Have you taken appetite suppressants?

[Stardust2022]

I’m on Olánzapine (Zyprexa) for about 1.5 months and it dramatically increased my appetite and caused a significant weight gain. Have you tried taking any appetite suppressants and if so what has been the result? I’ve heard they can cause memory loss. Have you experienced that? Have you had luck controlling appetite and subsequently weight gain with any other methods? Thank you!

[b1b1b1]

I took olanzapine fro several months and did not have any weight problems, but I do know that other people have had them. I would personally be hesitant to add a weight suppressing medicine to the mix. I think you might want to talk to your doctor and get his advice on what you should takes well as exercise and diet.

[Stardust2022 in reply to b1b1b1]

A dr suggested it as a possibility if lowering the dose wouldn’t help, which it didn’t. You are lucky you didn’t gain weight on this medication. My appetite while on it is just unnatural to me. I want to eat everything that is in my house or office. Plus it gives me awful flatulence, sadly. But it made me feel so much less anxiety… felt better than in years. Ugh… I thought I found the right medicine and disappointment again.

[b1b1b1 in reply to Stardust2022]

If it is making you feel less anxiety that is very important. I guess I would try to stick with as low a dose as possible and see if you can up your exercise and eat a tiny bit less. To me anything that relieves anxiety is a miracle and Olánzapine does do that. x

[Hidden]

There was a time I thought about doing that too. Like taking Dexatrim or using water pills, diuretics. I talked about this with my medical doctor I had, and she told me don't do it. She said it really isn't healthy to do that and it can affect you mentally. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor and get on something different than Zyprexa to help you. Something that doesn't have weight gain as a major side effect. And hey, if you can afford it, try going to Weight Watchers. Years ago I lost 50 pounds that way. It wasn't easy but I'm proud I did it.

[Stardust2022 in reply to Hidden]

This reminds me a bit of Lexapro that I was on for years. It made me gain lots of weight and I tried all types of diets. They would help but only temporarily. I finally went off of it and my weight got back to normal. Now this medication, Olánzapine, has made me feel better than I have felt in years. But I eat everything, I mean everything that I can see. It’s ridiculous. Again another disappointment.

[Hidden in reply to Stardust2022]

I hear you. I have to take some psyche meds myself. They always try to tell you the benefits outweigh the side effects, but if it really bothers you, speak up. It's important to try to be at a healthy weight too, you don't want to get Type 2 diabetes either.

[Blueruth in reply to Stardust2022]

I wonder if you could look at what you are eating and address it that way. Like is it sugar or fats you are craving? Knowing that you could take the log to your doctor and maybe they could offer an option. I would consider it an unacceptable side affect.

[Stardust2022 in reply to Blueruth]

It’s pretty much everything. But mostly probably carbs and sugars.

[Blueruth in reply to Stardust2022]

Well carbs and sugars makes you crave other things. If I reduce my med I am a sugar head. It is scary. One way to reduce those cravings is with veggies. You can eat a ton of those. The other is to tell the doctor that and maybe they have a solution.

[b1b1b1 in reply to Stardust2022]

It is just wonderful to hear you say you feel better than you have felt in years.!!!

[Stardust2022 in reply to b1b1b1]

Yea but also at the same time so frustrating because I don’t think I can be ok and live with these side effects 🤦‍♀️😣

[mathematics]

Yes I tried them due to the different meds I was on that had caused me to put on weight, they did not work. I found swimming helped me keep my weight down in the end. However due to Covid 19 it has crept back up as cannot go swimming. Fortunately I got off one lot of meds a hormone for the cancer I had, which caused water retention. I have a new years resolution to try and lose weight but I will be sticking to a healthier diet and not try the meds to reduce my appetite. I have no choice but to stick to my antipsychotic tablets and mood stabilizers that I am on to keep me stable.