Zyprexa for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Teresa
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 11, 2019

"Started zyprexa 7 years ago. I had never been happier. I laughed, enjoyed life, lost the paranoia - then my yearly physicals started showing my A1C was elevated so I started on metformin. I gained between 6-12 lbs/year(132-179). Now on a BP med. Suffer dry mouth & tongue edema. I take 25mg benadryl every 4-6 hrs to prevent it. I've weaned down to 1/2 of 1.25mg every 3rd night. I'm ok as long as I don't go past that 3rd night. If I try for 4 I pay dearly. It's like I've been hit by a Mack truck-the worst case of flu ever. I take the missed dose & 24-36 hrs later I feel human again. This drug saved my life because I was suicidal but also now I don't want to die of complications from the co-morbidities that I'm developing now because I can't get off it. The real kicker: zyprexa affects your metabolism so it's even harder to lose weight & if interferes with how metformin works making it less effective. Talk about a double edged sword. I may be on this for the rest of my life."

• meegy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2015

"I have been taking zyprexa 5 grams...a day..and I don't get any affects from pill? It keeps me mellow but not tired like everyone says? Kinda helps with mood swings..but not really! At least not for me?"

• Jaded
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2014

"This medicine works really well as a mood stabilizer for me. The only MAJOR drawback is weight gain. I just can't control myself when the carb cravings happen. I am usually very much in control of my dietary habits, but on Zyprexa that just isn't possible. I also suffer from schizoaffective disorder and hear voices. Although Zyprexa suppresses them, it does not completely get rid of them in my case; they are quiet enough to tolerate though. I have gained 35 pounds in less than about a month and a half. I am going to wean off of these and ask the psych-doc for something else."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2009

"At first I was reluctant on taking this medication, but eventually I realized that I needed it. This medication helps me sleep longer, fall asleep faster, and wake up less. Also this drug has given me very few side effects, which are insignificant. "

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

"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 4 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 horrible experience."

• Ed Mc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 26, 2016

"I took 3mgs of Zyprexa, contained in Symbyax, nightly for about 6 years. The medicine worked well for the first 2 to 3 years. Around year four I started having severe side effects and did not realize it was from the Zyprexa as it had been working so well. I suffered with increasing seizures for about three more years. Bad ones. I wound up in the hospital emergency room and it was the ER doctor that informed me that the Zyprexa was causing the problem. My regular doctor denied Zyprexa as a contributing factor to my seizures. I quit the Zyprexa cold turkey. To say the least it was an absolutely horrible experience. Wean off this drug over a long period of time and even then get ready for horrendous withdrawal symptoms after your last dose."

• Honki...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 13, 2018

"Been on 20mg a day for a couple years. Been off of everything for about eight months. When I was taking it, I had zero issues with weight gain. Another huge benefit was that it reliably put me to sleep. Take my 20mg football in the evening and it’s lights out within two hours. But getting up in the morning was tough. Plus it did slow me down mentally. I didn’t think it did, but I had a few old friends point out that I’m way slower than I used to be. Like most psych meds, it can work wonders for one patient and do more harm than good for another. Due to life’s circumstances, I had to quit cold turkey. Bad idea. Sleepless nights and all that... Thankfully, my condition is on a very mild end of the spectrum. You absolutely have to work with your doctor to find out what works best for YOU! All the best!"

• Jason
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 27, 2018

"DO NOT take this medication unless you are either psychotic, bipolar or have an extreme neurological condition. I took this medication for 8 years and it ruined my life to be honest. These drugs are EXTREMELY dangerous and powerful and can ruin your life even by taking it for 1 week. This drug is NOT for anxiety or ANY mild to average condition. Move to the countryside for 3 months and rent a cabin, it will solve your issues. If you are a parent, do not EVER put any child on this drug. Anti-psych drugs are 1000 times more dangerous than you can ever imagine. Same goes for Abilify or any atypical or typical anti-psychotic. Tardive dyskinesia is a potentially permanent side effect that can ruin your life within a week. Saying that, they work EXTREMELY effectively for severe mental disorders and may save your life if you are suicidal."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2012

"After the first time I took Zyprexa, my head and legs felt like they weighed one tone each! I tried it for 2 weeks and this got worse! It increased my appetite a lot too. My dr is currently trying to find a medicine that works for me. Its so hard as I get a lot of strange side effects on these medicines!"

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

"My 6 yr old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I thought it was ADHD but they started him on zyprexa and we've seen a lot of improvement in his behavior.would highly recommend, Virtually no side effects. He eats a little more but most 6 yr old hyperactive boys could stand to eat a little more."

• TJano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2018

"Works great every time! I have rapid cycling bipolar and this is the most effective out of all antipsychotics. Sometimes they put me off it but every time I’m on it it feels like a world of change like my brain starts to function again."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2009

"I've been taking Zypexa for almost 3 years now. It has been wonderful for me and my family. I had tried so many different medicines that I had given up. I now hardly have any mood swings and I can sleep at night. The down side is that I have gained a lot of weight, but to make me easy to live with for my family it's worth it!"

