Olanzapine and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Sal...
• December 9, 2018

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on olanzapine for 5 years. Keeps my mood stable, no irritability, no heavy sinking terrible depression. I went off it for only four months without a doctor's permission, and I went manic, talking too much, lots of energy, extremely painful headaches, and delusions of people trying to check me out, little nagging voices that scared me and annoyed me. Psychosis. All the other bipolar people I met at the psych hospital didn't have psychosis. I only shared the psychosis experience with one man with schizophrenia. Mind you, this medicine, for me at 10 mg, really works effectively for my severe case of mania, depression, and psychosis, all in one full swoop. Once I'm stable, I can function just like any other person, just carrying a heavy body around from when my body metabolism acts up on the medicine from age 16-19. Now, at age 21, weight is pretty stable. This medicine DOES work. But you should only use it if it's for a case like mine."

• Dat...
• April 4, 2012

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "Before I took Zyprexa, I was hallucinating due to lack of sleep and exhaustion. While I was hospitalized, I denied my medication and wouldn't take it, but as soon as I took Zyprexa and Remeron, my sleep got better. I stopped hallucinating and hearing things. Thanks to my medication, I haven't been hospitalized for psychosis since I've been given Zyprexa."

• 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!!"

• bip...
• June 1, 2020

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I just started Zyprexa from a new doc, it is for my bipolar one. Been doing okay mostly for over 10 years. I take 1200 of lithium daily. Trazodone 300 mg for sleep. Last year, trazodone stopped working last fall, several occasions of auditory hallucinations, barely sleep 2 hrs nightly. Tried all kinds of meds from one doc, he gave up. Referred to a new doc by my PCP recently, just started Zyprexa up to 10 mg. Sleeping about 5 or so hours at night so far, no side effects, but it is early days. Lithium made me fat and killed my thyroid, which made me fat, so no worries, I just need sleep and calm my mind."

• Lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2023

For Insomnia "I was prescribed olanzapine 10 mg for four years. It helped with my insomnia, but it made me gain weight and worsened my depression. I am bipolar 1. It helped with my mood swings (most of the time), however, when I was ready to come off of that medication, it caused hallucinations and involuntary arm and body movements. This is called TDE. It can be permanent, and trauma can trigger these effects. I had just lost my sister, and I feel like it made my condition worse. If you decide to come off of olanzapine, talk to your doctor first. It took several hospitalizations and several months for these effects to stop and normalcy to return. I am now on Abilify and have energy, actually feel happy and stable. I no longer have hallucinations and no longer suffer from TDE (rhythmic arm and body movements). I feel like myself again. I lost my place to live, my wedding, and my relationship for a while, but we are back together. I'm able to work now."

• Eve...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 12, 2023

For Paranoid Disorder "In 2020, I suffered terrible mold symptoms (pains, asthma attacks, fever, anxiety) and was headed to the hospital. I was misdiagnosed with paranoid disorder and treated in the hospital with olanzapine 10 mg. My doctor didn’t tell me anything about its adverse side effects. The drug relieved my anxiety, but I gained 18 kg in 12 months without any changes in appetite or diet. The drug had no effect on my somatic symptoms or “delusions.” After using the drug for well over a year, I wanted to stop using it because of its risks (brain shrinkage, diabetes, etc.). My doctor was against the withdrawal, so he was not at all helpful with it. I took 5 mg for a month, then 2.5 mg for a month. After that, I experienced a terrible psychosis. I was so suicidal that I ended up causing myself a severe anoxic brain injury. Before taking the medicine, I never had any psychosis or suicidal ideation."

• Mom...
• November 4, 2020

For Schizophrenia "My son suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and has been on olanzapine for 3 months. After a month, the medicine took effect, and he seemed calmer and less delusional. But it lost its effectiveness by the third month, and he started talking aggressively, delusional, irritable, uncontrollable movement in his mouth, lack of sleep, and then he had a seizure recently! Olanzapine is only a temporary short-term fix, and it can possibly cause brain damage. I wouldn't recommend it at all."

• cho...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2015

Olanzapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been on Zyprexa since 2006. Although it causes weight gain, I've decided to weight train or do cardio for an hour every day, which is helping. The weight can continue, but from my experience, it was only when I was inactive. I also feel a little sedated, but that doesn't keep me from doing things. The hallucinations are about 90% gone. Overall, Zyprexa works for me, as it's one of the two drugs that worked because most of the other drugs I tried were not effective, reacted with my skin, or did nothing."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2023

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "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!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 26, 2020

Olanzapine for Depression "Zyprexa made me have hallucinations the first 4 nights I had taken it. (Crazy, scary) Then they stopped. I gained a good amount of weight (but that didn't matter because I was extremely overweight). So this med basically saved my life. I don't feel 100% better off of it, but I do recommend that it's a decent drug. I've tried so many meds and there are so many more worse ones than this."

