Bipolar Disorder & Olanzapine

[Al1974]

Hi - I am new here

I have just been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and my psychiatrist has prescribed 5mg of olanzapine. I am reading everywhere online that weight gain is a massive side effect of this drug and making me very reluctant to start taking it. Does anyone have first hand experience of this? Thanks xxx

[Stilltrying_]

Hi, I took this drug and had no weight gain at all. 5mg is low dose but even when my dose increased to 15mg which is still a low dose, personally I had no weight gain whatsoever. I am now on a different drug quietiapine and again this has reputation of weight gain but I have not gained any weight. We are all different though. Gemma x

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Ali1974, welcome to the forum, other members will be along soon to talk about this medication. Best wishes.

[Honey10]

Good morning, I saw your post it rang true to how I was about four years ago I had massive weight gain on Olanzapine, in total I put on 5 stone, I went from a slim size8 to a 16. My advice would be to change medications, and try exercise which is so hard when your drugged up. Best wishes