Just starting Zyprexa...

[Ramona]

Has anyone else been on Zyprexa? I'm only first starting it now, but I hear that it can have some unpleasant side effects like massive weight gain (I'm told to expect to gain 50 pounds) and sedation. I'm also told that it's one of the stronger mood stabilizers out there and it should be helping the horrible cycles to break a little bit.

Anyone have any experiences with it - good, bad, or otherwise - which you're willing to share?

 

[tallyn75]

First of all, just a reminder that everyone reacts differently to the meds. Just because one person gained 50 doesn't mean the next person will. And many side effect go away after a time, others can be handled so be sure to mention them to your doctor.

As for myself, I didn't have any side effects to Zyprexa. But neither did it work for me.

*raises glass of Cola*
Here's to this medicine working for you with null to minimal side effects.

 

[Alaskamomma]

Hey World,

I was on zyprexa for over a year on a "as needed basis" for my hypomania/manias. It worked well for me. I really liked it, but this last episode I had which was a mixed episode I was taking it every day and I could tell it really did work nicely for me. However, I told my doctor I was worried about weight gain (have laready gained 35 lbs on lithium). She agreed and she switched me to seroquel.

So, good luck with it. Just remember you don't always have to eat when you are hungry and if you do feel you have to eat... eat raw veggies.

 

[berry2000]

A good one for the mania's. Didn't help me much. I've heard about the weight gain thing, didn't happen to me either. I have weird reactions to drugs though.

Good luck!

 

[cyberlizard]

please remember - medication does not cause weight gain...

hardly any medications cause weight gain

medication can cause changes in appetite.



the drug compnay eli-lilly who produce zyprexa (olanzapine) will provide you with a workbook and resources if you ask them for it, just give them a ring. The book looks at everything from med's to illness to diet and exercise. And even if you are not on zyprexa (olanzapine) its a good workbook.


Steve

 

[berry2000]

Um, I don't know about that. Certain drugs stimulate the appetite so much that it's practically impossible not to gain weight. When 60-80% of the people on the drug gain weight I think its safe to say one of the side effects is weight gain.

 

[DoubtingThomas29]

I lost forty pounds while on Zyprexa, and the week after they took me off of it I gained four pounds.

They took me off because they thought it would help me lose weight.

I tell no lie.

I ate all the time, but I knew I could just run off the calories, and plus some extra 120,000 calories, which is 1000 cans of coke and forty pounds, based on three thousand calories per pound.

I ate so much I went in debt to keep eating, but I did go from 300 to 260 in like a year, and I ran a lot. I can not diet, I love to eat, it keeps me happy.

I eat Salmon, Steaks, Ribeye Porter house, I'll buy a whole eleven pound turkey and have my mom cook it so good. I buy tillapi, trout, sometimes on real rare occasions I'll just go to Outback and get a ribeye and a lobster tail. I'll cook egg plant real good, pork chops and chicken breasts. I just love to eat.

My advice is to be a little over weight and happy, try to keep your BMI under thirty to reduce a risk of cancer, which can strike anybody at any time, so if you get fat and you get cancer, why blame it on that if you ever got it? Some people smoke all their lives and never get cancer, I think you can handle being a little over weight. But it feels good to run, your conquering a task that is hard for most humans, because a lot are just not healthy enough to run.

 

[jream]

Weight gain wouldn't be my first concern, as long as you survive through it.

I took it one day and stopped here's what happened. To my suprise it was kicking my butt the first day, I havent had a medication do that before in my life. I was feeling euphoric and really good, and I went to a restaurant and was feeling sleepy and dazed on the car ride, I wanted to go home but they wouldnt turn around. At the restaurant I went to the restroom and i almost fainted when I stood up, when I was going to pee I couldnt and I started getting black spots and fainting, I was stumbling back to the table and bumping people and my mom put her hand on my back and she said it was cold sweats, i was stumbling as if very drunk and shivering.

That was enough to prevent me from taking it ever again, this was about 3 months ago. I don't know if it was an allergic reaction, Ive never been allergic to any medicine, i really dont know.

 

[hyperken]

Maybe you can consult with your doctor about switching Zyprexa (olanzapine) to other less dizzy drug.

I have a hard time on it too but it is one of the best medication to control mood swing. However, the side effects are as great too...