Can Olanzepine cause weight gain?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been having pain in my forehead, mood swings, fatigue, and insomnia. I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in the past and the doctor prescribed me with Mazepine. Recently the doctor diagnosed me with bipolar disorder and set my medicine to Olanzapine, Mazepine, and lithium carbonate 400 mg. But I gained a lot of weight with Olanzapine and find it very hard medicine. Meanwhile, I just gave my blood test for lithium serum and have shared the reports with you.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

In my opinion, there is no use in combining Carbamazepine and lithium and one of them can be tapered off. If you are having side effects with Olanzapine you can discuss with your treating psychiatrist regarding changing it with Lurasidone or Quetiapine. Also follow the steps of sleep hygiene like sleeping and waking up at the regular time, avoiding caffeinated drinks at least 8 hours before sleep, avoid using mobile, laptops, etc at least half an hour before sleep, not taking refined sugars and high protein diet in the night, etc. Maintain a journal and daily log down your thoughts and retrospect them.

Hope this helps. Thank you.