Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "My 6 yr old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I thought it was ADHD but they started him on zyprexa and we've seen a lot of improvement in his behavior.would highly recommend, Virtually no side effects. He eats a little more but most 6 yr old hyperactive boys could stand to eat a little more."

• TJano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2018

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Works great every time! I have rapid cycling bipolar and this is the most effective out of all antipsychotics. Sometimes they put me off it but every time I’m on it it feels like a world of change like my brain starts to function again."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I've been taking Zypexa 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 down side is that I have gained a lot of weight, but to make me easy to live with for my family it's worth it!"

• Beth
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2018

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 min 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."

• Yaybd...
• December 6, 2016

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 pkus not negative"

• MT2233
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2017

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was diagnosed with psychotic depression for 7 months and my psychiatrist put me on zyprexa 5mg. After using antidepressants I got into mania. This medicine is a miracle. I was relieved in one week. I am still taking it but I became a bit hesitant to continue due to some horrible reviews. Tried Invega And had suicidal thoughts. This medicine is great for mood with combination with lamictal."

• CTano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2019

"My dose of olanzapine was recently increased from 2.5mg to 5mg for my delusions associated with my OCD and bipolar disorder. I'm not sure if I see it working or not, but I am sure that it makes me very hungry and despite eating way less than I normally eat, I am still gaining weight. Before starting this medication I was under weight, 94 lbs, now I am 130 lbs. The weight gain despite exercising is setting off my depression. Not really sure what to do."

• Bill
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

"This drug makes your brain shrink and is habit forming cause when you try to get off its awful. It has made me gain 20 pounds in 2 months I was started on 5mg then jumped up to 10mg. Trying to get off this drug has given me severe insomnia I only sleep 2 hours of non resting sleep. The drug blocks serotonin and dopamine so I don't feel joy from anything anymore."

• Oskey
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2019

"Was on 30mg olanzapine to get me down from a manic state - I have bipolar. Did the trick but now I've been having side effects of panic attacks, anxiety, no appetite, bad thoughts and can't sit still. Only been on it for 2 months. Dr has been slowly getting me off of it so I can go back on Quitapine that I was on for 10 years. I had a previous doctor that took me off of it because I'm 75 years old and he was afraid to keep me on Quitapine. Got a different Dr as the other dr should've just left things alone. It has taken a year of this mess of changing medicines. I hope nobody has to go through what I've been through. I feel like I've lost a year of my life."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2011

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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."

• Julie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2023

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder some time ago and was prescribed Latuda, which I absolutely loved and worked well for me. When I moved to a different state, it wasn't covered under my insurance there, and I had to talk to my doctor about a change. They then put me on 5mg of Zyprexa, and two weeks in, I had the most unbearable headaches (like a migraine every day) and began to hear distinctive male and female mumbling, never making out words, but tones. I called the doctor, and I was told to give it another two weeks. After two more weeks, the same issues were still happening, so I made an appointment and went back to explain that the symptoms were still occurring. The doctor decided that I needed to try the 10mg dose. However, after just two more weeks, I couldn't function, my head hurt so bad, so I stopped it right away and began a very long journey to recovery and getting back to my previous state. Thankfully, I finally found someone who truly listens, and I am doing really well now. My advice is that this drug may work for some but be detrimental to others!"

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2011

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I have been on Zyprexa for 6months 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 down fall to this medicine is the weight gain. I would highly recommend it though."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 on my mood - only my rear end."

• Spin
• October 14, 2019

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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. 3lb total gain over 3 months -Less irritability, lesws 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"

• prett...
• March 7, 2010

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I have been diagnosed with bipolar for 15 years and for the first time experienced a mania state beyond anything I imagined or experienced before. I was suffering from severe paranoia and psychosomatic symptoms. Zyprexa is a God-send 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."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "First year on 5mg 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 2.5mg 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, Vistiril and Xanax."

• edyth
• June 30, 2010

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was diagnosed as Bipolar disorder at the age of 49. I was immediately put on Zyprexa and essentially, the next four years are a blur to me. To say I felt like a zombie is a gross understatement. I changed my Doctor and insisted he take me off the drug which he did. I am now taking 'plain old lithium' and have been doing well for the past five years. I understand that everyone doesn't have the same experience with Zyprexa that I had, but people should be aware that there are long-proven alternatives. I only wish that my Doctor had considered them first."

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

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Puerperal Psychosis: Made me incredibly hungry and then not even remember eating things! One time I ate 7 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."

• Cinn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2017

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I was on this for maybe 6 months 2 years ago. I went from 121 to 184 in less then 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."

• Georg...
• October 6, 2015

Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine) "I was switched to Zyprexa Zydis about two weeks ago by my psychiatrist to help with the huge weight gain and compulsive overeating caused by regular Zyprexa. So far, my appetite has decreased significantly and I'm feeling a lot better about myself physically and emotionally."

• lilbpbx
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 26, 2023

"I personally loved Olanzapine. I was prescribed 2.5 mg daily, with the option to increase to 5 mg by taking 2 tablets daily if I felt I needed it. I stuck to the 2.5 mg as it was helping tremendously with intrusive thoughts. For the first time in years, my mind was silent. I also slept amazingly - uninterrupted 8-hour sleep, no waking in the night, or feeling groggy in the morning like I have with other sleeping pills that just made me feel knocked out. The reason I stopped taking it? The weight gain is very real; I was assured I wouldn't put on loads of weight on such a small dose, but I put on 2 stone. I've always been petite, size 8 UK, and I was starting to need size 12 clothes. Due to my history of eating disorders, I just couldn't handle it as a tolerable side effect. Coming off of Olanzapine was easy for me; I didn't experience any nasty withdrawal. I just started taking a pill every other day for a week and then stopped. It might be harder on higher doses, but I was fine."

• rebec...
• April 18, 2014

"I'm 30 years old been diagnosed with bipolar effective disorder with anxiety, I'm on olanzpine and its absolutely brilliant, I take olanzpine 10mg at night and 3 diazapam 5mg now down to 2mg 3 times a day, I was put on quetiapine but had to stop that on my 4th day, it caused me to be aggressive and I felt I was put in a coma for days I was nearly sectioned. I would give olanzpine a 10 but it makes you go to the fridge and binge eat lol. But I rather be fat and happy."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2011

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "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 6Olbs and it took me two years to lose it. "

• Bipolar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2020

"I’m bipolar 1 and have been through a bunch of different meds. Zyprexa was the first med I tried to get me down from a manic episode which worked but I went off of it because it was way too sedating. I was on 10 mg then 5 mg. When I went off of it I had a lot of anxiety from withdrawal. I then tried Rexulti which messed up my sleep and gave me anxiety and even when I went off of it I was still waking up everyday at 4 am and had awful anxiety. Then tried seroquel and vraylar (bad restlessness) Finally decided to try zyprexa again but this time at 2.5 mg (subtherepeutic dose) and although I’m groggy in the morning I overall am really happy with my choice. I fall asleep at 12 and sleep like a baby till 9 and don’t have the awful anxiety in my chest anymore. I would say zyprexa can be a great drug at a very low dose. I’m def more chilled out but I prefer that to being anxious and unable to sleep."

• Jorec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2020

"Olanzapine at 20mg at night, pulled me out of a major depressive episode. It stopped psychotic symptoms and helped me feel normal again. Weight gain is difficult but trying to manage it. Would highly recommend this medication for getting good sleep and calming down thoughts. It also calms down the hypermanic side of bipolar for me"