What are the side effects of Olanzapine?

Users most often report zombification, emotional blunting, increased appetite, mild sedation, weight gain. Side effects came up 8 times across 12 reports.

User reports can't establish safety. PubMed lists 676 meta-analyses and 1,089 randomized trials. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take other medication.

Olanzapine side effects

Across 12 first-hand reports, people mentioned a side effect 8 times (about 67 per 100 reports). The most common: zombification, emotional blunting, increased appetite. User reports show what people notice — they can't tell you whether Olanzapine is safe for you.

Reported side effects

zombification1

emotional blunting1

increased appetite1

mild sedation1

weight gain1

withdrawal effects1

cognitive impairment1

anhedonia1

In their own words

“Olanzapine takes away the brain fog, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and voices. It's absolutely incredible the improvement in quality of life it gives me.”

HelpedRead the discussion ↗

“since taking olanzapine for 1 month 7 odd years ago (i tapered as soon as the problem arose) i literally cannot feel substances such as coffee, weed, kratom, ritalin”

Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗

“5mg of olanzapine I take also helps, but I'm aware that antipsychotics can impare cognition”

MixedRead the discussion ↗

“I have to take olanzapine 5mg now and that drug is alright, it makes it easy to gain weight if you aren't careful but it seems to agree with my body chemistry and helps me sleep...I'm trying to get off Olanzapine right now and having the worst of worst times.”

MixedRead the discussion ↗

“This stuff is the definition of pharmaceutical zombification... chemical lobotomy as I became pacified, mechanically content, dull, and rather lifeless.”

Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗

“im having a hard time finding benefits from it.”

Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗

Is Olanzapine safe? What the research covers

AResearch: Strong676 meta-analyses · 1,089 randomized trials on PubMed

Lancet Psychiatry · 2023

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological interventions for acute bipolar depression in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: This is, to our knowledge, the largest network meta-analysis of pharmacotherapy for bipolar depression to date. Olanzapine plus fluoxetine, quetiapine, olanzapine, lurasidone, lumateperone, cariprazine, and lamotrigine were found to be more efficacious than placebo in adults with acute bipolar depression, with good confidence in the evidence, and to differ in their side-effect profiles. These findings can inform evidence-based care and the development of treatment guidelines internationally.

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol · 2024

Efficacy, acceptability and side-effects of oral versus long-acting- injectables antipsychotics: Systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: LAIs are efficacious for acute schizophrenia and may have some benefits compared to oral formulations in terms of side effects. These findings assist clinicians with insights to weigh the risks and benefits between oral and injectable agents when treating patients in the acute phase.

Lancet · 2013

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 15 antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: a multiple-treatments meta-analysis