Zyprexa
SIDE EFFECTS
The information below is derived from a clinical trial database for olanzapine consisting of 8661 patients with approximately 4165 patient-years of exposure to oral olanzapine and 722 patients with exposure to intramuscular olanzapine for injection. This database includes: (1) 2500 patients who participated in multiple-dose oral olanzapine premarketing trials in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease representing approximately 1122 patient-years of exposure as of February 14, 1995; (2) 182 patients who participated in oral olanzapine premarketing bipolar mania trials representing approximately 66 patient-years of exposure; (3) 191 patients who participated in an oral olanzapine trial of patients having various psychiatric symptoms in association with Alzheimer's disease representing approximately 29 patient-years of exposure; (4) 5788 patients from 88 additional oral olanzapine clinical trials as of December 31, 2001; and (5) 722 patients who participated in intramuscular olanzapine for injection premarketing trials in agitated patients with schizophrenia, Bipolar I Disorder (manic or mixed episodes), or dementia. In addition, information from the premarketing 6-week clinical study database for olanzapine in combination with lithium or valproate, consisting of 224 patients who participated in bipolar mania trials with approximately 22 patient-years of exposure, is included below.
The conditions and duration of treatment with olanzapine varied greatly and included (in overlapping categories) open-label and double-blind phases of studies, inpatients and outpatients, fixed-dose and dose-titration studies, and short-term or longer-term exposure. Adverse reactions were assessed by collecting adverse events, results of physical examinations, vital signs, weights, laboratory analytes, ECGs, chest x-rays, and results of ophthalmologic examinations.
Certain portions of the discussion below relating to objective or numeric safety parameters, namely, dose-dependent adverse events, vital sign changes, weight gain, laboratory changes, and ECG changes are derived from studies in patients with schizophrenia and have not been duplicated for bipolar mania or agitation. However, this information is also generally applicable to bipolar mania and agitation.
Adverse events during exposure were obtained by spontaneous report and recorded by clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals experiencing adverse events without first grouping similar types of events into a smaller number of standardized event categories. In the tables and tabulations that follow, standard COSTART dictionary terminology has been used initially to classify reported adverse events.
The stated frequencies of adverse events represent the proportion of individuals who experienced, at least once, a treatment-emergent adverse event of the type listed. An event was considered treatment emergent if it occurred for the first time or worsened while receiving therapy following baseline evaluation. The reported events do not include those event terms that were so general as to be uninformative. Events listed elsewhere in labeling may not be repeated below. It is important to emphasize that, although the events occurred during treatment with olanzapine, they were not necessarily caused by it. The entire label should be read to gain a complete understanding of the safety profile of olanzapine.
The prescriber should be aware that the figures in the tables and tabulations cannot be used to predict the incidence of side effects in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors differ from those that prevailed in the clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, and investigators. The cited figures, however, do provide the prescribing physician with some basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the adverse event incidence in the population studied.
Incidence of Adverse Events in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled and Combination Trials
The following findings are based on premarketing trials of (1) oral olanzapine for schizophrenia, bipolar mania, a subsequent trial of patients having various psychiatric symptoms in association with Alzheimer's disease, and premarketing combination trials, and (2) intramuscular olanzapine for injection in agitated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.
Adverse Events Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Schizophrenia
Overall, there was no difference in the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events (5% for oral olanzapine vs 6% for placebo). However, discontinuations due to increases in SGPT were considered to be drug related (2% for oral olanzapine vs 0% for placebo) (see PRECAUTIONS).
Bipolar Mania Monotherapy
Overall, there was no difference in the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events (2% for oral olanzapine vs 2% for placebo).
Agitation
Overall, there was no difference in the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events (0.4% for intramuscular olanzapine for injection vs 0% for placebo).
Adverse Events Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment in Short-Term Combination Trials
Bipolar Mania Combination Therapy
In a study of patients who were already tolerating either lithium or valproate as monotherapy, discontinuation rates due to adverse events were 11% for the combination of oral olanzapine with lithium or valproate compared to 2% for patients who remained on lithium or valproate monotherapy. Discontinuations with the combination of oral olanzapine and lithium or valproate that occurred in more than 1 patient were: somnolence (3%), weight gain (1%), and peripheral edema (1%).
