Olanzapine for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Yello...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 24, 2023

"The only positives were no more delusions. On this drug, I lost the ability to understand complex instructions (mental fog), which made it very difficult to maintain my job. This drug disturbed my sleep patterns, forcing me to sleep 12 hours per day. I could not wake up even with a strong alarm. Someone had to wake me up out of the bed. After stopping the drug six months ago and having some lifestyle changes, I have improved on the mentioned side effects. Delusions have disappeared. I am less depressed now because of spending more time outdoors, exercising/working. I stopped my desk job. Furthermore, I don't know if this is still a side effect of discontinuing the drug or not, but I now sometimes have random anxiety throughout the day."

• Matt...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2016

"I've been off and on this drug for years. It's extremely effective and fast acting, unlike the other psychotropics. It's a powerful med and should only be used sparingly. I'm not schizophrenic or have bipolar but I have some kind of delusional problem; I might have borderline personality disorder, and growing up they thought I might have asberger's, but I'm very social? Mental illness has affected my life, (in a bad way), since I was 15. I've had multiple intentional drug overdoses and tried to hang myself, (not by trying to break my neck). My last suicide attempt happened because I went off 20 mg's a night, cold turkey. That paired with my infatuation with this girl that doesn't ever think about me, caused me to hit rock bottom."

• Twasa...
• May 30, 2017

"I started on this as I was psychotic and had severe depression. I was seeing things. This med was great after it was upped to 15 mg but now after 2 months not working so great. Luckily I'm not seeing things but no energy and weight has ballooned. I can't stop eating. So don't know what to do. Gained 70 pounds in a couple months"

• Lasered
• February 7, 2020

"I have had depression and anxiety for many years. I believe my psychiatrist falsely diagnosed me as having mild psychosis because of my description of my traumatic history in an unusual religious culture. I talked about demons but was not experiencing voices, images or delusions. It was just part of the culture. Olanzapine ruined my physical health - high blood pressure, severe weight gain and continual tiredness. As it sedated me I stopped talking about my issues. This made others think my mental health improved but inside I was suffering the same experience of trauma. I was threatened with detention if I stopped taking the medication until I resisted with legal action. The whole experience caused issues with my finances, my career and my health and I have struggled to recover. Maybe this medication would help with genuine psychotic issues short term but off-label usage caused me harm. I would recommend reading the works of Joanna Moncrieff before taking or prescribing this drug."

• Elena
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

"This drug saved my life, literally. More than once, actually. I have taken it intermittently during the periods I was hospitalized in the ER due to intense panic attacks, depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts. Then, two months ago, the most important relationship of my life came to an end: I was a disaster. I could not have made it past the first, traumatizing month without olanzapine. It calmed me; helped me sleeping; helped me keeping a routine and functioning during the day, so I didn't lost my job. Yes, the confusion and the memory issues are real side effects but I would still take olanzapine again. The pros outweighted the cons. I very sporadically still take 2.5 mg, when I feel like I am about to have an episode: it helps me clear my mind and let it pass. I hope I will eventually, with the help of other medications, not need it anymore."

• Alice...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2019

"Well, I have an obsessive personality and refractory depression mixed with anxiety. Was put on olanzapine 2.5mg. The first 2 weeks were amazing. I felt euphoric and energized and slept much better. Then everything went haywire. I don't really know what was happening but life just seemed just too hard. So weaned my dose down 1 month at 2.5mg -> 2 weeks at 1.25mg -> Stopped 14 October -> 2 amazing days without it -> About 1 month of horrible withdrawal. Currently with lots of brain fog that never really had before but not suicidal anymore."

• Vzz
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2021

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "This drug is the worst thing ever created. For me, it CAUSED unbelievably severe depression, so bad that I’m thinking of suicide. But, I was forced to take it repeatedly because of a lie told by a jealous women who had me committed and force-fed this evil poison. Even getting off it now, every day is an enormous struggle and I worry I’ll never be the same again. Please stop making this dangerous drug. Nobody ever prescribe this, please."

• Steve...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2022

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Absolutely a horrible medication. I got this as I was sick and was no longer able to be responsible for making any decisions. I was driving everyone mad and myself too. and not to mention I gained a massive amount of weight. Before, I was athletic build and active and then became a zombie. No emotions. This is where I would warn everyone not to take this drug at all."

• strug...
• April 16, 2010

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "Developed depression and significant anxiety this fall. Doctor started me on Lexapro, but that wasn't controlling the anxiety, loss of appetite and insomnia. Added Zyprexa and almost instantly felt much, much calmer, could eat and slept well. Was very sleepy/tired for the first few days but acclimated within a week. The problem I did have was with weight gain. Thought my life had calmed down and I could do without the medicines, but have found that not to be the case. Did not have any issues weaning off the Lexapro and Zyprexa. Just started Pristiq yesterday. Hoping and praying for good things."

• curly
• February 6, 2017

"I was given olanzapine 2.5mg six days ago. I already take 40mg prozac. I think I've tried every med going for anxiety and depression and I haven't responded well to any of them. I started taken meds about 9yrs ago...after 6 days I've done a lot of crying and feeling strange, a lot of negative things but I am willing to persevere as two positive things have happened. I can eat dinner where as before I could barely eat a thing and I seem to be feeling motivation just in a small way but thats a massive improvement on sleeping all day as I couldn't face getting up and another day. I'm hoping this med will give me my life back, although anxiety feels worse and irritible and a bit snappy...."

• Gaurav...
• April 4, 2017

"Its good for preventing psychosis. The only side effects I am having is I sleep a lot and can't control poop for long and end up pooping in my pants sometimes. Btw I am taking this medication for one year."

