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Does anyone have any experience of Olanzapine? (Zyprexa)

Chatative

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
4,203
Location
Sunny Scotland
Hi guys, been a while since I've been on here...!

Currently going through my own little bit of anti-snoo... I've just been presribed some Olanzapine at a low dose to help with some on-going psychosis I've had since last summer.

Obviously I've done a little research and been given some advice by my doc but I was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience? Especially any information on how long it generally takes to start relieving symptoms.

Cheers. :)
 
My best mate was scripted Olanzapine due to psychotic symptoms years ago.
It has helped him massively, but he does still have moments. But they're more likely to be of a Depressive / Panic nature.
They should begin to work within 3-4 weeks to their full capacity.
Anyhoo, I've only ever taken one Anti-Psychotic and for the wrong reasons (silly GP) so I'm likely not best to say.

I can move this to a different sub-forum of BL to get you more reports from more members with experience?
It would likely be better placed in OD or TDS.
 
No worries mate <3 Good luck with it regardless.

EADD >>> OD (But please send it to TDS if it's more relevant- Which ever you think is most suited).
 
it starts to work in 3 to 4 days and will reach peak effectiveness in 2 to 4 weeks it's best to take at night because it is a powerful sedative and will more than likely make you gain a fair amount of weight and it can cause you to become diabetic
 
I am scripted Olanzapine 10mg, and have been on it for over a year. It's worked very well at eliminating psychosis and paranoid thoughts, though the latter to a lesser degree. It has also caused me to gain 50+ pounds, but that was weight I needed to gain anyway as I was your typical malnourished speedfreak. I take it at night, and I've become somewhat dependent on it for sleep. I can get to sleep without it but it takes a long time.

If you have more specific questions, don't be afraid to ask.
 
^^ Have you found any problems with involuntary twitches and spasms? Probably not at a low dose like that, but i'm always curious.
 
I do have some problems with strange muscle spasms and twitches, especially just after taking it and laying down for the night. The muscles never stay seized, but individual muscles all over my body will twitch now and then. It isn't really bothersome, and they aren't as bad as the spasms I would get on amphetamines.

I'm also curious, what was meant by 'TD'?
 
TD = tardive dyskinesia


I was prescribed 20mg Zyprexa for my schizo symptoms. It helped with all of them, but I gained so much weight from it.
 
Same here. It seemed to go to work relatively quickly, but I gained so much weight I had to get off it. Been fine since then, tho, and the weight came off fairly quickly. Overall, I'd say it's an adequate med.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I've just been put on 5mg at the moment until I get a second appointment with a practioner and then a consultant after that. I was only expecting to be seeing the consultant next. I've no idea why I'm going to see the practioner again - hopefully just a few missed questions and nothing bad :?

I am scripted Olanzapine 10mg, and have been on it for over a year. It's worked very well at eliminating psychosis and paranoid thoughts, though the latter to a lesser degree. It has also caused me to gain 50+ pounds, but that was weight I needed to gain anyway

I'm glad you've had some success with it... similarly, I could do with a few pounds, always been slim! ;) Hopefully watching my diet whilst eating will help put it on in the right places but I'm not sure if the mechanism of gaining weight is over-eating more or just general changes to metabolism.

^^ Have you found any problems with involuntary twitches and spasms? Probably not at a low dose like that, but i'm always curious.

Interested to see some people mentioning this. Hoping not to have anything like that to worry about if the dosage stays low and I'm not on them too long - although they've yet to officially tell me it's drug induced-psychosis rather than anything more sinister. I've already had a few twinges appearing after 2 days, but nothing major... probably coincidence.



Has anyone else had problems with memory, and finding words or stopping speaking mid-sentence? These have been bothering me to varying degrees and other than the voices are the things I'm most concerned about - hoping they aren't permanent. I had read that Olanzapine was quite good at treating negative symptoms, which I guess these might come under?
 
I was prescribed Zyprexa 20 mg for anorexia, insomnia, bipolar, and schizo. I gained weight from it so I became bulimic and caused mini-strokes in my eyes from hardcore vomiting and eyes were entirely bloodshot. It did nothing for my insomnia. It helped with my bipolar but I was also on Pristiq and Depakote. It sort of helped with my schizo.
 
I'm glad you've had some success with it... similarly, I could do with a few pounds, always been slim! ;) Hopefully watching my diet whilst eating will help put it on in the right places but I'm not sure if the mechanism of gaining weight is over-eating more or just general changes to metabolism.

The medication definitely increased my appetite a lot during the first couple weeks; I had a hard time controlling my eating even if I was already stuffed. I would keep eating even if I was painfully full. This was part of the reason for my weight gain, but after a while it tapered off, and due to the metabolic changes I continued to put on weight. I now eat around one meal a day and my weight has remained stable. Of course, smoking cannabis didn't help but it was more intense than having the munchies, which is surprising, I know.
 
I tried exercising/working out at the gym to deal with the weight gain but the most I lost after 1 month was 1 kilo lol. When I stopped it I lost 9 pounds.

If you need symptom relief sooner, Zyprexa is the way to go. But u must consider the risks/benefits.
 
The medication definitely increased my appetite a lot during the first couple weeks; I had a hard time controlling my eating even if I was already stuffed. I would keep eating even if I was painfully full ... Of course, smoking cannabis didn't help

Ah the munchies! Been a while for me. They certainly wouldn't help ;)

I've already found myself eating that little bit extra but it's nothing over the top. I guess since my dose is lower for now, it's probably not going to be as bad though.

But u must consider the risks/benefits.

I'm almost at my wits end after 8 months. Even if the symptoms I have aren't as bad, they are just always there . They are impacting on my day-to-day life. So really for me - the benefits out weigh the cons. At least in the short to medium term.
 
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