Commonly Observed Adverse Events in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials
The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of oral olanzapine (incidence of 5% or greater) and not observed at an equivalent incidence among placebo-treated patients (olanzapine incidence at least twice that for placebo) were:
Common Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Associated with
the
Use of Oral Olanzapine in 6-Week Trials — SCHIZOPHRENIA
| Adverse Event | Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |
| Olanzapine (N=248) |
Placebo (N=118) |
|
| Postural hypotension | 5 | 2 |
| Constipation | 9 | 3 |
| Weight gain | 6 | 1 |
| Dizziness | 11 | 4 |
| Personality disorder1 | 8 | 4 |
| Akathisia | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Personality disorder is the COSTART term for designating non-aggressive objectionable behavior. | ||
Common Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Associated with
the
Use of Oral Olanzapine in 3-Week and 4-Week Trials — BIPOLAR MANIA
| Adverse Event | Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |
| Olanzapine (N=125) |
Placebo (N=129) |
|
| Asthenia | 15 | 6 |
| Dry mouth | 22 | 7 |
| Constipation | 11 | 5 |
| Dyspepsia | 11 | 5 |
| Increased appetite | 6 | 3 |
| Somnolence | 35 | 13 |
| Dizziness | 18 | 6 |
| Tremor | 6 | 3 |
There was one adverse event (somnolence) observed at an incidence of 5% or greater among intramuscular olanzapine for injection-treated patients and not observed at an equivalent incidence among placebo-treated patients (olanzapine incidence at least twice that for placebo) during the placebo-controlled premarketing studies. The incidence of somnolence during the 24 hour IM treatment period in clinical trials in agitated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mania was 6% for intramuscular olanzapine for injection and 3% for placebo.
Adverse Events Occurring at an Incidence of 2% or More Among Oral Olanzapine-Treated Patients in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Table 1 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with oral olanzapine (doses ≥ 2.5 mg/day) and with incidence greater than placebo who participated in the acute phase of placebo-controlled trials.
Table 1
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events:
Incidence in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials1
with Oral Olanzapine
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | ||
| Body System/Adverse Event | Olanzapine (N=532) |
Placebo (N=294) |
| Body as a Whole | ||
| Accidental injury | 12 | 8 |
| Asthenia | 10 | 9 |
| Fever | 6 | 2 |
| Back pain | 5 | 2 |
| Chest pain | 3 | 1 |
| Cardiovascular System | ||
| Postural hypotension | 3 | 1 |
| Tachycardia | 3 | 1 |
| Hypertension | 2 | 1 |
| Digestive System | ||
| Dry mouth | 9 | 5 |
| Constipation | 9 | 4 |
| Dyspepsia | 7 | 5 |
| Vomiting | 4 | 3 |
| Increased appetite | 3 | 2 |
| Hemic and Lymphatic System | ||
| Ecchymosis | 5 | 3 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight gain | 5 | 3 |
| Peripheral edema | 3 | 1 |
| Musculoskeletal System | ||
| Extremity pain (other than joint) | 5 | 3 |
| Joint pain | 5 | 3 |
| Nervous System | ||
| Somnolence | 29 | 13 |
| Insomnia | 12 | 11 |
| Dizziness | 11 | 4 |
| Abnormal gait | 6 | 1 |
| Tremor | 4 | 3 |
| Akathisia | 3 | 2 |
| Hypertonia | 3 | 2 |
| Articulation impairment | 2 | 1 |
| Respiratory System | ||
| Rhinitis | 7 | 6 |
| Cough increased | 6 | 3 |
| Pharyngitis | 4 | 3 |
| Special Senses | ||
| Amblyopia | 3 | 2 |
| Urogenital System | ||
| Urinary incontinence | 2 | 1 |
| Urinary tract infection | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Events reported by at least 2% of patients treated with olanzapine, except the following events which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo: abdominal pain, agitation, anorexia, anxiety, apathy, confusion, depression, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea (denominator used was for females only [olanzapine, N=201; placebo, N=114]), hallucinations, headache, hostility, hyperkinesia, myalgia, nausea, nervousness, paranoid reaction, personality disorder (COSTART term for designating non-aggressive objectionable behavior), rash, thinking abnormal, weight loss. | ||
Commonly Observed Adverse Events in Short-Term Combination Trials
In the bipolar mania combination placebo-controlled trials, the most commonly observed adverse events associated with the combination of olanzapine and lithium or valproate (incidence of ≥ 5% and at least twice placebo) were:
Common Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events Associated with
the
Use of Oral Olanzapine in 6-Week Combination Trials — BIPOLAR MANIA
| Adverse Event | Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |
| Olanzapine with lithium or valproate (N=229) |
Placebo with lithium or valproate (N=115) |
|
| Dry mouth | 32 | 9 |
| Weight gain | 26 | 7 |
| Increased appetite | 24 | 8 |
| Dizziness | 14 | 7 |
| Back pain | 8 | 4 |
| Constipation | 8 | 4 |
| Speech disorder | 7 | 1 |
| Increased salivation | 6 | 2 |
| Amnesia | 5 | 2 |
| Paresthesia | 5 | 2 |
Adverse Events Occurring at an Incidence of 2% or More Among Oral Olanzapine-Treated Patients in Short-Term Combination Trials
Table 2 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with the combination of olanzapine (doses ≥ 5 mg/day) and lithium or valproate and with incidence greater than lithium or valproate alone who participated in the acute phase of placebo-controlled combination trials.
