has been extremely difficult due to a resurgence of the condition the medicine was treating."

• jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 14, 2018

"I have been on this drug for the last several months on 5 mg/day. For most of my life, I have been underweight or at a healthy weight level (work out on a regular basis). However, with this drug, I am overweight even though I am on a caloric-restricted diet. This drug initially caused a noticeable increase in suicidal thoughts and ideation as well. Eventually, it wore off for the most part. However, I no longer feel anxious, but I also kinda feel 'empty' inside -- I don't feel fully human, almost like a robot. I am trying to get off this medication because I felt that while it did improve my depression/anxiety, it robbed me of my motivation, personality, and a fully functional brain. My cognition has taken a noticeable decline since on this medication -- I feel like I stepped back into the 7th/8th grade, mentally. Also, short-term memory has significantly declined."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2015

Olanzapine "Zyprexa brought me out of a severe depression within a day or two. It has also been fairly helpful with anxiety/panic attacks. Unfortunately, I have gained over 40 lbs and never feel full. It has also increased my cholesterol and fasting blood sugars. I've also noticed I don't have much energy or drive. Due to the metabolic issues, my doctor wants me to try Latuda."

• Sym...
• February 4, 2016

"I took 3 mg of olanzapine every night for five years. This med worked like magic for a couple of years, then I started having severe memory issues. This is when I found out the hard way that quitting this medication without suffering is not possible. So I decided to taper slowly over a period of 6 more months. Even then, after tapering to almost nothing before quitting completely, I had anxiety, liquid stools, confusion, and severe memory problems."

• Vzz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2021

Olanzapine "This drug is the worst thing ever created. For me, it CAUSED unbelievably severe depression, so bad that I’m thinking of suicide. But, I was forced to take it repeatedly because of a lie told by a jealous woman who had me committed and force-fed this evil poison. Even getting off it now, every day is an enormous struggle, and I worry I’ll never be the same again. Please stop making this dangerous drug. Nobody ever prescribe this, please."

• Shy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2015

"Zyprexa has given me my life back in 4 weeks! I have the worst panic attacks ever, anorexia, and chronic nausea! I have been on every medication under the sun with no relief, if not worse nausea because of the side effects of all the medications. I was on Klonopin, propranolol, hydroxyzine, and Zofran every single day, and I was still having really bad nausea and panic attacks so bad, I could not leave my house. The doctor prescribed Zyprexa 5 mg, and after 3 days, I started eating again. I have already gained 2 lbs, but I needed to because I was so nauseated I couldn't eat. I'm so excited that I can eat again without feeling like I'm going to vomit! I hope it doesn't 'poop out' on me because it's been a miracle!"

• Mol...
• October 21, 2016

"On this drug, which I've taken for just a few weeks, I have now developed a chipmunk memory. I can barely remember anything past 3 or 4 seconds, and I feel as though I almost can't think or hear my own voice in my head. Hopefully, these effects will change when I'm off it, but as of right now, I don't feel quite normal yet."

• Las...
• February 7, 2020

"I have had depression and anxiety for many years. I believe my psychiatrist falsely diagnosed me as having mild psychosis because of my description of my traumatic history in an unusual religious culture. I talked about demons but was not experiencing voices, images, or delusions. It was just part of the culture. Olanzapine ruined my physical health - high blood pressure, severe weight gain, and continual tiredness. As it sedated me, I stopped talking about my issues. This made others think my mental health improved, but inside I was suffering the same experience of trauma. I was threatened with detention if I stopped taking the medication until I resisted with legal action. The whole experience caused issues with my finances, my career, and my health, and I have struggled to recover. Maybe this medication would help with genuine psychotic issues short term, but off-label usage caused me harm. I would recommend reading the works of Joanna Moncrieff before taking or prescribing this drug."

• pic...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 5, 2016

Olanzapine "In 2010, I took Zyprexa 20 mg for 2 months. Now I manage to eat one meal a day because I got diarrhea up to 5 times per day. I'm surprised to be alive. I hate so much what Zyprexa did to me because it's so awful."

• Rob...
• June 20, 2015

"Olanzapine is great for bringing down a manic episode but can hinder recovery as it made me feel so depressed. On 2.5 mg and going to come off as it makes me so low and depressed. I sleep for about 15 hours and have no interest in anything. It's helped with my anxiety but would rather feel anxious than live with the depression. I am counting down the minutes till the day is over. Previously, I have done this and have felt better within days, longest I've stayed on it this time, but also longest I've felt depressed. Will let you know how I get on."

• Dun...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2020

"I used 5 mg of olanzapine every day for the past 8 months, and when I read a little more about it, I decided it wasn't for me. I have been tapering for about 6 weeks, and I have now been off it for 12 days, and my withdrawal symptoms are so bad I can't do daily things. I look like I'm even canceling my golf game... it is the pits, and together with an enlarged prostate, I get no sleep and feel sick all day. I don't eat much as I don't feel like anything, and all I can hope is that these withdrawal symptoms go away SOON. I wish my doctor would've told me about these issues BEFORE prescribing it to me."