|
What is the most important information I should know about
olanzapine?
|
|
• |
Olanzapine is not for use in psychotic conditions that are
related to dementia. Olanzapine has caused fatal heart attack and stroke
in older adults with dementia-related conditions. |
|
• |
Olanzapine may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as
increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are
diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are
taking olanzapine. |
|
• |
Do not stop taking olanzapine without first talking to your
doctor. It may be at least 4 weeks before you begin to feel better, and
you may need to take the medication for longer than 4 weeks. Follow your
doctor's instructions. It is important to take olanzapine regularly to
get the most benefit. |
|
• |
Do not take olanzapine for longer than 8 weeks unless your
doctor has told you to. |
|
• |
Olanzapine can cause side effects that may impair your
thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that
requires you to be awake and alert. |
|
• |
Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a
sitting or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a
possible fall. |
|
• |
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side
effects of olanzapine. |
|
• |
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as
cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for
seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by
olanzapine. |
|
• |
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of
fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to
become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking
olanzapine. |
|
• |
Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medication. It works by
changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. |
|
• |
Olanzapine is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic
conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression). |
|
• |
Olanzapine may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide. |
|
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
olanzapine?
|
|
• |
Olanzapine is not for use in psychotic conditions that are
related to dementia. Olanzapine has caused fatal heart attack and stroke
in older adults with dementia-related conditions. |
|
• |
Before taking olanzapine, tell your doctor if you have: |
| |
· |
heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems; |
| |
· |
a history of heart attack or stroke; |
| |
· |
a history of breast cancer; |
| |
· |
a personal or family history of diabetes; |
| |
· |
an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating; |
|
• |
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to
use olanzapine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests
during treatment. |
|
• |
Olanzapine may cause you to have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Talk to your doctor if you have any signs of hyperglycemia such as
increased thirst or urination, excessive hunger, or weakness. If you are
diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are
taking olanzapine. |
|
• |
The olanzapine orally disintegrating tablet (Zyprexa Zydis)
may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of
olanzapine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). |
|
• |
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to
an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant during treatment. |
|
• |
Olanzapine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
|
How should I take olanzapine?
|
|
• |
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than
recommended by your doctor. |
|
• |
Do not take olanzapine for longer than 8 weeks unless your
doctor has told you to. |
|
• |
Take each tablet with a full glass of water. |
|
• |
Olanzapine can be taken with or without food. |
|
• |
Olanzapine is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's
instructions. |
|
• |
To take olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets (Zyprexa Zydis): |
| |
· |
Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the
medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet
blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the
tablet. |
| |
· |
Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It
will begin to dissolve right away. |
| |
· |
Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth
without chewing. |
| |
· |
Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may
drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet. |
|
• |
It is important to take olanzapine regularly to get the most benefit. |
|
• |
Do not stop taking olanzapine without first talking to your doctor.
It may be at least 4 weeks before you begin to feel better, and you may
need to take the medication for longer than 4 weeks. Follow your
doctor's instructions. It is important to take olanzapine regularly to
get the most benefit. |
|
• |
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor
will need to check your progress on a regular basis. It is important
that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. |
|
• |
Store olanzapine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
|
What happens if I miss a dose?
|
|
• |
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time
for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the
next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make
up the missed dose. |
|
What happens if I overdose?
|
|
• |
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much
of this medicine. Symptoms of an olanzapine overdose may include
drowsiness, agitation, aggression, slurred speech, confusion, increased
heart rate, jerky or uncontrolled muscle movements, trouble breathing,
or fainting. |
|
What should I avoid while taking olanzapine?
|
|
• |
Olanzapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or
reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to
be awake and alert. |
|
• |
Dizziness may be more likely to occur when you rise from a sitting
or lying position. Rise slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. |
|
• |
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects
of olanzapine. |
|
• |
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold
medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures,
depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by olanzapine. |
|
• |
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids,
especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become
dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking olanzapine. |
|
What are the possible side effects of olanzapine?
|
|
• |
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, confusion, 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, or balance; |
| |
· |
increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or weakness; |
| |
· |
feeling light-headed, fainting; or |
| |
· |
unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, or thoughts about
hurting yourself. |
|
• |
Continue taking olanzapine and talk to your doctor if you have any
of these less serious side effects: |
| |
· |
dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness; |
| |
· |
swelling in your hands or feet; |
| |
· |
weight gain, increased appetite; or |
|
• |
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
|
What other drugs will affect olanzapine?
|
|
• |
Before taking olanzapine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following medicines: |
| |
· |
a medication to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition; |
| |
· |
carbamazepine (Tegretol); |
| |
· |
fluvoxamine (Luvox); or |
| |
· |
a medication to treat Parkinson's disease including levodopa (Sinemet,
Larodopa, Atamet), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), pramipexole (Mirapex),
ropinirole (Requip), and others. |
|
• |
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
olanzapine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment. |
|
• |
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect olanzapine. Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without
telling your doctor. |
|
Where can I get more information?
|
|
• |
Your pharmacist has more information about olanzapine written for
health professionals that you may read. |
|
• |
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
|
• |
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.02. Revision date: 6/
30/ 06. |
