Zyprexa and Increased Appetite: What Users Say

• mag...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug Zyprexa has SAVED my life. I take 5mg every night, and it keeps me so stable throughout the day! I'm eating again, feeling real happiness, and my head is clearer! It makes me really hungry, which is perfect because I need to gain weight. It makes me sleep so deep, it's amazing. 11/10 love Zyprexa. I can't complain."

• mad...
• April 19, 2019

For Depression "Put on this drug for anxiety, loss of weight, not sleeping, all connected with something that happened to me. On it for a month at 10 mg and had pounding blood pressure in ears, sudden headaches, ankles swelled up 2x their size, gained 25 lbs. in a month, huge appetite, foggy thinking, flat personality, and dizzy. After I got off, I felt much better. Off it now for 2.5 months, and I can't lose any weight, and in fact am still gaining, so can't get it out of my system. How can I get it out of my system? I don't want to become diabetic or get heart disease, but this drug can do that and I'm not even on it! Doctors are putting people on it that should not be given this drug, it should be a last resort if at all. This drug can cause permanent changes chemically, in metabolism, and dopamine receptors in the brain. Is there no antidote?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2019

For Depression "Zyprexa made me feel very tired and irritable. I almost cussed my boyfriend over a small inconvenience. My eyesight kept blurring up, always hungry, and then I started getting this uncomfortable drowsy feeling that lasted the whole day. STAY AWAY from this garbage."

• lov...
• December 13, 2014

For Depression "Had a few psychotic episodes a few years ago, was hospitalized and was put on Zyprexa and a few other meds. I was diagnosed with BPD (borderline personality disorder), major depression, and fibromyalgia. I felt hungry all the time and gained 70 lbs. My dose was 20mg a day plus I was on other meds. Finally, I was weaned off all other meds as the months went by. I cannot say my hunger and weight gain were completely due to Zyprexa, but I do know that I now take only 5mg a day at night, sleep well, my hunger is normal, and I have lost weight with good healthy choices and exercise. I no longer have depression, and life has never been better. Zyprexa, therapy, exercise, support, and nutrition have saved my life."

• SNe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am 5'3' tall and weigh 94 lbs. I was prescribed several different antidepressants over a span of ten years along with Klonopin 1 mg tid and Remeron 45 mg at bedtime for anxiety. I finally decided to see a psychiatrist, and she put me on 2.5 mg of Zyprexa at bedtime. Just one dose, and I was a completely different person! I woke up rested, smiling, happy, energized, and with a sense of well-being again! This drug was like night and day for me! I am now on day 5, and I just keep feeling better! I am doing things I never dreamed I would and was able to get the job I've always wanted! For me, Zyprexa has truly changed my life, and I hope it helps others the way it has helped me! The only side effect I've had is increased appetite (which I needed). :)"

• mlf...
• August 28, 2015

For Insomnia "Ok, so while I have only begun this last night... I can say I did fall asleep, which doesn't happen until after midnight, and I only woke up once to pee. I slept for almost 10 hours compared to my restless 4, if that. My only complaint so far is this entire day I have wanted to do NOTHING. I am so tired, I don't want to do anything besides sleep, and I don't like this feeling. And I can say I've been hungrier today than usual, so I'm paying attention to what I'm eating so I don't overeat... After a while, I'll update my review."

• Cho...
• July 20, 2015

For Depression "This medication has made me unemotional and boring, and like many others, I'm forever hungry. I have put on an insane amount of weight, admittedly needed, due to suffering anorexia, but when I started on this medication, I weighed 37 kg, and 6 months later, I nearly doubled to 65 kg. This I feel is an unnatural weight gain in such a short time, and now I don't go out due to feeling bad about how I look."

• Lot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Bipolar I - I take Zyprexa, Lithium, and Lamictal. Zyprexa is the only medicine that has controlled my severe depression, part of my bipolar. It has changed my life. I am slightly hungrier, but I'll take that over feeling so depressed."

• kry...
• September 25, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on a 5 mg tablet for almost 2 years. I started off on one tablet a night, then cut my dose down to half a tablet, currently taking a 1/4 tablet during the day because I always miss my alarm if I take it at night. I oversleep way too much, always tired, brain feels foggy. I've gained 30 pounds, and it's getting harder to take it off. I'm always hungry and always thirsty. It helps with behaviors. I still flip out, but way less often."

• Rac...
• April 13, 2017

"I've had insomnia off and on since my daughter was born 11 years ago. I've tried everything under the sun for my insomnia. I started Zyprexa 6 weeks ago, currently taking 30 mg a night, and I can honestly say I feel like a new person. I'm sleeping about 9.5 hours a night now and feel great when I wake up! It does make me feel hungrier, but I work out daily and stick to just 3 meals a day with no snacking in between, and my weight is fine."

• sch...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2015

For Schizophrenia "This drug has turned down the volume on a lot of my voices, which is great. I sleep better and take more naps during the day. I also notice my appetite increased, which is where I think people mean they gain weight on this med. I just exercise an hour a day. My mood is kinda flat-lined."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on 2.5 mg, and it made me into a hungry zombie. All my emotions were flat, it made life completely unpleasant. Every day was a struggle to get through, and sex was completely numb. However, it was a very effective medication for bipolar one disorder. If it wasn't for the side effects, I'd still be on it."

