Olanzapine and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Rib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2019

For Insomnia "For years, I suffered from insomnia. My doctors tried Ambien, benzos, antidepressants, Seroquel, and antihistamines, and nothing worked for me. I saw a new doctor who put me on ten milligrams of olanzapine, and it was a success. I am now currently on 20 mgs at night. It puts me to sleep, but the hunger and weight gain are severe."

• R p...
• March 8, 2017

Olanzapine for Insomnia "This medicine has made me gain a lot of weight due to the fact that I get hungry about 2 hours after taking it. After eating, I always pass out and sleep through the night until I have to wake up for my job at 7 a.m. I have been taking this medication for two years now, so I do not wake up groggy and foggy. This medication, to me, is a lifesaver for putting me to sleep and keeping me asleep. Just be careful with the night hungers! Other than that, I would totally recommend the medication if you can't sleep at night."

• Anonymous
• February 13, 2012

Olanzapine for Depression "This medication is a great sedative, if that's what you're looking for. It's not euphoric, it just makes you sleepy. But it caused me to gain over 40 pounds in less than 2 months. I now get depressed just looking in the mirror. My doctor says it just makes you hungry, not gain weight, but the amount of weight I gained in such a short time is unnatural!"

• mor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I started taking Zyprexa 10 mg in 1996 until 2017, which is when I began tapering due to health reasons. I am now down to 2.5 mg but have gained a lot of weight, pain in joints, inability to sleep well, anxiety for no reason, memory loss, inability to think, no motivation, crying for no reason, terrible pain in my arms, muscle cramps in my feet, pancreatitis, constant eating, lack of feelings and enjoyment. Extremely difficult to get off it, it ruined my life!"

• Kas...
• August 13, 2013

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I am a 19-year-old girl and I have bipolar disorder 2 and suffer from anxiety and depression, so my doctor prescribed 10mg Zyprexa daily. I had HORRIBLE side effects. In four months, I gained 20 kg, developed cystic acne, and my thinking was slow and foggy. Any self-confidence I had or pride in my appearance evaporated completely. The worst part is I still had the anxiety and the depression (although I didn't expect an antipsychotic to help with depression). I'm so glad I'm not on it anymore. Zyprexa was definitely not for me."

• Ren...
• October 22, 2013

Olanzapine for Depression "I have been on this medication for about 3 weeks now. I wake up hungry, drenched in sweat, and have also gained 15 pounds. I'm thinking about getting off this medication. I have also had crying spells, irritability, and mood swings, then some other days I have felt fine. It's weird. I'm going to give it a few more weeks, and if nothing improves as far as my moods, I will get off of it."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2021

For Agitation "I found olanzapine to be a fantastic alternative to benzos for agitation. I wasn't keen on taking benzos again due to the risk of becoming addicted. I find olanzapine kicks in quite quickly and definitely helps to calm me down if I'm feeling agitated or anxious. I take this as well as a tetracyclic antidepressant. I find it does make it hard to wake up in the morning, but the plus is that I get a great night's sleep on this medication. Weight gain is a side effect, but I was underweight before taking it, so that worked well for me. Of course, it's always good to be aware of long-term side effects for atypical APs, and I'm personally tapering off with my doctor now that my mental health is improving."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2009

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I've been taking Zyprexa for just over a year now and have seen dramatic improvements in my life. I used to be incredibly paranoid of people, was hearing voices, and was delusional about my physical health. I'm on 20 mg of Zyprexa, and most of my symptoms have cleared. Some of them remain, but they're much more tolerable than they used to be. The only drawbacks I have noticed are weight gain and slowed reactions, but I'd rather live through those side effects than experience what I did before treatment."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2018

Olanzapine for Depression "I have never been a fan of antidepressants as I feel they are a bandaid for underlying problems. I am starting to think differently. My doctor put me on 2.5 mg along with 0.5 Xanax. After years of feeling depressed and hopeless, I now have more energy, sleep well at night, waking up feeling great. I have also gained weight, which I needed to do. I give Zyprexa 10 stars."

• 20...
• September 10, 2008

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed in 1989. I was an 18-year-old boy at the time. After several years of misdiagnosis, I was diagnosed in the mid-'90s with bipolar disorder. I've been on a lot of different medications, most I don't remember very well. But in 2003, I was hospitalized for one month and put on Zyprexa. I got my life back, I am now married, own my own home, and have my own business. I am now where I want to be. The downside is I went from 180 lbs to 240 lbs in 5 years. I am now borderline diabetic, and my cholesterol level is very high. I am now not on Zyprexa. The medicine did the job it is supposed to, but my doctor and I are looking for a medication similar to Zyprexa without the weight gain."

• Cwi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2020

For Insomnia "I'm back to leave another review after being on olanzapine for a couple of months. I started taking 10 mg, now I take 15 mg. So the issue I was so scared of was weight gain. When I started taking it, I was 80 pounds, very sick and unhealthy. It helped me gain back my normal weight, back to 100-105 lbs. Other than when I first started taking it, it hasn't had an effect on my hunger or weight anymore. I think it can cause weight gain if you allow it to. If you exercise and eat normal, weight gain shouldn't be an issue for you. The reason I rate this a 9 is because it does make it hard for me to get up and going like I used to prior to taking this drug, but I'd pick that over a sleepless night any day."

