I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and I am going off the drug clozapine. I’ve just couldn’t take the side effects anymore. So to replace that drug I am now am on Zyprexa (or at will be night’s end). I worry about weight gain since I have seen that people have gained a lot of weight. I also worry about the less severe side effects.
Ayone who has or are taking this drug have any ideas on how to prevent weight gain or manage symptoms if they should arise?
There are other drugs you can take for your condition. Zyprexa is known for explosive weight gain. Like 100 pounds in a year… I suspect your doctor put you on zyprexa for a reason, you should ask why. And maybe when would be an appropriate time to look into changing to a medication that’s not as bad with the side effects. Zyprexa is also linked highly to diabetes.
I’m sza and started on risperdone. After 5 years of that drug I had to switch and now I take Geodon.
I put on 50 pounds on risperdone in three and a half years. You could say I developed unhealthy relationships with food. I then redeemed myself by losing 75 pounds on the same drug over the course of a year and a half with a reasonable diet and plenty of exercise.
Conquering my unhealthy relationships with food was harder than quitting smoking.
I guess my point is even if you gain weight it can be lost, so don’t get discouraged.
Good luck
I gained 50 pounds in one year on zyprexa, I started out underweight but it was still a lot.
I have taken zyprexa for more than 15 years. To not gain weight I do aeorobic exercise at least 5 days a week. There are worse things than having to exercise. Joining Weight Watchers helps even if your goal is just to stay the same weight.
I take 80mg zyprexa and I have no appetite
I take 10mgs. It’s the drug of choice for me.
I gained all my weight on risperdal. I have actually lost weight on zyprexa but it’s still a work in progress. You need to be proactive in calories in and exercise but that isn’t too much a drama for me. We are all different but I eat what i like and just operate on portion control and doing heaps of exercise.
I’ve been on the same dose for over a decade and it works great! All’s I can say is give it a go! It wasn’t as severe as risperdal or abilify for me!
I was on Zyprexa many years ago and it didn’t work. It made me sleep too much and I gained weight. I was hungry all the time.
I am on Lamotrigin (lamictal) for over 2 years it made me loose weight for over 60 pounds. Even though I feel it doesn’t help me much with my mood much but it help me loose weight. Beside that I take Gabapentin, Lorazepam as needed and others medications (which My pdoc and I still find the right medication for me for the treatment of my depression because many medications that I has been taking is cause me side effects.)