I was on 20mg Olanzapine daily for five years and grew from a physically healthy man in to a very large blob, patricularly putting on weight around my middle (The heart attack zone) after some pleading my doctor eventually mentioned Aripiprazole.
After she contacted my psychiatrist I was switched over a month to 10mg Aripiprazole. It has only been a short time, but I feel much better mentally than I ever did on Olanzapine and I am finally losing weight despite still fighting the occasional binge.
What I don't understand is why medical practitioners should head straight to Olanzapine and make no mention of Aripiprazole.
Hi, am thinking of going on aripiprazal and wondered if you get restless legs on it and get the zombie thing on it. Was on rispiridone before and had terrible side effects.
Hi,
I have noticed no side effects with Aripiprazole.
I think I may need to go up from 10mg so side effects may kick in, but nothing so far.
I hope you have success with it.
Why do they head straight for Olanzapine instead of choosing from ANY number of safer and better alternatives such as Geodon, Abilify, Saphris, even Risperdal or Seroquel? There really is no excuse. These doctors who prescribe Zyprexa as a first option or even as an option at all show a total recklessness and complete disregard for patient health, safety and wellbeing. The weight gain associated with Zyprexa is more than any other pharmaceutical in use in any country on earth. There is just no justifiable reason to prescribe it at all.