Olanzapine and Brain Fog: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• mad...
• April 19, 2019

Olanzapine for Depression "Put on this drug for anxiety, loss of weight, not sleeping, all connected with something that happened to me. On it for a month at 10 mg and had pounding blood pressure in ears, sudden headaches, ankles swelled up 2x their size, gained 25 lbs. in a month, huge appetite, foggy thinking, flat personality, and dizzy. After I got off, I felt much better. Off it now for 2.5 months, and I can't lose any weight, and in fact am still gaining, so can't get it out of my system. How can I get it out of my system? I don't want to become diabetic or get heart disease, but this drug can do that and I'm not even on it! Doctors are putting people on it that should not be given this drug, it should be a last resort if at all. This drug can cause permanent changes chemically, in metabolism, and dopamine receptors in the brain. Is there no antidote?"

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2018

For Depression "I have been on it for a month now. It's been great. I don't have the weight gain problem or the sexual problems. I basically laid on the sofa with the blinds pulled shut for 3-4 years depressed. I take it at night and Zoloft in the morning. I don't feel at all like a zombie, in fact, I feel great. I'm off the sofa doing things I love again. I sleep regularly and have a positive outlook on life once again. This drug has changed my life for the better. I hope this helps someone."

• Geo...
• November 4, 2019

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I was on Zyprexa at 25mg (had psychosis) for a few months, literally, the worst months of my life. All I wanted to do was eat and sleep, so tired and foggy, and I had no motivation. So glad I ignored doctors and got off it as soon as I possibly could. If there was an option for zero, I would give that. This stuff is utter garbage."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2019

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar II and have tried multiple medications. Sadly, I have had to get off this medication because it caused me to gain 20 lbs within a few short months, and also made my thinking slow down. However, this without a doubt was one of the best medications I have tried. I was able to finally get some rest and didn't constantly wake up throughout the night. My depressive thoughts decreased, though they were still there sometimes, they were manageable. I was able to go days without feeling completely poorly. My racing thoughts decreased, and I felt like I could think without having racing thoughts, or having 100 ideas going on in my head at once. My irritation levels almost ceased to exist. I was pleasantly surprised to see after trying several medications, that this is one of the only medications that has worked on me. If you can get around the weight gain, this is definitely a medication that is a must-try. Maybe I will try this medication again in the future if all else fails."

• Gam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2020

For Depression "I am from Kenya, that is in East Africa. I was diagnosed with depression by my doctor and put on Deprex 10 mg, which is also a brand name for olanzapine. I took it for about 28 days, which went well. I got good sleep, but after that, it was a nightmare. I was getting brain fog. I tried to quit it, but the withdrawals were crazy. I couldn't sleep at night, restlessness was another issue. So, I self-lowered to 5 mg. I am not having a normal sleep, waking up a couple of times at night. Last night, I took 2.5 mg. I am really trying to get off this garbage by tapering because the withdrawal is unbearable. DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG IF YOU LOVE YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE."

• 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!"

• che...
• February 1, 2011

Olanzapine for Depression "Found this medication very effective in my withdrawals from both alcohol and weed. It stops my racing thoughts and keeps me calm. However, it does somewhat make you zombie-like and unable to feel emotions."

• kry...
• September 25, 2013

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on a 5 mg tablet for almost 2 years. I started off on one tablet a night, then cut my dose down to half a tablet, currently taking a 1/4 tablet during the day because I always miss my alarm if I take it at night. I oversleep way too much, always tired, brain feels foggy. I've gained 30 pounds, and it's getting harder to take it off. I'm always hungry and always thirsty. It helps with behaviors. I still flip out, but way less often."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2011

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I just started this medication over two weeks ago and am already seeing massive improvement. No more mania, very little depression. I have focus and energy, my mood is great most days. It even helped with irritable bowel syndrome. For the first few days, I felt like a zombie, but that side effect has gone. I still have a massive temptation to eat everything in the house, but I am controlling it and changing my diet to minimize weight gain. This medicine was a minor miracle to me. I've never felt so good in all my life."

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

For Depression "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 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."