• Eben
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2018

"The mixture of fluoxetine 60mg and 5mg of olanzapine got rid of my depression in a week! I gather that this combo is very effective and thank God it worked for me. And I haven't gained any weight after two months on it. I'm very lucky in this respect because a lot of people do."

• Blookie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2018

"Taking 2.5mg Olanzapine in combination with 150mg Pristiq for moderate/severe major depressive disorder and anxiety. The combination works well for me, relieving severe depression (suicidal thoughts, delusional, panicky thinking, etc) and completely eliminates anxiety/panic attacks. The only downside I've noticed is an increase in weight, even though my calorific intake of food has not increased and I'm just as active as before."

• Roger
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2017

"After years of trial and error with antidepressants and anxiolytics, I finally asked to try an antipsychotic. I take 10mg of olanzapine with 75mg effexor each day. The combination is quite effective compared with antidepressant mono-therapy. I wish I'd been on this combination long ago. Helps particularly with suicidal thoughts and getting a new perspective on depressive thought processes. It also starts working faster than antidepressants, which was important in my case."

• major...
• February 3, 2016

"The medication treated my bipolar disorder and PTSD wonderfully. I was happy with no real manic episodes or episodes of depression. Recently I have started sleep walking on the medication and it is scary. I get out of bed to go to the bathroom and fall asleep walking there and don't remember what I did. I have fallen asleep standing up and awaken falling backwards. I have started barricading myself in the room so as not to be of a problem to my housemates. I have reported the sleep walking to my mental health clinic but they say it is not a known side effect. I sleep for 4 hours and I am manic for 12. What a life. I am going back on it tonight because the manic episodes are getting worse. I asked for help with this problem for a week."

• John
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2019

"Olanzapine on its own was not particularly effective for depression. I didn't enjoy anything and this didn't change that. It also made me lazy/unmotivated/tired. At the 20mg dose it caused sexual side effects . I think it is more effective for acute mania than acute depression."

• Larasue
• November 20, 2016

"I've been on this drug for a manic episode. I was given 15 mg. which did wipe out the mania. Now I'm on the other side, the depressed side. I asked for prozac but the doctors insisted that a low dose of olanzapine would stabilize the depression. My depression is reactive: i sold my house and moved to another state to be closer to my job. I have hardly any friends here as I'm starting over. It remains to be seen if this low dose at 2.5 mg. will help with the depression."

• sammi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2023

"I was prescribed Olanzapine 10 mg daily after trying many different antipsychotic and antidepressant combos. Over the course of 3-4 months of Olanzapine, I gained 50 lbs. I was so horrified and in even more mental distress because I already struggled with low self-esteem. I went from 115 pounds to 165 pounds and I had never felt worse in my life. It did not help my depression at all whatsoever and I made my doctor take me off the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2021

"This drug has been amazing for me. I have used it in the past for postnatal depression and anxiety. My weight has stayed the same this time around while on it (my third time on it), although I can't lose the excess baby weight (only 4lbs to lose). I'm on 5mg at night and 2.5mg in the morning. My mood and anxiety is so much better and I wake up feeling refreshed every morning after a good night's sleep."

• minds...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2012

"My mother has had major depressive disorder for over 45 years. She was taking Orap and fluoxetine for most of that time, but the Orap was causing Parkinson's-like symptoms. Discontinuing Orap can produce other symptoms, of which my mother had chomping of her jaw, and excess salivation. Abilify controlled these other symptoms, but did nothing for her depression, resulting in auditory hallucinations. My mother was switched to olanzapine which is controlling the depression symptoms. She is currently taking 2.5mg upon waking, 2.5mg in mid-afternoon, and 7.5mg at bedtime. Olanzapine causes sleepiness, so normally would be taken only at night, but the daytime dosages were in hopes of controlling the post-Orap symptoms."

• Stiff...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2021

"I started taking Olanzapine over the past couple weeks and it is a miracle drug! I feel completely back to normal and not feeling sick 24/7 with Major Depression. I am HUGE supporter of Zyprexa now. Ty to my Therapist for prescribing me this wonder drug."

• story
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2021

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I have dealt with severe depression with psychotic features since childhood. I was initially put on Anafranil as my psychiatrist felt I had OCD characteristics as well. The medication, while difficult to deal with, was helpful. After 25 years it simply stopped working and I went through a 5-year period of chaos. I had 2 bouts of ECT which did nothing but seemingly compromised my memory, tried over 20 medications, and even gave Ketamine a shot. Finally, Zyprexa was suggested. The response was quick. I could actually sleep during the night, my mood stabilized, and the psychotic features were diminished, appreciably. It has been a life-saver. I have gained substantial weight and am in the process of losing some of it but it is undeniably difficult. I suppose you have to weigh the pro's and con's and, for me, the pro's are worth it."

• Deewitt
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2020

"I have been on Olanzapine for about 3 years and now I’m weaning off the medicine since April of 2020. At first I was feeling ok but when I was completely off the medicine, I experienced terrible withdrawal symptoms. I’m dealing with nausea, restlessness and terrible insomnia. Don’t get on this med!! Read about olanzapine before you start taking it."

• Clem
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

"Added 2.5mg to Viibryd. I was only going to take it when I need to but after only 3 days trial my depression has lifted so well that I want to keep going on it daily. I weigh myself every day and if I see some changes I'll only use it occasionally."

• Egghead...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 14, 2022

Zyprexa (olanzapine) "I quit taking 2.5 mg Zyprexa cold turkey after taking it for six years! It was absolutely by far the worst experience in my 60-year-old life! This drug should not be on the market! It took me a full year to almost recuperate from having taken it. It works to sedate you but the price you will have to pay in the end is NOT worth it. I am guessing that most people stay on this poison because the withdrawals are absolutely horrific and take months to subside even just a little bit!"