Olanzapine for Schizophrenia User Reviews (Page 3)

• voskhod
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2017

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Although it started off good, this med slowly made me develop Akathisia to the point of it being unbearable. I started off on 10mg and it was increased to 15mg, 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."

• olane...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 16, 2019

"Olanzapine is the only thing that has worked for me. Gives me good sleep, improves my appetite, keeps my mood up, balanced and happy, curbs psychotic tendencies. Only weird side effect is that I feel that I get stimulated from it in some way. In that I have a more intense inner dialogue because of it. Self talking if that's what you would call it. I have considered changing the drug because I thought it was promoting my psychosis inside while normalizing my behavior on the outside but each time I stop it I can't sleep I get very very agitated and I feel like there's a burning in my skull and I feel like my mind is being seared. I think I have just become dependent on it. But that's ok since it keeps me going."

• Invis
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2017

"It has been a long and dreadful road but has been getting better ever since I first took it, voices are going away ever so gradually but they ARE going away. Used to not be able to watch TV because the hockey game always seemed to be about me and my insecurities (if i watched anything on TV it was hockey). Hate to have it happen but I grew from 150 pounds to 190-195 pounds and from either a waist size of 30-32 to 34.. and I didn't seem to be eating very much more then what I used to, although after I eat something big I get hungry a lot quicker than what I used to. I think once I have the symptoms all gone it will be easier to hit the gym anytime I want again to get back to 150. Overall, the voices are there daily but will be gone soon enough"

• mushr...
• August 26, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I started off with 10mg, 7mg and currently 5mg 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 10mg 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 zyprexia a try to balance out the depressiveness and lack of motivation which is still an issue with taking antipsychotics zi also take antidepressants Cymbalta"

• cwano
• July 21, 2019

"Been taking this drug for almost a year and the longer I stay on it the more illogical I become. For the record I'm not an illogical person but this drug just makes me that way because I'm tired all day long....."

• Schiz...
• June 11, 2019

"Zyprexa / olanzapine made my psychotic symptoms, delusions, paranoia and auditory & visual hallucinations far worse. It took me a while to notice the connection. Whenever I take a break from it, it's hard to cope at first, but within days/weeks/months my symptoms become less intense; I got better. At first I assumed the continued worsening of my mental state was simply my disorder developing by itself. I had to increase my dosage to cope with this.Then, as I took a break from the meds, my issues reversed. I finally gave up the meds and my psychotic symptoms are similar as to how they were before I was prescribed olanzapine, but not nearly as severe as they were whilst on the medication. This medication did more harm than good. Is it actually researched enough to be prescribed as easily and often as it is? Loads of my friends take it for anxiety, depression, bipolar (although my observation is that it did help my friend during a manic episode), sleep issues, ptsd and so on."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2022

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I lost my soul on this… I was prescribed it for being underweight and having a first psychotic episode. This managed to get rid of the catatonia and delusions which I held for a pretty long time. I gained like my entire body weight on it (60 lbs) so I was twice as heavy. Olanzapine made the negative symptoms (anhedonia) much worse and absolutely shattered my confidence. I lost my intellect on this, and became a shell of my former self. I completely stopped taking it and since will not touch any medicine besides Geodon and Prozac."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 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"

• theri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2017

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was hospitalized because of a brief psychotic episode following some traumatic events in my life, one of which was contracting Stage 3 Lyme Disease. They put me on Zyprexa 5 mg. It worked for a few months, but the brain fog and lethargy was causing problems at work so I decided to taper down to 2.5 mg and then stop. I really wish my doctor told me not to go from 2.5 immediately to zero because the withdrawal has been an absolute NIGHTMARE. Scary dreams, non-stop anxiety, really jumpy, headaches, depression, and my brain fog has never been worse. I finally knuckled under and am taking 0.6 mg just to take the edge off. I don't want to discourage others seeking help but stay away from Zyprexa!"

• Josh
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2020

"This medication works to make the voices less irritable to listen to, and that's the upside. Though fortunately I'm not forced to take it. That's because I don't feel like me anymore just taking it once. I can feel my emotions, thoughts, completely gone. This really is sort of relaxing but it's a dull feeling in my mind. I don't like it whatsoever. I'd only take it if I really needed a break, though still I may think twice next time."

• London
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2022

"Olanzapine has saved my life and I'm now in recovery. I've been on Olanzapine for 6 months and its finally stopped the auditory and visual hallucinations. My thoughts are more organized and thinking more clearly. It took about 5 months to resolve all my psychosis symptoms and required dose adjustments. I'm now taking 25mg and it's been a total game changer."

• Howis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2020

"I'd give this drug 0 out of 10, even less if possible. This drug caused me excruciating testicular pains lasting for 30+ minutes many times. I've been stabbed previously, in the hand and I can tell you that being stabbed hurt a damn-site less then taking this drug. In conclusion, I'd rather be stabbed then take Olanzapine."

