[SKCher]

So yesterday I finally put my foot down with my PDoc and said that I didn't feel I had Bipolar 1 because I felt the hypo mania was simply me coming out of the winter with SAD and wanted to do so much before the depression returned. I have had the depression and anxiety day in and day out for about 48 weeks a year, been treated with meds for bipolar and of course nothing helped. My PDoc listened to what I had to say, and is taking me off all the meds I was on for the bipolar and has started me on effexor and olanzipine.

Has anyone had experience with these meds, and what side affects have you noticed?

[Rincad]

I have never been on Effexor, but I've been olanzpine. I gained a lot of weight and had it go off due to my blood sugar was really high. I have a family history of diabetes and high blood sugar and pressure. I was on it due to psychosis and not bipolar. It didn't really help me, but it might help you.

[952p65823]

I am on Effexor XR 300 mg and olanzapine 15 mg (+ lamotrigine and provigil). The Dr. has me on 2000 mg Metformin as well to try to offset the weight gain from olanzapine.

Before the metformin, I gained 40 lbs. (164 to 205!). Now I am losing weight (with diet and exercise) at about 1 lb/week, so I guess the metformin is doing its job. I also have a fasting blood sugar in the 80s with metformin, so the olanzapine hasn't made me diabetic.

The other side effect (but it's hard to say which drug caused it) is a total loss of my sex drive, but I don't have a partner now, so this is actually a bonus ; ) I can still have an orgasm, unlike with many SSRIs, I'm just not interested.

BUT the olanzapine works so well that the weight gain is worth it. Ask your doctor for some metformin, that's my suggestion. Good luck!

[SKCher]

Originally Posted by 952p65823

I am on Effexor XR 300 mg and olanzapine 15 mg (+ lamotrigine and provigil). The Dr. has me on 2000 mg Metformin as well to try to offset the weight gain from olanzapine.

Before the metformin, I gained 40 lbs. (164 to 205!). Now I am losing weight (with diet and exercise) at about 1 lb/week, so I guess the metformin is doing its job. I also have a fasting blood sugar in the 80s with metformin, so the olanzapine hasn't made me diabetic.

The other side effect (but it's hard to say which drug caused it) is a total loss of my sex drive, but I don't have a partner now, so this is actually a bonus ; ) I can still have an orgasm, unlike with many SSRIs, I'm just not interested.

BUT the olanzapine works so well that the weight gain is worth it. Ask your doctor for some metformin, that's my suggestion. Good luck!

Thank you for the helpful info. I have noticed one thing on the SSRI I was on before totally got rid of sex drive, but I too don't have a partner so it's all good. I will watch the weight gain since I had that problem on Siriquil which I was taken off of a year ago