Zyprexa for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• bipolar...
• June 1, 2020

"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."

• Joano
• November 16, 2018

"Zyprexa was my only miracle med, but health-wise it ruined me. I was on it for 10 years. All my long-term health risks that occurred were from this medication. In 10 years, I went from 112 to 296 pounds. I have low thyroid issues now and am on medication for life for that. I developed high cholesterol and vertigo. These are the long-term effects of Zyprexa, and I got them. Yes, it helps wonders, but why risk your health? Binge eating can occur, I developed that really badly also at the 7-year mark. I took it at night, and an hour later, I needed to eat nonstop. When they talk about higher side effects, it can happen and does. I started with the less severe and got the severe, and now it's a journey in itself for my health. I would stay cautious of this medication. For sure, it does cause extreme weight gain, which causes all other high-risk health issues."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2011

"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."

• Dirty...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2013

"Got hospitalized. Upped to 10 mg morning and evening. This dose has helped my symptoms. I've had blackouts, panic attacks, and sex problems with every other atypical out there. Zyprexa is great. Only negative is gaining weight fast, while being slightly sedating, which makes it harder to exercise."

• CTano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2019

"Hello. I am currently taking Zyprexa 2.5 mg for approximately 10 months in conjunction with Lexapro 30 mg and bupropion XL 300mg for OCD, bipolar, anxiety and depression. The meds helped to a point and now I feel like I am not progressing in my therapy. I have just been increased to 5mg of zyprexa, so we shall see. My big concern is the weight gain. I've gained 30 pounds in a year and a half. I hope the weight gain isn't dose related. To be continued...."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2022

"Makes me feel normal. I take 15 mg at night for a restful night's sleep with no nightmares like I used to have. I use in combination with 20 mg Paxil and 1000 mg Depakote which seems to be a great combination for my bipolar disorder. I no longer freak out if things don't go my way. I HIGHLY recommend Zyprexa!"

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

"I was on 2.5 mg, and it made me into a hungry zombie. All my emotions were flat, it made life completely unpleasant. Every day was a struggle to get through, and sex was completely numb. However, it was a very effective medication for bipolar one disorder. If it wasn't for the side effects, I'd still be on it."

• Pillb...
• September 19, 2009

"At 5 mg/day, Zyprexa makes a real difference for me. Combined with the right antidepressant, it takes care of my depressive episodes, which can, by the way, be very severe. The side effects I have are increased sleep and increased appetite. Haven't gained any weight on it."

• Julie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2023

"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!"

• Rizzo
• September 29, 2019

"Zyprexa is best mood stabilizer I’ve been on. It is so calming. It decreases agitation, the racing thoughts, helps you sleep. Does not make me groggy- I take 7.5 mg at night. The only reason it’s not a 10 is I’ve gained some weight so I’m taking some topamax for it. Love zyprexa."

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2012

"When I was diagnosed as bipolar, I was put on Zyprexa. I took it 3 times a day, and it was great at eliminating my mania, depression, and anxiety symptoms. However, I had two side effects: I would get tired, and I gained over 100 pounds over 12 years. So, my doctor suggested lithium, and I am on that now and doing fine, and I have lost 30 pounds in 4 months."

• prestes
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2012

"I have been taking Zyprexa for over a month, and it just recently started making me sleep over 14 hours a night. I am tired and unmotivated. The anxiety has slowed way down but is not completely gone. I take 5 mg per night, and I also take Ativan 3 times a day."

• lalul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2016

"This medicine sucked! I was asleep all the time, all day long! Couldn't function in school, couldn't function at work. I was tired all the time and was eating every food that I saw in front of me. If I could give 0 stars to this medication, I would."

• Oppos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2018

"Only been on Zyprexa for 5 days, but I'm loving it so far. I was hospitalized five days ago for extreme mania, they took me off of Abilify (which I believe caused the mania, I'd only been put on it two weeks before). They added Zyprexa 10 mg to my trazodone at night (also take Lamictal and Zoloft in the am). It was a bit too sedating at 10 mg, so they bumped it down to 5 mg, and it's perfect. I've always had mad munchies at night from the trazodone anyways, and am still not hungry until dinner anyways, so it isn't really causing me any weight gain. It brought me out of mania the first time I took it, I hope to never be without this med again, as of now. Again, just started it 5 days ago, but I've actually lost 4 pounds since then, and I can't say enough good about it!"

