Bipolar Disorder & Olanzapine - Mental Health Sup...

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Bipolar Disorder & Olanzapine

Al1974 profile image
3 Replies

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

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Al1974 profile image
Al1974
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3 Replies
Stilltrying_ profile image
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 profile image
MAS_Nurse

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

Honey10 profile image
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

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