Olanzapine

[Dinnerisburnt]

DD’s psychiatrist wants her to take Olanzapine, having read the side affects and discussed with her and DH we are going to say no. She is 16 so has a say in the decision. Has anyone else has this prescribed?

What for was the olanzapine prescribed for OP?
Does she have a diagnosis that warrants psychotic medication.
I understand your concerns.
My DD has also been prescribed psychotic medication by camhs this week and I am really worried.
We may end up starting her on it but somehow I find the step from anti depressants to psychotic medication very hard to accept.
In my DDs case it is for emotional regulation.
Hope you find answers.

Xx

Olanzapine is used widely in eating disorder patients to help them with the HUGE and terrifying anxiety and fear they have over eating and food
I have extensive experience with my dsd who I have been main carer and support for over last five yrs with severe anorexia. I'm also a doctor.
Olanzapine is a game changer for many...unless you really understand just how hard it is for these young people then please don't say no to medication.
Olanzapine has the added , in these cases, beneficial side effects of making you put on weight, though in an anorexia it is only slight.
Olanzapine is not an anti psychotic, it's a benzodiazapine which are effectively anti anxiety meds
Also in the end it isn't your decision...it will be down to the doctor and your daughter, unless she is an in patient under the mental health act, in which case she won't get much say.
The illness thrives on discord and so my advice is if her consultant is suggesting it, then agree...

Thank you, DD has decided not to take it. She has read the leaflet and is guided by her social media followers who are all telling her not to take it.

We are 10 days since it was suggested and I do think it would help her.

Ultimately it is her decision, not mine. I have seen a massive shift in the last week since she has gained a little weight…..the ED is massive in her head. She isn’t sectioned (yet) and being treated as a day patient currently. Diagnosed with AN in November 2023. WFH is 69%. 😞

My daughter was prescribed olanzapine at 16/17 yrs for Anorexia nervosa, which she took for around a year. The only side affects she really experienced was extreme tiredness. She didn't seem to think it helped her mental anguish and she is still suffering.

been a game changer for us as it treated the underlying anxiety with food intake. I would be very concerned that social media is guiding her not to take it.

we have been on it for a year and no side effects apart from the initial tiredness (but that wore off). Olanzapine enabled my DD to eat. 69%wfh is very low.

At 69% WFH I would be wondering if your daughter has the cognitive ability to make a fully informed choice. The effect of starvation on the brain is powerful.
It might help to read about the Minnesota starvation experiment (if you aren’t familiar with it) - this demonstrates how starvation doesn’t just alter a persons physical health. Olanzapine isn’t a magical cure-all but it can make a significant, positive difference to the AN recovery process for many.

My DD was prescribed this when she was 15, I read leaflet too and was really worried about it. However she took a very small dose ( partly because weight was so very low) and also fluoxetine. It really helped her turn a corner and start to accept she was ill and made treatment that little bit easier. She was only on it for a short time, stayed on fluoxetine for longer.
They dont recommend these medications lightly so my advice would be to try it.

I worked in mental health and all pharmacists/consultants would tell you that olanzapine would be the drug of choice for them or their family (in a hypothetical situation) as it is the best and most reliable across the board. I would strongly consider trying it at least, it truly is very helpful.