Zyprexa or Zyprexa Zydis

[Unsure]

What's the difference between Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydis?

I have read on the internet that with the Zydis (melt in the mouth) that you dont get the weight gain as it dissolves in the mouth as opposed to the stomach.(There was a study in Canada).

I also read that you can take another drug to counteract the weight gain as well.

Does olanzapine affect everybody like it has you guys?

[sherryd]

Unsure wrote:

What's the difference between Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydis?
I have read on the internet that with the Zydis (melt in the mouth) that you dont get the weight gain as it dissolves in the mouth as opposed to the stomach.(There was a study in Canada).
I also read that you can take another drug to counteract the weight gain as well.
Does olanzapine affect everybody like it has you guys?

I was put on zyprexa zydis (melt in your mouth) for about 4 months, then on the tablet for the rest of my time on zyprexa. Both forms increased my appetite. You have to battle that appetite increase all while you are on it.(either form). Don't know how many people have been affected by side effects altogether.

[BobR]

Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydis have the same active ingredient and cause the same side effects. There may be a small difference in appetite, but the metabolic risks of Zydis are still extreme. There is a thorough study comparing Zyprexa with 2 similar medications in the July 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry that clearly illustrates the side effect profile of Zyprexa. Some of the highlights are in my other posts.

[Unsure]

Sherryd - why did you change from Zydis to the regular tablet? and how did you manage the weight gain/increased appetite.

The Dr said to diet and exercise more

Bob -Why did they introduce Zydis if it is the same?

A Canadian study that I saw said that the weight gain was mostly negated by the zydis as it was not dissolved in the stomach.

I have a glucose fasting level of 5.8mmol/L - what are other peoples who have had problems and what have they increased to as a 7.1 is type 2 diabetes levels.

Bob - could you post the article you discussed.

I am 6ft2 and weigh about 205lbs (male!)- aged 40 and caucasian...what are the likely weight gains given an active lifestyle?

Any other information about the side effects would be great.

I have seen some people make irrational statements and say that EVERYONE will gain 100lbs and get diabetes, have gout and then die, I am sure that many people have had an awful time and I feel for them, however I am wondering what the liklehood is that any of the side effects will occur.

[sherryd]

Unsure wrote:

Sherryd - why did you change from Zydis to the regular tablet? and how did you manage the weight gain/increased appetite.
The Dr said to diet and exercise more
Bob -Why did they introduce Zydis if it is the same?
A Canadian study that I saw said that the weight gain was mostly negated by the zydis as it was not dissolved in the stomach.
I have a glucose fasting level of 5.8mmol/L - what are other peoples who have had problems and what have they increased to as a 7.1 is type 2 diabetes levels.
Bob - could you post the article you discussed.
I am 6ft2 and weigh about 205lbs (male!)- aged 40 and caucasian...what are the likely weight gains given an active lifestyle?
Any other information about the side effects would be great.
I have seen some people make irrational statements and say that EVERYONE will gain 100lbs and get diabetes, have gout and then die, I am sure that many people have had an awful time and I feel for them, however I am wondering what the liklehood is that any of the side effects will occur.

I changed from zydis to the pill because I didn't like the taste of the dissolvable tablet. My doctor said O.K.
I gained a total of 6 lbs on zyprexa. I excercised and watched what I ate very closely. But be prepared for a real increase in appetite. It is very hard to combat. Diet and excercise helps a lot and watching what you eat. My blood glucose has been running .6 approve normal for about 2 years now. Was higher than that when I was diagnosed. Watch my diet very closely.

[Unsure]

So Sherryd, it sounds like a 6 pound weight gain and no diabetes related side effects is OK given that the drug worked for your original condition/need?

I assume that there is a difference in the zyprexa and the zydis or why would they make 2 sets of the drug.....I know that some will say to make more MONEY, but there must be a reason for this apart from financial.

Did you suffer any other symptons? and how long have you been on the drug.

