Olanzapine for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Yel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 24, 2023

"The only positives were no more delusions. On this drug, I lost the ability to understand complex instructions (mental fog), which made it very difficult to maintain my job. This drug disturbed my sleep patterns, forcing me to sleep 12 hours per day. I could not wake up, even with a strong alarm. Someone had to wake me up out of bed. After stopping the drug six months ago and having some lifestyle changes, I have improved on the mentioned side effects. Delusions have disappeared. I am less depressed now because of spending more time outdoors, exercising/working. I stopped my desk job. Furthermore, I don't know if this is still a side effect of discontinuing the drug or not, but I now sometimes have random anxiety throughout the day."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2022

Olanzapine "Absolutely a horrible medication. I got this as I was sick and was no longer able to be responsible for making any decisions. I was driving everyone mad and myself too, not to mention I gained a massive amount of weight. Before, I was athletic build and active and then became a zombie. No emotions. This is where I would warn everyone not to take this drug at all."

• Edu...
• August 23, 2016

"This drug was prescribed to me for depression and anxiety, but it had an unexpected effect. I simply cannot stop eating. I eat the entire day, and right after I finish eating a full meal, I feel hungry as if I hadn't eaten anything, so I eat again and again. I have gained 9 kg in less than 3 weeks, and I am loving it. People always make fun of me because I'm skinny. I never thought a psychiatric drug could fix this. I am so happy when I look in the mirror. Olanzapine is the best drug if you are a skinny ectomorph who struggles with lack of appetite."

• Twa...
• May 30, 2017

"I started on this as I was psychotic and had severe depression. I was seeing things. This med was great after it was upped to 15 mg, but now, after 2 months, not working so great. Luckily, I'm not seeing things, but no energy and weight has ballooned. I can't stop eating. So, don't know what to do. Gained 70 pounds in a couple of months."

• Ele...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

"This drug saved my life, literally. More than once, actually. I have taken it intermittently during the periods I was hospitalized in the ER due to intense panic attacks, depressive episodes, and suicidal thoughts. Then, two months ago, the most important relationship of my life came to an end: I was a disaster. I could not have made it past the first, traumatizing month without olanzapine. It calmed me; helped me sleep; helped me keep a routine and function during the day, so I didn't lose my job. Yes, the confusion and the memory issues are real side effects, but I would still take olanzapine again. The pros outweighed the cons. I very sporadically still take 2.5 mg when I feel like I am about to have an episode: it helps me clear my mind and let it pass. I hope I will eventually, with the help of other medications, not need it anymore."

• Egg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 14, 2022

Olanzapine "I quit taking 2.5 mg Zyprexa cold turkey after taking it for six years! It was absolutely by far the worst experience in my 60-year-old life! This drug should not be on the market! It took me a full year to almost recuperate from having taken it. It works to sedate you, but the price you will have to pay in the end is NOT worth it. I am guessing that most people stay on this poison because the withdrawals are absolutely horrific and take months to subside even just a little bit!"

• Rad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2019

"I was injected with this drug because I had a psychotic episode. It took care of psychosis, but it developed tolerance for negative symptoms and depression, so I got depressed while on the drug (because your brain stops producing serotonin while on it). Quitting it was very difficult, but I managed, and now am in remission only with vitamins and nutrients. They can treat mental disorders! You can read more about this in William Walsh's book 'Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain.'"

• str...
• April 16, 2010

Olanzapine "Developed depression and significant anxiety this fall. Doctor started me on Lexapro, but that wasn't controlling the anxiety, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Added Zyprexa and almost instantly felt much, much calmer, could eat, and slept well. Was very sleepy/tired for the first few days but acclimated within a week. The problem I did have was with weight gain. Thought my life had calmed down and I could do without the medicines, but have found that not to be the case. Did not have any issues weaning off the Lexapro and Zyprexa. Just started Pristiq yesterday. Hoping and praying for good things."

• Qua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2025

Olanzapine "I suffer with GAD, OCD extremely. Was having to take large amounts of Klonopin before starting 10 mg of this stuff. Now I am not having to hardly take Klonopin at all, just PRN instead of 4 mg a day. Have not been crazy with the munchies all the time and a little slowness, but my wife told me she has her husband back, so must be doing something more than I realize. Just hate the restlessness, and being retired with not much to do does not mix well. Oh well, can't have it both ways."

• Ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2019

"Well, I have an obsessive personality and refractory depression mixed with anxiety. I was put on olanzapine 2.5 mg. The first 2 weeks were amazing. I felt euphoric and energized and slept much better. Then everything went haywire. I don't really know what was happening, but life just seemed too hard. So, I weaned my dose down 1 month at 2.5 mg -> 2 weeks at 1.25 mg -> Stopped 14 October -> 2 amazing days without it -> About 1 month of horrible withdrawal. Currently, I have lots of brain fog that I never really had before, but I'm not suicidal anymore."

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2020

Olanzapine "Zyprexa made me have hallucinations the first 4 nights I had taken it. (Crazy, scary) Then they stopped. I gained a good amount of weight (but that didn't matter because I was extremely overweight). So this med basically saved my life. I don't feel 100% better off of it, but I do recommend that it's a decent drug. I've tried so many meds and there are so many more worse ones than this."

• cur...
• February 6, 2017

"I was given olanzapine 2.5 mg six days ago. I already take 40 mg Prozac. I think I've tried every med going for anxiety and depression, and I haven't responded well to any of them. I started taking meds about 9 years ago. After 6 days, I've done a lot of crying and feeling strange, a lot of negative things, but I am willing to persevere as two positive things have happened. I can eat dinner, whereas before I could barely eat a thing, and I seem to be feeling motivation, just in a small way, but that's a massive improvement on sleeping all day as I couldn't face getting up for another day. I'm hoping this med will give me my life back, although anxiety feels worse and irritable and a bit snappy."

• Blo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2018

"Taking 2.5 mg olanzapine in combination with 150 mg Pristiq for moderate/severe major depressive disorder and anxiety. The combination works well for me, relieving severe depression (suicidal thoughts, delusional, panicky thinking, etc.) and completely eliminates anxiety/panic attacks. The only downside I've noticed is an increase in weight, even though my caloric intake of food has not increased and I'm just as active as before."

• Rog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2017

"After years of trial and error with antidepressants and anxiolytics, I finally asked to try an antipsychotic. I take 10 mg of olanzapine with 75 mg Effexor each day. The combination is quite effective compared with antidepressant monotherapy. I wish I'd been on this combination long ago. Helps particularly with suicidal thoughts and getting a new perspective on depressive thought processes. It also starts working faster than antidepressants, which was important in my case."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2021

"This drug has been amazing for me. I have used it in the past for postnatal depression and anxiety. My weight has stayed the same this time around while on it (my third time on it), although I can't lose the excess baby weight (only 4 lbs to lose). I'm on 5 mg at night and 2.5 mg in the morning. My mood and anxiety are so much better and I wake up feeling refreshed every morning after a good night's sleep."

• Ebe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2018

"The mixture of fluoxetine 60 mg and 5 mg of olanzapine got rid of my depression in a week! I gather that this combo is very effective, and thank God it worked for me. And I haven't gained any weight after two months on it. I'm very lucky in this respect because a lot of people do."

• maj...
• February 3, 2016

"The medication treated my bipolar disorder and PTSD wonderfully. I was happy with no real manic episodes or episodes of depression. Recently, I have started sleepwalking on the medication, and it is scary. I get out of bed to go to the bathroom and fall asleep walking there and don't remember what I did. I have fallen asleep standing up and awakened falling backward. I have started barricading myself in the room so as not to be a problem to my housemates. I have reported the sleepwalking to my mental health clinic, but they say it is not a known side effect. I sleep for 4 hours, and I am manic for 12. What a life. I am going back on it tonight because the manic episodes are getting worse. I asked for help with this problem for a week."

• Gau...
• April 4, 2017

"It's good for preventing psychosis. The only side effects I am having are I sleep a lot and can't control poop for long and end up pooping in my pants sometimes. By the way, I am taking this medication for one year."