Table 2
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events:
Incidence in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Combination Clinical Trials1
with Oral Olanzapine
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | ||
| Body System/Adverse Event | Olanzapine with lithium or valproate (N=229) |
Placebo with lithium or valproate (N=115) |
| Body as a Whole | ||
| Asthenia | 18 | 13 |
| Back pain | 8 | 4 |
| Accidental injury | 4 | 2 |
| Chest pain | 3 | 2 |
| Cardiovascular System | ||
| Hypertension | 2 | 1 |
| Digestive System | ||
| Dry mouth | 32 | 9 |
| Increased appetite | 24 | 8 |
| Thirst | 10 | 6 |
| Constipation | 8 | 4 |
| Increased salivation | 6 | 2 |
| Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders | ||
| Weight gain | 26 | 7 |
| Peripheral edema | 6 | 4 |
| Edema | 2 | 1 |
| Nervous System | ||
| Somnolence | 52 | 27 |
| Tremor | 23 | 13 |
| Depression | 18 | 17 |
| Dizziness | 14 | 7 |
| Speech disorder | 7 | 1 |
| Amnesia | 5 | 2 |
| Paresthesia | 5 | 2 |
| Apathy | 4 | 3 |
| Confusion | 4 | 1 |
| Euphoria | 3 | 2 |
| Incoordination | 2 | 0 |
| Respiratory System | ||
| Pharyngitis | 4 | 1 |
| Dyspnea | 3 | 1 |
| Skin and Appendages | ||
| Sweating | 3 | 1 |
| Acne | 2 | 0 |
| Dry skin | 2 | 0 |
| Special Senses | ||
| Amblyopia | 9 | 5 |
| Abnormal vision | 2 | 0 |
| Urogenital System | ||
| Dysmenorrhea2 | 2 | 0 |
| Vaginitis2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 Events reported by at least 2% of patients
treated with olanzapine, except the following events which had an incidence
equal to or less than placebo: abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, abnormal
ejaculation, agitation, akathisia, anorexia, anxiety, arthralgia, cough
increased, diarrhea, dyspepsia, emotional lability, fever, flatulence, flu
syndrome, headache, hostility, insomnia, libido decreased, libido increased,
menstrual disorder (denominator used was for females only [olanzapine, N=128;
placebo, N=51]), myalgia, nausea, nervousness, pain, paranoid reaction,
personality disorder, rash, rhinitis, sleep disorder, thinking abnormal,
vomiting. 2 Denominator used was for females only (olanzapine, N=128; placebo, N=51). |
||
For specific information about the adverse reactions observed with lithium or valproate, refer to the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the package inserts for these other products.
Adverse Events Occurring at an Incidence of 1% or More Among Intramuscular Olanzapine for Injection-Treated Patients in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Table 3 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in 1% or more of patients treated with intramuscular olanzapine for injection (dose range of 2.5-10 mg/injection) and with incidence greater than placebo who participated in the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in agitated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.
