Zyprexa and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 5)

• BBP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "First year on 5 mg at night helped my mood, anger outbursts, and anxiety a great deal. Did develop high cholesterol and gained 15 pounds, but the trade-off was worth it. Also helps wonderfully with insomnia. After the year mark, it was no longer handling my anger well. Started having 2-3 inappropriate outbursts a week. Pdoc started me on Geodon but couldn't handle the side effects, so back to the Zyprexa I went with another 2.5 mg added in the morning and gained another 6 pounds. Have tried other AAPs but can't handle the side effects, so I'm still on the Zyprexa for now until I get brave enough to try something else again. Taking with Pristiq, Trileptal, Vistaril, and Xanax."

• 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."

• Sof...
• April 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've put on 19 kgs taking Zyprexa. It's helped a little with my mood disorder and outbursts, however, my weight problem is out of control, hence this has caused me more stress seeing myself go from 60 kgs to 79 kgs in 6 months."

• MWH...
• July 28, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Zyprexa for over 2 months now. I take 7.5 mg daily and also take Paxil and Ativan. All I can say is I'm much better than I was 2 months ago and have learned that I will have to be on medicines for the rest of my life. Small price to pay for peace of mind. I have gained 30 lbs and need to exercise more to try and combat the weight gain. My doctor says we may go down in mg here soon. But overall, I have to say it helped pull me out of a major depression."

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 27, 2021

For Depression "Can cause major weight gain. I gained at least 50 pounds taking this drug. It makes you really overweight. If you are on it, exercise every day and control your food intake. Probably find other ways. It is a big damper in the healing process."

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 27, 2021

For Depression "Can cause major weight gain. I gained at least 50 pounds taking this drug. It makes you really overweight. If you are on it, exercise every day and control your food intake. Probably find other ways. It is a big damper in the healing process."

• Spi...
• October 14, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Diagnosis: Severe rapid cycling bipolar, heavy on mania. Zoloft is a very positive experience. Benefits: - No extreme highs, only small and easily controlled bouts of hypomania. - No staying up for days on end anymore, more restful sleep in general. - Increased appetite and slight weight gain, may be a con for some but I have no to low appetite and am clinically underweight. 3 lb total gain over 3 months. - Less irritability, less suicidal ideation, less call of the void. - No real low swings at all, either neutral or normal emotional response. - Decreased anxiety. - I still have emotions and interests unlike when on Lithium/Zoloft/Lexapro, on those, I would sit and just stare at my wall uncaring for 15+ hours a day and still had periods of mania intermixed. Cons: - Slight decrease in motivation/interest in hobbies like video games, but not severe. - Makes my RLS flare up, especially with any amount of alcohol in the mix. Easily combat this by waiting until I'm on the verge of sleep to take it."

• VC8...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "What an awful medication! I took olanzapine for 6 months, and I’ll give it credit that it completely got rid of mania, racing thoughts, and impulsivity. However, I became severely depressed, and I was also a walking zombie. I could stare at the wall or ceiling for hours and be okay with that. I also gained 50 pounds in 6 months. Finally got off olanzapine last winter and took Seroquel XR-also lost 40 pounds of the weight that I gained on Zyprexa. Stay away from this med-there are so many other options!"

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Zyprexa was prescribed to me in my early 20s after a manic episode. I took it for a year and was a complete zombie. I remember noting from that period apart from sleeping all day and raiding the cupboard at night. I gained 30% of my body weight or 60 lbs, and it took me two years to lose it."

• mus...
• August 26, 2019

For Schizophrenia "I started off with 10 mg, 7 mg, and currently 5 mg. After refusing to take any medication because of prior complications and skepticism, I finally gave in and decided to give it a try as a last resort. I started with 10 mg Abilify, which made me very tired, sluggish, and depressed, so I switched to Zyprexa 10 mg. The tiredness went away, paranoia went away. There are a few side effects, however, like lack of motivation or anhedonia, and significant weight gain, but overall I'd say if you're struggling, give Zyprexa a try to balance out the depressiveness and lack of motivation, which is still an issue with taking antipsychotics. I also take antidepressants, Cymbalta."

• Pil...
• March 19, 2012

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This is one of three new drugs I was put on recently: Zyprexa as a 'take when needed' at the hospital, along with Remeron 'as a sleep aid' and Risperdal 'for psychotic moments.' I was kept on Tegretol and Vistaril also. I have gained 15 pounds in two weeks. I am not sure if it's the Zyprexa or the other two newbies (I know that they also cause weight gain). I do feel better but not good yet. The effect of having constant munchie madness is annoying, as I know I am not really hungry but cannot stop. I do have eating disorders, and this is dangerous. It's bad enough to have to work on all these personality and mood issues, but now I have to monitor my food like I used to when I was fat."

