Olanzapine for Agitation User Reviews

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2018

"This drug is amazing for me. I've had anxiety for 23 years. I was on Klonopin for 13 of those years. I detoxed off Klonopin. The worst 3 months of my life. I was put on Zyprexa a few days later. I'm about 80% anxiety-free now. My panic attacks are gone. And the horrible muscle tension in my jaw, eye, neck, and nose is about 70% gone. I've learned from experience that not all drugs work for certain people. I decided to write this because it just might help you. God bless."

• Saw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 12, 2020

"I have been taking olanzapine for about 3 years for anxiety and the associated agitation. I started on a low dose, and this has gradually been increased to the maximum of 20 mg. Olanzapine has made a huge positive difference in my life. I am so much more relaxed, calmer, and able to keep things in perspective. I am no longer stressed by minor worries and able to cope with changes in my life much better. Before I started taking this drug, I was getting extremely tense and wound up on a daily basis. Sometimes I was so nervous and on edge that I could barely make a cup of coffee without feeling like I was going to crack up."

• Cha...
• March 31, 2019

"Olanzapine has been really helpful for both justifiable and unjustifiable anger, irritation, and anxiety. I've tried nearly every available drug for depression, anxiety, etc., but this one is the best in terms of benefit/side effects ratio. It helps moderately for insomnia, but is best for when you are having difficulty controlling your anger... it just seems to stop you from boiling over. It also helps reduce the fruitless rumination that plagues us over-analyzers."

• Mea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2018

"I suffer from chronic migraines, daily headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, agitated depression, anxiety, and occasionally insomnia. Three weeks in, I am picking up my life and putting it back together! I feel like myself for the first time in at least five years! I sent a pack of research evidence-based articles to my neurologist today to ask him to allow me to stay longer on olanzapine. I was meant to do just a three-week trial. But I feel so happy on it! A specific situation that would have stressed me out in the past was so much easier! It's one of the best meds I have tried! I just hope it lasts!"

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2021

"I found olanzapine to be a fantastic alternative to benzos for agitation. I wasn't keen on taking benzos again due to the risk of becoming addicted. I find olanzapine kicks in quite quickly and definitely helps to calm me down if I'm feeling agitated or anxious. I take this as well as a tetracyclic antidepressant. I find it does make it hard to wake up in the morning, but the plus is that I get a great night's sleep on this medication. Weight gain is a side effect, but I was underweight before taking it, so that worked well for me. Of course, it's always good to be aware of long-term side effects for atypical APs, and I'm personally tapering off with my doctor now that my mental health is improving."

• Jak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2017

"My 9-year-old son was placed on this medication a few weeks ago because of violent outbursts, agitation, insomnia, and anxiety. He has high-functioning autism. He had been placed on Risperdal with few improvements. Zyprexa has been a game changer for my son Jake. He takes 5 mg about an hour before bed. He is sleeping through the night (in 9 years, he has never slept through the night). He is happy and content. No more violent outbursts. He is eating nonstop (he would barely eat prior to medication). Very happy with the results that Jake is seeing on this medication, and he has had no side effects outside of being hungry and eating more."

• Jac...
• September 11, 2019

"Not sure what to think of this drug. It's really helped my wife's anxiety and panic episodes. And I completely understand how this is prescribed for insomnia. She sleeps all the time, loves napping, hard out-cold sleep. But she has gained a ton of weight. Obsessed with food all the time. Fantasizes about it and texts me about it. We go out to eat and on date nights all the time now. But she's gone from 115 lbs to now well over 200. Everyone comments on how much more relaxed and happy she is. But her life is about kicking back, Netflix, and being a total couch potato. She feels it's just what she needs. She gave away all of her old clothes and has no plan on losing. But I feel she's going to get much larger. I truthfully have no qualms with her being fat, it's simply the dramatic change came out of left field with this medication. Never envisioned being married to a 300 lb woman. Be warned, it's no joke. She's on 15 mg, btw."

• Zen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2020

"I started 5 days ago at 2.5 mg, going up to 5 mg tonight. Treatment-resistant depression, possibly bipolar 2, OCD, constant anxiety with paralyzing racing thoughts/panic upon waking in the morning. I've been on everything including ECT/TMS full round. On Vyvanse and Klonopin for a long time, Vyvanse only works to calm my mind for about 3 hours, then I get super anxious and take the Klonopin. Cautiously optimistic, so far no panic upon waking, chest doesn't feel so tight, sleeping through the night, racing thoughts seem to be a bit calmer... oh, and I went to a store and didn't feel paranoid that everyone was watching me... we shall see."

