Zyprexa and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Ter...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Started Zyprexa 7 years ago. I had never been happier. I laughed, enjoyed life, lost the paranoia - then my yearly physicals started showing my A1C was elevated, so I started on Metformin. I gained between 6-12 lbs/year (132-179). Now on a BP med. Suffer from dry mouth & tongue edema. I take 25 mg Benadryl every 4-6 hrs to prevent it. I've weaned down to 1/2 of 1.25 mg every 3rd night. I'm okay as long as I don't go past that 3rd night. If I try for 4, I pay dearly. It's like I've been hit by a Mack truck - the worst case of flu ever. I take the missed dose & 24-36 hrs later, I feel human again. This drug saved my life because I was suicidal, but also now I don't want to die of complications from the co-morbidities that I'm developing now because I can't get off it. The real kicker: Zyprexa affects your metabolism, so it's even harder to lose weight, and it interferes with how Metformin works, making it less effective. Talk about a double-edged sword. I may be on this for the rest of my life."

• Jad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine works really well as a mood stabilizer for me. The only major drawback is weight gain. I just can't control myself when the carb cravings happen. I am usually very much in control of my dietary habits, but on Zyprexa that just isn't possible. I also suffer from schizoaffective disorder and hear voices. Although Zyprexa suppresses them, it does not completely get rid of them in my case; they are quiet enough to tolerate, though. I have gained 35 pounds in less than about a month and a half. I am going to wean off of these and ask the psych-doc for something else."

• Bel...
• April 27, 2021

For Schizophrenia "I am very grateful for Zyprexa. I had a very scary problem of not being able to sleep for a long time, resulting in psychosis. This happened twice in my life within a couple of years of each other. The first time they put me on Haldol and Depakote. I was in so much pain I could not move, and at the same time, the Depakote gave me horrible shakes and no filter when talking. Worst of all, I still had a lot of trouble sleeping. I was lucky enough to taper off them completely eventually, and my sleep returned to normal. However, two years later, I lost my job and could not sleep, the same thing happens. I was put on 5 mg Zyprexa and 10 mg Lexapro. In less than a week, I was stable and sleeping (very) well. Yes, I gained weight, but I have learned to control it. I am now doing well and down to 2.5 mg. I think the key is a smaller dosage. I read some people have 15 mg, I think I would have a lot of trouble with side effects too if it was that much. Maybe ask your doctor if you can do 5 mg or less."

• Yay...
• December 6, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I had been so unwell off meds for over a year and vomiting daily due to bipolar. I thought vomiting was from physical illness. As soon as I started this med, all BP symptoms left, and my stomach is settled. No sexual side effects. Old me is back. No sides! Miracle drug! Weight gain for me will be a plus, not negative."

• Kat...
• June 30, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on this medicine Zyprexa at 5 mg a day. I took it at night before bed. I slept hard on this med and woke up feeling better after about 6 days on it. My mental health was better, but I gained too much weight and was worried about my cholesterol levels. The pdoc decided to start the taper, and now I'm falling back into that deep depression yet again. Now what?"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Zyprexa for about three years. Although it seems to help me restrain from the hyper-manic episodes, it seems to also hinder my personality. I feel like my spirit is being suppressed, and life for me is not as enjoyable. I do, however, feel it makes it easier for my loved ones, as I don't send them through my 'energetic' episodes that they say are more tiring for them. I, too, have gained a lot of extra weight, especially around the middle. I feel starved an hour after eating."

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 21, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been battling depression and bipolar disorder for over 25 years. Tried everything under the sun, and nothing really made me feel like a normal person until olanzapine. I started a year ago and was on 2.5 milligrams for 6 months, and then bumped it up to 5 milligrams currently. The only drawback is weight gain (15 lbs), but I'm feeling well enough to start exercising and should get back to a healthy weight soon. This medication is a lifesaver."

• 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."

• Mar...
• June 25, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "If I could give this a zero rating, I would... I was put on this medicine at 16, and it intensified all my issues..... It made me go into constant fits of rage, and I gained almost 50 pounds... By far the worst medicine I've taken."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2011

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Zyprexa helped with my obsessive-compulsive disorder. It also relieved the depression greatly. Weight gain is a bad side effect from this medicine (taking 10 mg daily). Gained 16 pounds in 2 months. The nights are better, just longer (around 11 hours every night)."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking Zyprexa for almost 3 years now. It has been wonderful for me and my family. I had tried so many different medicines that I had given up. I now hardly have any mood swings, and I can sleep at night. The downside is that I have gained a lot of weight, but to make me easy to live with for my family, it's worth it!"

• pre...
• March 7, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been diagnosed with bipolar for 15 years and for the first time experienced a manic state beyond anything I imagined or experienced before. I was suffering from severe paranoia and psychosomatic symptoms. Zyprexa is a Godsend, and I am happy with it. My major problem with it is the morning hangovers I feel. I have gained weight, but desperately needed to do so."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Zyprexa for 6 months now, and it has calmed me down quite a bit. I have no more racing thoughts. I don't hear voices or see things anymore. The only downfall to this medicine is the weight gain. I would highly recommend it though."

