Olanzapine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Mer...
• September 7, 2020

For Depression "This drug has absolutely ruined my life. I was on 2.5mg for approximately 1 year. During that year, I slept all day, felt like a robot, had zero motivation, and was horribly depressed. I managed to get off. The first 2 months of withdrawal, I had severe insomnia, severe anxiety, and severe depression. I also have complete anhedonia. I have lost the ability to feel joy or happiness. I'm chronically fatigued. I have suicidal thoughts on a daily basis. The worst part is the akathisia. I can't even put into words what akathisia feels like. I am in shock every day that pharmaceutical companies are giving out these drugs. It is so horrible and sad to see others like myself suffering in such a way. Please, do not allow yourself or loved ones to go anywhere near these drugs. They will ruin your life. I have been off olanzapine for 7 months now with no end to the suffering in sight."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2021

For Insomnia "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION FOR SLEEP! It will help you sleep for a little while, then your sleep will get worse with time, then you will not be able to sleep without it once you try getting off. I'm going on 3 and 1/2 weeks off it after a slow taper, and it has destroyed my sleep cycle. It has also left me with worse depression, anxiety, and exhaustion (all things that were starting to worsen after a few months on this medication). Trust me, if you're not bipolar or schizophrenic, do not take this medication, especially if you're just using it for sleep. You will regret it."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 14, 2019

For Insomnia "If you want to have zero quality of life, I urge you not to take olanzapine. I was prescribed this horrific drug just for insomnia. For the first 6 months, it sedated me. Then I started developing horrific side effects (inability to swallow, restlessness, anxiety, being in a zombie-like state, etc.). Eventually, I developed a tolerance so it no longer helped me sleep. Sadly, I know others who have taken this drug and have developed permanent movement disorders and brain damage. It affects numerous neurotransmitters in your brain. After stopping this drug cold turkey because I couldn’t swallow anything, I have been left with 9 months of 0-2 hours of sleep. This drug will ruin your life. Check out all the lawsuits against Eli Lilly. You’ve been warned. I wish I had been!"

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2020

For Insomnia "Took this medication olanzapine for about 2 and 1/2 months. I was suicidally anxious when my psychiatrist decided to give this a try. Made me very tired for the first few days but it nearly eliminated my anxiety and it helped me sleep better. Over time, though, I started having diminishing returns at even 10mg, along with feeling like I was becoming dumber (having trouble focusing, trying to remember certain words)... It just made me more foggy and depressed. Decided to get off it and didn't realize until a few days after that I was having bad withdrawals (nausea, anxiety, worse sleep). I would not recommend this med. I'm trying to conquer my severe depression and poor sleep and this is making everything way worse. Even cutting to small pieces to taper is hardly helping. Wish I never started it."

• Tan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 25, 2018

For Insomnia "Prescribed 2.5mg for anxiety and insomnia. Helped a lot at first, then after several months sleep problems returned. Anxiety started getting worse. I tried to slowly lower my dosage, and anxiety and insomnia got worse than ever. After 2 years, I started having tardive dyskinesia symptoms and trembling. And never feel rested. My sleep was very light, not deep. Again, tried to reduce the dosage but couldn't sleep at all and had unbearably intense anxiety. 4 years later I'm stuck on this awful medication, hardly sleeping at all, high anxiety, foggy-slow brain, with tardive dyskinesia. Before I took olanzapine, my only problem was mild anxiety and insomnia. This drug causes permanent damage. This drug ruined my life."

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

For Agitation "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."

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

For Agitation "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."

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

For Agitation "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."

• Jas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2021

For Insomnia "This drug ruined my life. I took a low dose for mild insomnia and anxiety, and after a while, it turned out I can't stop taking it. I have tried tapering very slowly over many months, but it is a nightmare. I am now taking half the original dose, and insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, and brain fog are through the roof. It's not temporary withdrawal, I've been at this dose for a year now. I'm much, much, much worse off than before I started taking this stuff. AVOID!"

• Doc...
• May 17, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "This olanzapine is the worst drug ever made. Makes you lose all your emotion and decreases your IQ. Increases anxiety and depression and increases restlessness that does not go away after going off the drug. Completely messes up your GI system with terrible constipation, zero energy, inability to cry, decreases communication, and you lose the ability to have any type of sex life. Big pharma should be ashamed to have this available. I would give it a zero if I could."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2021

For Insomnia "I was put on this in conjunction with Prozac and Ativan. I took this drug for a month, and all it did was increase my appetite. I started out at 5 mg, then increased to 10, and I felt drugged. My depression worsened, and I started having anxiety and panic attacks. I’m now at 2.5 mg. My doctor used this as a sleeping pill, which only worked moderately. Use this pill with caution. If you aren’t bipolar or have a severe mental illness, then stay away from this drug."