Table 3
Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events:
Incidence in Short-Term (24 Hour), Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials
with Intramuscular Olanzapine for Injection
in Agitated Patients with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Mania1
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | ||
| Body System/Adverse Event | Olanzapine (N=415) |
Placebo (N=150) |
| Body as a Whole | ||
| Asthenia | 2 | 1 |
| Cardiovascular System | ||
| Hypotension | 2 | 0 |
| Postural hypotension | 1 | 0 |
| Nervous System | ||
| Somnolence | 6 | 3 |
| Dizziness Tremor | 4 1 | 2 0 |
| 1 Events reported by at least 1% of patients treated with olanzapine for injection, except the following events which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo: agitation, anxiety, dry mouth, headache, hypertension, insomnia, nervousness. | ||
Dose Dependency of Adverse Events in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
The following table enumerates the percentage of patients with treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms as assessed by categorical analyses of formal rating scales during acute therapy in a controlled clinical trial comparing oral olanzapine at 3 fixed doses with placebo in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Treatment-Emergent Extrapyramidal Symptoms Assessed by Rating
Scales Incidence in a Fixed Dosage Range, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
of Oral Olanzapine in Schizophrenia — Acute Phase*
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | ||||
| Placebo | Olanzapine 5 ± 2.5 mg/day |
Olanzapine 10 ± 2.5 mg/day |
Olanzapine 15 ± 2.5 mg/day |
|
| Parkinsonism1 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
| Akathisia2 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 27 |
| * No statistically significant differences. 1 Percentage of patients with a Simpson-Angus Scale total score > 3. 2 Percentage of patients with a Barnes Akathisia Scale global score ≥ 2. |
||||
The following table enumerates the percentage of patients with treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms as assessed by spontaneously reported adverse events during acute therapy in the same controlled clinical trial comparing olanzapine at 3 fixed doses with placebo in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Treatment-Emergent Extrapyramidal Symptoms Assessed by Adverse
Events Incidence in a Fixed Dosage Range, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
of Oral Olanzapine in Schizophrenia — Acute Phase
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | ||||
| Placebo (N=68) |
Olanzapine 5 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=65) |
Olanzapine 10 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=64) |
Olanzapine 15 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=69) |
|
| Dystonic events1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Parkinsonism events2 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 20 |
| Akathisia events3 | 1 | 5 | 11* | 10* |
| Dyskinetic events4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Residual events5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Any extra pyramidal event | 16 | 15 | 25 | 32* |
| * Statistically significantly different from placebo. 1 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: dystonia, generalized spasm, neck rigidity, oculogyric crisis, opisthotonos, torticollis. 2 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: akinesia, cogwheel rigidity, extrapyramidal syndrome, hypertonia, hypokinesia, masked facies, tremor. 3 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: akathisia, hyperkinesia. 4 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: buccoglossal syndrome, choreoathetosis, dyskinesia, tardive dyskinesia. 5 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: movement disorder, myoclonus, twitching. |
||||
The following table enumerates the percentage of patients with treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms as assessed by categorical analyses of formal rating scales during controlled clinical trials comparing fixed doses of intramuscular olanzapine for injection with placebo in agitation. Patients in each dose group could receive up to three injections during the trials (see CLINICAL EFFICACY DATA). Patient assessments were conducted during the 24 hours following the initial dose of intramuscular olanzapine for injection. There were no statistically significant differences from placebo.
Treatment-Emergent Extrapyramidal Symptoms Assessed by Rating
Scales Incidence in a Fixed Dose, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
of Intramuscular Olanzapine for Injection in Agitated Patients with Schizophrenia*
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |||||
| Placebo | Olanzapine IM 2.5 mg |
Olanzapine IM 5 mg |
Olanzapine IM 7.5 mg |
Olanzapine IM 10 mg |
|
| Parkinsonism1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Akathisia2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| * No statistically significant differences. 1 Percentage of patients with a Simpson-Angus total score > 3. 2 Percentage of patients with a Barnes Akathisia Scale global score ≥ 2. |
|||||
The following table enumerates the percentage of patients with treatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms as assessed by spontaneously reported adverse events in the same controlled clinical trial comparing fixed doses of intramuscular olanzapine for injection with placebo in agitated patients with schizophrenia. There were no statistically significant differences from placebo.
