Olanzapine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 3)

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

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Had a psychotic episode in 2010. Olanzapine cured it. Tried stopping the olanzapine, and for the first time in my life experienced insomnia. Seven days, seven nights, not a minute of sleep. First time trying sleeping pills, they didn't work. Back on 10 mg olanzapine, opposite problem. Twelve 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 three 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."

• Don...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 24, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Took 40 mg per day for about a year before I really 'came back to life.' It helped me sleep but was too sedating overall. It helped me reverse anorexia, but I doubled my weight (gained 93 lbs in a few months). It did stop the psychosis. Was able to feel emotions again after years of numbness. Took varying doses for 17 years and had a very hard time getting off it when the time was right. Have been off 5 months now and am considering starting again because of severe insomnia and mood swings. Hate the weight gain and lethargy."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug makes your brain shrink and is habit forming because when you try to get off it's awful. It has made me gain 20 pounds in 2 months. I was started on 5 mg, then jumped up to 10 mg. Trying to get off this drug has given me severe insomnia. I only sleep 2 hours of non-resting sleep. The drug blocks serotonin and dopamine, so I don't feel joy from anything anymore."

• Rix...
• November 2, 2016

For Insomnia "Was born with insomnia. Now 57 years and had ZERO SLEEP since the beginning of October 2016, with severe bouts of insomnia since December last year. I'm having these surreal feelings from total lack of sleep. It is now 2:45 am. Normally, I just lie awake in bed until the birds start to sing. I had been on all available sleeping tablets and now have built up a resistance/tolerance to them, thus the zero sleep. Cannot go to work because of it. I've stumbled upon an olanzapine packet which apparently was given to me in the hospital after I fell 2 stories high and broke my pelvis in 2 places, broke also my hip, sitting bone, and squashed 2 vertebrae. They gave me olanzapine in the hospital to help me lie still flat on my back. I just took 5 mg. Hope for the best, please:)"

• Vio...
• September 11, 2021

For Insomnia "I have been taking olanzapine for 25 years. Dosage was changed many times, from 15 to 20 mg. Because of age, I have been on 10 mg for the last 4 years. Every time the doctor tries to increase by even 2.5 mg, I get severe insomnia. So it looks like I'm leaving it at 10. Overall, it has been an amazing drug."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2021

Olanzapine for Depression "Do not take this medication unless you have a very specific need for it, namely, schizophrenia. I've struggled with severe depression, anxiety, and sleep issues for more than 8 years and was prescribed this because my psychiatrist had nothing left to try. While it did help my sleep and anxiety for about 4 months, it had diminishing returns to the point that it ended up making my sleep and anxiety worse, along with the depression. I'm 4 months off this drug and life is an utter nightmare. I can't completely blame this drug for my current state as I've been constantly going downhill for years, but this drug definitely overall made me feel worse. Beware if you have sleep issues, because this might help for a little while but will likely stop at some point and your brain will no longer be able to get into deep sleep on its own. I guess if you're suicidal, maybe then it's worth a go because what do you have to lose?"

• Zan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Typical antipsychotic, makes you sleep, gain weight, and suffer from sexual side effects. Disconnects you from all emotions, and you walk around like a zombie. This one, though, has the added effect of DOUBLE the weight gain. My girlfriend gained 45 pounds in 4 months on this. All atypicals should just be gone as far as I'm concerned. They should only be used for people with serious psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations. Doctors are giving them to everyone because they know SSRIs fail more than half the time, and they will do anything to avoid giving a benzo because they care only about their license and stopped caring about the patients. Signed and attested by me, a psychiatrist myself that specializes in mood disorder and addiction. Plot twist: We don't like giving it as much as you don't like taking it!"

• Anx...
• June 12, 2022

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Zyprexa for intrusive thoughts and depression. I have been on it for 14 months. Started weaning myself off of it a week ago. It caused me to develop akathisia, worsened depression and anxiety. My insomnia also became worse. I can already tell a difference in my weight gain (have lost 2 lbs since weaning). This and Zoloft are the worst medications I have ever taken. I need to be put back on Xanax, but I do not want rebound anxiety or withdrawals when I stop taking it, as it's only supposed to be taken short-term. Pharma needs to make a med with no side effects that will ease depression and take away anxiety. I think they are capable, they just don't want to lose the money they are making from us taking these awful drugs hoping they will help us."