Thx

[sherryd]

I am no longer on zyprexa. I now take abilify. I was on zyprexa for 15 months. I was diagnosed a diabetic 5 months into taking zyprexa. I took the zydis for about 4 months and the tablet the rest of the time I was on it. I asked my doctor to put me on something else after being diagnosed a diabetic. He tried geodon, but I had a bad reaction to it and he put me back on zyprexa and then I suggested abilify and he said O.K. I had sore muscles all while I was taking zyprexa. That stopped when I stopped taking zyprexa. I was taking 10 mg a day and it made me pretty foggy headed. The abilify is 5 mg a day and doesn't seem to have that effect once you get adjusted to it. I had never had any symptoms of diabetes before taking zyprexa. I know I won't ever be taking it again as long as there is something like abilify on the market. Zyprexa seemed to affect my motor functions while I was taking it. I don't know if anybody else has had this side effect. I had trouble with balance while I was taking it. No trouble with sleeping. I think the zydis is just a form of the medicine that is easier to take. No swallowing. Just dissolves on your tongue and its in your system. I didn't like the taste of it. Bitter. That is the only reason I changed to the pill. I don't know about other people and I have't read any posts on this form saying anything about the taste. My original condition for taking zyprexa for a thyroid problem that caused me to hallucinate and experience psychosis until they got my thyroid back into normal range. Normal range is .0 to .4. Mine was .32.
At that level you can experience the above plus death. Have been doing great for two years. Doctor keeps a close eye on my thyroid level and my sugar level with an a1c every 3 months. My doctor caught the diabetes when it happened because he said to me "if they are putting you on that stuff, I am going to start taking a1c tests now and all while you are on it. So he caught it very quickly the first time it went out of normal range. If you decide to take zyprexa in any form, please talk to your doctor and have him start taking and a1c test regularly every three months all while you are on it. That way, if anything happens, he will catch it quickly and they can get you off zyprexa. Some people on the forum have gotten better and their diabetes disappeared after they stopped taking zyprexa, but, mine did not. Doctor says I will be a diabetic for the rest of my life. Sad state for having taken 1 little pill a day. Sorry for such a long post, but anybody who is considering taking zyprexa for an extended period of time needs to know what has happened to some of us you did take it for extended periods of time.

[sherryd]

Unsure, forgot to mention that the zyprexa stableized me quickly, but, it was the change in thyroid medicine that solved the problem and brought my thyroid back into normal range. I have had a thyroid condition since I was 28 and took medicine for it all these years. I am 57 now. I never had any idea what you thyroid could cause if it went too far out of normal range. Most people don't. Anyway,best of luck with your choice of medicine and I pray there will be no harmful side effects if you chooose zyprexa. I have a copy of the patient information sheet that I downloaded on my harddrive and it does warn people who have diabetes or have it in there family to have their sugar levels checked regularly while taking zyprexa. The problem is, that for people like me, who had no history of diabetes, there is no warning on the label to watch your sugar level while on it. Of course, off-label useage has no warnings since it's not approved for anything but phycosis and schizophrenics. I was experience physocis, but not from the avenue most people experience phycosis from. I don't know where theirs comes from. Anyway, hope this all helps you make your decision.

[BobR]

Unfortunately, only the abstract is available online without APA membership. Most university libraries have the paper copy or your local librarian may be able to assit you.

copyhttp://ajp.psychiatryonlin e.org/cgi/gca?gca=164%2F7%2F10 50&submit.x=68&submit. y=12

[splatteredflat]

I've been taking Zyprexa for about 3 months now, along with a high dose of lithium. The weight gain was a huge shock to me. Every pound I gained went straight to my belly/waist area. I am active, in shape and I couldn't spread the weight evenly no matter what. I started researching zyprexa because I had never heard of it until It was prescribed to me by my Kaiser (so called) therapist. I am horrified at all the trouble there is surrounding zyprexa. I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago because I just can't balance the scales with it knowing the possabilities fo negatives from taking it. The incompetence of kaiser to inform me of anything about the drug, and not requesting any lab work scared me away also. All I need is a off and on switch in the back of my neck like DATA on Star Trek,the Next Generation, and I would be 92% cured. But the dang DR's won't give me anything like xanax because I told them I had a drug history in my past. So now they refuse to give me anything addicting, or narcotic like. So here I am......

[BobR]

splatteredflat-
I am glad to hear that you quit Zyprexa, good luck losing the weight that you put on while taking Zyprexa. The sooner that you get back to your previous weight, the better. Demand that kaiser permanente (even 2000 miles away in Chicago kaiser has a reputation) give you a blood test to see if anything was thrown off by Zyprexa. The doctors don't realize that Zyprexa is very addictive once a dependence has been built up and withdrawl is extremely difficult.

