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

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

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

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."

• Cke...
• May 3, 2017

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

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."

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

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."

• 27y...
• June 19, 2012

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."

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

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."

• mit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2012

For Insomnia "I do have really bad insomnia (for the past 6 years), but this was prescribed to me for daytime use to help keep me calm. It in no way makes me sleepy but works great for my ADHD. I have also gained nearly 10 pounds in only 2 weeks. I'm not a normal eater, usually, I only eat dinner, but on this medicine, I seem to have doubled what I would normally eat. I'm addressing that issue now. Good calming down medicine, I must say."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2024

"This medicine made me gain 4 kg in the first weeks. After that, it stabilized. Now I'm happy I'm on this drug. It made me peaceful, slower in thinking, and I sleep very well. So I would recommend it definitely."

• 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."

• Bon...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 9, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Zyprexa after my dad got murdered. It worked okay for that medicated zombie feel. I took up to 20 mg a day. Gained so much weight that I wore a waist size 40 pants. Had to stop after 6 years. Doc told me to taper off it in 2 weeks! NO BUENO!!! Should have tapered off in a year+. Been in bed for 8+ months with horrific post-withdrawal symptoms. Never had heart problems before Zyprexa! Now I have afib and sinus tachycardia, and TD, involuntary muscle spasms are so painful! People notice when I stick my tongue out, biting it for hours a day, sexy. It's killing me slowly as Eli Lilly makes $12 million a day killing! I use melatonin for sleep. Is Z even approved for sleep? RESEARCH LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, CUZ IT DOES!!"

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Zyprexa makes you gain weight so fast. I used to be anorexic and watched out with what I ate so I stayed in shape. But this medicine makes you crave sugar and makes you feel hungry 24/7. Also, you are really, really tired. It only helps with psychotic behavior if your dose is pretty high, so you can't feel anything, and because you want to sleep all day."

• Max...
• December 23, 2016

For Depression "Definitely relieved morning anxiety attacks. I'm also taking Effexor and Klonopin. I take the Zyprexa at night because it does make me sleepy. I wasn't eating anything at all before starting this drug, so I'm not worried yet about the weight gain; I'm not overdoing it with the food. I don't plan to be on this for long; my doctor told me it's not really a maintenance medication. But if it gets me through the holidays and my horrible anxiety about work, I'm fine with that."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "For the amount of calmness I got from this drug, I was still physically alert and able. That's more than I can say for most antipsychotics. It helped me sleep, and the following day my anxieties were lessened. I also found weird glimmers of hope in things, that had to be my depression lifting. It's a miracle to me. However, I gained 20 pounds in one month, and the doctor saw that as a reason to get me off the drug. Food had this crazy magnetism about it; it quickly became the most valuable thing on the planet, and I was having cravings for food unlike anything I've ever craved. If you can take the drug without binge eating, congratulations, because it works. Still, most people on this are overweight."

• sop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 19, 2022

For Schizophrenia "I've been on Zyprexa at 20 mg for 8 months now. I have schizoaffective bipolar type. Before this, I was on Seroquel 800 mg, and I was still having strong psychosis, mainly paranoid delusions, and I ended up losing my job. I was sleeping 12 hours a day on Seroquel and was getting ready to go back into the workforce, so I wanted something less sedating, so I asked my doctor about Zyprexa, and we switched medications. I was worried about the weight gain, but to my shock, I started losing weight, and after a few months of Zyprexa treatment, I returned back to my 98 lb self. This is because it does not increase my appetite. Overall, my experience with Zyprexa has been very positive. My only complaint is that I still sleep 12 hours a day, but the benefit I receive from the medication makes the sedation worth it. For the first time in my life, I can hold down a job, and life is looking up. I hope Zyprexa really does work for me in the long run, and I'm not changing meds in a few years like I've done in the past."

• 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."

• Tyl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 21, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Zyprexa for about three years now. It honestly saved my life. I'm no longer having delusional thoughts or manic episodes. Of course, you have to do your part by taking it when scheduled or else you won't get the full benefits. I gained some weight (healthy weight). I was unbelievably skinny and didn't realize it until this medicine put healthy weight on me. People take medication for all different reasons, so I don't see why taking a medication for your mental health is negative. You don't tell a diabetic to stop taking his insulin, do you? Treat your mental health now and you won't regret it."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been trying different meds for anxiety for years. I have debilitating anxiety and depression. Zyprexa started out great, my head cleared of the perpetual fog, and I was able to function. Two weeks later, I started becoming a zombie, and my hair started falling out. It's been a month now, I'm now on Seroquel, gaining weight, and my hair is still falling out by the handful. I simply don't know what to do."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2015

For Schizophrenia "Was hospitalized after a psychotic break, prescribed Zyprexa 20mg. At first, the medicine was okay, my paranoia and schizophrenic thoughts went away. But after about two weeks, I started to notice the side effects. Weight gain was the most obvious, I gained 40 pounds in two months, and sleep-I was sleeping 9-12 hours a night. It was difficult to wake up in the morning. During the day, I felt unmotivated, and at work, I had no energy even after drinking an energy drink. Lowered my dose to 5mg, it didn't make a difference. After about 6 months, I had enough, decided to try another medication. Now I feel much better. Bottom line: Zyprexa was the worst med I've ever tried. If you want to try this med, beware, you will gain weight."

• Pan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 2, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug did its job. It stopped any mood swings for the most part, but the biggest downside was that I bloated up and slept heavily. I put on maybe 10-20 kgs whilst on this drug (I was on it for 2 years). Effective nonetheless."

• dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I would give Zyprexa a 10 rating except for the weight gain. I have bipolar 1 and have a lot more mania than depression. I have psychotic symptoms also and racing thoughts a lot. It did make me very tired the first couple of weeks, but then it worked perfectly except for the weight gain, so I am not on it anymore."

• Kay...
• August 18, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I just got prescribed this medication. 10 mg to start. I'm taking it for my extremely high anxiety and bipolar depression. I have read a lot of reviews, so I will definitely stay away from carbs! Hoping this will give me my life back! I'll return in 5 days and give a review on how I'm feeling. Wish me luck! 8/18/17 New update on taking the Zyprexa. Today is day 8 on the Zyprexa and I have to say, I honestly feel like my old self again. I'm happy, my mood is stable, I'm sleeping great! I'm more active now than I've ever been since my 20s. So far I can honestly say this medication is working great for me. I'm actually excited about life again! Also, no weight gain so far and no increased cravings for food."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2015

For Depression "Zyprexa brought me out of a severe depression within a day or two. It has also been fairly helpful with anxiety/panic attacks. Unfortunately, I have gained over 40 lbs and never feel full. It has also increased my cholesterol and fasting blood sugars. I've also noticed I don't have much energy or drive. Due to the metabolic issues, my doctor wants me to try Latuda."

• ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "This medication is so annoying. I was on a low mg and didn’t feel a difference at all, but when it finally got upped just by .5, I felt SO irritable. Also gained massive weight on it, and I barely ate. I have horrible eating habits as it is, to where I eat maybe twice at max a day, but I gained 45 lbs on this medication in the span of not even two months. I was on 5 mg."

• mic...
• July 15, 2019

For Schizophrenia "For 5-6 years, I have taken Zyprexa for schizoaffective disorder. Weight gain isn't a problem if you lift weights 5x5 and eat lots of protein during the day and a casein shake at night. You might still gain weight, but it'll be muscle as long as you cut out carbs and sugar while eating more protein than your body weight and a lot of fat that'll do it."