• Pil...
• September 19, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "At 5 mg/day, Zyprexa makes a real difference for me. Combined with the right antidepressant, it takes care of my depressive episodes, which can, by the way, be very severe. The side effects I have are increased sleep and increased appetite. Haven't gained any weight on it."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I found Zyprexa to be quite effective, however, it made me very tired and unmotivated, though. I was incredibly hungry all day. Only stayed on it for about a month and put on 7 lbs. I am in the process of exploring different antipsychotics that are more weight-friendly. Putting on weight was making me depressed and making me become more hostile because of it."

• lal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine sucked! I was asleep all the time, all day long! Couldn't function in school, couldn't function at work. I was tired all the time and was eating every food that I saw in front of me. If I could give 0 stars to this medication, I would."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2018

For Schizophrenia "While I am schizoaffective, I was put on 2.5 mg (now 5 mg) of Zyprexa for intractable insomnia after averaging 2 or 3 nights a week without sleeping. I now go without sleep only once a week. I also sleep much deeper. Unfortunately, I have gained 2.5 lbs a month on it and have gone from normal blood sugar to circling pre-diabetic. My doctor put me on 7.5 mg briefly, but my appetite was unreal. I wish I could take more, but I've already put on 30 lbs. I can't say if it has impacted my psychosis, as the other antipsychotic was working when I started on this. I think it helps with my anxiety. I sometimes take an extra pill when I have an anxiety attack. It helps, but maybe it is the placebo effect."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "My psychiatrist put me on 10 mg of Zyprexa and 20 mg of Prozac. He said those two meds are supposed to work well together. After two months, I was still feeling depressed, so he increased the Zyprexa to 15 mg. This has been a miracle drug for me. I fall asleep within 30 minutes of taking it and sleep very well, except it is difficult to wake up in the morning. I set three alarms around my bedroom. One I have to physically get out of bed to turn off, so it helps me get up. But that side effect is getting better after two months of taking Zyprexa. I no longer have ruminating thoughts or bouts of rage. My mood is very even. I have had some weight gain due to the med making me feel hungry all the time. Now I'm trying to drink water instead of eating, and that seems to help."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "After the first time I took Zyprexa, my head and legs felt like they weighed one ton each! I tried it for 2 weeks, and this got worse! It increased my appetite a lot too. My doctor is currently trying to find a medicine that works for me. It's so hard as I get a lot of strange side effects on these medicines!"

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "My 6-year-old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I thought it was ADHD, but they started him on Zyprexa, and we've seen a lot of improvement in his behavior. Would highly recommend. Virtually no side effects. He eats a little more, but most 6-year-old hyperactive boys could stand to eat a little more."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I take 10 mg of Zyprexa in the morning and at night. I use 1 mg of Cogentin morning and night to stop side effects. Then I use 50 mg of Vistaril for my anxiety. But Zyprexa makes me feel worse. The voices are still there. I'm more paranoid. I've gained 20 lbs in 1 month. My appetite has increased. I have tremors throughout the day. Plus, the Vistaril doesn't help much with my anxiety. I can't wait to see my doctor and get something else! I wouldn't recommend this medicine to nobody from my experience. But each person is different."

• Mat...
• May 12, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Avoid at all costs - Weight gain is insane. Hungry all of the time, can't stop eating even when full, and that awful feeling afterward. BE AWARE - coming off of this is hell, too. Be very careful, and come off of this very slowly."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I have a love-hate relationship with Zyprexa. I was initially put on it when I had a breakdown, it was the worst I ever felt mentally in my life. Before going on it, I hadn’t slept soundly for 10 years. Taking Zyprexa was a last-resort drug, and it worked great for getting me through that tough time. When I started to take it, I could finally get a good night's sleep, I can’t even explain how good that felt after going so long without it. I also feel like it saved my marriage. Now the downsides: I gained about 40 lbs since I’ve started taking it 12 years ago. It makes me feel hungry constantly and crave sweets. Another thing is I am so unmotivated, it’s so frustrating! Anytime I try to reduce it, I find I get irritable and not able to sleep, so then I go back up again. I definitely think this drug is not good for everyone, I would only recommend it as a last resort."

• Cin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on this for maybe 6 months, 2 years ago. I went from 121 to 184 in less than 3 months. I was eating constantly, even after I had dinner, I would be hungry 15 minutes later. If your doctor wants you to take this, DON'T. It's easy for the weight to come, but harder to make the weight go away."

• Nic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I took this yesterday, and that will probably be my first and LAST time taking it EVER!!! I got this garbage back in March of this year for schizophrenia and anxiety. I took it once on March 28, and I had a horrible experience! I was super sleepy, more annoyed, and hungry like a bottomless pit! I went from a small cute 123 lbs, where I was in shape and everything, where I looked my BEST so far in my adult life, and my weight went all the way up to 178!! I feel so gross now. I weighed 178 by May 1 of this year due to eating MEALS every 5 minutes. I didn’t take this ever since until yesterday. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve been experiencing Ativan withdrawal, where I was more paranoid than usual, dreamlike, and lashing out at everyone. I took this yesterday, and I felt WORSE!!! MORE paranoid, enraged, very sleepy, I kept scrunching my face and wanted to go to sleep, even in public, 4 night terrors in one night, insanely hungry. I got my Ativan today, and these effects wore off. Never again. 0/10"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Was on Zyprexa for a week, 10 mgs originally prescribed for sleep and coming off of Geodon. Geodon caused anxiety eventually. Zyprexa calmed me down, but it was still hard to fall asleep without Ambien. I feel tired, slow, and hungry all the time the next day. But it did calm my nerves the next day, so it may be worth it to give it a try."