Zyprexa/Olanzapine weight gain getting me down

Hi everyone,

I'm sure there are endless threads out there about weight gain and antipsychotics, as it's such a common problem, but, as in the title, it's something which I'm finding extremely upsetting- and I've just been triggered by having to go up a size, yet again, in clothes for my lower body, which is where I've put on most of the weight (I'm female, by the way).

Before beginning on antipsychotics long-term in September 2012- first Seroquel and then Zyprexa, too- I was a very slim UK ladies' size 6 to 8 (a US size 2 to 4, I believe), but gradually over the years, I've packed on about 3 stones (around 19kg). I honestly don't know my exact weight right now, as I've stopped weighing myself, as it was making me too distressed, but yesterday, when shopping for new, bigger clothes, a UK size 12 or 14 fit me (US size 8 to 10).

I know it's the APs causing the weight gain, as when I came off Seroquel, and just on to my mood stabiliser, Tegretol, for six months in 2014, I soon dropped almost all the weight and was back to a UK size 8 (US 4). Unfortunately, once my dad died suddenly, the stress of that sent me into a mixed episode and back on the APs.

A bit of back story... I've been on Zyprexa this time around since about March 2016, when the Seroquel I was taking just wasn't touching the severe mixed episode/psychosis I went in to. As soon as we added in Zyprexa, though, I began to improve, and historically this has been a very effective medication for my mania and mixed episodes. At one point, I was on both Seroquel and Zyprexa, and my highest dosages were 800mg Seroquel and 20mg Zyprexa (pretty much maxed out).

Over the last year or so, I've been working on reducing the Zyprexa dosage, under a pdoc's supervision, and have gone very slowly from 20mg to 5mg. I also gradually reduced and came off the Seroquel by October 2017.

Back to the topic... I eat fairly healthily (calorie controlled, with vegetables at every meal) and try not to snack between meals during the day, though I admit, I tend to snack during the night as I get so hungry once I've taken my Zyprexa, but try to keep it calorie controlled at 100-200 calories. I also exercise for about 30 minutes 5 to 7 times a week, doing a mixture of hiit, weight training, yoga etc.

I think the most frustrating part of this is working so hard at keeping my weight down, yet finding it creeping up regardless. It's so demoralising and although I've come a long way in terms of reducing the Zyprexa dosage, my negative thinking keeps telling me I'll never get off it and will continue to get bigger and bigger indefinitely. I know there are more important things in life than weight, such as mental wellbeing, but I just don't recognise myself anymore and feel so uncomfortable in my own skin.


Thanks to anyone who's read this long and rambling rant! If anyone can relate or has any advice, I'd love to hear it- thanks in advance.

No one likes taking more meds, but is there any chance you could get something prescribed to counter the weight gain of Zyprexa? Otherwise it sounds like you're doing all the right things..

In my experience, taking wellbutrin has been a help in keeping my weight down.

There are a bunch of OTC things you could buy too, like caffeine pills.

Have you gone down this route? Would you want to?

Thanks so much for the swift reply, Knox. Very much appreciated. I'd be open to taking more meds to counteract the weight gain from Zyprexa, as long as they didn't jeopardise my mood stability. For example, antidepressants have sent me high in the past, and caffeine tends to exacerbate my GAD, so I've cut it out. It's maybe something to ask the pdoc about when I see them the day after tomorrow, though. Thanks for the idea! Hope you're doing well.

Hello Ennui. Firstly- I am so sorry about your dad.

About the weight gain- I know all too well the struggle. And I'm still dealing with it. I'm quite a tall lady, so 145 lbs is very slim on me, and that was my starting weight. After Zyprexa, Invega, and Latuda, I ballooned up to 210 lbs From a US size 9/10 - 17. My moods "evened out" but the weight was causing much depression and disgust with myself and it was not a good trade-off for me. I quit antipsychotics altogether in August last year and have since lost about 22 lbs and a size 13 is a little on the loose side.

Like you, I was doing everything right. I was dieting/calorie restricting and exercising at the gym for over a year, and my PCP even put me on Phentermine in early 2017, and I just kept gaining and gaining. It is very discouraging.

Zyprexa started it (I gained 20 lbs in 2 months), Invega screwed up my body altogether (raising hormones and another 10 lbs gained), and Latuda put on the other 35 lbs. I just said ENOUGH! I mean, yeah, I guess you could say vanity is a part of it, but the weight was making my back worse (I have degenerative disc disease) and walking was quite the struggle.

I am by no means advising anyone to stop their meds! My meds were lowered by my former NP as per my request!

I don't have any advice, as you are already doing everything right. But I do relate.