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

For Depression "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 2.5 mg upon waking, 2.5 mg in mid-afternoon, and 7.5 mg 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."

• bha...
• July 18, 2017

For Schizophrenia "I used to hear conversations that were not real. I used to think people were actually following me and everybody knew what I was doing. In other words, I felt very uncertain about my privacy. I have taken olanzapine for almost a year. I have completely recovered from hallucinations. I am still taking medications, though. I am from Nepal."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I take 10 mg of Zyprexa in the morning and at night. I use 1 mg of Cogentin morning and night to stop side effects. Then I use 50 mg of Vistaril for my anxiety. But Zyprexa makes me feel worse. The voices are still there. I'm more paranoid. I've gained 20 lbs in 1 month. My appetite has increased. I have tremors throughout the day. Plus, the Vistaril doesn't help much with my anxiety. I can't wait to see my doctor and get something else! I wouldn't recommend this medicine to nobody from my experience. But each person is different."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I take 10 mg of Zyprexa in the morning and at night. I use 1 mg of Cogentin morning and night to stop side effects. Then I use 50 mg of Vistaril for my anxiety. But Zyprexa makes me feel worse. The voices are still there. I'm more paranoid. I've gained 20 lbs in 1 month. My appetite has increased. I have tremors throughout the day. Plus, the Vistaril doesn't help much with my anxiety. I can't wait to see my doctor and get something else! I wouldn't recommend this medicine to nobody from my experience. But each person is different."

• Ian...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

Olanzapine "Prescribed 2.5 mg at ER. Amazing 'rescue drug' needed desperately at the time to sleep. Had barely got sleep for a week, took the pill, and finally got some rest. Greatly reduced paranoia, delusions, and anxiety. Was on it for 11 days and quit cold turkey because I was getting better and noticed it slowing my thoughts and making my mind go blank. For example, needing to put a lot of effort into thinking. Minor withdrawal like headache, fatigue, anxiety, and sweat, but nothing too hard to handle. I'd recommend talking to your doctor and getting off of it ASAP if you no longer need it. Use it as a temporary solution because I could see how over time it can negatively impact someone. Oh, and while on it, your appetite will increase by ten times. Good luck all in finding relief!"

• Ian...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

Olanzapine "Prescribed 2.5 mg at ER. Amazing 'rescue drug' needed desperately at the time to sleep. Had barely got sleep for a week, took the pill, and finally got some rest. Greatly reduced paranoia, delusions, and anxiety. Was on it for 11 days and quit cold turkey because I was getting better and noticed it slowing my thoughts and making my mind go blank. For example, needing to put a lot of effort into thinking. Minor withdrawal like headache, fatigue, anxiety, and sweat, but nothing too hard to handle. I'd recommend talking to your doctor and getting off of it ASAP if you no longer need it. Use it as a temporary solution because I could see how over time it can negatively impact someone. Oh, and while on it, your appetite will increase by ten times. Good luck all in finding relief!"

• Bru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2020

For Agitated State "We call this “the magic pill.” After months and months of being in a living nightmare, with paranoia, aggression, insomnia, and delirium, our relative (with vascular dementia) has got their life back. We read the horror stories and bad reviews, but our experience has been good-life-changing for the whole family."

• sj1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2019

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I had a horrible, 6-day experience with this medication, Zyprexa. While it was prescribed to me primarily for sleep, which 5 mg was effective, it made my anxiety 10x worse with paranoia and tremors. It was the worst. It has been three nights without it now, and I still feel its effects of increased anxiety and a fog-like head. The physical symptoms ceased 48 hours post-Zyprexa. I took 20 mg of Paxil with this medication for anxiety and was noticing some improvement with Paxil alone. Zyprexa made me feel as if I was never taking Paxil AND took five steps backward. My official diagnosis is TBD, but this was the first medication I've taken where I absolutely refuse to take again at any dosage."

• Sch...
• June 11, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Zyprexa / olanzapine made my psychotic symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and auditory and visual hallucinations far worse. It took me a while to notice the connection. Whenever I take a break from it, it's hard to cope at first, but within days, weeks, or months, my symptoms become less intense; I got better. At first, I assumed the continued worsening of my mental state was simply my disorder developing by itself. I had to increase my dosage to cope with this. Then, as I took a break from the meds, my issues reversed. I finally gave up the meds, and my psychotic symptoms are similar to how they were before I was prescribed olanzapine, but not nearly as severe as they were while on the medication. This medication did more harm than good. Is it actually researched enough to be prescribed as easily and often as it is? Loads of my friends take it for anxiety, depression, bipolar (although my observation is that it did help my friend during a manic episode), sleep issues, PTSD, and so on."

