Olanzapine belongs to group of medications known as antipsychotic/antimanic agents. Olanzapine is used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia can cause symptoms such as hallucinations (e.g., hearing, seeing, or sensing things that are not there), delusions, unusual suspiciousness, and emotional withdrawal. People with this condition may also feel depressed, anxious, or tense.

Bipolar disorder causes alternating periods of depression and mania (abnormally elevated or irritable mood) or "mixed episodes" where people have symptoms of both depression and mania. Olanzapine may be used, alone or in combination with other medications, to treat the manic or mixed episodes (but not the depression) of bipolar disorder.

Medications like olanzapine work by correcting the balance of neurotransmitters (chemicals that control the function of nerve pathways) in the brain.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than the ones listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

The regular starting dose of olanzapine tablets for adults with schizophrenia is 5 mg to 10 mg once daily at the same time each day, with or without food. If the daily dose is increased, it is usually raised not more than once a week, and in increments of 5 mg. The dosage range is 5 mg to 20 mg daily.

The usual starting dose of olanzapine tablets for adults with bipolar disorder (for treatment of manic or mixed episodes) is 10 mg daily (if olanzapine is used in combination with other medications) or 15 mg daily (if olanzapine is used alone). The dose may be increased up to 20 mg daily. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water.

Seniors or people who are debilitated may start with a lower dose of 5 mg daily.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.

For this medication to be effective, it is very important that you take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose by a few hours, take it as soon as you remember and go back to your regular dosing schedule. If most of the day has passed, skip that dose, wait until your next scheduled dose and continue your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Store the medication at room temperature and protect it from light and moisture.

Zyprexa® is available as a tablet in strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg.

2.5 mg: Each white, round, film-coated tablet, marked in blue ink with "Lilly" and "4112", contains 2.5 mg of olanzapine.

5 mg: Each white, round, film-coated tablet, imprinted in blue ink with "Lilly" and "4115", contains 5 mg of olanzapine.

7.5 mg: Each white, round, film-coated tablet, imprinted in blue ink with "Lilly" and "4116", contains 7.5 mg of olanzapine.

10 mg: Each white, round, film-coated tablet, imprinted in blue ink with "Lilly" and "4117", contains 10 mg of olanzapine.

15 mg: Each light blue, oval, film-coated tablet, marked with "Lilly" and "4415", contains 15 mg of olanzapine.

Nonmedicinal ingredients: carnauba wax, crospovidone, FD&C Blue No.2 Aluminum Lake, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg tablets only), polysorbate 80 (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg tablets only), titanium dioxide, and triacetin (15 mg tablets only).

This medication should not be used by people who are allergic to olanzapine or any of the nonmedicinal ingredients.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your health professional.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your health professional. They may be able to help you to deal with some of the effects.

The following side effects may go away as your body becomes used to the medication; check with your doctor if they continue or become bothersome.

More common
• constipation
• dizziness, especially when rising quickly from a lying or sitting position
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• headache
• runny nose
• vision problems
• weakness
• weight gain

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common
• agitation
• behaviour problems
• difficulty speaking or swallowing
• restlessness or need to keep moving
• stiffness of arms or legs
• trembling (shaking) of hands and fingers

Less common
• chest pain
• fever
• flu-like symptoms
• inability to move eyes
• lip smacking or puckering
• mood or mental changes (such as anger, anxiety, giddiness, loss of memory)
• muscle spasms of face, neck, and back
• puffing of cheeks
• rapid or worm-like movements of tongue
• swelling of feet or ankles
• twitching movements
• uncontrolled chewing movements
• uncontrolled movements of arms and legs

Rare
• confusion
• difficulty breathing
• face swelling
• menstrual period changes
• mental or physical sluggishness
• skin rash

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Be sure to inform your physician of all your medical conditions before you begin taking a medication. Some conditions can affect how you should take this medication.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Olanzapine may impair the mental and physical abilities required for driving a car or operating heavy machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication, as it may produce extreme drowsiness.

Low blood pressure: Olanzapine may cause low blood pressure, especially when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. Therefore, olanzapine should be used with caution by people with heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or conditions that increase the risk of developing low blood pressure (e.g., dehydration, treatment with blood pressure medications).

High blood sugar: Olanzapine, in rare instances, may cause an increase in blood sugar. Careful monitoring is required for people with diabetes or for people who are at risk of developing diabetes.

Liver disease: People with liver disorders should exercise caution while taking olanzapine. Liver function tests should be monitored by your doctor.

Seizures: Olanzapine may increase the risk of seizures and should be used with caution by people with a history or seizures.

Other medical conditions: Olanzapine should be used with caution by people with enlarged prostate glands, narrow-angle glaucoma, or paralytic ileus, as the medication may worsen these conditions.

Pregnancy: It is not known if olanzapine is safe to use during pregnancy. This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits of using it outweigh the risks. Discuss your options with your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if olanzapine passes into breast milk. Women taking this medication should not breast-feed.

Children: The use of olanzapine has not been adequately studied in children under the age of 18.

The following agents may affect the way that olanzapine works or increase the occurrence of side effects:

• carbamazepine
• medications used to aid sleep
• drowsiness-causing antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine)
• narcotic pain medication (e.g., codeine)
• omeprazole
• other antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications
• smoking

Olanzapine may affect the way that the following medications work or increase the occurrence of side effects:

• medications used to treat high blood pressure
• levodopa

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. In many cases, interactions are intended or are managed by close monitoring. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.