Zyprexa usually works very quickly---with me, it takes only about 24-48 hours to feel better, and that's when I'm really manic; it takes even less time when I'm hypo or mixed.

I've been in a mixed episode for several weeks now and finally called my pdoc yesterday, who put me on Z "until further notice". It's only been 24 hours and the noise in my head is already down several notches, and today I didn't feel irritable, agitated, hypomanic/depressed, anxious, scared, or wanting to crawl out of my skin.

It's entirely possible that the Z helped you, along with taking the other meds you'd missed. And it's not always just for acute mania, although that's usually the reason for starting it. I was once on it for four months, another time for three weeks, and this time......well, who knows.

Are you using it regularly or on an as-needed basis? How long have you been taking it? (FYI, you don't necessarily have to be full-on manic to have it prescribed.)