When I was first diagnosed with bipolar 8 years ago, I was hoping that something would show up in an EEG or MRI, and the doctors would have a magic bullet and I would be cured. Multiple MRIs and EEGs found nothing unusual, and 8 years of trying all kinds of medications really didn't help. Psychiatrists still don't know what really causes bipolar, this is why they keep adjusting the potion, they are just searching for the combination that results in the fewest symptoms and complaints. This is why my friend's doctor keeps him on Zyprexa and Lithium despite serious side effects - he just doesn't complain because he is under the influence of the medications.

[C Unit]

Your appetite increases rapidly. You crave carbs. It also makes you tired and thus, you sleep more and exercise less. I gained a third of my starting weight and went up to 198 from 155. My waist went from 32 to 36. It was awful. Imagine going from eating half a bagel in the morning to almost three bagels.

[tee]

my buddy just told me that he was taking zyprexa zydis and it made him gain 90 pounds in 4 months

[kimberlee]

I'm taken Zyprexa zydis now, and I'm about to get off of it, because of the weight gain, I gained 22 pounds since I have been on Zyprexa zydis, I was 129 when started, now i'm 151 and I hate it, can't fit any of my clothes anymore, and it has made my stomach big, I look like I'm pregnant. Can anyone tell how long was it when after they stop taken Zyprexa zydis that they lost weight.

[Justin]

Zyprexa has done a wonderful job on my panic disorder. Nothing else would work. The panic was so bad that I was going to have to be hospitalized. It was constant and no escape from it. However, the weight gain has been horrendous. I am 27 and have been on zyprexa for about 4 years now. My weight has gone from 165 to almost 400 pounds now. I do not regret taking zyprexa because it allows me to feel normal and nothing else works. It is a small price to pay to not be hospitalized and to feel normal.

[Theresa]

Hello,

Weight gain is the least of your worries. It took two years for horrible Zyprexa to kill my beloved late husband, but kill him it did as it has thousands of people.

Walk In Balance,
Theresa

[Jared]

Zyprexa has also worked well for me. My weight gain hasn't been as much as Justin's, but it has still been quite a lot. I have gone from about 180 to roughly 300 pounds in a little over 3 years. It would be more but I try to restrict my eating at times. It sucks to weigh 300 pounds at 22 years old, especially since I can no longer play sports like I used to, but it beats the misery I was dealing with before Zyprexa.

[Theresa]

Hello,

Keep researching for other meds to combat panic disorders. I have a history of horrible panic attacks. They happen very rarely now. I never took meds for them. I'm not saying people who have panic attacks should not take meds. I'm just saying be very careful. Horrid zyprexa is not the answer. It has killed way too many people including my late beloved husband.

Walk In Balance,
Theresa

[Lost]

Theresa wrote:

Hello,
Keep researching for other meds to combat panic disorders. I have a history of horrible panic attacks. They happen very rarely now. I never took meds for them. I'm not saying people who have panic attacks should not take meds. I'm just saying be very careful. Horrid zyprexa is not the answer. It has killed way too many people including my late beloved husband.
Walk In Balance,
Theresa

I am sorry for your loss. You are right, zyprexa is deadly. It shuts down all the organs in the body one at a time. Slow death. I was very lucky to survive this horriable deadly drug. I thank God everyday. God be with you.....

[Theresa]

Dear Lost,

Thank you so much for your compassion. It only took three days for my late beloved husband's organs to shut down, but it still was a horrible way to pass away. I hope the coma took away the pain. It has been just over one-and-a-half years, but I still go through shock and flashbacks of being with him in the ICU. I have a wonderful boyfriend, but I still go through pain. He understands, because his beloved wife passed away just over two years ago. He is certain it was due to a medication she was taking. It caused her to have aplastic anemia which they did not diagnose until it was late. He and I met in bereavement group. Given our experiences, it makes me wonder how many dangerously life-threatning medications are out there. Getting horrible zyprexa off the market will be the beginning of going after pharmecutical companies who put out horrible meds on the market.

Walk In Balance,
Deer