• sto...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2021

For Depression "I have dealt with severe depression with psychotic features since childhood. I was initially put on Anafranil, as my psychiatrist felt I had OCD characteristics as well. The medication, while difficult to deal with, was helpful. After 25 years, it simply stopped working, and I went through a 5-year period of chaos. I had 2 bouts of ECT, which did nothing but seemingly compromised my memory, tried over 20 medications, and even gave Ketamine a shot. Finally, Zyprexa was suggested. The response was quick. I could actually sleep during the night, my mood stabilized, and the psychotic features were diminished appreciably. It has been a life-saver. I have gained substantial weight and am in the process of losing some of it, but it is undeniably difficult. I suppose you have to weigh the pros and cons, and for me, the pros are worth it."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2012

For Paranoid Disorder "Zyprexa worked really well in terms of removing the paranoia and the suspiciousness. Made me normal within a period of 2-3 weeks. The only problem I feel with regard to this medicine is the weight gain issue. I think this medicine, in combination with mirtazapine, has made me put on weight in a few weeks. Yes, and also my prolactin level was well above the normal range. In the starting, this made me tired, and I had problems waking up on time. Apart from these few side effects, it is a really good antipsychotic."

• Gon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I gained 10 lbs in under 1 week, which sets a speed record among the weight-gain meds I've taken. Since that pushed me up to the pre-diabetic border, my psychiatrist pulled me off of it ASAP - not to mention that when you're severely depressed, how is super chunking up supposed to make you feel better no matter how well the med works? 1 month & I would have been up 40 lbs! I felt no other side effects, nor any positive effects, but 1 week probably wasn't long enough for it to make a difference in my mood - only my rear end."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Puerperal psychosis: Made me incredibly hungry and then not even remember eating things! One time I ate seven doughnuts in one night - I only know this because I found the empty packet the next morning. I have no memory of eating them. I put a lot of weight on doing this."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 19, 2020

For Schizophrenia "Zyprexa worked for me to some extent. My paranoid thoughts and anxiety almost completely went away, however, I had some negative side effects. One major negative side effect was weight gain. This caused me to feel very insecure about myself. I had very poor eating habits, and I would crave foods that I wouldn't normally crave, especially at nighttime. I'm not sure if this is common or uncommon, but while I was taking Zyprexa, I felt emotionally numb. I couldn't feel emotions like I did prior to taking the medication. My sleep was also regulated while taking this medication, but I would sleep for long hours and would have difficulty waking up in the morning. I don't take Zyprexa anymore. It did help with some of my side effects relating to my mental illness, which I am glad about, but I feel that it caused negative effects in other aspects. I think we need to weigh the pros and cons because most medications won't be 'perfect' without any side effects."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "Wow, this medication has helped me tremendously lower my anxiety and actually enjoy going out, and the intrusive thoughts have not disappeared totally, but I am able to shrug them off. I was taking 2.5 mg in the morning and 2.5 at night, but successfully decreased by half for day and night. CBT has helped as well. I am not a doctor, but if you're debating on if you should take it, I would. The weight gain is a side effect, but I have managed by limiting to 3 meals a day and not having any sweets in the house. Take note, I am also on Cipralex and Lamotrigine, so the cocktail of meds is helping a lot."

• Czr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 17, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I was on 15 mg of Zyprexa, and it completely got rid of all my symptoms. The only complaints I have are weight gain and sedation. I gained 70 lbs in a 6-month period and slept for 14 hours every night. My cholesterol went over the maximum limit, and my blood sugar rose to a level that made me a prediabetic. Other than that, I would try this drug again."

• aim...
• January 13, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Zyprexa for over a month and feel wonderful. It has helped my depression, sleep, and paranoia. The only thing I hate is the weight gain. I have gained 20-30 pounds already and it is a huge battle. I was already 160 after having my first child. Definitely would recommend, though."

• vos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2017

For Schizophrenia "Although it started off good, this med slowly made me develop akathisia to the point of it being unbearable. I started off on 10 mg, and it was increased to 15 mg. By the end of it, I wanted to amputate my legs just to make the feeling go away. I was 24/7 agitated, restless, constantly pacing around and fidgeting, getting into arguments, and screaming at people. My doctor prescribed clonazepam, but it did nothing to take it away. Eventually, I had enough and stopped taking Zyprexa altogether, and within only 3 days, all of these symptoms disappeared, and I was back to normal. By the end of it, even though I was only on it for 3 weeks, I had gained 30 pounds. Awful experience."

• 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."

• Gul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2016

For Insomnia "Started Zyprexa 5 mg for a week, bumped up to 10 mg... This medication works well for me. I'm able to control my depression and irritability better. Weight gain is fine for me as I only weighed 98 pounds when I started the medication. I am now 108 after two weeks and I am not complaining. I've been getting insomnia since starting the 10 mg. I wake up around 12, 1, or 2 in the a.m. and can't go back to sleep. Will definitely talk to Psych about this problem."