Treatment-Emergent Extrapyramidal Symptoms Assessed by Adverse
Events Incidence in a Fixed Dose, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
of Intramuscular Olanzapine for Injection in Agitated Patients with Schizophrenia*
| Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |||||
| Placebo (N=45) |
Olanzapine IM 2.5 mg (N=48) |
Olanzapine IM 5 mg (N=45) |
Olanzapine IM 7.5 mg (N=46) |
Olanzapine IM 10 mg (N=46) |
|
| Dystonic events1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parkinsonism events2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Akathisia events3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dyskinetic events4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Residual events5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Any extra pyramidal event | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| * No statistically significant differences. 1 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: dystonia, generalized spasm, neck rigidity, oculogyric crisis, opisthotonos, torticollis. 2 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: akinesia, cogwheel rigidity, extrapyramidal syndrome, hypertonia, hypokinesia, masked facies, tremor. 3 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: akathisia, hyperkinesia. 4 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: buccoglossal syndrome, choreoathetosis, dyskinesia, tardive dyskinesia. 5 Patients with the following COSTART terms were counted in this category: movement disorder, myoclonus, twitching. |
|||||
Other Adverse Events
The following table addresses dose relatedness for other adverse events using data from a schizophrenia trial involving fixed dosage ranges of oral olanzapine. It enumerates the percentage of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events for the three fixed-dose range groups and placebo. The data were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test, excluding the placebo group, and the table includes only those adverse events for which there was a statistically significant trend.
| Adverse Event | Percentage of Patients Reporting Event | |||
| Placebo (N=68) |
Olanzapine 5 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=65) |
Olanzapine 10 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=64) |
Olanzapine 15 ± 2.5 mg/day (N=69) |
|
| Asthenia | 15 | 8 | 9 | 20 |
| Dry mouth | 4 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| Nausea | 9 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Somnolence | 16 | 20 | 30 | 39 |
| Tremor | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
Additional Findings
In a single 8-week randomized, double-blind, fixed-dose study comparing 10 (N=199), 20 (N=200) and 40 (N=200) mg/day of olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, statistically significant differences among 3 dose groups were observed for the following safety outcomes: weight gain, prolactin elevation, fatigue and dizziness. Mean baseline to endpoint increase in weight (10 mg/day: 1.9 kg; 20 mg/day: 2.3 kg; 40 mg/day: 3 kg) was observed with significant differences between 10 vs 40 mg/day. Incidence of treatment-emergent prolactin elevation > 24.2 ng/mL (female) or > 18.77 ng/mL (male) at any time during the trial (10 mg/day: 31.2%; 20 mg/day: 42.7%; 40 mg/day: 61.1%) with significant differences between 10 vs 40 mg/day and 20 vs 40 mg/day; fatigue (10 mg/day: 1.5%; 20 mg/day: 2.1%; 40 mg/day: 6.6%) with significant differences between 10 vs 40 and 20 vs 40 mg/day; and dizziness (10 mg/day: 2.6%; 20 mg/day: 1.6%; 40 mg/day: 6.6%) with significant differences between 20 vs 40 mg, was observed.
Additional Findings Observed in Clinical Trials
The following findings are based on clinical trials.
Vital Sign Changes — Oral olanzapine was associated with orthostatic hypotension and tachycardia in clinical trials. Intramuscular olanzapine for injection was associated with bradycardia, hypotension, and tachycardia in clinical trials (see PRECAUTIONS).
Weight Gain — In placebo-controlled, 6-week studies, weight gain was reported in 5.6% of olanzapine patients compared to 0.8% of placebo patients. Olanzapine patients gained an average of 2.8 kg, compared to an average 0.4 kg weight loss in placebo patients; 29% of olanzapine patients gained greater than 7% of their baseline weight, compared to 3% of placebo patients. A categorization of patients at baseline on the basis of body mass index (BMI) revealed a significantly greater effect in patients with low BMI compared to normal or overweight patients; nevertheless, weight gain was greater in all 3 olanzapine groups compared to the placebo group. During long-term continuation therapy with olanzapine (238 median days of exposure), 56% of olanzapine patients met the criterion for having gained greater than 7% of their baseline weight. Average weight gain during long-term therapy was 5.4 kg.
Laboratory Changes — An assessment of the premarketing experience for olanzapine revealed an association with asymptomatic increases in SGPT, SGOT, and GGT (see PRECAUTIONS). Olanzapine administration was also associated with increases in serum prolactin (see PRECAUTIONS), with an asymptomatic elevation of the eosinophil count in 0.3% of patients, and with an increase in CPK.
Given the concern about neutropenia associated with other psychotropic compounds and the finding of leukopenia associated with the administration of olanzapine in several animal models (see ANIMAL TOXICOLOGY), careful attention was given to examination of hematologic parameters in premarketing studies with olanzapine. There was no indication of a risk of clinically significant neutropenia associated with olanzapine treatment in the premarketing database for this drug.
