Zyprexa and weight gain, does this happen to everyone?

Not everybody. Take melatonin for sleep. It works for me. 47y male.

I was prescribed Zyprexa 5mg for around 10 months and have gained over 12kg. I try to eat one meal per day to mitigate the weight gain.

I began taking Zyprexa and Seroquel before that. The Seroquel put 10 lbs on me fast. My dr changed me to Zyprexa and I gained 40 lbs in two months. It screwed w me so bad! U couldn’t wear my clothes. I was now having panic attacks and couldn’t sleep and I was so depressed I couldn’t even leave my pop. I took myself off of the Zyprexa and the weight falling off. Ivost 11 1/2 in two n a half I couldn’t bellieve how fast the results! I still believe my luck. I had fought my weight but now at 55 and I’m thrilled n pray in jHis weigh. I am super tall n feel great at abt 198. So believe it o not that’s my goal. I’m not fat it skinny at that weight. Can’t wait to get the rest of the weight is back. I’ll never go back on the drastic diets pills. I’m bipolar so need something but gain good luck to you!

I can say that yes you will gain weight with olanzapine or Quetiapine both. I’ve gained 40 lbs. I eat one meal a day, trying to loose weight but at night the drugs makes me have a extreme craving for sweets not just one desert at night but one after another until I pass out. Many mornings I wake to find melted chocolate pop cycles in my bed. I take Quetiapine 300mg and olanzapine 10mg, if I don’t take them both I’ll stay awake all night. Today my doctor has taken me off the Quetiapine 300 he wants me to try taking just the olanzapine 10mg. I’m very afraid that it won’t work alone and I’ll stay awake all night. If I don’t sleep tonight he will receive a call first thing tomorrow morning. Say a prayer for me or at least wish me good luck.

It certainly does make you gain weight.I have gained just under 20 pounds since I started zyprexa 4 weeks ago.I also have the shakes for some reason since I started.Ive decided to stop today.

I have been on the generic zyprexa for little over 2 weeks and have already gained 8 pounds. I stay hungry and thirsty. All I want are sweets and carbs. But it has helped with the racing thoughts n I am starting to feel better

It's a great drug, very effective however, I gained 10 lbs in just one week. I do not know if it is water retention. My feet, hands started swelling first. I use it for bipolar this seems to be the only drug that works. I tried it 15 years ago and felt like a fat cow.

I stopped it last night and only if I started going down hill in mood will I go back on it.

But, that's not everyone's experience. I was on lithium and many people report weight, not me.

Be well, hope this helps.

Zyprexa is one of the worst offenders when it comes to weight gain. My doctor put me on Zyprexa for Bipolar Type I. I was also taking Lamictal, titrating up to a therapeutic dose, which took several months, so my doc put me on Zyprexa to give me some relief until the Lamictal kicked in. After being on Zyprexa for a week, I felt like I got my life back. I was the old me. Mentally, I was golden. Unfortunately, everything else was not so golden. I gained 60 lbs, was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open, my cholesterol and triglycerides were through the roof, my sugar was up and I was eating to the point where I would be sick. I was more than happy to get off of this when the Lamictal kicked in. It's an awesome mood stabilizer, works quickly, but the side effects are awful. If you have another alternative, I'd try that instead. Good luck!

i am on zyprexa 20 mg am 5'7 and have gained so much weight that i cant lose regardless of diet and excercise! i am so miserable and feel worse than before i started taking for sleep! anyone else have this issue??

I know now that weight gain is a very common side effect, but when I started the drug ~2 years ago my doctor didn't tell me. I have since had weight fluctuations, but not the 20-30 pounds/month. I have also remained within a reasonable range (I'm 5'6'' and my weight is usually between 120-140 and I was 120 when I started taking it). However, I have noticed that the amount of Zyprexa I need to take to actually help my anxiety (I take 10 mg) often makes me feel sluggish and groggy. I am in the process of finding a new medication.

I started these meds immediately before Christmas and I have nearly two stone weight put on in 6 weeks, my clothes dont fit me and i am coming off these meds

If you do not want to gain weight, don't take this drug. I am currently taking 5 mgs of it at night. I'm going to my P Doc and getting off it asap. I have felt like a balloon, blowing up more and more with every day I take it and I don't really see the benefit to it. It's making me crazier by putting weight on me and I haven't even eaten anymore than usual. Stay away from Zyprexa.

Although not everyone will gain weight the chances of gaining weight on Zyprexa are high.

If you have tried other medicines without any success I would suggest that you try this and if you see your weight going up then you can decide whether you'd like to try some other medicine. All the best.