[SMart10]

Hi all. So I am one of the unfortunate people that reacts really well to Zyprexa. It controls my mania and OCD psychosis without parallel.

When I first started taking it, I was 180lbs. I bumped up to 200 in about a month and hovered around there for 4 years despite my god awful soda intake (man does it make me CRAVE sugar). I suppose I'm fortunate. I've heard of people gaining weight in the hundreds.

As far as I know it has had a minimal effect on my metabolism. Blood sugar is normal, insulin is normal. I have both checked periodically.

When I was 19 I had a rockin' body. 155 lbs with pecs and washboard abs. I suppose that's the ultimate goal, but for now, I just want to reach a point where I don't look so bloated.

I have just started a very strict low carb diet coupled with a very intense interval training program. I have not done it long enough to see any results. So my question is, am I wasting my time? Has anyone had any success losing weight on Zyprexa? If so, how did you do it? Ideally I would like to stay on it. It seems to agree with me, and my experience with other APs has been nightmarish.

I've read tons of info on just why Zyprexa is so nasty as far as weight gain goes. What I want to hear are personal experiences of those who have tried to fight this mighty dragon. If I have to switch meds, I will. Really not into looking like Randy from Trailer Park Boys the rest of my life.

It's hard enough for anyone to lose weight, but Zyprexa is a fat pill. You are not unfortunate in that you react really well to Zyprexa; many would consider you lucky. You may just have to choose between your mental health and your vanity.

[CobolCapsule]

As long as your getting good blood work, and do what you can to stay in decent shape, i would not worry about it too much.

[TicTacGo]

Just so you understand. Zyprexa is not a "fat pill". It does not have that effect on all people. Though, when it does have that effect, it may be quite significant.

I wouldn't say it is impossible to lose weight on it, but at the same time, why use a drug that in turn makes you gain weight and maybe feel a bit less good about yourself?

It is purely up to you what you wish to do. It shows a lot of dedication and willpower to try and beat it. I would definitely say that diet and exercise is important then, but if it is so much so that you need to eat totally differently than you used to, rather consider dropping that med and trying another.

[still_crazy]

some doctors prescribe metformin with zyprexa and other weight gaining drugs to help with the weight gain and metabolic stuff. I seem to recall reading a couple abstracts of small studies in which investigators used very high dose, potent antioxidants--alpha lipoic acid, green tea extract--with the zyprexa to help with weight and metabolic issues, with good results.

Some other data I've read over showed that modifying diet helps, but a former shrink told me she doesn't like to prescribe zyprexa at all because she had a couple patients develop abnormalities in their blood work (I'm guessing blood sugars and/or cholesterol) without any major weight changes. Kinda scary, especially if one could get sued as a result.