• Beth
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2018

"My psychiatrist put me on 10 mg of Zyprexa and 20 mg of Prozac. He said those two meds are supposed to work well together. After two months I was still feeling depressed so he increased the Zyprexa to 15 mg. This has been a miracle drug for me. I fall asleep within 30 min of taking it and sleep very well except it is difficult to wake up in the morning. I set three alarms around my bedroom. One I have to physically get out of bed to turn off so it helps me get up. But that side effect is getting better after two months of taking Zyprexa. I no longer have ruminating thoughts or bouts of rage. My mood is very even. I have had some weight gain due to the med making me feel hungry all the time. Now I'm trying to drink water instead of eating and that seems to help."

• Yaybd...
• December 6, 2016

"I had been so unwell off meds for over a year and vomiting daily due to bipolar. I thought vomiting was from physical illness. As soon as i started this med all bp symptoms left AND my stomach is settled. No sexual side effects. Old me is back. No sides! Miracle drug! Weight gain for me will be a pkus not negative"

• MT2233
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2017

"I was diagnosed with psychotic depression for 7 months and my psychiatrist put me on zyprexa 5mg. After using antidepressants I got into mania. This medicine is a miracle. I was relieved in one week. I am still taking it but I became a bit hesitant to continue due to some horrible reviews. Tried Invega And had suicidal thoughts. This medicine is great for mood with combination with lamictal."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2011

"I have been taking Zyprexa for about three years. Although it seems to help me restrain from the hyper-manic episodes it seems to also hinder my personality. I feel like my spirit is being suppressed and life for me is not as enjoyable. I do however feel it makes it easier for my loved ones as I don't send them through my "energetic" episodes that they say are more tiring for them. I too have gained a lot of extra weight especially around the middle ...I feel starved an hour after eating."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2011

"I have been on Zyprexa for 6months now and it has calmed me down quite a bit. I have no more racing thoughts. I don't hear voices or see things anymore. The only down fall to this medicine is the weight gain. I would highly recommend it though."

• Gone...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2017

"I gained 10 lbs in under 1 week, which sets a speed record among the weight-gain meds I've taken. Since that pushed me up to the pre-diabetic border, my psychiatrist pulled me off of it ASAP - not to mention that when you're severely depressed, how is super chunking up supposed to make you feel better no matter how well the med works? 1 month & I would have been up 40 lbs! I felt no other side effects, nor any positive effects, but 1 week probably wasn't long enough for it to make a difference on my mood - only my rear end."

• Spin
• October 14, 2019

"Diagnosis: Severe rapid cycling bipolar, heavy on mania Zoloft is a very positive experience Benefits: - No extreme highs, only small and easily controlled bouts of hypomania - No staying up for days on end anymore, more restful sleep in general -Increased appetite and slight weight gain, may be a con for some but I have no to low appetite and am clinically underweight. 3lb total gain over 3 months -Less irritability, lesws suicidal ideation, less call of the void - No real low swings at all, either neutral or normal emotional response -Decreased anxiety -I still have emotions and interests unlike when on Lithium/Zoloft/Lexapro, on those I would sit and just stare at my wall uncaring for 15+ hours a day and still had periods of mania intermixed. Cons: -Slight decrease in motivation/interest in hobbies like video games but not severe -Makes my RLS flare up especially with any amount of alcohol in the mix. Easily combat this by waiting until I'm on the verge of sleep to take it"

• prett...
• March 7, 2010

"I have been diagnosed with bipolar for 15 years and for the first time experienced a mania state beyond anything I imagined or experienced before. I was suffering from severe paranoia and psychosomatic symptoms. Zyprexa is a God-send and I am happy with it. My major problem with it is the morning hangovers I feel. I have gained weight, but desperately needed to do so."

• BBP
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 13, 2016

"First year on 5mg at night helped my mood, anger outbursts and anxiety a great deal. Did develop high cholesterol and gained 15 pounds, but the trade off was worth it. Also helps wonderfully with insomnia. After the year mark it was no longer handling my anger well. Started having 2-3 inappropriate outbursts a week. Pdoc started me on geodon but couldn't handle the side effects, so back to the zyprexa I went with another 2.5mg added in the morning and gained another 6 pounds. Have tried other AAPs but can't handle the side effects so I'm still on the zyprexa for now until I get brave enough to try something else again. Taking with Pristiq, Trileptal, Vistiril and Xanax."

• edyth
• June 30, 2010

"I was diagnosed as 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2012

"Puerperal Psychosis: Made me incredibly hungry and then not even remember eating things! One time I ate 7 doughnuts in one night - I only know this because I found the empty packet the next morning. I have no memory of eating them. I put a lot of weight on doing this."

• Cinn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2017

"I was on this for maybe 6 months 2 years ago. I went from 121 to 184 in less then 3 months. I was eating constantly even after I had dinner I would be hungry 15 minutes later. If your doctor wants you to take this DON'T. It's easy for the weight to come but harder to make the weight go away."