Olanzapine and Increased Appetite: What Users Say (Page 3)

• tyh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2021

Olanzapine for Depression "It isn't a joke when people say that this is weight gain in a pill. I was constantly hungry, like I could eat a horse. Pretty sure I developed an eating disorder too. No positive effects, and the cherry on top-the withdrawal was an absolute disaster."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2021

For Insomnia "I love Zyprexa! Been on it four years. Before, I couldn't sleep or eat! I will say I have put on weight, and I would suggest eating every four to five hours because the hunger can be overwhelming sometimes. But I have slept so much better, and oddly enough, I feel happier!"

• Bet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2021

Olanzapine for Major Depressive Disorder "I had an episode of major depressive disorder and was given this med. I weighed 154 and have never had a weight problem. Within about 6-8 months, I gained 60 pounds! It increases your appetite but also slows your metabolism by a lot. At the higher doses, I had stomach issues like diarrhea daily. I had bad nausea 90% of every day and lived on ginger. We’ve been lowering it now very slowly for a few months, and I completely stopped it 2 weeks ago. The side effects are terrible. I’ve missed so much work as I’ve had horrible migraines, weakness, shakiness, etc. This is a horrible medication!!!"

• Ari...
• August 18, 2016

For Depression "I've been on pretty much everything for anxiety. Had olanzapine 2.5 mg, which I started taking for a sedative. I currently blacked out and broke my jaw while having a panic attack, which led me to pass out and smash my jaw, so I can't eat or gain weight, which drew me to this med, as I had taken it before but didn't like the weight gain. It's been 2 years since I've been on it, and it's a smaller dose as well (used to be on 5 mg twice a day). Makes me feel like any other antipsychotics: hungry, tired, groggy, etc., but it does work for anxiety. I think when I'm finally able to eat again, I'll go off this med and back on benzos (as I don't want the weight gain), which I think are the best for anxiety, although highly addictive and not to be abused! GAD/Panic Disorder."

• cec...
• November 29, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "So here is the straight-up deal: Zyprexa sucks. It does. It makes you starving but never feel full, you feel tired and foggy, and generally out of it. However, if you're going through psychosis, it will stop it FAST. Bottom line: don't take it if you don't have to, if you do have to, take it as little as possible. Zyprexa saved my life, but the side effects are horrible."

• Tou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2014

For Tourette's Syndrome "The first time I was prescribed olanzapine, I was on it for about 5-6 months. The tics were reduced by about half, which was great for me. However, I soon realized that there were subtle side effects, which had horrible results. The medicine made me very hungry, which meant I ate a lot more, and as a result, I gained around 20 pounds in a very short period of time. Another side effect was drowsiness and lethargy. I slept a lot and took naps during the day. I trialed the medicine again recently, and the same side effects occurred, so I have had to stop this medicine and try something else."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Reading the poor experiences of others made me feel less alone, and if you have the script in your hand, hesitant, I recommend that you think about this one. It's a nasty one! I was forced to take 15 mg (wafers) while in involuntary psych care for 2 weeks, but went off when I got home due to side effects. Disgustingly weird ravenous appetite, compulsion to eat until I am nauseous (gained 10 kg/22 lb), dull/slow mind, and worsening of nightmares. I've always had nightmares, however, the olanzapine seems to have made them a nightly occasion. Every time I fall asleep, I'm having horribly vivid nightmares, digging up old traumas. Been off the drug 2 weeks, but side effects still hanging around! I've been on a lot of rubbish drugs in my years, but this one is probably the crappiest! What are these pharma companies doing to us? Avoid, my good people :)"

• Mca...
• November 23, 2020

For Depressive Psychosis "I was on Zyprexa for about 6 months after I was hospitalized due to depressive psychosis. It was very helpful in calming me down, helping me sleep, and getting rid of my paranoia and racing thoughts. I decided to try another medication because of the weight gain. I was insatiably hungry at all hours of the day and would eat until I made myself sick. I gained about 50 pounds while on it, and my doctors were worried that I would develop diabetes. Coming off of it made my insomnia much worse, but other than that, I don’t remember any other negative side effects. The only thing I would warn people about before taking this medication is to be prepared for your appetite to greatly increase and to start gaining weight."

• Sav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2024

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I tried for about a year to find something that would help, none of the meds I tried over the course of the year even touched my OCD symptoms - primarily real event OCD. Finally, the doctor decided to try antipsychotics, said Olanzapine was the best one to start off with. Within about a week, I had significantly reduced symptoms, and about a month later, I was about 70% back to normal. This medication worked like magic. The drowsiness was tough the first couple of days/week, but I adjusted and am back to waking up around 6:30 am without any drowsiness at all. I'm on 2.5 mg now, will move up to 5 mg plus samidorphan (Lybalvi) next week. It definitely increased my appetite, but I expect that to be tempered once I go on the Lybalvi."

• kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2022

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I'm on a relatively low dose, and it's only been a few weeks, but I am starting to see benefits from this drug. My only negative comment is the fact that I do have a bit of an appetite increase... haven't gained weight yet, though (granted I am already a bit overweight from all the other psych meds I take). I was discharged from the hospital after a manic/mixed episode and suicide attempt. I have to say that I am feeling a lot better on Zyprexa when in combo with my other meds (Note: I take several meds for various psych issues-- Depakote ER [bipolar], Requip [restless legs], Concerta [ADHD], Effexor XR [depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD], Clonidine [anxiety, ADHD]). Here's to hoping I don't gain weight and that I can stay stable on a low dosage in combo with my other meds!"

• Sou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 10, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Olanzapine for five years in addition to Lithium after a psychotic episode that led me into hospital. It worked fast to end the psychosis and has kept bipolar symptoms at bay. However, I gained 12 kg, and that was with constant dieting over five years. It doesn't just make you hungry but slows metabolism - at least in my case, it did. On withdrawal, I could only sleep 3 hours, and now 6 months later 4 to 5 on a good day. My metabolism has not returned to normal yet either but could also be due to my age 58. I do okay now on Lithium monotherapy. I also got breast cancer, and some research shows it can increase the risk by 30 percent. I would use it again for a psychosis but for no more than a few weeks."

• R C...
• May 21, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I was 150 pounds, and I went up to 182 pounds within two months of using olanzapine. You are hungry all of the time on this medication and never feel satisfied. The first two weeks of medication use, I felt very tired. I am still tired, but it's not as bad as it was. I started on 15 mg. I dropped down to 10 mg. The unpleasant side effects described continued. I am in the process of getting off this medication."

• Ism...
• February 20, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I will say good for the most part. My wife was on Zyprexa for a while but did not like it (did not know exactly why) and was chaotic. Hospitalization after hospitalization. But since switching to 20 mg olanzapine HCl, it's like a night-and-day difference, and things are normal again. No more catatonia, abnormal activities, or thinking everybody is an enemy and conspiring. Now she takes daily doses on her own without being reminded. Asks and actively participates in refills. Only drawback is the increase in appetite and likes to sleep until noon most days. O.K. and can be corrected with a little plan and coordination (daily goals, etc.) compared to, say, tardive dyskinesia and an increase in blood sugar, which can happen with any psych meds. Please monitor."

• Opp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Life saver. I went inpatient with serious mania, looking and acting like a crazy person, obnoxious and irritable. They put me on Zyprexa 10 mg my first full night there, and I woke up in the morning to no mania. It did a great job there. Ten mg was making me super tired, so now I've gone down to 5 mg as a maintenance dose, if I see mania coming again, I'll take 10 mg for a bit till it passes. It does make me hungry at 10 mg, but doesn't seem too bad at 5 mg. Give it a try anyway, you may not notice the improvement as quickly as I did, but it could be your lifesaver next."

• Ccr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Amazing. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and even after two hours after taking my first dose, I felt relief. After horrible issues with antidepressants (was wrongly diagnosed), I finally found a drug that makes me feel calm and myself again. Love this medication! Hunger and drowsiness were my only side effects that left after about two weeks."

• I_K...
• August 17, 2009

Olanzapine "Took a very low dose. Great for sleep, but I experienced a significant increase in appetite, which led to a 30 lbs weight gain in 1 and 1/2 months. Switched to Seroquel at 100 mg, and appetite returned to normal."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2021

For Depression "I was prescribed 2.5 mg of this medication for sedation. I took it roughly for 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
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Took it for a mixed episode (BPD II) once and then again for anxiety. Unfortunately, it didn't help me at all. After I took it, I had nurses carrying me back to my room, I got so disoriented, and another time gave me 60/30 bp the next day. It made me CONSTANTLY hungry, I gained 6 kg in 2 weeks (lost it in a few days after I stopped the medicine), and slept very deeply. At the same time, it didn't help my symptoms at all. My symptoms ended up going away with sertraline quickly, though. It can probably help others, but this was my experience. With that being said, I do not think this was the right medicine to prescribe for my situation to begin with, which just shows the flaws with medical protocol."

