Olanzapine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• Van...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2019

Olanzapine for Depression "Stay away! I took 15 mg Zyprexa for 2 weeks, and I feel so tired. My vision is blurry, weak hand-eye coordination, and it's difficult to speak or understand anything. Why is this drug still being prescribed?"

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

Olanzapine for Depression "This medication Zyprexa is a miracle worker! I was in a very deep depression, suicide thoughts. I started feeling better after just a few weeks. I have been on it 6 weeks now and it keeps getting better. The doctor is now increasing it to 10mg, I feel more tired, but that will lessen as time goes by. I feel like me again!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2019

Olanzapine for Depression "Zyprexa made me feel very tired and irritable. I almost cussed my boyfriend over a small inconvenience. My eyesight kept blurring up, always hungry, and then I started getting this uncomfortable drowsy feeling that lasted the whole day. STAY AWAY from this garbage."

• 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."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2019

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "My boyfriend suffers from manic bipolar disorder. He was off meds for 2 years and recently became manic again. We go to the doctors and this is what she prescribed him at a dose of 3mg. It worked to stop his manic episodes. BUT he is legitimately like a zombie now. He sleeps all the time, is always tired, emotionless, unsure of himself, doesn’t talk, doesn’t eat, doesn’t laugh. He's basically a shell of himself. It’s really sad to watch, and I’m actually hoping his doctor will change his meds this week because this is NO way to live."

• NoJ...
• March 28, 2019

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I take 10 mg of Zyprexa at night, and it makes me feel like I've been chemically lobotomized. Not to mention the irritability and being tired all the time. This medication made me sleep for 10 whole hours, and I still feel sleepy after waking up. Also, my motor skills have been cut in half, I keep stumbling over stuff like I'm drunk and having blurred vision all day. This medication is a mental handicap in a bottle. How in the world does this help with schizophrenia and depression? I would not recommend this medication to anybody. Eli Lilly should be ashamed of themselves."

• dpo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2023

Olanzapine for Depression "This drug ruined my life. I was experiencing a mild depression and wanted a 'buffer' before I started my new career in Atlanta, GA, at Emory Hospital. The night I took Zyprexa, I slept 12+ hours. I immediately started to gain weight - my lean muscle tissue was replaced by adipose tissue. I developed gynecomastia (man boobs). I was tired and irritable all day due to Zyprexa's anti-dopaminergic effects. In a frenzied effort to heal my body, I spent so much money on organic foods because no matter how healthy I ate and how much I exercised, I kept gaining weight. This drug was a nightmare and took me about 3 months of absolute terror to heal from."

• Tok...
• September 26, 2020

Olanzapine for Schizophrenia "I feel very sleepy, very tired. I got a brain tumor. It might be a side effect of Zyprexa or hydrochlorothiazide, a water pill. Because of Zyprexa, I gained a lot of weight and got high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol."

• cma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2017

Olanzapine for Depression "I was only on Zyprexa for 10 days, but it made me so tired I couldn't even function. All I wanted to do was sleep all day. And it made my depression worse. I was so depressed by that 10th day that I almost quit my job because I just felt like I couldn't handle any stress at all. So glad I stopped taking this drug."

• bee...
• November 4, 2015

Olanzapine for Depression "Sure, this med can keep depression at bay, but it can also cause some really horrible side effects. After being on this med for 1 year, I went from being a healthy 170 lbs (women's size 12) to 250 lbs (size 20). It made me so lethargic and tired. I would sleep for 14 hours a day and still be dragging out of bed. About 2 months ago was the final straw. I got blood work done by my GP, and my triglycerides were through the roof, as well as elevated blood sugar. The doc was ready to put me on meds for diabetes! I'm only 25, and I just wanted my health back, so last week I went to a new doc who got me off this horrible stuff. I feel like a new person without this toxic med in my body. Now, I'm on Viibryd."

• bee...
• November 4, 2015

Olanzapine for Depression "Sure, this med can keep depression at bay, but it can also cause some really horrible side effects. After being on this med for 1 year, I went from being a healthy 170 lbs (women's size 12) to 250 lbs (size 20). It made me so lethargic and tired. I would sleep for 14 hours a day and still be dragging out of bed. About 2 months ago was the final straw. I got blood work done by my GP, and my triglycerides were through the roof, as well as elevated blood sugar. The doc was ready to put me on meds for diabetes! I'm only 25, and I just wanted my health back, so last week I went to a new doc who got me off this horrible stuff. I feel like a new person without this toxic med in my body. Now, I'm on Viibryd."