In clinical trials among olanzapine-treated patients with random triglyceride levels of < 150 mg/dL at baseline (N=659), 0.5% of patients experienced triglyceride levels of ≥ 500 mg/dL anytime during the trials. In these same trials, olanzapine-treated patients (N=1185) had a mean increase of 20 mg/dL in triglycerides from a mean baseline value of 175 mg/dL.
In placebo-controlled trials, olanzapine-treated patients with random cholesterol levels of < 200 mg/dL at baseline (N=1034) experienced cholesterol levels of ≥ 240 mg/dL anytime during the trials more often than placebo-treated patients (N=602) (3.6% vs 2.2%, respectively). In these same trials, olanzapine-treated patients (N=2528) had a mean increase of 0.4 mg/dL in cholesterol from a mean baseline value of 203 mg/dL, which was significantly different compared to placebo-treated patients (N=1415) with a mean decrease of 4.6 mg/dL from a mean baseline value of 203 mg/dL.
ECG Changes — Between-group comparisons for pooled placebo-controlled trials revealed no statistically significant olanzapine/placebo differences in the proportions of patients experiencing potentially important changes in ECG parameters, including QT, QTc, and PR intervals. Olanzapine use was associated with a mean increase in heart rate of 2.4 beats per minute compared to no change among placebo patients. This slight tendency to tachycardia may be related to olanzapine's potential for inducing orthostatic changes (see PRECAUTIONS).
Other Adverse Events Observed During the Clinical Trial Evaluation of Olanzapine
Following is a list of terms that reflect treatment-emergent adverse events reported by patients treated with oral olanzapine (at multiple doses ≥ 1 mg/day) in clinical trials (8661 patients, 4165 patient-years of exposure). This listing may not include those events already listed in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, those events for which a drug cause was remote, those event terms which were so general as to be uninformative, and those events reported only once or twice which did not have a substantial probability of being acutely life-threatening.
Events are further categorized by body system and listed in order of decreasing frequency according to the following definitions: frequent adverse events are those occurring in at least 1/100 patients (only those not already listed in the tabulated results from placebo-controlled trials appear in this listing); infrequent adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare events are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients.
Body as a Whole — Frequent: dental pain and flu syndrome; Infrequent: abdomen enlarged, chills, face edema, intentional injury, malaise, moniliasis, neck pain, neck rigidity, pelvic pain, photosensitivity reaction, and suicide attempt; Rare: chills and fever, hangover effect, and sudden death.
Cardiovascular System — Frequent: hypotension; Infrequent: atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, heart arrest, hemorrhage, migraine, pallor, palpitation, vasodilatation, and ventricular extrasystoles; Rare: arteritis, heart failure, and pulmonary embolus.
Digestive System — Frequent: flatulence, increased salivation, and thirst; Infrequent: dysphagia, esophagitis, fecal impaction, fecal incontinence, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, hepatitis, melena, mouth ulceration, nausea and vomiting, oral moniliasis, periodontal abscess, rectal hemorrhage, stomatitis, tongue edema, and tooth caries; Rare: aphthous stomatitis, enteritis, eructation, esophageal ulcer, glossitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, liver fatty deposit, and tongue discoloration.
Endocrine System — Infrequent: diabetes mellitus; Rare: diabetic acidosis and goiter.
Hemic and Lymphatic System — Infrequent: anemia, cyanosis, leukocytosis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia; Rare: normocytic anemia and thrombocythemia.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders — Infrequent: acidosis, alkaline phosphatase increased, bilirubinemia, dehydration, hypercholesteremia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, hyperuricemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, lower extremity edema, and upper extremity edema; Rare: gout, hyperkalemia, hypernatremia, hypoproteinemia, ketosis, and water intoxication.
Musculoskeletal System — Frequent: joint stiffness and twitching; Infrequent: arthritis, arthrosis, leg cramps, and myasthenia; Rare: bone pain, bursitis, myopathy, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Nervous System — Frequent: abnormal dreams, amnesia, delusions, emotional lability, euphoria, manic reaction, paresthesia, and schizophrenic reaction; Infrequent: akinesia, alcohol misuse, antisocial reaction, ataxia, CNS stimulation, cogwheel rigidity, delirium, dementia, depersonalization, dysarthria, facial paralysis, hypesthesia, hypokinesia, hypotonia, incoordination, libido decreased, libido increased, obsessive compulsive symptoms, phobias, somatization, stimulant misuse, stupor, stuttering, tardive dyskinesia, vertigo, and withdrawal syndrome; Rare: circumoral paresthesia, coma, encephalopathy, neuralgia, neuropathy, nystagmus, paralysis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and tobacco misuse.