• Ell...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I want to say I don't write reviews often, so if I do, it's worth a mention. Olanzapine's not so good points are increased appetite, slowed metabolism and digestion, and tinnitus. Good points, it's not addictive, and as a chronic insomniac, this is definitely a plus. With other medications, such as benzodiazepines and 'Z' drugs, tolerance develops quickly, worsening the symptoms in the long term, and then there's withdrawal from those meds. There's no tolerance or withdrawal from olanzapine. I was prescribed this medication mostly to aid sleep, which it does, but shouldn't be relied upon, i.e., consider exercise, eating right, and sleep hygiene. It doesn't always work, but when it does, I sleep deep and well. Another downside is that my IQ drops for a day or two after dosing, but on the other hand, my intelligence is also affected by severe complete insomnia without olanzapine, so it's the lesser of two evils. Weight-wise, I've gained a stone in weight after 6 months of 5mg once a day in the evening."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 4, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine made me go from 115 pounds, never having weight problems, to 160 pounds in a year while being on it. The weight gain is a big concern, and it makes me hungry every moment of the day. I needed to stop taking it. It did work for my mood and sleep, but at the cost of gaining weight, it’s not worth it. I wish I never took this because now I’m having to lose all this weight on top of all the other issues, like not being able to sleep without taking this medicine."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2025

"This drug was a miracle, it helped me tremendously. I suffer from panic disorder and agoraphobia, insomnia, and emetophobia, and was also severely underweight at the time I was prescribed it. Olanzapine helped me gain all the weight I lost and helped me slowly reintroduce myself to the outside again. My panic attacks stopped, I was sleeping 8+ hours a night. It was amazing. I had to stop taking it because of the weight gain. It started to affect me emotionally and set me back. Also, the fatigue was nice at first for my anxiety, but over time, it got in the way of my everyday living. I would give anything to stay on this drug forever, but the hunger and metabolic side effects scared me more, unfortunately. Truly saved my life."

• tlb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2022

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "Significant impairment of cognition, significant drowsiness, hugely increased appetite, and a lot of weight gain (+15 kg) was my experience with Olanzapine as maintenance therapy. For depression, it had almost no effect, and I can say there are definitely much better options out there, although it works well and quickly in stopping a manic episode. Because of the drowsiness, impaired cognition, and significant weight gain, I don't recommend it. In all, I was on it for about eight months. Seroquel is not much better and feels very similar. I have since found Latuda to be far superior as a maintenance treatment, especially if you need a sharp mind in order to function and don't want to gain weight."

• Hea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Was prescribed this medication for bipolar. It caused a serious amount of weight gain! I was CONSTANTLY hungry. So hungry, it was almost painful! Gained 42 lbs. I had to get off of it! When I got off, withdrawals were TERRIBLE! I began to feel mildly paranoid and experienced really severe insomnia! Had to take sleeping pills every night!!! Well, a couple months later, I'm STILL suffering. The insomnia is going away, but I am extremely paranoid! I constantly think people are out to get me, everyone hates me, everyone is talking about me!!! I've never had paranoia THIS BAD!!! I also struggle immensely with depression and anger! When I first got off of it, I felt CRAZY!!! PLEASE, DO NOT take this med. You might feel okay for the time you are on it, but withdrawal, even when done correctly, WILL make you LOSE YOUR MIND!!! I have taken almost every med out there, I'm nearly out of options, but never before have I taken a med with withdrawal effects this bad."

• kil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I used olanzapine 10 mg for about 3 years, during these 3 years, I was stable, very stable, I would say, but suffered from immense weight gain and I was hungry all the time, and peeing like 20 times a day. During the night, I would wake up like 4 times and go to the washroom. After seeing the psychiatrist and working with him a lot, we reduced it to 5 mg, and now I am finally off olanzapine but taking divalproex 375 mg. It is my 2nd day without it, I would say I am no longer in deep hunger. Recommendations: I feel all mental illness is curable by talk and analyzing situations. I keep coming up with deep situations that caused me pain in my life and thank God for my best doctor. We use EMDR therapy to cure all of my thoughts. I urge you to research about it and use this EMDR method (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy), it has saved my life after God. Take care."

• Flu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "This helped me sleep, but I remain tired nearly all day. Getting out of bed in the morning is especially hard. I gained 15 lbs in less than a month! So hungry all the time, I cook and eat all the things. All of them. It doesn't even completely get rid of audio hallucinations, though, so the side effects aren't worth it for me. I can only hope the voices are getting fat too, you know? In a nutshell, this drug made me sleepy, ravenously hungry at all times, and my emotions are almost nonexistent, which feels really strange. Not an awful med for me, but certainly not good."