Anyone got anything good to say about olanzapine?

[Stuffragette]

I was on quetiapine and tried to come off it, mainly because I hated the side effects and the way it made me so dopey. But all my old symptoms came back and it is clear I need something in place. My psychiatrist wants me to try olanzapine but I've only ever heard bad things. I don't know whether I am switching bad for bad. Would love to hear anyone's experiences.

I've never tried it but I take an AD that people never seem to have had a good experience of and get on fine with it. People are quick to complain but don't seem to share positive experiences. It doesn't mean they never happen. You can always switch if you hate it.

Is that Venlafaxine by any chance? That med worked wonders for me.

I take 10 at night and 2.5 in the morning, tried loads but olanzapine and peroxat 20 3 times a day are my sweet spot. I rarely tic at all with them.

Olanzapine works well. The drawback for me was the weight gain and increased prolactin. I am now on different antipsychotic but do take 2.5mg daily if I start to feel unwell.

Olanzapine is the only medication that helps a relative of mine. They have experienced some weight gain and tiredness.

So I managed to gain three stone on Quetiapine and I'm worried olanzapine will have the same effect. It sucks. You are either very unwell and slimmer and or well and heavier. I know I shouldn't care about the weight gain but I really struggle with the change in myself. I've tried diets and exercise and nothing shifts the weight.

I gained with 3/4 of the AD,AP I have tried.
I think if you are a weight gainer and that side effect is available your body just gains.
I've got an illness now that's caused weight loss but before that the only thing that worked for me was a Wii fit because I could do steps, count and read so I forced myself to do that each day.

No not Venlafaxine. Its Amitriptyline. I don't think I've ever heard a good word about it but it's done wonders for me.

DB has been on olanzapine for ten years. He did not have same weight gain issues as other meds. He takes it at night, it helps him sleep. He does complain of dopeyness. He is on a high-ish dose I think. He did complain of feeling depressed then started taking an anti depressant along side it, and has been a lot better since then mood wise.

I have recently started taking olanzapine, I also take duloxetine in the morning. Was previously on quetiapine with duloxetine and was not a good combination at all, was very suicidal and in a dark place. Since I've been on the olanzapine, about 3 weeks now, dare I say I feel a lot better, like the fog has lifted. My god I'm so hungry though, and feel very bloated but I'll take that any day over the way I was feeling.

Numbinside13 That's exactly what I am on. I took my first whole olanzapine last night. I am not expecting much from it.

Stuffragette I really hope this works for you. Everyone responds differently to meds and I for one have extremely treatment resistant depression ( my psychiatrist even talking about ECT ) but for now, fingers crossed I haven't had any suicidal thoughts since being on it. Good luck x

You can ask for a referral from your GP to the weight management team OP. Having things like prechopped carrots in your fridge means you can fill up if you get the munchies but without putting on weight. Better to be mentally well and then focus on healthy eating rather than mentally unwell and ending up not here! I know what you mean re med related weight gain. I have just ask to be referred to weight management. If I had to choose......I would rather I kept my fat tummy and didn't want to die.

If You are on a lowish level of olanzapine, the fatigue can wear off the more used to it your body gets. Normally takes a couple of weeks.

@Numbinside13 - I have worked in mental health and just wanted you to know that I have seen ECT do one of two things: either make no difference, so nowt to lose except half a day of your time OR give people their life back.

I have been in the room whilst patients had ECT. If you have any questions at all, just ask me. Mostly, please don't be scared. It is totally different than most people imagine it.

@Numbinside13 I am also one step away from ect. I have tried so many things I feel a bit like bring it on. And then I am also terrified of it. Would love to hear how you get on.

@KindnessIsUnderrated, the thing with my weight gain is I eat less than 1500 calories a day. I track what I eat on that app. I eat fruit instead of biscuits, no carbs, and all that jazz. That's why I am so fed up. I almost just want to eat chocolate all day as nothing seems to make a difference.

@Stuffragette Yeah, some meds just do cause weight gain. It sucks. There seems to be a choice with meds between weight gain, tiredness and no libido. It's unfair completely.

As I said to numbinside13, if you do have ECT, please don't be terrified. It pisses me off how it is portrayed in films as someone practically being plugged into the mains. Grrrrr. It looks nothing like that. It basically just does the equivalent of a computer reboot on your brain. When it works, it is ace! Life changing.

Hello I am thinking about ECT. I know this is a very late reply. I was really depressed and the psychiatrist suggested it a couple of months ago. I tale 10mg Olanzapine and 30mg Paroxetine. I still suffer with depression....how much Olanzapine are people on? Some nights I still take a while to settle down and relax x

Was on 20mg olanzapine for ten years in that ten years I had stability and over ten years gained 3 stone. But I wish I was still on it I'm on Haloperidol now and side effects a lot less pleasant and i struggle to sleep. Good luck.

Hello fellow Olanzapinee : ) Olanzapine is briliant, my insomnia has gone at 10mg x

I loved my olanzapine wish so much I could have stayed on it, never been so stable in my life once I lose weight thinking of asking to go back on it.