Zyprexa for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• mag...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2020

"This drug Zyprexa has SAVED my life. I take 5mg every night, and it keeps me so stable throughout the day! I'm eating again, feeling real happiness, and my head is clearer! It makes me really hungry, which is perfect because I need to gain weight. It makes me sleep so deep, it's amazing. 11/10 love Zyprexa. I can't complain."

• j D...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2020

"Zyprexa made my husband a crazy man. He had minor bipolar. His psychiatrist prescribed an extremely expensive drug, Zyprexa, then insisted he remain on it for 6 months then left the country. My husband ran track in our house, wore his ski parka even though it was 85 degrees, took several family members to help calm him, on and on. He was uncontrollably crazed. When he developed smacking lips about 4 months in, usually permanent, we stopped Zyprexa triggering DT's. His primary care doctor stepped in and tried various meds adding up to 4 that completely incapacitated him. More crazy man behavior, upchucking, couldn't get out of bed when beloved company visited. We traveled to Portland, Oregon, finding a good psychiatrist who understood meds, put him on 4 other meds to calm him, then began slowly tapering him off the mess. It took nearly 2 years to detox him. Worse yet, he was never the same again. If you value your health, and the health of those who love you, then grab your hat and RUN FROM ZYPREXA!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2019

"Zyprexa was a life saver for me. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and OCD last year. Took Abilify and became irritated easily, Lamictal and kept forgetting things, then I started 30 mg of Prozac and 2.5 mg of Zyprexa combo. It instantly got me out of depression/mood swings and helped me get back to school & focus a little bit more. I will say that I feel a little dull/do not want to talk much & gained 25 pounds in one month being on it. No matter how much I work out, I do not lose the weight. I honestly love the pros of this drug, I can smile and laugh again. But I do not want it to affect my confidence and self-esteem because I am gaining so much weight. I am now weaning off Zyprexa and trying Latuda. My advice to anyone trying Zyprexa - give this a try and expect the weight gain to occur, it will help reduce negative thoughts, excessive worrying & mood swings. Have faith, and try it, I really believe Zyprexa will help get someone out of their worst days."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 24, 2021

"It can take your life. You will need to take this for the rest of your life, or your head will be haywire and thoughts will never stop, it will make you schizophrenic. RUN. I had mild bipolar, and my greedy psychiatrist gave me the worst mental illness in a bottle. If you take it, don't stop, just taper off and see if you can stop permanently. Most likely, you won't be able to."

• ms...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 27, 2013

"I have literally been on every medication you can think of. Prozac, Zoloft, Geodon, Haldol, Effexor, Risperdal, Abilify, Xanax, clonazepam and the list doesn't stop but Zyprexa did it! None of them seemed to help until I tried Zyprexa! I do not have to take anxiety medicines anymore because somehow Zyprexa took care of that also and my anxiety used to be so bad."

• bbc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 7, 2024

"This medication is the best in the world. It's true. It made me gain tons of weight, about 30 pounds. But after years of going from med to med, I must tell you this one is the one that works. It calmed me down and brought happiness to me, my husband, and my family. So, what matters, slim or fat, if I'm not happy? This med is a miracle. Don't hesitate for a second to take it."

• Mel...
• February 2, 2011

"I have been on Zyprexa 10mg/day for about 10 years. When I first started taking it in place of Risperdal, I felt out of sorts for a few weeks. My doctor said that I was adjusting to it and that I needed to wait it out. So I waited, and I did adjust. I gained weight on the medicine, which I have since lost. My psychiatrist orders blood work once a year to check my cholesterol, and he says that everything is fine. I don't like that I need a lot of rest, but that is preferable over manic insomnia. I thought that if I stopped taking it, then I could lose more weight, but I know that I need to manage my illness. I'd rather be plump and pleasant than skinny and crazy. I just have to diet and exercise. The world accepts plump better than it accepts crazy."

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

"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."

• Bi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 2, 2015

"I was diagnosed with bipolar manic depression, acute anxiety, depression, OCD, borderline personality, and post-traumatic stress syndrome when I was 21. Postpartum depression triggered something. I was constantly agitated, angry, and sad. I would wake up angry and cry all day. My doctor prescribed me 20 mg Zyprexa, and I swear to you, I was terrified that it would take 4 to 6 weeks to really work. I didn't have 4 to 6 weeks to wait, I felt I was nearly over the edge completely, constantly thinking about suicide. I took my first dose of Zyprexa, and the very next morning, I woke up feeling wonderful! I still get upset, but not like before. This medicine was truly a miracle for me."

• jor...
• February 4, 2016

"I have been on Zyprexa for about six months. It takes a long time to work (about five months), but when it does, you feel much better. I had to struggle with suicidal thoughts for several months before it started working. You HAVE to take this if you are bipolar. Do NOT stop taking it, and have hope. If you are down or up and are reading this, then you have to remember suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary mood. I know the struggle, and Zyprexa will help if you keep taking it."

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2019

"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."

• JAM...
• October 21, 2014

"Had a breakdown at age 15 and eventually got on Zyprexa. Like everybody else said, I gained about 30-40 pounds, could be very sleepy sometimes, but it completely stopped the voices I was hearing for the past 8 months. It gave me my life back. Just kinda woke up feeling normal after being on the medicine for a few days. It was amazing. Was on 10mg at the highest and worked all the way down to 2.5mg over the next year. Had a prayer service at my church (Doctor was okay with us taking a trial run off medicines since I had been doing well on a low dose for the past few months) and now have been off meds and completely fine for over 10 years now. Very thankful."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2023

"I have bipolar disorder and have been on risperidone for years. I thought it was working, but I was unable to keep a job and was just very depressed and anxious in general. My doctor kept trying to get me to take Zyprexa, but I was scared of the weight gain and scared of trying something new. After a very severe manic episode, I went with the doctor's advice and took Zyprexa. I am so glad I did! I felt some relief within the first week, and now it has been 3 months, and I am a new person. I am doing good at work, I am not afraid to talk to people, I can handle criticism, I am overall so positive, and have not gained any weight. This drug has saved my life."

