Zyprexa and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication, Zyprexa, has helped me out a lot for my bipolar. The biggest downside is being tired a lot, but sleep is very important. Once I take it, I can’t do anything at all and force myself to stay in bed. I can sleep for a long time and feel very groggy in the morning. I did not gain any weight whatsoever on Zyprexa. I suggest that people listen to their doctor and give it a try. I’ve been on it for a little over 2 years and staying on 2.5 MG for 'maintenance.' I am in remission now. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do much for anxiety, so you will absolutely have to continue seeking treatment for that if you have any anxiety issues."

• Kie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I got my prescription for this drug a few days ago along with my Ativan, Zoloft, and Trileptal. Ativan doesn’t have the same effects as this, and neither does Trileptal. I took this yesterday around 11 in the morning for paranoia and anxiety, and within 30 minutes, I started feeling like a zombie. I felt super restless and more anxious than I was before, so I slept from noon yesterday until 5 this morning, on and off. Even though I drank 2 big cups of coffee, I still feel sleepy and dazed. This also caused me to have odd and extremely vivid dreams last night, and I feel angrier than usual! I woke up this morning screaming at everyone in the house for not taking out the trash, I punched the air conditioner because it was turned up too high, I cussed my boyfriend out for taking too long to say something when he called me on the phone, etc. I thought Zyprexa would be a good medication for me at FIRST, but it made everything worse! I’m not taking this ever again."

• Cab...
• June 6, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've had a mostly positive experience with the exception of a lot of weight gain. Definitely stopped the depression/manic cycles. Does make me sleepy, but my doctor prescribed Provigil, which really helped. I give this med a positive grade, especially for bipolar with psychotic episodes."

• MBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2021

For Depression "I've only been on this medication for a week to treat my depression, insomnia, and desire for weight gain. It's done its job so far. Overthinking is at an all-time low, my appetite is on 10, and I've gained weight, which has always been difficult for me. It does help me fall asleep rather fast and stay asleep. The only downside is that I am ALWAYS overwhelmingly sleepy to where I can barely function."

• Joc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I was on Zyprexa for around 6 months, and when it did keep my psychosis at bay, I felt dull and unenergetic. I slept for 14 hours a day, and I didn't feel like doing anything. When I got out of the hospital, I was on 20 mgs of Zyprexa. On the process of going down to 5 mgs, I gained around 50 pounds. I'm now on Latuda 40 mgs in hopes of being more energetic and to lose the weight I have gained."

• Has...
• December 20, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I started Zyprexa 6 months ago after I was hospitalized to the psych ward and diagnosed schizoaffective. I'm also bipolar. It has been pretty darn good, makes me sleepy, which is good for bedtime. I get between 8-15 hours of sleep a night. In July, when I was in the hospital, I weighed 98 pounds, I have gained 30 pounds since, but I'm worried I'll keep gaining more weight, which is why I am thinking of looking for other medications that can treat both the ups and downs and the delusions and hallucinations. Other than the major weight gain, it's good."

• AFC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I have a love-hate relationship with olanzapine. The psychiatrist only gave me 5 mg, a dose that made me sleep for 10 hours and put on 15 kilos. I took it with valproic acid, a deadly combo that wasn't effective for my depression (I only had one mania, the rest of my life depression and anxiety). I managed to get rid of both of them. Now I take lamotrigine, and I have only taken olanzapine 2.5 mg (half dose) once for 5 days due to excess stress in several months, although the psychiatrist tells me that I have to take it continuously. I will take it punctually when I need it, at a dose of 2.5 mg, which is perfect because I don't feel very hungry, and I sleep 8 hours, not the horrible 5 mg dose. I have to say that the combination with fluoxetine worked for my depression, but the weight gain and drowsiness ruined my quality of life and deteriorated my job. Only the 2.5 mg dose works for me. I'm from Spain, so meds are cheaper for mental illnesses, and sorry if I made mistakes."

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

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."

• Ari...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2019

For Schizophrenia "15 mg of Zyprexa made me cry uncontrollably, and it dulled my emotions with drowsiness. I don't know if I should continue with this because it's done more harm than good."

• Rus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2018

For Depression "My husband started Zyprexa a few days ago, and all he can do is sleep. Is this normal, and how long will the sleepiness last?"

• Riv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2014

For Schizophrenia "Kept my schizophrenia in check but way too sedating. Gained 20 pounds in 6 months, hard to wake up in the morning, going to try something else."

• aut...
• May 16, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "No, nothing good, just constant fatigue and weight gain. It makes me sleepy as hell and makes me even more of a zombie."

• Rol...
• July 24, 2009

For Schizophrenia "I found the disintegrating Velotab very easy to swallow, but the medication was too sedating."

• t_s...
• September 27, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication is terrible. Made me feel drowsy and nauseous and eventually put me into the hospital, causing pancreatitis."