Olanzapine for Schizoaffective Disorder User Reviews

• I...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2020

"For those that leave good reviews, you are either lucky the drug works, getting paid by big pharma to keep quiet about the mortality this drug causes, or you haven't experienced withdrawal symptoms yet. This was the most horrible disgusting antipsychotic I've ever taken. Nothing but chemical lobotomy inside a small pill. Can't think, can't cry, can't be happy, can't lose weight... can't feel pleasure in anything. How can anyone benefit from something that leaves you emotionally flat? If it works for you, great. But don't be surprised when the "feeling okay" turns into "feeling worse". You have been warned."

• Clari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2024

"I never considered myself a paranoid schizophrenic. It wasn't until my mid-20s that I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe depression. I have tried so many drugs, and I always quit them because they never worked for me. I was using methamphetamines, and it really changed my brain chemistry. It made me into someone I didn't recognize. It wasn't until I received this medication (after many trial and error doctor appointments) that I began to love life again. I have never felt more like myself. Calm, happy, and motivated to do life. This is a miracle drug if you have severe anxiety and especially sleep problems. I take 15mg at nighttime. This medicine nearly saved my life and my sanity."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2010

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Zyprexa got rid of all my symptoms- paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, depression, mania, catatonia. It worked so well I have gone off all my other medicines and I got off disability, finished school, and got a full time job. I have very few side effects- mostly I sleep a lot: 10-12 hours. But that is totally worth it to get rid of my symptoms! And I even lost weight!"

• LB23
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2023

"I've heard a lot of bad things about this medication, but remember everyone is different. This has been a lifesaver for me; my motivation is back, and I can feel emotions again as well as a great reduction in positive symptoms. It stopped a psychotic break in its tracks. The drowsiness seems to get better over time, but I personally still would not drive at night after taking it. Overall, this medication has given me my life back in combination with lithium. I also haven't had any troubles with weight gain at this point; however, I do get extremely hungry about an hour after taking it. If your doctor recommends it, I'd give it a shot and keep an open mind. It could be the one that saves your life!"

• Berkley
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2019

"Terrible experience with the first dosage of olanzapine 20mg. Cloudy vision accompanied with dullness, lowered cognitive skill, hard to talk without feeling thirsty, hungry all the time, weight gain, and zero sex drive. What human could live life like this?"

• Nonar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 14, 2018

"Olanzapine (Brand Name Zyprexa) is a terrific medication that I settled on after trying every single antipsychotic (except Clozaril) with poor, sometimes intolerable results. I was initially scared of the radical weight gain I'd heard about, but when I actually started taking it, I found that I actually lost 5-10 pounds! So definitely don't discount this drug due to weight gain...it's different for everybody. It does cause daytime sedation, but after being hospitalized 12 times, I gave up on trying to stay slim or going back to work one day, and "gave in" to the olanzapine...it was always the one drug I wanted to reach for when in any uncomfortable state of mind, and that told me that it was the drug for me. I take 7.5 mg and it helps both with psychotic symptoms such as thought disorganization and delusions, and with mood stabilization, both are which are part of my Schizoaffective Disorder. I highly recommend you give this medicine a try to ease and comfort your mind."

• IWant...
• April 14, 2019

"Hate it. Nothing but eat, sleep (which takes a majority of the day), no focus (almost fired from my job) weight gain, lowered cognitive function, worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, and no motivation whatsoever. This is chemical lobotomy as a prescription pill."

• Myali...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2018

"I was on a very high dose of zyprexa (olanzapine) for a long time (60 mg a day) about 8 months . During that time I was not human. I could not hold a normal conversation because my head was totally empty and I could not find the words. I had no motivation to do anything really, just sleeping, staring at the wall all day. I was like a zombie, walking weird like dragging my feet behind me and I gained A LOT of weight. I slurred when talking and drooled a lot. I isolated myself completely from the outside world and hit a real low. This was the darkest time of my life and I wouldn't wish this punishment on my worst enemy."

