Zyprexa (Olanzapine) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 16, 2012

Zyprexa

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Anxiety is both a normal and useful response to potentially stressful or dangerous situations. It helps by increasing our awareness of what's going on around us and in other ways. For most people, the anxiety is short lived and normally goes away once the situation has passed. But that is not the case for an estimated 40 million adults in the United States who have some type of anxiety disorder and experience ongoing and unwarranted psychological distress. That distress may also manifest itself in physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, or chest pain.

Anxiety medications include multiple types of drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications -- also known as anxiolytics -- and beta-blockers. The first two types of anxiety medications work primarily by affecting the ba...

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Zyprexa

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ZYPREXA
(olanzapine) Tablet for Oral use

ZYPREXA ZYDIS
(olanzapine) Tablet, Orally Disintegrating for Oral use

ZYPREXA
IntraMuscular (olanzapine) Injection, Powder, For Solution for Intramuscular use

WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. ZYPREXA (olanzapine) is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and PATIENT INFORMATION].

When using ZYPREXA (olanzapine) and fluoxetine in combination, also refer to the Boxed Warning section of the package insert for Symbyax.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

ZYPREXA (olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic that belongs to the thienobenzodiazepine class. The chemical designation is 2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno[2,3-b] [1,5]benzodiazepine. The molecular formula is C₁₇H₂₀N₄S, which corresponds to a molecular weight of 312.44. The chemical structure is:

ZYPREXA
(olanzapine) Structural Formula Illustration

Olanzapine is a yellow crystalline solid, which is practically insoluble in water.

ZYPREXA (olanzapine) tablets are intended for oral administration only.

Each tablet contains olanzapine equivalent to 2.5 mg (8 µmol), 5 mg (16 µmol), 7.5 mg (24 µmol), 10 mg (32 µmol), 15 mg (48 µmol), or 20 mg (64 µmol). Inactive ingredients are carnauba wax, crospovidone, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and other inactive ingredients. The color coating contains Titanium Dioxide (all strengths), FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake (15 mg), or Synthetic Red Iron Oxide (20 mg). The 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg tablets are imprinted with edible ink which contains FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake.

ZYPREXA ZYDIS (olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets) is intended for oral administration only.

Each orally disintegrating tablet contains olanzapine equivalent to 5 mg (16 µmol), 10 mg (32 µmol), 15 mg (48 µmol) or 20 mg (64 µmol). It begins disintegrating in the mouth within seconds, allowing its contents to be subsequently swallowed with or without liquid. ZYPREXA ZYDIS (olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets) also contains the following inactive ingredients: gelatin, mannitol, aspartame, sodium methyl paraben, and sodium propyl paraben.

ZYPREXA IntraMuscular (olanzapine for injection) is intended for intramuscular use only.

Each vial provides for the administration of 10 mg (32 µmol) olanzapine with inactive ingredients 50 mg lactose monohydrate and 3.5 mg tartaric acid. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added during manufacturing to adjust pH.

What are the possible side effects of olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using olanzapine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, stiff muscles, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats;
jerky muscle movements you cannot control;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech,...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Zyprexa »

What are the precautions when taking olanzapine (Zyprexa)?

Before taking olanzapine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have a history of the following: neuroleptic malignant syndrome (see also Side Effects section).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems, low blood pressure, breast cancer, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, seizures, prostate problems, glaucoma (narrow angle type), intestinal disease, difficulty...

Read All Potential Precautions of Zyprexa »

Last reviewed on RxList: 1/18/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.