Hi Jellybeanery,

Thank you so much for the kind words about my dad- it was a massive shock to the system, losing him, and in some ways I haven't recovered yet.

I'm so sorry you can relate to the same difficulties of weight gain from antipsychotics. It's so frustrating and demoralising, like you said, and the distress it causes can often counteract the positive side of being on the particular med in the first place. I'm very happy for you that you've managed to stop the antipsychotics safely and have now lost a considerable amount of weight. I hope things continue in a similar vein for you.

As I mentioned, I'm in the process of attempting to reduce my Zyprexa- at one point I was on 20mg and I'm now trying to go to 5mg. It's been a bumpy ride though, as every time I make a reduction, I have a 'blip' of extreme anxiety and insomnia, which usually evens out as the weeks go on. Last night, I just couldn't sleep at all, though, so had to take extra Zyprexa. (I'm not recommending tampering with meds dosages, but I was desperate and the last pdoc I spoke to said it's ok to raise the dosage to combat the insomnia, as not sleeping can lead to mania).

Thanks again for your input, Jellybeanery- it's helped knowing people can relate to this struggle. Hugs, if wanted.

I can relate. Gained 50lbs on clozapine, lost ten switching to risperdal. It's like they take the people with the hottest bods and put them on the meds that add the most weight!!!

My only advice is to keep thinking of the good things the meds have done for you. Would you rather be a size 12 and healthy/stable or a size 8 and psychotic?

@voracious - That was the problem with me; I was not healthy/stable with the weight gain because the weight was causing depression. Unless someone doesn't mind being obese, then good for them. But for most, gaining that much weight is not only hard on people emotionally, but it can cause physical health problems as well (diabetes for example).

@Ennui - You're welcome. I lost my best friend of 18 years quite a few years back to very sudden and unexpected circumstances, so I know how it feels to lose someone close to you. It does take a while to come to terms with it. About your Zyprexa reduction- are you planning on coming off of it altogether? And I will take the hugs, thank you :3 And returning a hug as well, if wanted.

That's the thing, IF. If the meds are helping, but obviously if you feel worse taking them than not, dont take them. I stopped all my meds recently because my doctor only gave them to me to make me feel worse and be unfunctioning. I want to recommend that to everybody because I'm sure I'm not the only one whose doctor is a narcissistic sociopath who wants to hurt those already hurting even more, but I'm getting a little off topic and should probably move to the antipsych forum at this point.

Hopefully, Ennui, you'll be able to come off the Zyprexa with no problem and lose the weight with no problem. Good luck to you.

I've never seen an overweight distance runner if that's something you might be interested in. (Stationary) bike or swimming is just as good too. I'd shoot for an hour a day working your mileage up each week. Also great for mental health in many ways.
I know it sounds like a fad diet, but very low carb/keto/Atkins works for some people if you can stick to it.

Hugs to you Ennui, about your dad. (((hug)))

I got put on antidepressants for years and all they ever did was make me put on weight and I did eventually get diabetes because of the weight gain and because it's a strong genetic thing that runs in my family. I had gestational diabetes with two of my babies. But once I delivered the babies, it went away. I stayed at a healthy 113 lbs and it wasn't too much more that got me the illness. I could always maintain my weight easily. Even now I don't eat much. I diet in a healthy way, but the weight doesn't come off. I managed to lose 2 lbs. It goes up and down. So now I just concentrate on trying to eat healthier and yes I do eat junk food at times, I have some sweets on a few days, but overall I have to stick to a strict diet of portioned meals that contain protein, an allotted amount of carbs, and fruit and veggies in it. My diet is substituting a protein and vitamin filled shake for one of my meals. Usually it's my dinner meal because that keeps my diabetes under control, but on weekends or when it's a delicious meal, I switch the shake. I'll be honest, it's not an easy life to have to be so restricted with food like this. It sucks, but like with all things, I have just come to adapt to my lifestyle. I do not exercise mostly because I have trouble sleeping and must take a sleep aid that leaves me groggy in the early morning so then my day is gone. I don't work, but I have other things that I do on a daily basis and evenings would be perfect for me to exercise, but I have children that require me to be there for them and take care of them with school work and after school activities. Mom always comes last.

I was a size 6, I'm a size 10 and shirt sizes I wear a 14/16 or XL because of my shape. I can't wear dresses. I have to wear two piece outfit. A skirt and top or shorts or pants and a top. I don't want you to give up. You can do it. I understand the struggle everyday. It's not easy with kids or without kids, with work or without work. We are always fighting something with bipolar, whether it's mood, lack of sleep, too much sleep, energy levels, different things. I totally understand you. Don't give up. Keep up the good fight and continue trying to find your way to lose the weight.