• Rsr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2015

"Terrible side effects from SSRI and SNRI. Lexapro and Celexa kept me in bed for a week before stopping. Others made me crawl out of my skin. I take 2.5 mg at bedtime and wake up with a great energy level! I have terrible anxiety all day long, and this has made it go away! Love, love, love that I feel back to my old self. I had my first panic attack while driving, and so although I force myself to do it, I hated how exhausting it was. Only a week on this new med has been a game changer. I started getting anxiety and panic attacks years ago for no good reason. I love life and was not stressed about anything. Anxiety turned my life upside down. Only a week on this, I will update in a month."

• ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2015

"After using Paxil and clonidine and experiencing insomnia and lack of appetite, my doctor prescribed Zyprexa. After reading the reviews, I did not take it for months and just kept it in my bathroom. When nothing else would control my anxiety, I finally broke down and took it. Within twenty minutes, I felt so much better. My obsessive and racing thoughts stopped, and I could actually sleep and eat. I take 5 mg at night. It does not make me sleep all day. Day two, I noticed cravings for carbs, but I find drinking a full glass of water takes care of that. You won't gain weight unless you don't control your eating, which you absolutely can do. Don't give up and don't keep suffering. Olanzapine can help you, but maybe start with a low dose and see how you feel."

• Get...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2021

"I first was given olanzapine while hospitalized. I am bipolar (I stay hypermanic) and had an amphetamine addiction. They gave me olanzapine oral tab as needed for agitation. I remember the first dose. It was like I put on the brakes heavily but not too fast. I didn't feel drugged. Everything just slowed down fast. I was like, 'Is this what normal people feel like?' However, I refused to go on it permanently due to side effects of weight gain. Probably stupid, but like I said, I was a meth head, so there's your wisdom. I have a bottle of 10 mg for hyper-manic states, anxiety, or agitation. I don't take it often, but when I do, it's amazing. I just calm the heck down. I'm also on 1500 mg of lithium and 20 mg of latuda. I was better on the latuda but had akathisia and extreme nervousness at 40 mg or higher. Anecdotally, the olanzapine helped when said nervousness was unbearable (like when I would squirm upside down in a chair and drive everyone around me nuts)."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

"I started taking olanzapine approximately 4 months ago, and I have seen a dramatic decrease in my overall agitation and depressed state. This medicine makes you sleep so well. It does cause weight gain. I have gained approximately 20 lbs in 4 months, but it’s worth it to be completely sane. My marriage is doing better, I’m calmer, and I can 100% thank this medicine."

• Ive...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2019

"This drug olanzapine saved my life. I became agoraphobic for 12 years of my life. I couldn't even walk outside to my car, I was afraid someone would see me. I can't make eye contact with people. This medication allows me to go outside and be in public. Sure, I still have my phobias, but without this medicine, I would be on SSI."

• Lak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

"I wanted to share my experience with 2.5 mg Olanzapine. I was having severe anxiety every day that started each morning when I woke up, and it started after I tried bupropion XL. I am also on Lexapro and Gabapentin for depression and anxiety. I stopped the bupropion XL but still had really bad anxiety. After trying clonidine that sort of worked, my doctor suggested olanzapine and warned me about potential weight gain. After reading reviews and researching the side effects, I was scared. I decided that my anxiety was bad enough that I weighed the risks and tried the medication. Within about 30 minutes, I felt a bit calmer. After a few days, I felt a greater sense of calm. I don't wake up with severe anxiety anymore. I can sleep through the night, and I just make sure to take the medicine around 7 p.m.-8 p.m., and I'm able to wake up around 7 a.m. It has only been about a week on the med, but I am happy I decided to try it because my anxiety is better."

• Dom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2018

"Suffering from lifelong depression and, in the last 18 months, crippling anxiety as well. Tried many different depression meds and didn't like the side effects. Plus, they can make anxiety worse in the initial stages. Had some leftover Xanax that I was given by a psychiatrist years ago. After using Xanax for around 12 months, I developed tolerance after a period. It worked at first but soon pooped out and anxiety was raging. No one should take benzodiazepines for more than 3 weeks. After one week on olanzapine, I was in a much, much better place. Anxiety reduced from an 8 to a 3. Helps with depression too. Miracle drug. Hope its effects don't fade."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2020

