olanzapine

This medication is used to treat certain mental/mood conditions (such as schizophrenia, bipolar mania). It may also be used in combination with other medication to treat depression. It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters). Some of the benefits of continued use of this medication include feeling less nervous, better concentration, and reduced episodes of hallucinations. Talk to the doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment (especially when used in teenagers). See also Precautions section.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking olanzapine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Take exactly as directed by your doctor, usually once daily by mouth. Stand up slowly, especially when starting this medication, to avoid dizziness. After opening sachet, peel back the foil on the blister. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Instead, remove the tablet with dry hands and place the tablet in your mouth. It will start to dissolve immediately in saliva and can be swallowed with or without liquid. Do not open sachets for later use. Each must be opened just before taking each dose. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. The following medication should not be used with olanzapine because a very serious interaction may occur: sibutramine. If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting olanzapine. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: carbamazepine, fluvoxamine, drugs for high blood pressure, omeprazole, drugs for Parkinson's disease, rifampin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., fasting blood sugar-FBS, weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol/triglyceride levels, liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Go for regular eye exams as part of your regular health care, and to check for any unlikely, but possible, eye problems.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe drowsiness, slurred speech, slowed breathing, or seizures.

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 swallowing, tardive dyskinesia (see also Side Effects section), smoking, low white blood cell count. Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if either you or a family member has a history of the following: diabetes, heart disease, high blood cholesterol/triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, obesity. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. This medication can make you prone to heat stroke. Avoid activities that might cause you to overheat (e.g., doing strenuous work, exercising in hot weather, or using hot tubs). Teenagers may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially weight gain, and also increased amounts of cholesterol, triglycerides and prolactin. See also Side Effects section for more details. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness, drowsiness, or seizures. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from moisture and light as directed. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Dizziness, stomach pain, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To minimize dizziness or fainting, stand up slowly when arising from a seated or lying position; especially when you first start using this medication. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fast heartbeat, ankle/leg swelling, agitation, confusion, restlessness, weakness, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling of hands or feet, trouble walking (abnormal gait), painful menstrual periods, pink urine, tremor. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: yellowing of the eyes or skin, painful urination, other eye problems, seizures, difficulty swallowing, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat). Seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, headache. This drug may infrequently make your blood sugar level rise, which can cause or worsen diabetes. High blood sugar can rarely cause serious conditions such as diabetic coma. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, such as unusual increased thirst and urination. If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugars regularly. This drug may also cause significant weight gain and a rise in your blood cholesterol (or triglyceride) levels, especially in teenagers. These effects, along with diabetes, may increase your risk for developing heart disease. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor. (See also Notes section.) This medication may rarely cause a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Seek immediate medical attention if you develop the following: fever, muscle stiffness, severe confusion, sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat. Olanzapine may rarely cause a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. In some cases, this condition may be permanent. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any unusual/uncontrolled movements (especially of the face or tongue). In rare instances, this medication may increase your blood level of a certain hormone (prolactin). For females, this rare increase in prolactin levels may result in unwanted breast milk, the menstrual period stopping, or difficulty becoming pregnant. For males, it may result in decreased sexual ability, inability to produce sperm, or enlarged breasts. If you develop any of these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. For males, in the very unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This medication may also be used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy).

There may be a slightly increased risk of serious, possibly fatal side effects (such as stroke, heart failure) when this medication is used in elderly patients with dementia. Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication, as well as other effective and possibly safer treatments for dementia-related behavior problems, with your doctor. If you are using olanzapine in combination with other medication to treat depression, also carefully read the drug information for the other medication.