• chocobo
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2015

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I've been on zyprexa since 2006. Although it causes weight gain, I've decided to weight train or do cardio for an hour every day, which is helping. The weight can continue, but from my experience, it was only when I was inactive. I also feel a little sedated but that doesn't keep me from doing things. The hallucinations are about 90% gone. Overall, zyprexa works for me as it's one of the two drugs that worked because most of the other drugs I tried were not effective, reacted with my skin, or did nothing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 5, 2012

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I've been taking Zyprexa for 3 years, and it completely eliminates symptoms such as delusions, irrational thoughts, manic behavior associated with schizoaffective disorder. Biggest downside is high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), high lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) and weight gain of 80 lbs (from 180 lbs to 260 lbs in 3 years). "

• Gwem
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2017

"This has been a miracle drug for me. Ive been on everything, and this drug is like no other. I could care less about the significant weight gain. Im dealing with will power challenges when it comes to food.Zyprexa allows me a LIFE."

• Donald
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2018

"Olanzapine is responsible for turning my life from worse to very worse. Trade in medicine I advise patients with schizoaffective disorder to not to take it. I live in a dizziness due to olanzapine. I have an increase in weight, pain in the body, deep sleep and poor concentration. I lost 6 years of my life. I am a victim of olanzapine from the dark side"

• Silly...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2020

"I'm a 20 year old female and I have had both good and bad experiences with Olanzapine, 20 mg dose for about 8 months. I previously suffered from delusions such as believing I had super powers (I could see and hear ghosts!) and impulsive thoughts that were hard to ignore (such as turning the wheel of the car into oncoming traffic). Luckily, olanzapine solved these issues. However, I suffer some of the side effects. I gained 40 pounds, which no amount of dieting or exercising could fix, gained a sharp increase in appetite, I always suffer from a dry mouth, and I always feel low energy, though that could be from sleeping 12 hours a day due to depression. I'm considering switching to a different anti-psychotic, hopefully one without the weight gain."

• Ray
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2020

"Male, 30s. Was prescribed this medication olanzapine a year ago, been on it consistently and at 10 mg it knocks me out at night. I was constantly getting up before or having insomnia, this helped with that. Downside is it affects memory big time. I have trouble focusing and memory now, I feel like a dumber me that now gets ok sleep. Weight gain happens in this too although with exercise you can manage this somewhat. I honestly feel it’s helped with sleep but the side effects of memory and weight gain are pretty bad please be careful taking this. Seems to work for some people and not others."

• Ugee
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2018

"After trying abilify, sinogan,r isperdal and seroquel without any success I finally found my dreamed med. I've been on it for almost 2 months, the first few days it felt like a mental breakdown, but come on! , you need to breakthrough in order to reach a normal state of consciousness again. After a couple on weeks on it, I feel like a perfectly normal person again, no more paranoia, anxiety fully suppressed and depression too. Just watch out for what you eat (the hunger it gives is completely manageable, if you go fat is because you are giving up to your desires)"

• Torst...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 4, 2018

"(Short version.) Had a psychotic episode in 2010. Olanzapine cured it. Tried stopping the olanzapine and for the first time in my life experienced insomnia. 7 days 7 nights not a minute of sleep. First time trying sleeping pills, they didn't work. Back on 10mg olanzapine, opposite problem. 12 hours of sleep a night with ease, but no motivation to get up. I spend so much time being tired, I wonder is it even worth being alive. Work, sleep, repeat. Also, gained almost 100 lbs since starting olanzapine. In the past 3 years I have managed to lose almost 60. Will try cutting back the dosage because when I'm on olanzapine, I feel like I'm already dead. I want to live again. Being so tired all the time and spending most of my time asleep isn't living."

• TyAus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2018

"So far all I have read about this medication are negative comments but for me Olanzapine has been a lifesaver! I have tried so many medications for my Schizoaffective Disorder (Bipolar Type) and some of them have worked somewhat or I have had to many side effects to the point I could not tolerate it. The only side effect I have got from the Olanzapine is drowsiness which isn’t a problem for me because I take it a few hours before bed time. Before this medication I would hallucinate a few times a week and would sometimes go into full blown psychosis and have to be hospitalized. Now that I have been taking this medicine for a few months I have only hallucinated once but my psychiatrist increased the dosage and most of my symptoms have gone away. I would definitely recommend this medication but just make sure you exercise a few days a week. My psychiatrist told me about the possibility of weight gain but so far that hasn’t happened."