• Jim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 15, 2015

For Paranoid Disorder "Helped in the beginning of the first few weeks, but later my mood became more paranoid. I'm not saying this medicine will make you paranoid, but it doesn't work for me. Plus, it does make you gain weight, like 40 lbs. in 8 weeks."

• tyh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2021

For Depression "It isn't a joke when people say that this is weight gain in a pill. I was constantly hungry, like I could eat a horse. Pretty sure I developed an eating disorder too. No positive effects, and the cherry on top-the withdrawal was an absolute disaster."

• Ale...
• July 17, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 8, and I'm 17 now. I got off Zyprexa about 6 years ago, and I'm still having issues with my eating habits. When I started taking this pill, I easily gained 110 lbs. in the first year."

• jes...
• December 5, 2011

For Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine makes you retain body fluid. I was on it for two years and reached a body weight of 125 kilograms in that time. It was not until I was prescribed a different antipsychotic that I began to lose weight again."

• Inf...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2018

"Zyprexa is a miracle drug for DR/DP (derealization/depersonalization) episode episodes. I take the dissolving tablets, 5 mg. Has never seemed to fail me. Always puts me back in my body and back into my head and on planet Earth. Takes away the anxiety too and seems to manage PTSD-related thoughts when they are associated/at the same time, and I feel human again. Not something clonazepam or anything else can do. I only take it as a PRN though... maybe 2-3x/month max, to 4x/year on average depending on stress and other triggering factors. Would probably not take daily, as weight gain is a side effect (Abilify is a great alternative if needed daily). Besides that, this is a miracle drug for me."

• mia...
• July 29, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I lost my appetite and yet gained between 7 to 10 pounds a week until my psychiatrist took me off of it 5 weeks later, stuck with the weight. Not only did it not improve my mood, my image depressed me even more."

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

For Depression "Was given this for agitation along with severe panic/borderline psychotic anxiety and paranoia in the psych hospital. I’ve gained some weight and am tired, but I wouldn’t trade my mood stability for the world. I still struggle with severe depression on top of having chronic fatigue syndrome and do hope to be put back on a stimulant for that, but I am overall very pleased with where my head is at. If you struggle with severe mental illness unresponsive to the usual first-line treatments or severe panic, agitation, and insomnia, this may help a lot, even if short term or as an as-needed basis. Am also taking 100mg desipramine plus 10mg lexapro for major depression, and 50mg trazodone and vistaril as needed for anxiety. I am myself again, partially thanks to this medicine."

• 05H...
• September 29, 2016

For Tourette's Syndrome "OK, here goes. Never written a review about this stuff. I have been on Zyprexa for 20 years and still taking it. I'm 65 years old and have had Tourette's my whole life (as you all have). Zyprexa has given me more relief than any drug I have ever tried, and I've tried them all, to include the horrible Haldol. I have 2 sons in their 40s and never any sign of Tourette's. I've just had my first grandchild, so I will pay close attention to him. There has been a price to pay. In the 20 years I've taken Zyprexa, I've gained 45 pounds. I don't like it much either, but never seriously tried to lose the weight if it is even possible. In the past couple of years, I've developed Type II diabetes, or I should say 'pre-diabetic'."

• Bet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had an episode of major depressive disorder and was given this med. I weighed 154 and have never had a weight problem. Within about 6-8 months, I gained 60 pounds! It increases your appetite but also slows your metabolism by a lot. At the higher doses, I had stomach issues like diarrhea daily. I had bad nausea 90% of every day and lived on ginger. We’ve been lowering it now very slowly for a few months, and I completely stopped it 2 weeks ago. The side effects are terrible. I’ve missed so much work as I’ve had horrible migraines, weakness, shakiness, etc. This is a horrible medication!!!"

• 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."

• Anx...
• June 12, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Zyprexa for intrusive thoughts and depression. I have been on it for 14 months. Started weaning myself off of it a week ago. It caused me to develop akathisia, worsened depression and anxiety. My insomnia also became worse. I can already tell a difference in my weight gain (have lost 2 lbs since weaning). This and Zoloft are the worst medications I have ever taken. I need to be put back on Xanax, but I do not want rebound anxiety or withdrawals when I stop taking it, as it's only supposed to be taken short-term. Pharma needs to make a med with no side effects that will ease depression and take away anxiety. I think they are capable, they just don't want to lose the money they are making from us taking these awful drugs hoping they will help us."

• smi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 27, 2021

For Schizophrenia "My experience with this drug was terrible, first time taking it in a mental institution for a psychotic episode, I turned into a zombie. When I got out, my appetite was HUGE, I was eating everything in sight, ended up gaining 100 lbs in 3 months, completely ruined my self-image and confidence. It's a year later now, and I still haven't lost the weight. Would give this drug a 0 out of 10 if that was an option, stay away from this joke of an antipsychotic."