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2021

"Olanzapine is an awful, awful medication. I do not recommend it. I have tried many, and this one is one of the worst. I was ridiculously put on a high dose of 15 mg, even though my diagnosis was incorrect and I did not need this medication. It has damaged my life severely in many physical and emotional ways that I’m worrying about when I will recover from because I have been off the meds for 6 months now, and I still have the effects it left me with. It caused hair thinning/loss, dry, zero oil, thin, sensitive skin, extreme quick weight gain when on, then drastic weight loss when I went off, irregular periods, total loss of libido/sexual pleasure, dry mouth, loss of emotions/pleasure, loss of appetite, and love of food. Resulting in the worst depression I’ve ever had. I am only 25 years old. It is unacceptable that this medication is being handed out to those that do not even need it and at such high doses. Also, I was only on this for 2-3 months, and that is how much damage it managed to cause."

• Mat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2016

"I've been off and on this drug for years. It's extremely effective and fast-acting, unlike the other psychotropics. It's a powerful med and should only be used sparingly. I'm not schizophrenic or have bipolar, but I have some kind of delusional problem; I might have borderline personality disorder, and growing up, they thought I might have Asperger's, but I'm very social? Mental illness has affected my life, (in a bad way), since I was 15. I've had multiple intentional drug overdoses and tried to hang myself, (not by trying to break my neck). My last suicide attempt happened because I went off 20 mg a night, cold turkey. That paired with my infatuation with this girl that doesn't ever think about me caused me to hit rock bottom."

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2022

Olanzapine "Terrible drug prescribed to me because my doctor decided I was depressed or bipolar. Had faith in the wrong people. Drug companies and specialists who think all women are depressed. Had severe insomnia and told this would help me sleep. Terrible, terrible side effects. Maybe it works if you have these conditions but was prescribed on a 10-minute first visit appointment."

• sto...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2021

Olanzapine "I have dealt with severe depression with psychotic features since childhood. I was initially put on Anafranil, as my psychiatrist felt I had OCD characteristics as well. The medication, while difficult to deal with, was helpful. After 25 years, it simply stopped working, and I went through a 5-year period of chaos. I had 2 bouts of ECT, which did nothing but seemingly compromised my memory, tried over 20 medications, and even gave Ketamine a shot. Finally, Zyprexa was suggested. The response was quick. I could actually sleep during the night, my mood stabilized, and the psychotic features were diminished appreciably. It has been a life-saver. I have gained substantial weight and am in the process of losing some of it, but it is undeniably difficult. I suppose you have to weigh the pros and cons, and for me, the pros are worth it."

• T U...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 20, 2022

"Went to the hospital with depression at 35 after a series of bad events in my life. My psychiatrist wouldn't listen to me, though, everything I said was wrong/imagined (was 100% truth). So I was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, put on olanzapine, which my psychiatrist wouldn't explain why (he said not enough time, I've got other patients)...18 months taking it, waiting for another diagnosis, finally diagnosed with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and told I was diagnosed wrong the first time, taken straight off it with no tapering and put on sertraline. I now lack any sense of the old 'normal' me, have only 1 emotion: anger. I shout in the street, I've lost everyone/everything around me due to this, I'm permanently questioning if I'll ever be me again, suicidal constantly. Olanzapine is a horrible drug, it's ruined my life and taken me out of me. If I'd known about the lawsuit, etc., before, I would never have taken it."

• min...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2012

"My mother has had major depressive disorder for over 45 years. She was taking Orap and fluoxetine for most of that time, but the Orap was causing Parkinson's-like symptoms. Discontinuing Orap can produce other symptoms, of which my mother had chomping of her jaw and excess salivation. Abilify controlled these other symptoms but did nothing for her depression, resulting in auditory hallucinations. My mother was switched to olanzapine, which is controlling the depression symptoms. She is currently taking 2.5 mg upon waking, 2.5 mg in mid-afternoon, and 7.5 mg at bedtime. Olanzapine causes sleepiness, so normally would be taken only at night, but the daytime dosages were in hopes of controlling the post-Orap symptoms."

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2021

"I started taking olanzapine over the past couple of weeks, and it is a miracle drug! I feel completely back to normal and not feeling sick 24/7 with major depression. I am a HUGE supporter of Zyprexa now. Ty to my therapist for prescribing me this wonder drug."