"i was diagnosed as bipolar disorder at the age of 49.  i was immediately put on zyprexa and essentially, the next four years are a blur to me.  to say i felt like a zombie is a gross understatement. i changed my doctor and insisted he take me off the drug which he did.  i am now taking &#039;plain old lithium&#039; and have been doing well for the past five years.  i understand that everyone doesn&#039;t have the same experience with zyprexa that i had, but people should be aware that there are long-proven alternatives.  i only wish that my doctor had considered them first."