Olanzapine??

Merc · 03-12-2009, 10:00 PM

Just had this added (10mg) and notr sure about t?
Can anyone share how they found it?
I havent really read/looked it up yet...but personal experiences are always good.
(yes, I KNOW its different for everyone)
Thanks

hellohefalump · 04-12-2009, 04:29 PM

I'm on Olanzapine 5mg a day (taken twice a day 2.5mg)

At first I didn't want to take it because I was having a delusion that people were switching my drugs, following me etc. But after about a week of taking it the delusions I was having went away - so it works!

It makes me quite tired and I suspect it is making me a bit 'woozy' - like I'm not quite here. I can't concentrate enough to read more than a few sentances at a time and I'm sleeping more than usual. However, I'm pregnant so I might just be tired anyway... I dunno. I'm very up and down in mood at the moment. Sometimes I'm completely fine and then other times I'm feeling like I can't cope, bad things are going to happen and I get suicidal. I don't know if that's related to the meds though.

whirlpools · 04-12-2009, 04:37 PM

Were you put on 10mg straight off or are you having a staged increase? Just wondering.

My experience of Olanzapine was pretty good really. If I'm in a bad place and am frightened of other medications I will "fall back" on Olanzapine because I feel safe with it.

Some antipsychotics make me really flat but I didn't find this with Olanzapine. It made me really drowsy to begin with but that levelled off after a while, still made me a bit tired but managable. The only other thing is that it did make me hungry all the time :/

But it did also help a lot with symptoms.

I really hope it helps you. xxx

sherlock holmes · 04-12-2009, 05:04 PM

I'm on 5mg. It's making me feel quite tired.

Steel Maiden · 04-12-2009, 05:11 PM

I used to be on 20mg (and once on 25mg) Olanzapine and I didn't get many side-effects except sleeping very deeply, feeling hungry more often and feeling a bit dopey during the day. But it was ok.

I'm on 20mg Haloperidol and 5mg Olanzapine right now and all I can say is that if I don't take my Olanzapine, my sleep is very poor and I wake up 7 times a night. Basically, Olanzapine helps me get a good night's sleep, even if it is 10 hours long! But because I'm on a combination, I don't know which drug is causing which side-effects.

Dancingflame · 04-12-2009, 07:57 PM

I'm on 10mg and found it very sedating but that's about it. I was really worried about going on it because of the weight gain as a side affect, but haven't noticed being any hungrier or gaining any weight.

Hope it works for you

Merc · 04-12-2009, 08:02 PM

Thx everyone!
Yes, Laura, he put me straight to 10mg. Maybe because I was in such a mess at the time? Not sure...
It is making me really really tired. But for the first time in ages, I didn't wake once last night! I'm usually up many times a night.
So that was rather nice.
Still feel not all there, not totally clear.
But, I'm me again, thank god.
thx again.
xx

Cedrus · 04-12-2009, 10:37 PM

I just wanted to add my two cents. The tiredness might go away once your body gets used to it. I'm taking 20mgs at the moment and haven't really experienced any side effects. In fact, I think I've lost a bit of weight, so it really does show that meds effect people differently. When I took 15mgs last year I got really tired, but this time round I think I'm quite lucky. Not so sure if it's working 100% though.

whirlpools · 04-12-2009, 11:25 PM

Romp, I'm really glad you had a good night on it :) the spaceyness should get less after you've been on it a while, and if not, just try taking it earlier in the evening (that helped a lot for me when I had a "hangover effect" the next morning after taking it at 10pm the night before).

xXMessedUpXx · 04-12-2009, 11:56 PM

Only on 5mg, not had any probs yet. Sorry that probably doesn't help but anyway. Only main prob i've heard of is the weight gain (and the olanzipine munchies!)

I.Heart.And · 06-12-2009, 07:05 PM

I really didn't get on well with it, extreme tiredness and numbness plus appetite / weight gain.

sherlock holmes · 06-12-2009, 07:30 PM

I have a feeling its the olanzapine making me sleep thirteen hours a night and waking up still tired. I think I'm going to have to come off it soon.

Merc · 08-12-2009, 01:16 AM

I can relate to that, Sarah. But, I was already sleeping a ridiculous amount (tho disturbed; up every hour) on the seroquel, now its increased to what i think is really high.
I'm only on the olanzapine for a 'trial' period.
Mainly, to get thru this bad patch.
i do NOT want to be on it longterm. That's too many meds., as far as I'm concerned!
Still a little fuzzy-headed, but my body is restless...very confusing feeling tbh.
No appetite increase, thank god.
i could NOT handle that.
thx everyone.
I hope you are able to come off it soon, Sarah, and either be ok without it, or find something that works better for you.
Good luck.
xx

lovelybones · 08-12-2009, 02:47 AM

i took 15mg/daily for a month, gained 20lbs, was very angry/aggressive. made me a zombie as well. but it works for some.

Steel Maiden · 08-12-2009, 12:05 PM

I find Olanzapne gives me better quality sleep too as naturally I have severe insomnia.