Olanzapine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What drug Olanzapine?

What is Olanzapine for?

Olanzapine is a drug used to treat certain mental or mood conditions (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). This medication may also be used in combination with other medications for the treatment of depression. This medication can help to reduce hallucinations and help you to think more clearly and positively about yourself, feel less restless, and be more active in your daily life.

Olanzapine belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain.

Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of medication (especially when used by teens).

OTHER USES: This section lists uses for this drug that are not listed on approved labels, but may be prescribed by your healthcare professional. Use this medication for the conditions listed below only if it has been prescribed by your doctor and health care professional.

This drug can also be used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment (chemotherapy).

How do I use Olanzapine?

Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this drug at a low dose and gradually increase the dose. Follow the doctor's instructions carefully.

Use this remedy regularly to get its benefits. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day. Continue to take this medication as prescribed even if you feel better. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is Olanzapine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Olanzapine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Olanzapine for adults?

Usual Adult Dose for Bipolar Disorder

Oral (monotherapy)

Initial dose: 10 to 15 mg orally once a day.

Oral (combination therapy with lithium or valproate)

Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day.

Injection, Initial dose: 10 mg IM once.

Usual Adult Dose for Schizophrenia

Oral

Initial dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day.

Short injection, Initial dose: 10 mg IM once.

What is the dosage of Olanzapine for children?

Children's Dose for Schizophrenia

8 to 12 years (limited data available)

Initial: 2.5-5 mg once a day; dosage is increased in increments of 2.5 or 5 mg at weekly intervals for a target dose of 10 mg once daily. Maximum dose: 20 mg / day.

Ages 13 to 17 years

Initial dose: 2.5-5 mg orally once a day.

Usual Children's Dose for Bipolar Disorder

4 to 5 years: Limited data available

Initial: 1.25 mg orally once a day; increased at weekly intervals according to response and tolerability to target dose: 10 mg / day.

6 to 12 years: Limited data available

Initial: 2.5 mg orally once a day; the dose is increased in increments of 2.5 or 5 mg at weekly intervals to achieve the target dose of 10 mg once daily. Maximum dose: 20 mg / day.

Ages 13 to 17 years

Initial dose: 2.5 mg to 5 mg orally once a day.

Usual children's dosage for anorexia nervosa

9 years and older (limited available data): 1.25-2.5 mg orally once a day has been shown in one small trial and several case reports to relieve BMI and other symptoms of related illness (e.g. eating attitude, anxiety) . Another case used an initial dose of 2.5 mg once daily and a final dose of 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. Reported range: 1.25-12.5 mg / day. However, having higher doses (greater than 2.5 mg once daily) could not be associated with greater efficacy. Further study is required.

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Usual Pediatric Dose for Tourette Syndrome

7 years and older: limited data available.

The patient weighs less than 40 kg

Initial: 2.5 mg orally daily for 3 days, increasing to 2.5 mg daily during the following week, increasing to 5 mg / day on the second week if needed, then increasing in 5 mg increments at weekly intervals as appropriate. tolerated. Maximum dose: 20 mg / day.

The patient weighs more than 40 kg

Initial: 2.5 mg daily for 3 days, increasing to 5 mg daily for the next week if needed, then increasing in 5 mg increments at weekly intervals as tolerated. Maximum dose: 20 mg / day.

An open study of 10 pediatric patients (7-13 years) reported a significant reduction in tic severity from baseline at a mean final dose of 14.5 mg / day after 8 weeks of treatment. An open label trial of 12 children and adolescents (7 to 14 years) reported a significant reduction (30%) in total tic severity (YGTSS) with a mean final dose of 11.3 mg / day (range: 2.5 to 20). mg / day).

In what dosage is Olanzapine available?

Powder for solution, intramuscular: 10 mg / 2 mL.

Olanzapine side effects

What side effects can I experience due to Olanzapine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: nausea, vomiting, sweating, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or feel like you might pass out.

Stop using olanzapine and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, tremors, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat, slow heart rate, feeling like you might pass out;
• twitching or involuntary movements of the eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs
• difficulty speaking or swallowing
• dry mouth, thirst, feeling very hot (with or without sweating), urinating less than usual or not at all
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, loss of appetite, bad breath, increased urination, drowsiness, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting)
• sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in mouth and throat
• swelling in the hands or feet
• changes in personality, unusual experiences or behavior, hallucinations, or thoughts of hurting yourself
• upper stomach pain, hives, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

Less serious side effects may include:

• weight increases (more likely in adolescents), increased appetite
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired or restless
• memory problems
• abdominal pain, constipation, loss of bladder control
• back pain, pain in the arm or leg
• numbness or a stinging feeling in the skin
• swollen or oozing breasts (in women or men)
• missed menstrual periods

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Olanzapine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Olanzapine?