• swimm...
• October 6, 2017

"I was put on this medication when I was 19, 25 years ago, I had a problem experimenting with hallucingenics in my teens, after a really bad trip when I was 18, that wouldn' t go away a team of doctors suggested this drug. If only I had have known that it would be thee most addictive substance I'd ever met I'd have left well enough alone. I gained so much weight, waking up in the middle of the night craving complex carbs and sugars, couldn't get back to sleep til I felt full which took a lot of eating as you never feel full while on zeprexa. It destroyed all of my epthatic traits that made me the type of person I liked to be, caring, open minded. And coming off of heroin was a million times easier."

• Angel...
• May 25, 2021

"I have been on olanzapine since July 15,2020 and Olanzapine works in my opinion better than clozapine and Olanzapine controls my symptoms of my schizoaffective disorder better than clozapine and there is an additional benefit of olanzapine helps keep me calm and decreases agitation I am on 20mg of olanzapine at bedtime and 600mg of lithium I would definitely recommend Olanzapine and lithium combination to anyone who has schizoaffective disorder"

• Boris...
• April 12, 2011

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I often wonder if it was a miracle that Zyprexa made my voices go away. Plus I know that when stressed I have a hard time sleeping but I will sleep 1 hour after taking the pill. I've had about everything in 22 years, and if the weight doesn't get you its a great medication if it works. Maybe they will find one that works for every psychotic with this break through."

• silence...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2014

"I have been on almost all of the available antipsychotics, and olanzapine/Zyprexa is by far the most "normalizing" and stabilizing medicine of them all that I've ever been on. I have been on clozapine also, but olanzapine has less risks. I gained a lot of weight on it, but at least it lets me focus, concentrate on having a decent life."

• GoMed...
• December 1, 2016

"Olanzapine did not work for me, my psychosis symptoms did not improve at all, if anything it made them worse. It made me constantly dizzy and very tired. I could barely function, or even keep my eyes open, I would sometimes fall asleep sitting up. Constant napping there was no choice. I felt like a zombie with no feelings or emotions which is worse than my original condition imo. And the worst part is you do not have a sex life when on this medication at all! No desire to have sex, it actually hurts to have sex and it's impossible to orgasm I was a pretty small person to begin with around 120-125 and I eat a healthy low carb/sugar diet, no processed foods mostly organic fresh vegtables and oils, never over eating. So when my doctor told me that I would probably gain weight I didn't think it would actually happen but I took it for 7 months and I ended up weighing 166! It was so depressing and now I have permanent stretch marks on my body :( I don't take any medication any more and I honestly feel so much better. Also if you research olanzapine it's a pretty dangerous drug and has killed a lot of people.  "

• Anony...
• April 8, 2010

Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine) "No medication has gotten rid of all of my symptoms but Zyprexa Zydis is one of the best I've tried (and I have tried them all literally). I noticed the munchies on regular Zyprexa tabs but none on Zyprexa Zydis....I have actually lost weight. I gave it a rating of 8 because I still have symptoms of schizoaffective disorder but high enough rating to give it kudos compared to other drugs."

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2012

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Doing wonders for me. Only problem I find is it makes my mouth extremely dry. I take it 3 times a day and I am fine all day. It doesn't make me too sleepy and I am still able to go to sleep at night with no problem."

• Pills...
• March 19, 2012

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "This is one of three new drugs I was put on recently: Zyprexa as a "take when needed" at the hospital along with Remeron "as a sleep aid" and Risperdal "for psychotic moments". I was kept on Tegretol and Vistaril also. I have gained 15 pounds in two weeks. I am not sure if it's the Zyprexa or the other two newbies (I know that they also cause weight gain). I do feel better but not good yet. The effect of having constant munchie-madness is annoying, as I know I am not really hungry but cannot stop. I do have eating disorders and this is dangerous. It's bad enough to have to work on all these personality and mood issues, but now I have to monitor my food like I used to when I was fat."