Olanzapine

Description

Olanzapine is a potent antipsychotic drug. It affects certain chemicals in the brain and helps in bringing about a change in thought and perception. It is used to treat a variety of mental disorders.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Olanzapine

  • Orthostatic Hypotension
  • Weight gain
  • Headache
  • Sleepiness
  • Increase in body fat and cholesterol
  • Dizziness
  • Uncontrolled muscle movements
  • Chest pain
  • Dry mouth
  • Running nose and cough
  • Loss of libido
  • Change in personality

Uses of Olanzapine

What is it prescribed for?

  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar Mania
  • Depression
  • Agitation
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The peak effect of Olanzapine (which is the main constituent of Olanzapine) can be observed after 5-8 hours of oral administration. Upon intramuscular injection, the effect can be observed after 15-45 minutes. The extended release forms tend to take longer than the other forms.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medication is cumulative and the oral form stays in the body for 21 to 54 hours while the extended release form stays for 30 days.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Use of Alcohol is not recommended while you are taking Olanzapine. Any activity requiring high level of mental alertness should be avoided and symptoms like mental confusion, drowsiness should be reported to the doctor immediately.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported. However, patients with a history of drug abuse should be monitored closely for misuse.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Use of this medicine is not recommended during pregnancy as it can cause developmental defects in the newborn. Since there is a lack of conclusive evidence from human studies, consult your doctor if you are pregnant. All the potential benefits and risks should be considered before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Use of this medicine is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers as it is excreted via breast milk. Though the effects are not ascertained, it is recommended to consult your doctor before taking the medicine. Close monitoring of symptoms in infants might be required in some cases.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Use of this medicine is not recommended during pregnancy as it can cause developmental defects in the newborn. Since there is a lack of conclusive evidence from human studies, consult your doctor if you are pregnant. All the potential benefits and risks should be considered before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

Use of this medicine is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers as it is excreted via breast milk. Though the effects are not ascertained, it is recommended to consult your doctor before taking the medicine. Close monitoring of symptoms in infants might be required in some cases.
General warnings

Hyperglycemia

Use of Olanzapine may increase the risk of high blood sugar levels in patients who are diabetic or are exposed to the risk factors. Severe adverse reactions leading to Ketoacidosis, Hyperosmolar coma and even death have been reported in some rare cases. It is advised to constantly monitor the blood sugar levels while taking this medicine.

Muscular Disorders

Olanzapine is likely to cause problems with movements and muscular disorders. Any incidence of ticks or uncontrolled muscle movements, fever, dizziness and weakness in muscles should be reported to the doctor immediately. Special caution should be exercised in elderly patients and women while prescribing this medicine.

Suicidal Tendencies

Olanzapine is likely to cause suicidal thoughts in patients suffering from Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders. Close monitoring of high-risk patients is a must while Olanzapine is administered.

Dyslipidemia

Olanzapine is likely to cause changes in the levels of cholesterol and fats in the body. The fat and cholesterol levels are to be monitored to prevent and manage the after-effects.

Weight gain

Olanzapine is likely to cause a gain in weight and hence periodic monitoring is required especially in patients who are obese.

Orthostatic hypotension

Olanzapine is likely to position based decrease in blood pressure especially during the start of therapy. It should be given very carefully to patients who have an active disease of the heart and valves. Any condition leading to a decrease in blood pressure should be given consideration while deciding the dose.

Low Blood Count

Olanzapine is likely to cause a decrease in blood cell count including white blood cells and overall count. It should be administered with caution in patients who have an active blood condition. Dose adjustments and clinical monitoring of blood cell levels might be required in such cases.

Cognitive and motor impairment

Olanzapine is likely to cause changes in perception, thoughts and might affect brain centrally controlled movements of muscles. Proper dosing and safety monitoring become a necessity especially if the patient has some form of active mental illness.

Alzheimer's Disease

Olanzapine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from Alzhiemer's Disease as the risks of life-threatening side effects rise substantially.

Missed Dose

Contact your doctor immediately if you have missed a scheduled dose. One should avoid taking the missed dose without consulting your doctor.

Overdose

Contact a doctor immediately if an overdose of this medicine is suspected. An overdose with Olanzapine requires immediate supportive measures like airway clearance, gastric lavage etc. Since treatment is symptom based, it is advised that the patient is kept under supervision in a medical facility with regular monitoring.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

N/A

Instructions

Use of Alcohol is not recommended while you are taking Olanzapine. Any activity requiring high level of mental alertness should be avoided and symptoms like mental confusion, drowsiness should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Interaction with Medicine

Acarbose

Amlodipine

Cetirizine

Diazepam

Tramadol

Atropine

Disease interactions

Dementia

Use of Olanzapine is not recommended in treating Psychosis related to Dementia especially in the elderly. Any dementia-related incidence should be reported to the Doctor.

Central Nervous System Depression

Use of Olanzapine is not recommended if the patient is in a coma and has severe Central Nervous System Depression. Symptoms like decreased rate of breathing and decreased heart beat rate should be reported immediately.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

Use of Olanzapine is not recommended if the patient suffers from Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Introduction or reintroduction of this medicine should be done with caution in patients having a known history of this syndrome.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Use of Olanzapine is not recommended in patients with active Tardive Dyskinesia. Women and elderly patients are more likely to develop or exacerbate the symptoms on prolonged consumption of this medicine. The medicine should be withdrawn if symptoms like uncontrolled movements of tongue, mouth, lips, jaws etc are experienced during therapy with this medicine. Suitable alternatives can be prescribed in such cases.

Seizure disorders

Use of Olanzapine is not recommended in patients having a known history of seizure attacks. The medicine should be administered with extreme caution in such cases.

Diabetes

Olanzapine should be administered with caution in patients having Diabetes or are exposed to the risk factors. Proper monitoring of blood glucose levels is necessary in such cases.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Olanzapine should be used as directed by the doctor. The dosage strengths, timings, and other aspects are specific for you and should be followed strictly for better effect. Read the instruction mentioned on the label carefully and follow them while taking the medicine. It is advised to take an injectable form of this medicine in the presence of a trained healthcare professional only.
Miscelleneous

Food timings: Information not available

Administration time: Information not available

Sleep inducing: Information not available

How it works
Combination of Dopamine and Serotonin type 2 receptor site antagonism.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Atypical antipsychotics

Schedule

Schedule H

DailyMed - OLANZAPINE- olanzapine injection, powder, for solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 28 February 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1e9666ef-4271-4834-8496-ccb3125d83db

Olanzapine (oral) medical facts from Drugs.com [Internet]. Drugs.com. 2017 [cited 28 February 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugs.com/mtm/olanzapine.html

olanzapine | C17H20N4S - PubChem [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 28 February 2017]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/4585

Olanzapine: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 28 February 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601213.html

Zyprexa, Zyprexa Relprevv (olanzapine) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more [Internet]. Reference.medscape.com. 2017 [cited 28 February 2017]. Available from:

http://reference.medscape.com/drug/zyprexa-relprevv-olanzapine-342979

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Information on this page was last updated on 6 Mar 2017

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