• Kessler
• February 25, 2008

"Pros: Olanzapine controls conversations in my head to clear thoughts, working exstremely well. I have taken Olanzapine for the majority of ten years, nothing else works as good for me. Cons: I gained weight at the begining of treatment (eating too much) because of hunger sensation, but this subsides. I have neck stiffness - this may not be connected to treatment, also irregular heart beat (not serious), I think this is probably unconnected to treatment."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine) "Terrible medicine started taking it when I first had psychotic episode gave me akathesia didn't sleep for a week ended up in ER where they finally realized they should give me tranquilizer put me to sleep for about 6 hours next thing I know I'm being woken up and transported to psych hospital. I slept 0 hours in a week and they wake me up to transport me after a few hours, the hospital was empty with plenty of beds America health care is garbage. They should had just let me sleep as much as possible at the hospital. Absolute garbage."

• Villain
• May 4, 2021

"I took it for 9 months for a Psychotic episode and I stopped taking it suddenly. I developed a numb tight pressured head, my brain feels like mush and like permanent brain damaged, it’s been like that for 3 years and probably be like this for the rest of my days. If you do take it when you come off it wean off it slowly, or just don’t bother taking it."

• Jolenia
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2017

"This drug has not helped me in any good way. I have gained weight I still hear voices I have become depressed and suicidal thoughts. I feel like I'm sitting at the bottom of the ocean. This drug is not helping at all. I can only imagine the damage it is doing to my body. I have poor bladder control. I slur my words and it drugs me out. My memory has become shocking. And everyday is a struggle to function. I'm so tired :("

• Endy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2021

"Olanzapine 17.5 mg to 10 mg over 6 months gave me Reduced motivation - can't get going like I used to 3 years after stopping Cellulite - never had it before olanzapine. Can't get rid Depression - never had a day of depression before olanzapine, now rarely have a depression free day Struggle with conversation and small talk Get tired more easily. Olanzapine blocks dopamine receptors - basically takes away the enjoyment from your life Please avoid. No good will come from this drug."

• Lee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I’ve taken Rexulti, ability, vrylar, resperidone, and now trying Zyprexa. It’s been about a week and the delusions/hallucinations are still extremely there if not worse. This stuff makes me sleepy, I get a good nights rest. I'm going to take it a few more weeks to see if it overall works, a week probably isn’t long enough for a good trial period."

• ABano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 16, 2020

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I suffer from schizophrenia and paranoid delusions. Zyprexa did not work well for me. Paranoid delusions persisted. This medicine gave me severe restless legs which sometimes spread to my arms. Also I found it extremely difficult to concentrate, and had difficulty carrying conversations. I switched off of risperidone because it gave me extreme anxiety, to Zyprexa. And now am switching to Abilify from Zyprexa. Hopefully this is the right choice!"

• Maria...
• October 18, 2016

"I wasn't prescribed Zyprexa for OCD, but for psychosis. But since I developed OCD on this med, I wanted to warn people. Before Zyprexa I was slightly perfectionist and obsessive, but because of Zyprexa I developed full blown OCD (upon withdrawal). Ever since using Zyprexa I can't function because of obsessions and many other problems that started with Zyprexa. I changed into a completely different person: angry, sad, obsessive, controlling, unkind. Zyprexa is said to cause OCD in some 20% or so of it's users. Please stay away from it if you already have OCD...it may worsen it."

• ARano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2020

"Hi I got put on olanzapine, lasted only 5 days on it, then I stopped,had too couldn't handle not being able to sit still at all,plus made my anxiety worse and had the worst nightmares ever, that I wasn't having before and they stopped when I stopped the olanzapine"

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 100lbs 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."

• jl4190
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2015

"Works great for schizophrenia like symptoms, still have some traces of voices however but the symptoms are VERY suppressed and not noticeable. The medication changed my aggression symptoms into neutral/muted emotions. Sex drive is completely gone. Cannot have orgasms and I gained 30 pounds in a month. I have a problem controlling my eating on this medication. I barely feel the sedation from whence I had first started. I highly recommend this medication for psychotic symptoms. I am currently on 20 mg per day before bed."

• Finn
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 7, 2022

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Prescribed in late 2020 and took until about June of 2021. Zyprexa certainly has some side effects to be aware of - weight gain hit the hardest, gaining 30 pounds in just a few months after staying the same weight my whole life. However, there were several benefits that lead to me asking to be placed back on it. I can sleep easier (though make sure to set alarms, you will sleep DEEP), my mind is less chaotic, no hallucinations or psychosis symptoms while on it. Zyprexa reduced my suicidal thoughts by a lot. I have been on many psychiatric medications in my life and low dose (5 mg) of Zyprexa has by far been the most helpful. Just be aware of the weight gain and risk of muscle spasms. Generally I am pretty anti medication, but after insomnia for years on top of paranoid schizophrenic thoughts, Zyprexa was a blessing. If bipolar or depression, I would not suggest this med immediately - shop around a bit with mood stabilizers and antidepressants before jumping to an antipsychotic."

• jvano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 16, 2021

"I can say this drug removed the symptoms of schizophrenia for me. However, the side effects from it were so absolutely horrific I was probably better off with the illness. I have stopped taking it now, against medical advice as a relapse is preferable to the side effects."