• Kip...
• December 16, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Diagnosed bipolar. I took 10 mg nightly for mania/psychosis. Was great for the first month, but then depression started to sink in, followed by insomnia and debilitating anxiety that brought me back to the hospital several times. It took 5 mg Ativan to stop the anxiety; I was so drugged up I drove off the road. I was put on 2 mg Klonopin but developed a tolerance. What a mess. I finally went back to the source of my depression and anxiety attacks, and they first occurred when I was just on Olanzapine. Tried to wean off, got rebound anxiety. Currently, I’m weaning off Olanzapine AND Benzos onto gabapentin. What a mess. This drug turned me into an anhedonic, amotivated ball of depression and anxiety. If this happens to you, get off it as soon as you notice you are going downhill. Don’t wait 5 months like I did."

• Gin...
• August 31, 2021

For Depression "This drug ruined my life, impossible to come out of it. I had severe insomnia, hardly any sleep for 4 weeks, the anxiety was out of this world. I’ve never felt so poorly in my life. Please read a lot before you take this poison, it should be only given to people who really need it, not for sleeping problems. I’m now seeing a psychiatrist to help me out of this mess. I used it for 7 years on 2.5 mg. Once you're on it, it's impossible to get off, even if you tapered it slowly. The insomnia is horrific, it’s like the body forgot how to sleep by itself, awful. Please do not take."

• Len...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2022

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I had this a few days ago in the hospital for extreme mood swings and anger due to bipolar. I took half a pill that dissolves under your tongue, and it made me feel MUCH WORSE! Within 20 minutes of taking this garbage, I became insanely sleepy, dazed, I was slobbering and slurring when I was talking. It made me even more angrier and anxious. I had intense restless legs and arms and facial tics. My legs would randomly kick and jerk up in the air. I had awful dreams and couldn’t stay asleep at night. I couldn’t stop stuffing my face, and I gained 4 lbs since the day I took it, which was on Monday. I took a Xanax yesterday because I had another episode where I was irate, all because I dropped something. I took this particular medication once in 2018 and for the first time in 2013, and it always made me irrationally angry, hungry, anxious, and unreasonable. Never again."

• Spe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2021

For Depressive Psychosis "People seem to love this drug when you're on it, but once you have or try to discontinue, it's the worst thing you'll ever go through. Worse than any street drug withdrawal I've gone through. Don't expect to sleep properly again without it, ever again. It's been months now."

• Mal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication got rid of my sex life and made me very anxious, depressed, and after a few months it no longer made me sleepy, and I had difficulty staying asleep. To me, the side effects outweighed the little benefits I got."

• L S...
• November 2, 2017

For Insomnia "Started Zyprexa 3 weeks ago - my primary side effect is insomnia - I go to sleep but awaken through the night and then early morning awakening. My sleep has been reduced to 5-6 hours a night - I have MS, and my sleep is vital to control that, so hopefully, my Dr. can help with the lack of sleep issue."

• Me ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Works for major depressive issues. Anxiety help is a 4 out of 10. Personality disorder is also 4 out of 10, but I don't have any side effects, but sleep, which I welcome, thank goodness. It's a lifesaver. I'm maxed out on dosage."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2022

For Depression "I’ve been on 2.5 mg for about 6 weeks, my insomnia is getting worse, and I feel a sense of being lost quite often. My psychiatrist wanted to take the dosage up, and I asked her not to. Think I’m going to make my own decision to get off this drug. I had hoped it would help with my depression, and it did for a few weeks, so I feel it’s had its ups and downs with me. I don’t recommend this drug, I’d rather deal with the insomnia I already had than deal with the worsening insomnia this drug has caused. Also, I’d rather deal with the depression than feeling lost all the time. I can’t speak for anyone else, however, I do advise using extreme caution when taking this drug. I choose to take myself off it, trust your own mind and body. When it doesn’t seem right, make the change you need to. I wish you all the best of luck as I know everyone is different when it comes to the side effects."

• 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."