• Cke...
• May 3, 2017

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "OK, I've been on Zyprexa going on 7 months at 20 mg a day, and it's the best thing I've done to get help with bipolar disorder. The only downfall is the weight gain, but for me to stay sane and be happy, it's worth it. Since being on Zyprexa, I've been able to socialize again with other people and do not stay in my bedroom all day and night. Thank God for helping me."

• Tok...
• September 26, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I feel very sleepy, very tired. I got a brain tumor. It might be a side effect of Zyprexa or hydrochlorothiazide, a water pill. Because of Zyprexa, I gained a lot of weight and got high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol."

• Jac...
• September 11, 2019

For Agitation "Not sure what to think of this drug. It's really helped my wife's anxiety and panic episodes. And I completely understand how this is prescribed for insomnia. She sleeps all the time, loves napping, hard out-cold sleep. But she has gained a ton of weight. Obsessed with food all the time. Fantasizes about it and texts me about it. We go out to eat and on date nights all the time now. But she's gone from 115 lbs to now well over 200. Everyone comments on how much more relaxed and happy she is. But her life is about kicking back, Netflix, and being a total couch potato. She feels it's just what she needs. She gave away all of her old clothes and has no plan on losing. But I feel she's going to get much larger. I truthfully have no qualms with her being fat, it's simply the dramatic change came out of left field with this medication. Never envisioned being married to a 300 lb woman. Be warned, it's no joke. She's on 15 mg, btw."

• rui...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 22, 2023

Olanzapine for Depression "I was prescribed Zyprexa for anxiety. Over the 5 years I took it, I gained 100 lbs and have now developed secondary dystonia, tardive dyskinesia. I have changed doctors, who immediately took me off it. I would not recommend this medication."

• ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2015

For Agitation "After using Paxil and clonidine and experiencing insomnia and lack of appetite, my doctor prescribed Zyprexa. After reading the reviews, I did not take it for months and just kept it in my bathroom. When nothing else would control my anxiety, I finally broke down and took it. Within twenty minutes, I felt so much better. My obsessive and racing thoughts stopped, and I could actually sleep and eat. I take 5 mg at night. It does not make me sleep all day. Day two, I noticed cravings for carbs, but I find drinking a full glass of water takes care of that. You won't gain weight unless you don't control your eating, which you absolutely can do. Don't give up and don't keep suffering. Olanzapine can help you, but maybe start with a low dose and see how you feel."

• Get...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2021

For Agitation "I first was given olanzapine while hospitalized. I am bipolar (I stay hypermanic) and had an amphetamine addiction. They gave me olanzapine oral tab as needed for agitation. I remember the first dose. It was like I put on the brakes heavily but not too fast. I didn't feel drugged. Everything just slowed down fast. I was like, 'Is this what normal people feel like?' However, I refused to go on it permanently due to side effects of weight gain. Probably stupid, but like I said, I was a meth head, so there's your wisdom. I have a bottle of 10 mg for hyper-manic states, anxiety, or agitation. I don't take it often, but when I do, it's amazing. I just calm the heck down. I'm also on 1500 mg of lithium and 20 mg of latuda. I was better on the latuda but had akathisia and extreme nervousness at 40 mg or higher. Anecdotally, the olanzapine helped when said nervousness was unbearable (like when I would squirm upside down in a chair and drive everyone around me nuts)."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

For Agitation "I started taking olanzapine approximately 4 months ago, and I have seen a dramatic decrease in my overall agitation and depressed state. This medicine makes you sleep so well. It does cause weight gain. I have gained approximately 20 lbs in 4 months, but it’s worth it to be completely sane. My marriage is doing better, I’m calmer, and I can 100% thank this medicine."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2015

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Very helpful for insomnia and stress, and my Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and the severe depression and anxiety I've had all my life. Plus, no weight gain! I love this one out of all I've tried and would recommend it to anyone else who suffers from these afflictions - God bless and be well."

• 27y...
• June 19, 2012

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I take 7.5 mg a day for schizophrenia. I have only been on this medicine for 5 weeks, but it has helped me immensely with both negative and positive symptoms. I have gained weight, but it's a small price to pay for some peace of mind. Honestly, I couldn't be more grateful for this medicine."

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

For Depression "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

For Depression "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."

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2019

For Schizoaffective Disorder "Terrible experience with the first dosage of olanzapine 20 mg. 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?"

• DPD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2015

Olanzapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Zyprexa has been a lifesaver. I was literally on the brink of suicide because of my major depression, generalized anxiety, slight bipolar II, OCD, PTSD, and depersonalization/derealization. I have been on it for about a week, and I feel a complete difference already. No more night terrors, no more worry about the littlest things, no more feeling anxious around people, and no more not feeling like my bad self again. I feel the best I've felt in 2 years because of this! All my symptoms have gone away with little side effects, despite the weight gain and lethargy an hour after taking it. I take it at night, 5 mgs, I may start taking 2.5 mgs in the morning to help the morning edge off. I heard a lot about the diabetes, hope it doesn't happen to me."

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

For Depression "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..."