• Sch...
• June 11, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Zyprexa / olanzapine made my psychotic symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and auditory and visual hallucinations far worse. It took me a while to notice the connection. Whenever I take a break from it, it's hard to cope at first, but within days, weeks, or months, my symptoms become less intense; I got better. At first, I assumed the continued worsening of my mental state was simply my disorder developing by itself. I had to increase my dosage to cope with this. Then, as I took a break from the meds, my issues reversed. I finally gave up the meds, and my psychotic symptoms are similar to how they were before I was prescribed olanzapine, but not nearly as severe as they were while on the medication. This medication did more harm than good. Is it actually researched enough to be prescribed as easily and often as it is? Loads of my friends take it for anxiety, depression, bipolar (although my observation is that it did help my friend during a manic episode), sleep issues, PTSD, and so on."

• Sch...
• June 11, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Zyprexa / olanzapine made my psychotic symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and auditory and visual hallucinations far worse. It took me a while to notice the connection. Whenever I take a break from it, it's hard to cope at first, but within days, weeks, or months, my symptoms become less intense; I got better. At first, I assumed the continued worsening of my mental state was simply my disorder developing by itself. I had to increase my dosage to cope with this. Then, as I took a break from the meds, my issues reversed. I finally gave up the meds, and my psychotic symptoms are similar to how they were before I was prescribed olanzapine, but not nearly as severe as they were while on the medication. This medication did more harm than good. Is it actually researched enough to be prescribed as easily and often as it is? Loads of my friends take it for anxiety, depression, bipolar (although my observation is that it did help my friend during a manic episode), sleep issues, PTSD, and so on."

• Sch...
• June 11, 2019

For Schizophrenia "Zyprexa / olanzapine made my psychotic symptoms, delusions, paranoia, and auditory and visual hallucinations far worse. It took me a while to notice the connection. Whenever I take a break from it, it's hard to cope at first, but within days, weeks, or months, my symptoms become less intense; I got better. At first, I assumed the continued worsening of my mental state was simply my disorder developing by itself. I had to increase my dosage to cope with this. Then, as I took a break from the meds, my issues reversed. I finally gave up the meds, and my psychotic symptoms are similar to how they were before I was prescribed olanzapine, but not nearly as severe as they were while on the medication. This medication did more harm than good. Is it actually researched enough to be prescribed as easily and often as it is? Loads of my friends take it for anxiety, depression, bipolar (although my observation is that it did help my friend during a manic episode), sleep issues, PTSD, and so on."

• Lon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2022

For Schizophrenia "Olanzapine has saved my life, and I'm now in recovery. I've been on Olanzapine for 6 months, and it's finally stopped the auditory and visual hallucinations. My thoughts are more organized, and I'm thinking more clearly. It took about 5 months to resolve all my psychosis symptoms and required dose adjustments. I'm now taking 25 mg, and it's been a total game changer."

• Can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2021

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I was on Zyprexa for minor auditory hallucinations and sleep. I was on it for more than 5 months and gained 40 lbs! I was only on 5 mg, and for a few months, I was even advised to half my dose! This medication made me feel irritated, flat, and moving around was heavier than usual. I became paranoid and had delusions, but didn’t believe them. I just wanted to stay in bed or not leave the house. The voices told me unbelievable thoughts, and I worried a lot too. It did help me sleep. The voices did become more non-existent or lowered; however, at times I could still hear them lowered to an extent. The weight gain is not worth it! I used to be so active and weighed 125 before I started Zyprexa. Now I am 170 lbs! I need a new medication to help the auditory hallucinations that will not repeat my thoughts aloud or lower them. I tried Vraylar at 1.5 mg. The auditory hallucinations completely went away; however, the side effects sent me to the hospital. Please help!!!"

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2010

Olanzapine for Schizoaffective Disorder "This medicine made me gain about 15-20 lbs when I was staying at the hospital when I was 13. I'm now 22. I started taking Geodon a few weeks ago, and I'm feeling much better. No more paranoia in the night at all anymore. No thoughts that there's a serial killer watching me or a serial killer in a room in my house or on a chair in the room I'm in. I'm on Risperdal, I'm trying to get off of it completely because it also made me gain a lot of weight. I'm 166 right now and 5'8”. I used to always be slim and have no hunger. I'm also on Paxil, which hasn't helped me with my depression at all, just a terrible medicine, and I'm on Lamictal, which has helped keep me stable - I have the manic type."