"I’ve been on Zyprexa for 2 days now, and it has made such a huge difference. My mind was always racing and thinking all day long and could not sleep prior to taking it. These past 2 nights, I’ve slept 5 to 6 hrs, and I’m calm throughout the day and am focused enough to work, and I can now be productive when working. I was prescribed 5 MG tablets but cut the tablets in half so that I only consume 2.5 MG, and it seems to be working fine. I am very hesitant about taking this medication because I don’t want to have to take it the rest of my life, so I’m thinking of not taking it going forward, even though it’s doing the job. I wish I could’ve been prescribed this while my marriage was on good terms."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2022

"Can everybody relax? Keep taking the medication for some weeks like you're supposed to, like literally every med. The first week was rough. I had anxiety-induced suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and I was inpatient and had trouble getting up for group therapy. I was so groggy. This is my second week, and I'm much better, my suicidal thoughts are mostly gone. We lowered the dose, and WHAM, they came right back, and I couldn't sleep. So now I'm discharged and on 10 mg. I'm able to draw, watch TV, play solitaire, and talk to my brother without freaking out somehow. I can even go to the grocery store without being overly paranoid that people are out to get me. My brother says I'm snoring now, that probably means I'm sleeping better too."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2024

"I have bipolar 1 with abnormal anger as the mania part, with lots of anxiety, and mild persistent depression. At 2.5 mg, this changes everything and within an hour (but with a mood stabilizer). At 2.5, one is only a bit more hungry. If I take 5, I'd eat anything! It does NOT make one gain weight! Nonsense! It makes one hungry! One has only to eat lots of fruit and vegetables: being hungry isn't so bad, but don't complain about Olanzapine!"

• den...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 14, 2022

"This drug has been a lifesaver for me. My diagnosis is major depressive disorder. I generally take it now and again, but it has helped immensely with agitation and suicidal thoughts and basically stops me spiraling out of control. I think there are many times I would have been admitted without it. Also, I am thankful for my psychiatrist for prescribing it for me. He told me that it would stop the suicidal thoughts, and it did. Thank you, Dr. I would really recommend it as an as-needed drug."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 21, 2022

"Let me warn all of you. I have been on this medicine for 2 years. Kept it because it lessened my anxiety. But any motivation you had prior will be shot. I'm now attempting to get off, and it is the WORST withdrawal process. Unable to swallow, nausea. TERRIBLE insomnia. Please. Please. I would give anything to go back to before I was prescribed this."

• Hes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2021

"I got olanzapine for benzo withdrawals, also for insomnia and anxiety/panic. This works very well with really low side effects, at least for me, it eases the withdrawals, anxious mind, and calms the body. I know this is used to treat psychosis, etc., but with low dosages (I have 1-2 half tablets a day), it works very well. Causes a bit of a sweet tooth, but I can live with it."

• Sno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2018

"I found Zyprexa the best medicine for anxiety/panic and giving good night sleep. On my worst mornings, I took 2.5 mg extra, and it took my morning anxiety away very quickly. I have taken clonazepam for many years and still suffer from anxiety and heart palpitations. My doctor has put me on Lexapro also for my depression. I have found Zyprexa very helpful, but I am not taking it continuously because of weight gain."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

"At the beginning of the first two weeks taking 5 mg of olanzapine and coming off of 200 mg of Lamictal, I 'thought' things were going good. But after the two weeks and increasing to 7.5 mg, things were a wreck. Brain fog, increased anxiety, agitation, and the major effect that everyone mentions... weight gain! One month, 10 lbs. I was constantly eating. Thank goodness my doctor let me try something different. This med was just not for me. I was so hoping it would have been too."

• Whe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2020

"I used it in conjunction with Lexapro. This stuff was pretty strong and really helped with my anxiety, racing thoughts, and even chronic pain. However, it made me feel like a zombie and put me to sleep. About an hour or two after taking it around 7 p.m., I would just fall asleep, no matter where I was. I'd take it and fall asleep in the middle of playing video games with my friends. Basically, I became a narcoleptic. As for the weight gain, I constantly craved sugar and carbs. Sometimes it would make me so hungry I would eat hamburger buns after dinner because I was still starving. I gained about 20 pounds. After working off the medication, I lost that 20 pounds again. The stuff makes you ravenously hungry, be warned. I've been off the stuff for about a year, and that's probably for the better."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2024

"My mother had been prescribed a 2.5 mg pill for evening agitation, sundowners. When taken the first night, it helped, but after several days she became lethargic and could not function, so we discontinued using it. Recently, she was at a rehab facility where they placed her on 5 mg in the morning and trazodone. She could not function at all. We brought her home, stopped the trazodone, and reduced the olanzapine to 1.25 mg given in the afternoon. At this level, she can function well with little nighttime agitation."