Respiratory System — Frequent: dyspnea; Infrequent: apnea, asthma, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hyperventilation, hypoxia, laryngitis, and voice alteration; Rare: atelectasis, hiccup, hypoventilation, lung edema, and stridor.
Skin and Appendages — Frequent: sweating; Infrequent: alopecia, contact dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, maculopapular rash, pruritus, seborrhea, skin discoloration, skin ulcer, urticaria, and vesiculobullous rash; Rare: hirsutism and pustular rash.
Special Senses — Frequent: conjunctivitis; Infrequent: abnormality of accommodation, blepharitis, cataract, deafness, diplopia, dry eyes, ear pain, eye hemorrhage, eye inflammation, eye pain, ocular muscle abnormality, taste perversion, and tinnitus; Rare: corneal lesion, glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis, macular hypopigmentation, miosis, mydriasis, and pigment deposits lens.
Urogenital System — Frequent: vaginitis*; Infrequent:
abnormal ejaculation*, amenorrhea*, breast pain, cystitis, decreased menstruation*,
dysuria, female lactation*, glycosuria, gynecomastia, hematuria, impotence*,
increased menstruation*, menorrhagia*, metrorrhagia*, polyuria, premenstrual
syndrome*, pyuria, urinary frequency, urinary retention, urinary urgency, urination
impaired, uterine fibroids enlarged*, and vaginal hemorrhage*; Rare:
albuminuria, breast enlargement, mastitis, and oliguria.
* Adjusted for gender.
Following is a list of terms that reflect treatment-emergent adverse events reported by patients treated with intramuscular olanzapine for injection (at one or more doses ≥ 2.5 mg/injection) in clinical trials (722 patients). This listing may not include those events already listed in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, those events for which a drug cause was remote, those event terms which were so general as to be uninformative, and those events reported only once which did not have a substantial probability of being acutely life-threatening.
Events are further categorized by body system and listed in order of decreasing frequency according to the following definitions: frequent adverse events are those occurring in at least 1/100 patients (only those not already listed in the tabulated results from placebo-controlled trials appear in this listing); infrequent adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients.
Body as a Whole — Frequent: injection site pain; Infrequent: abdominal pain and fever.
Cardiovascular System — Infrequent: AV block, heart block, and syncope.
Digestive System — Infrequent: diarrhea and nausea.
Hemic and Lymphatic System — Infrequent: anemia.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders — Infrequent: creatine phosphokinase increased, dehydration, and hyperkalemia.
Musculoskeletal System — Infrequent: twitching.
Nervous System — Infrequent: abnormal gait, akathisia, articulation impairment, confusion, and emotional lability.
Skin and Appendages — Infrequent: sweating.
Postintroduction Reports
Adverse events reported since market introduction that were temporally (but not necessarily causally) related to ZYPREXA therapy include the following: allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylactoid reaction, angioedema, pruritus or urticaria), diabetic coma, jaundice, neutropenia, pancreatitis, priapism, rhabdomyolysis, and venous thromboembolic events (including pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis). Random cholesterol levels of ≥ 240 mg/dL and random triglyceride levels of ≥ 1000 mg/dL have been reported.
Drug Abuse and Dependence
Controlled Substance Class
Olanzapine is not a controlled substance.
Physical and Psychological Dependence
In studies prospectively designed to assess abuse and dependence potential, olanzapine was shown to have acute depressive CNS effects but little or no potential of abuse or physical dependence in rats administered oral doses up to 15 times the maximum recommended human daily oral dose (20 mg) and rhesus monkeys administered oral doses up to 8 times the maximum recommended human daily oral dose on a mg/m2 basis.
Olanzapine has not been systematically studied in humans for its potential for abuse, tolerance, or physical dependence. While the clinical trials did not reveal any tendency for any drug-seeking behavior, these observations were not systematic, and it is not possible to predict on the basis of this limited experience the extent to which a CNS-active drug will be misused, diverted, and/or abused once marketed. Consequently, patients should be evaluated carefully for a history of drug abuse, and such patients should be observed closely for signs of misuse or abuse of olanzapine (e.g., development of tolerance, increases in dose, drug-seeking behavior).