• Glue
• June 10, 2010

"I have been taking Zyprexa for about 5 years. Started at 5 mg and am now at 2.5 or 1.25, depending on the day. This is for bipolar. I've tried to go off it (because I felt dulled and had a preoccupation with food) a few different times and had severe depression/anxiety symptoms recur. I also take Prozac (20 mg) and Lamictal (100 mg). I don't think the Lamictal does anything, but the Zyprexa seems to be the 'glue' that keeps me together. Weight gain was an issue, but I have recently lost 20 lbs through diet and exercise (and reducing dose). I would rather not have to take it, but it so greatly improves my quality of life that I feel I should stay on it."

• Bipol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 9, 2018

"After a luckily failed suicide attempt, I got prescribed olanzapine. Only 5 mg does a significant relief for me. Had been suffering from depression and hypomanic episodes, but after taking only 5 mg of olanzapine, I feel completely different - no more mood swings at all. I feel like a normal person. This medication saved and even improved the quality of the life I'm living at the moment. Beside olanzapine, I got prescribed the antidepressant escitalopram, which also works great in treating bipolar disorder."

• Anonymous
• August 24, 2010

"Been on Zyprexa 7.5 due to bipolar for about 8 months or so. It takes the edge off my anxiety and makes me calmer. I get very sleepy about 3 hours after taking it, so now I take it at about 7 PM. Without it, I had trouble sleeping as my mind would race and not shut up at night. Don't really know if it has affected my appetite or weight, if so, just a little. A couple of times, I thought that I felt so good that I didn't need to take it anymore, so I stopped taking it. And within a week or so, the bad feelings would come back. Looks like I might be on it for the long term."

• elias...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2016

"I love Zyprexa (Olanzapine), it has calmed and removed my insanity. I no longer have panic attacks and irritability. I work in retail, and I have been in trouble several times with my managers because I snap at customers. But with Zyprexa, it all went away, it was amazing... BUT!!! I have to stop taking it because it caused SO MUCH weight gain. I used to weigh 170 lbs, and within a year, I now weigh 226 lbs. I don't even eat that much, and I still don't lose weight. There's no point in going to the gym and doing cardio because the pill prevents me from losing it. So now I have to ask my doctor to give me a medication that doesn't cause weight gain so I can lose the weight. I am so depressed that I have to stop taking it. It has worked wonders for me."

• subert
• December 3, 2011

"I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the early '90s. Tried all kinds of anti-psychotic medicines, Zyprexa is the one that has helped me the best. I feel tired and emotionless, but I am pretty sure that it is better than what my family goes through when I am not on it."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

"I found Zyprexa to be quite effective, however, it made me very tired and unmotivated, though. I was incredibly hungry all day. Only stayed on it for about a month and put on 7 lbs. I am in the process of exploring different antipsychotics that are more weight-friendly. Putting on weight was making me depressed and making me become more hostile because of it."

• sj1428
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2019

"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 it's 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 take five steps backwards. My official diagnosis is TBD but this was the first medication I've taken where I absolutely refuse to take again at any dosage"

• Mica
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 12, 2015

"This medicine is very effective for bipolar. Before this, I cannot sleep at night because my mind races. Finally, after taking this, I feel wonderful and not depressed anymore. The effect is weight gain, before this, my weight was just around 74 kg, now it went to 99 kg."

• Marr
• June 25, 2015

"If I could give this a zero rating, I would... I was put on this medicine at 16, and it intensified all my issues..... It made me go into constant fits of rage, and I gained almost 50 pounds... By far the worst medicine I've taken."

• Dimitri
• May 5, 2018

"Out of the 4 antipsychotics I tried, this one worked wonders for me. I was diagnosed back in 2011 for a psychotic episode and developed bipolar psychosis. Took 5 mg for years, and I was feeling great. The only thing is that I would have some tactile hallucinations but wouldn’t hear any voices. I would just feel like a crazy maniac who wouldn’t sleep for days before going on Zyprexa. Anyway, I went off of it, and then a year later I am here taking it again because I just can’t stand my anxiety, delusions, and mood swings. I mix it with Seroquel sometimes. Anyway, this drug works wonders. I don’t get an increased appetite. The only problem is that when I wake up, I don’t feel like eating anything, so I end up eating at 2 PM. The side effects for me are decreased appetite and some fatigue, but other than that, I can finally enjoy life again. Remember that it takes a few weeks for it to take full effects, and side effects do become more tolerable over time."

• Anonymous
• October 26, 2011

"I'm bipolar, and this is the only medication (out of many, many) that really helps my bipolar, and it works almost instantaneously for me. I first went on it to gain weight because I was trying to recover from anorexia and struggling, but stayed on it for my bipolar. I did gain weight, and I eat tons, but I have a good metabolism, and Zyprexa just brings me up to my medically ideal weight."