• Ite...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2019

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "Stay away from Zyprexa. I had a massive weight gain, diabetes, cholesterol problems, significantly makes your brain dull, unable to think properly, have no emotions, anxiety. Sleep a lot. I think it destroys your brain chemistry. Unable to taper off as the withdrawals are extreme."

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

For Agitation "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!"

• mor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I started taking Zyprexa 10 mg in 1996 until 2017, which is when I began tapering due to health reasons. I am now down to 2.5 mg but have gained a lot of weight, pain in joints, inability to sleep well, anxiety for no reason, memory loss, inability to think, no motivation, crying for no reason, terrible pain in my arms, muscle cramps in my feet, pancreatitis, constant eating, lack of feelings and enjoyment. Extremely difficult to get off it, it ruined my life!"

• rb1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2016

Olanzapine for Depression "Was on Zyprexa from Mar 2015 till Aug 2015. At first, it seemed like it was mellowing me out a bit, and I could sleep through the whole night, which was an improvement. After a few months, I noticed my depression was getting much worse. Came off the drug cold turkey, and went through one of the most serious withdrawals one could face. Depression, severe anxiety, PTSD, night terrors took over. To this day Apr 2016, I have still not returned to the way I was before I started taking this horrible drug. Depression and anxiety are still bad, not as bad as 6 months ago, but still worse than when I first started taking it. I'm convinced this drug can cause permanent brain damage."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2019

For Depression "Olanzapine made me feel terrible. I was prescribed it for a depressive episode and quickly found (within a few days) that I felt worse. I was in a constant state of feeling despair, panic, and anxious as a result of it. I then went back to a different doctor who immediately withdrew this drug (luckily it had only been a few days). I was then prescribed Escitalopram, which I used for a couple of months. Olanzapine is an extremely strong drug that was wholly inappropriate to my treatment."

• joy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2015

For Depression "This medication has been a lifesaver for me. After suffering severe situational depression and three serious suicide attempts, I was put on 5 mg. It took away anxiety. I'm also on venlafaxine, which just wasn't enough for me. I have not put on weight and eat healthy. I have tried to come off, and anxiety and low mood came back."

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

For Agitation "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

For Agitation "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."

• Anonymous
• March 23, 2009

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I've taken Zyprexa as an adjunct to lithium for Bipolar I. My thoughts are slower, and it has gotten rid of any anxiety (this, I think, is the best side effect). I have not had issues with weight gain. I change between 5 and 10 mg per day depending on how I feel. Sometimes it can cause me to sleep late, and I need to take it earlier in the evening to avoid that. Great medicine to keep me stable and stop intrusive thinking."

• Pop...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 22, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on olanzapine 2.5 mg for 8 years, and it has been a fantastic medication for me. I suffer from anxiety and severe insomnia, and olanzapine has worked perfectly well. My anxiety is non-existent now, and best of all, I am sleeping really well. I haven’t gained much weight (only 5 kg). I tried to come off it a few times, and I found it very difficult, mostly because the insomnia was so bad, and the anxiety came back with a vengeance. So for now, I’m happy on a small dose. I might take it for the rest of my life if I can stay well with this medication."

• hea...
• February 18, 2017

For Insomnia "Olanzapine puts me to a restful sleep. Works better than OTC sleeping drugs, hands down. Many prescription sleeping pills I had a bad reaction to, like being groggy in the morning, having restless leg, very nervous. It slows my thought process down for a great restful sleep."

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

For Agitation "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."

• Rus...
• August 31, 2019

For Insomnia "I have been diagnosed with a mood disorder and possible bipolar. I was recently put on Zyprexa 10 mg 1× daily. Is this medicine addicting? Also, I experience severe anxiety and paranoia. What would you say is my problem? I need help!!"

• Sym...
• February 4, 2016

For Depression "I took 3 mg of olanzapine every night for five years. This med worked like magic for a couple of years, then I started having severe memory issues. This is when I found out the hard way that quitting this medication without suffering is not possible. So I decided to taper slowly over a period of 6 more months. Even then, after tapering to almost nothing before quitting completely, I had anxiety, liquid stools, confusion, and severe memory problems."