DRUG INTERACTIONS
The risks of using olanzapine in combination with other drugs have not been extensively evaluated in systematic studies. Given the primary CNS effects of olanzapine, caution should be used when olanzapine is taken in combination with other centrally acting drugs and alcohol.
Because of its potential for inducing hypotension, olanzapine may enhance the effects of certain antihypertensive agents.
Olanzapine may antagonize the effects of levodopa and dopamine agonists.
The Effect of Other Drugs on Olanzapine
Agents that induce CYP1A2 or glucuronyl transferase enzymes, such as omeprazole and rifampin, may cause an increase in olanzapine clearance. Inhibitors of CYP1A2 could potentially inhibit olanzapine clearance. Although olanzapine is metabolized by multiple enzyme systems, induction or inhibition of a single enzyme may appreciably alter olanzapine clearance. Therefore, a dosage increase (for induction) or a dosage decrease (for inhibition) may need to be considered with specific drugs.
Charcoal
The administration of activated charcoal (1 g) reduced the Cmax and AUC of oral olanzapine by about 60%. As peak olanzapine levels are not typically obtained until about 6 hours after dosing, charcoal may be a useful treatment for olanzapine overdose.
Cimetidine and Antacids
Single doses of cimetidine (800 mg) or aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids did not affect the oral bioavailability of olanzapine.
Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine therapy (200 mg bid) causes an approximately 50% increase in the clearance of olanzapine. This increase is likely due to the fact that carbamazepine is a potent inducer of CYP1A2 activity. Higher daily doses of carbamazepine may cause an even greater increase in olanzapine clearance.
Ethanol
Ethanol (45 mg/70 kg single dose) did not have an effect on olanzapine pharmacokinetics.
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine (60 mg single dose or 60 mg daily for 8 days) causes a small (mean 16%) increase in the maximum concentration of olanzapine and a small (mean 16%) decrease in olanzapine clearance. The magnitude of the impact of this factor is small in comparison to the overall variability between individuals, and therefore dose modification is not routinely recommended.
Fluvoxamine
Fluvoxamine, a CYP1A2 inhibitor, decreases the clearance of olanzapine. This results in a mean increase in olanzapine Cmax following fluvoxamine of 54% in female nonsmokers and 77% in male smokers. The mean increase in olanzapine AUC is 52% and 108%, respectively. Lower doses of olanzapine should be considered in patients receiving concomitant treatment with fluvoxamine.
Warfarin
Warfarin (20 mg single dose) did not affect olanzapine pharmacokinetics.
Effect of Olanzapine on Other Drugs
In vitro studies utilizing human liver microsomes suggest that olanzapine has little potential to inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A. Thus, olanzapine is unlikely to cause clinically important drug interactions mediated by these enzymes.
Lithium
Multiple doses of olanzapine (10 mg for 8 days) did not influence the kinetics of lithium. Therefore, concomitant olanzapine administration does not require dosage adjustment of lithium.
Valproate
Studies in vitro using human liver microsomes determined that olanzapine has little potential to inhibit the major metabolic pathway, glucuronidation, of valproate. Further, valproate has little effect on the metabolism of olanzapine in vitro. In vivo administration of olanzapine (10 mg daily for 2 weeks) did not affect the steady state plasma concentrations of valproate. Therefore, concomitant olanzapine administration does not require dosage adjustment of valproate.
Single doses of olanzapine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of imipramine or its active metabolite desipramine, and warfarin. Multiple doses of olanzapine did not influence the kinetics of diazepam and its active metabolite N-desmethyldiazepam, ethanol, or biperiden. However, the co-administration of either diazepam or ethanol with olanzapine potentiated the orthostatic hypotension observed with olanzapine. Multiple doses of olanzapine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of theophylline or its metabolites.
Lorazepam
Administration of intramuscular lorazepam (2 mg) 1 hour after intramuscular olanzapine for injection (5 mg) did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of olanzapine, unconjugated lorazepam, or total lorazepam. However, this co-administration of intramuscular lorazepam and intramuscular olanzapine for injection added to the somnolence observed with either drug alone (see Hemodynamic Effects).
Generic Name: Olanzapine
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