• mlf...
• August 28, 2015

Olanzapine for Insomnia "Ok, so while I have only begun this last night... I can say I did fall asleep, which doesn't happen until after midnight, and I only woke up once to pee. I slept for almost 10 hours compared to my restless 4, if that. My only complaint so far is this entire day I have wanted to do NOTHING. I am so tired, I don't want to do anything besides sleep, and I don't like this feeling. And I can say I've been hungrier today than usual, so I'm paying attention to what I'm eating so I don't overeat... After a while, I'll update my review."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2019

For Depression "I was prescribed 10 mg of this rubbish. Now, after 1 year, I feel totally like garbage. Was prescribed for schizophrenia, and now I wonder if it damaged my brain. I lack motivation, I've gained weight, I feel tired and unmotivated to do just regular activities, like brushing my teeth. I'm off of it. Don't take it, it is just a bunch of rubbish."

• DPD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2015

Olanzapine for Major Depressive Disorder "Zyprexa has been a lifesaver. I was literally on the brink of suicide because of my major depression, generalized anxiety, slight bipolar II, OCD, PTSD, and depersonalization/derealization. I have been on it for about a week, and I feel a complete difference already. No more night terrors, no more worry about the littlest things, no more feeling anxious around people, and no more not feeling like my bad self again. I feel the best I've felt in 2 years because of this! All my symptoms have gone away with little side effects, despite the weight gain and lethargy an hour after taking it. I take it at night, 5 mgs, I may start taking 2.5 mgs in the morning to help the morning edge off. I heard a lot about the diabetes, hope it doesn't happen to me."

• mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "Zyprexa makes you gain weight so fast. I used to be anorexic and watched out with what I ate so I stayed in shape. But this medicine makes you crave sugar and makes you feel hungry 24/7. Also, you are really, really tired. It only helps with psychotic behavior if your dose is pretty high, so you can't feel anything, and because you want to sleep all day."

• Jba...
• February 12, 2016

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "This medication has made me extremely tired! I feel like I've lost all of my motivation. I am a teacher and a coach and find it extremely hard to get myself 'up' to do these things. I am very tired in the morning and it's not until late at night that I start to feel like myself again. Only in time to take the medication again and start the process over. It has taken away some anxiety symptoms and helped me sleep (a bit too much), but I feel down a lot because I feel like I lost my passion. I am slowly coming off of it and look forward to getting back to feeling like myself again. I empathize with people on this medication."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 19, 2016

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "Zyprexa was effective at sedating me, which prevented the psychotic aspects of my manic episodes from happening very quickly. Since I only had 2 manic episodes in the span of a year, I probably should've stopped taking Zyprexa around 6 months later. Unfortunately, I took it for 5 more years, which was a massive mistake. It caused me to be very drowsy and lethargic. Because I started taking it at age 19, I didn't realize that Zyprexa was the culprit until I stopped taking it. I thought I was just a sleepy person. It had a profoundly negative impact on my life because I took it way longer than I should have."

• Ano...
• October 29, 2011

Olanzapine for Depression "After taking the 2.5 dosage for 4 days, I feel very irritable. I am experiencing crying spells, tiredness, extreme moodiness, and just want to be alone. This medicine was prescribed for a mood disorder that I have been experiencing. I also take other antidepressants. I don't think this is a good mix with other medicines or just not right for me."

• zus...
• April 26, 2019

For Depression "I have been taking half of a 2.5 mg dose for a few months. It makes me so exhausted I can barely think straight. It does help with anxiety, but only so much in that it puts me into a complete state of exhaustion. I feel mentally and physically depleted. The level of drowsiness/impairment concerns me at what is probably considered a sub-therapeutic dose."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2020

For Schizophrenia "I had been taking Seroquel for many years. I was tired all the time, slurred speech, slow reaction to things. After being back in hospitals for a relapse, I was given olanzapine, and the difference was immediate. I was able to hold conversations longer, I was alert, I could remember more, and I had more energy than before. Yeah, I gained about 30 pounds, but that's okay because my memory is much better. I don't sleep all day like I did on Seroquel. This drug was a blessing. My family sees the difference, and my friends say I sound better, because before talking with them on the phone, I had always sounded out of it, though I did not know. It was as if I was a zombie living day in and day out while taking Seroquel. My life has changed for the better since my doctor changed my medication to Zyprexa, aka olanzapine. Thank you so much to whichever company created this medical miracle."

• 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."

• dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2014

Olanzapine for Bipolar Disorder "I would give Zyprexa a 10 rating except for the weight gain. I have bipolar 1 and have a lot more mania than depression. I have psychotic symptoms also and racing thoughts a lot. It did make me very tired the first couple of weeks, but then it worked perfectly except for the weight gain, so I am not on it anymore."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2018

For Insomnia "I take 10 mg late evenings alongside my antidepressant called Depakote. Makes me tired and quickly settles me down 1 hr, then quality sleep normally. Have weird dreams and lots of dreaming, seemingly. Appetite-wise, I'm seemingly feeling constantly hungry and therefore doubling my usual daily food intake, so weight gained real quick. How can I lose it again whilst on olanzapine?"