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Olanzapine

 

Olanzapine (generic Zyprexa) Review

brand names: Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa
generic name: Olanzapine

What are olanzapine tablets?

OLANZAPINE (Zyprexa®) helps to treat emotional and mental problems like schizophrenia or psychosis. Olanzapine is also sometimes used for the treatment of other emotional or behavioral problems like manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder. Olanzapine can help you to keep in touch with reality and reduce your mental problems. It is not a cure. Generic olanzapine tablets are not yet available.

Overdosage

An overdose of Zyprexa is usually not life-threatening, but fatalities have been reported. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

• Symptoms of Zyprexa overdose may include:
  Agitation drowsiness rapid or irregular heartbeat slurred or disrupted speech stupor

Overdoses of Zyprexa have also led to breathing difficulties, coma, cardiac arrest, muscle rigidity, fever, excessive perspiration, changes in blood pressure, and convulsions.

Use with caution in

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
  
  
• Irregular heartbeat caused by very rapid contraction of the top two chambers of the heart (atrial fibrillation)
  
  
• History of or risk of stroke or small temporary strokes (transient ischaemic attacks)
  
  
• Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)
  
  
• Low blood magnesium levels (hypomagnesaemia)
  
  
• Thickening of the walls of the heart (cardiac hypertrophy)
  
  
• Heart failure
  
  
• Abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace (ECG) as a 'prolonged QT interval'
  
  
• History of fits (seizures), eg epilepsy
  
  
• Diseases or conditions involving increased production of blood cells or bone marrow tissue
  
  
• People with a history of decreased blood cell production caused by a medicine
  
  
• People with decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or illness.
  
  
• People taking other medicines that can affect liver function or white blood cells
  
  
• Low level of a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil in the blood (neutropenia)
  
  
• Low white blood cell count (leucopenia)
  
  
• Failure of function of part of the gut causing an obstruction in the intestines (paralytic ileus)
  
  
• Enlarged prostate gland (prostatic hypertrophy)
  
  
• Diabetes and people at risk of diabetes
  
  
• People with raised liver enzymes
  
  
• Decreased liver function
  
  
• Decreased kidney function
  
  
• Elderly people
  
  

Why should Olanzapine (Zyprexa) not be prescribed?

If Zyprexa gives you an allergic reaction, you cannot take the drug.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•frequently drink alcoholic beverages
•breast cancer
•cigarette smoker
•diabetes mellitus, other medicines, foods, dyes, or previous heart attack
•high blood pressure treated with medication
•kidney or liver disease
•low blood pressure
•Parkinson's disease
•prostate trouble
•seizures (convulsions)
•an unusual or allergic reaction to Olanzapine (Zyprexa), irregular heartbeat, high blood sugar or a family history of diabetes
•difficulty passing urine
•glaucoma
•heart disease

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Zyprexa should be used during pregnancy only if absolutely necessary. The drug may appear in breast milk; do not breastfeed while on Zyprexa therapy.