Before using olanzapine,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to olanzapine or any other medications
• tell your doctor and pharmacist about the prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following: other anticoagulants such as antidepressants; antihistamines; carbamazepine (Tegretol); dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline (Dostinex), levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa), pergolid (Permax), and ropinirol (Requip); fluoroquinolone antibiotics include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), others; fluvoxamine (Luvox); ipratropium (Atrovent); medicine for anxiety, high blood pressure, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; omeprazole (Prilosec); rifampin (Rifadin); sedative; sleeping pills; ticlopidine (Ticlid); and sedatives. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
• tell your doctor if you use or have ever used drugs or have overused certain prescription drugs and if you have or have had a stroke, mini-stroke, heart disease or heart attack, irregular heartbeat, seizures, breast cancer, any condition makes it difficult for you to swallow, high or low blood pressure, high levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood, low white blood cell counts, liver or prostate disease, paralytic ileus (a condition in which food cannot move through the intestines); glaucoma (an eye condition), or high blood sugar, or if you or someone in your family has or has ever had diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have vomiting or diarrhea or signs of dehydration now, or if you experience any of these symptoms at any time during your treatment. Additionally tell your doctor if you have ever had to stop taking medication for mental illness because of severe side effects
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, especially if you are in the last few months of your pregnancy, or if you plan to become pregnant or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using olanzapine, call your doctor. Olanzapine can cause problems in the newborn after delivery if it is used during the last months of pregnancy
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about using olanzapine
• You should know that olanzapine can make you sleepy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you
• You should know that alcohol can increase the drowsiness caused by this drug. Do not drink alcohol while using olanzapine
• tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Smoking can decrease the effectiveness of this drug
• You should know that you may experience hyperglycemia (an increase in your blood sugar level) while you are taking this medicine, even if you don't have diabetes yet. If you have schizophrenia, you are more likely to have diabetes than people who don't have schizophrenia, and taking the drug olanzapine or a similar drug can increase this risk. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking olanzapine: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness. Call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, as high blood sugar can lead to a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening if not treated at an early stage. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include: dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, fruity breath, and decreased consciousness.
• You should know that olanzapine can cause a fast or slow heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is when you first start taking olanzapine. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up
• You should know that olanzapine can make it harder for your body to cool down when exercising. Tell your doctor if you plan to do strenuous exercise or are exposed to extreme heat
• if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation) you should know that the disintegrating oral tablet contains aspartame which forms phenylalanine
• You should know that when olanzapine is used to treat adolescents, it should be used as part of a total care program which may include counseling and educational support. Make sure that your child follows all the doctor's and / or the therapist's instructions

Is Olanzapine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Olanzapine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Olanzapine?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval

• Tramadol, because the risk of seizures can increase
• Alpha-blockers (for example, doxazosin), diazepam, or medications for high blood pressure because the risk of low blood pressure and fainting may increase
• Anticholinergics (for example, scopolamine), benzodiazepines (for example, lorazepam), or fluvoxamine because they can increase the risk of olanzapine side effects
• Carbamazepine, protease inhibitors (for example, ritonavir), omeprazole, or rifampin because these drugs can decrease the effectiveness of olanzapine
• Dopamine receptor agonists (for example, pramipexole) or levodopa because the effectiveness of these drugs may be decreased by olanzapine

Can food or alcohol interact with Olanzapine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Olanzapine?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems such as:

• vascular disease or circulation problems
• dehydration
• heart attack or stroke, including if there is a history
• heart disease
• heart failure
• heart rhythm problems
• hypotension (low blood pressure)
• hypovolemia (low blood volume). Might make side effects worse
• breast cancer, prolactin dependence
• narrow-angle glaucoma
• hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol or fat in the blood)
• hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin in the blood)
• liver disease
• Paralytic ileus (severe bowel problem), including if there is a history
• prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate)
• seizures, history. Use with care. This medicine can make the condition worse
• diabetes
• hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Use with care. This medicine may increase blood sugar levels
• phenylketonuria (PKU, a genetic metabolic disease) - the disintegrating oral tablet (Zyprexa® Zydis®) contains phenylalanine, which can make this condition worse

Olanzapine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.