• Mor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I have found a whole new life on olanzapine! I was given dozens of medications to try and find the best fit for me, and I genuinely didn’t believe there was one. I couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat, was classed as anorexic, and on multiple occasions, I thought or attempted to take my own life because I just couldn’t bear living anymore. I couldn’t control the impulses that come with bipolar. I couldn’t express myself how I wanted to, it was like I was trapped. 20 mg olanzapine has seriously changed my life, I can’t sing its praises enough! I just feel as though people who haven’t had the best experience should warn others not to try it, everybody is different, and it could be life-changing for someone else!"

• adw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "My mother has been taking olanzapine 5 mg once a day for a month. This medicine is really a great help for her. She has enough sleep every night, but sometimes when her manic stage overpowers her, she does crazy things again. She never listens to us, she says, 'You're just my daughter!!!! Leave me alone!!!' So, my younger siblings and I planned some dramatic scenes. I imitate actions, words, and portray that I am also like her, it's an effective strategy-medication plus dramatic counseling."

• Lia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was on olanzapine 5 mg for 3 months and have noticed no difference in my schizophrenia symptoms. I also gained 5.5 kg, and I am upset about it. I didn't understand why I put on so much weight until I read the reviews on this page. I also had numbed legs at night, which caused me great discomfort, so I cold turkey went off the pills and have been having insomnia since."

• Ola...
• September 16, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I have used this medication for around two years. It is very good with helping schizoid-type thoughts, however, I would not recommend the medication as a long-term medication due to weight gain and its ability to affect whether or not you can wake up in the morning. It has a tendency to make me fall asleep for two days straight. From - adult male who has had sleep cycle problems from a young age."

• Som...
• August 4, 2020

For Agitation "This medication olanzapine is AMAZING for marijuana withdrawals! It helps so much with the loss of appetite, racing mind, agitation, and insomnia, just not the night sweating unfortunately, but hey, you can't have everything... I wouldn't recommend it unless you need it though, it commonly causes significant weight gain, expressionless face/personality, a little trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and a slight, dopey/dumb feeling, but all these side effects here wouldn't bother anyone getting off the weed. I have constantly been on/off the marijuana, and every time I decide to put the bong down for a good while, I go get on this medication. Seriously, I wish I knew about olanzapine those first few times I got off the weed! Once it has been a few weeks, the marijuana withdrawals are gone, and I ditch this medication and feel fine again. In saying that, I've never taken this drug long term, so I can't comment on its effects, but short term? Especially marijuana withdrawal? 10/10"

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on this medication at 10 mg for over 6 months now, and I don’t know why I waited so long to get help with my inner personal issues. I sleep better, I don’t overthink, my anxiety is gone. I take it every night at bedtime. It also knocks me out to sleep since I’m bipolar and suffer from horrible insomnia."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2022

Olanzapine "Stay far away from this drug. I was misdiagnosed for psychosis and took this for 3 weeks, then quit cold turkey. Couldn't stop walking for months and couldn't sleep. Had a panic attack from lack of sleep that put me in the ER. The ER prescribed me Zyprexa 5 mg, so I just decided to start it again. I was then bumped up to 10 mg a month later. The akathisia continued, and I started to get suicidal thoughts, like jumping off a bridge because I couldn't stop walking and it’s 4 am. I did this continuously, so I decided to quit cold turkey at 5 mg again. It’s been 3 weeks now, and I haven't slept much at all and got prescribed Klonopin to help with this, with little success. The akathisia has subsided, but I’m afraid both my insomnia and akathisia will rebound when I decide to taper off Klonopin. In conclusion: do not trust anyone to prescribe you this drug, it will give you many unwanted side effects."

• Rol...
• April 26, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was hospitalized after a psychotic episode. I was pressured by the hospital staff to take olanzapine, but I kept refusing. Then I seemed to have no choice, so I agreed to take it just so I could leave the hospital. I went home and took it, one at night. It seemed to take a few weeks to take full effect. When I was on it, it was okay, and it shut my brain down and put me to sleep at night. I got eight hours, and also just wanted to eat junk. But I decided to stop taking it because of the risk of weight gain. I stopped taking it cold turkey, and it was not good. I couldn’t sleep after stopping and haven’t been able to sleep properly for three years. Don’t bother taking it. If you do take it, I would say wean off of it slowly. If you want to come off of it."