• nut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2022

For Insomnia "I was given a low dose of 2.5 mg. I’m to take it early evening for sleep issues. I got very tired, but it was after 2:30 a.m. till I finally fell asleep, but still woke up several times, then had trouble getting back to sleep. Once I was up (11:15 a.m. till I was able to get out of bed), I was foggy-headed all day right up till bedtime. I could not function at all and kept forgetting things and not able to correctly even follow directions for cooking something I was making. I’m not taking this ever again, I lost too many days."

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

For Depression "Well, I have an obsessive personality and refractory depression mixed with anxiety. I was put on olanzapine 2.5 mg. 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 too hard. So, I weaned my dose down 1 month at 2.5 mg -> 2 weeks at 1.25 mg -> Stopped 14 October -> 2 amazing days without it -> About 1 month of horrible withdrawal. Currently, I have lots of brain fog that I never really had before, but I'm not suicidal anymore."

• Tkv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2015

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "This drug caused me a lot of problems. At first, it made my mania go away, but after a month on it, I developed very stiff muscles. I was given Cogentin, but that didn't help, and after two months, I became very spaced out, and my family said I was saying some weird stuff, but I couldn't remember. My pdoc finally took me off Zyprexa after four months when I showed her how stiff my muscles had become (walking a block was a chore) and told her my leg would start twitching by itself. Overall, a horrible experience."

• JOH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2021

Olanzapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Do NOT take this medicine. It caused my dad to get diabetes, and I took it not knowing that it was the same medication and gave me a terrible reaction. I had to be rushed to the hospital. I couldn’t walk because I was so out of it. I started talking funny, I couldn’t focus, much less keep myself awake most of the time. This medicine is for schizophrenia patients, NOT bipolar. This medication has lawsuits on it continually because of it causing so many issues."

• abu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2019

Olanzapine "I was forced to take this horrible med for 2 months, even though I didn't need it. Then I cold turkeyed off it as soon as I could. It left me with probable brain damage and slowed thinking and pains everywhere."

• edy...
• June 30, 2010

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with 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."

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

For Agitation "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

For Agitation "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."

• Len...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2022

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I had this a few days ago in the hospital for extreme mood swings and anger due to bipolar. I took half a pill that dissolves under your tongue, and it made me feel MUCH WORSE! Within 20 minutes of taking this garbage, I became insanely sleepy, dazed, I was slobbering and slurring when I was talking. It made me even more angrier and anxious. I had intense restless legs and arms and facial tics. My legs would randomly kick and jerk up in the air. I had awful dreams and couldn’t stay asleep at night. I couldn’t stop stuffing my face, and I gained 4 lbs since the day I took it, which was on Monday. I took a Xanax yesterday because I had another episode where I was irate, all because I dropped something. I took this particular medication once in 2018 and for the first time in 2013, and it always made me irrationally angry, hungry, anxious, and unreasonable. Never again."

• Vic...
• February 2, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Was prescribed olanzapine from the hospital after a manic episode, and it helped me recover quickly... 5 mg morning/night. I asked my primary doctor to prescribe it to me because it seemed to be helping my symptoms. After 1-2 months, I started feeling depressed, brain fog, no passion, and it was hard for me to wake up. Gained 10-15 lbs, which is my current nightmare!!! I am binge eating... low energy, low moods, and no concentration. All my hard work of keeping my diet and fitness goals down the drain. Good if you are looking for a quick fix but not long term. Beware."

• Owl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2017

Olanzapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine never made the voices I heard go away-though I'll admit they were a bit calmer. They couldn't have been anything but, though, considering the fog I was in because of the side effects. I felt NOTHING, not happiness, depression, calmness, anxiety. I saw no wonder in the world, felt no kind of joy. It was no way to live-it wasn't living. It was existing, and that side effect didn't go away despite my taking it for months. Another side effect was the weight gain-in three months, I'd gained thirty pounds."

• the...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2017

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I was hospitalized because of a brief psychotic episode following some traumatic events in my life, one of which was contracting Stage 3 Lyme disease. They put me on Zyprexa 5 mg. It worked for a few months, but the brain fog and lethargy were causing problems at work, so I decided to taper down to 2.5 mg and then stop. I really wish my doctor had told me not to go from 2.5 immediately to zero because the withdrawal has been an absolute nightmare. Scary dreams, non-stop anxiety, really jumpy, headaches, depression, and my brain fog has never been worse. I finally knuckled under and am taking 0.6 mg just to take the edge off. I don't want to discourage others seeking help, but stay away from Zyprexa!"