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

"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."

• gro...
• October 12, 2021

"For me, this is a miracle drug, one of a kind, worth everything. After years suffering with severe anxiety, OCD, and minor bipolar, I find myself again enjoying life: cooking, playing with my kids, reading books and magazines, sleeping properly, eating with a good appetite, and having a clear mind, good mood, happy. I am gaining a huge amount of weight, but it's worth it, I'd rather be fat and have a normal mind than be skinny and agitated and nervous. I was browsing before and was afraid of side effects, but now I am here to let you know it's the best thing to do for yourself - to take this medication."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2021

"I have had great luck with this drug. I feel happy and hopeful again. I used to have serious breakdowns every two years, but I have a strong feeling Zyprexa is going to reduce or even put a stop to those occurrences. I am able to enjoy activities and feel pleasure and contentment. I feel as close to non-bipolar as I think I ever will. I just hope this drug has longevity and can be used for decades, like my prescriber said it could."

• Anonymous
• February 26, 2011

"I am 27 and have been dealing with manic depression for most of my life. I take Lamictal 250mg and Wellbutrin 300mg. I was very recently put on Zyprexa for the first time after a suicide attempt and hospitalization. I was VERY reluctant to try it because I've read all the side effects. I tried it (2.5mg). I have to admit it changed my life after ONE (low) dose! It was like I went to bed hanging on by a thread and woke up with all my strings attached. I saw quick results. No waiting for a month to see if it will work. Since I have only been taking this medicine for a week, I haven't had any side effects yet. So far, it has really, really been a miracle. Mood stability has always been a really huge issue for me and this has taken care of it."

• Loc...
• March 24, 2015

"I was diagnosed as bipolar in 1987. I've always been treatment-resistant. Nothing, and I mean no meds, have ever helped me before. I've tried everything over the years, only to have bad side effects and no relief. ECT was actually being recommended to me, then my doctor put me on a Zyprexa/Prozac combination and for the first time in my life, I've gotten relief from my symptoms and no side effects. I can finally think clearly. I feel like a totally new person, a much better one."

• Kas...
• August 13, 2013

"I am a 19-year-old girl and I have bipolar disorder 2 and suffer from anxiety and depression, so my doctor prescribed 10mg Zyprexa daily. I had HORRIBLE side effects. In four months, I gained 20 kg, developed cystic acne, and my thinking was slow and foggy. Any self-confidence I had or pride in my appearance evaporated completely. The worst part is I still had the anxiety and the depression (although I didn't expect an antipsychotic to help with depression). I'm so glad I'm not on it anymore. Zyprexa was definitely not for me."

• Sal...
• December 9, 2018

"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."

• 20...
• September 10, 2008

"I was diagnosed in 1989. I was an 18-year-old boy at the time. After several years of misdiagnosis, I was diagnosed in the mid-'90s with bipolar disorder. I've been on a lot of different medications, most I don't remember very well. But in 2003, I was hospitalized for one month and put on Zyprexa. I got my life back, I am now married, own my own home, and have my own business. I am now where I want to be. The downside is I went from 180 lbs to 240 lbs in 5 years. I am now borderline diabetic, and my cholesterol level is very high. I am now not on Zyprexa. The medicine did the job it is supposed to, but my doctor and I are looking for a medication similar to Zyprexa without the weight gain."

• bip...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2015

"Zyprexa is the only antipsychotic that doesn’t make me feel like a zombie! I kept my personality and my energy. It almost feels like I don’t take an antipsychotic. I take 7.5 mg, because my psychiatrist told me that when you take less than 10 mg daily, the risk of metabolic syndrome is low. It’s very good for treating mania and it augments the effect of my antidepressant. The only downside is that it’s a little bit difficult to wake up."

• Cke...
• May 3, 2017

"OK, I've been on Zyprexa going on 7 months at 20 mg a day, and it's the best thing I've done to get help with bipolar disorder. The only downfall is the weight gain, but for me to stay sane and be happy, it's worth it. Since being on Zyprexa, I've been able to socialize again with other people and do not stay in my bedroom all day and night. Thank God for helping me."

• Pud...
• April 12, 2008

"Zyprexa changed my life. Before the medication, I was suicidal. I had a very difficult time with everyday life. I was tearing my family apart. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in December 2002. My life has been much more stable, and my relationships with family members have improved dramatically."

• Lif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 18, 2023

"I have been on 2.5 mg of Zyprexa for just over a year. I was on Lithium for about 8 years, and my mental health had started declining rapidly. I had absolutely no control over the thoughts in my head. I should not be here, but I knew if I didn't find a new psychiatrist and figure out how to help myself, I was on my way out in a bad way. My doctor decided to stop the Lithium because I had Lithium toxicity, and he felt that was a huge issue. He started me on Zyprexa, and within a few days of that and weaning from the Lithium, I started feeling normal. My thoughts weren't racing nearly as bad with all the negativity, and it just kept getting better. I've been more outgoing, and I've actually been able to hold down a job because I can actually focus enough to do my job. I've mended relationships with friends and family that I had withdrawn from because I didn't want to be around people and drag them down."