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Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1- To treat split personality (schizophrenia) 2- To treat bipolar I disorder |
| Common Side Effects | 1- Bloating or swelling on face, arms, hands, lower legs or feet 2- Blurred vision 3- Clumsiness or unsteadiness 4- Drooling 5- Slurred speech 6- Restlessness |
| Additional Information | Do not take olanzapine before driving, as it may make you feel drowsy. |
| Storage | 1- The medicine should be stored at room temperature 2- Keep away from sunlight and moisture 3- Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | The medicine should be taken orally |
Olanzapine Summary
Olanzapine 2.5 mg is an antipsychotic medication used to manage conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. It works by balancing brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin to help with symptoms such as mood swings, delusions, and hallucinations. Take it exactly as prescribed, at the same time each day, and don’t stop suddenly – even if you feel better. Side effects can include weight gain, drowsiness, restlessness, or changes in movement. People with liver issues, diabetes, high cholesterol, or those who are pregnant or elderly should talk to their doctor before starting. Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and tobacco while on olanzapine, as they can affect how the medicine works. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember – unless it’s almost time for the next one. Store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and kids. Taking too much can be dangerous, so stick to your prescribed dose and reach out to your doctor if you have any concerns or unusual symptoms.
Olanzapine Uses
Olanzapine 2.5 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the class of antipsychotic medicines. It is used for following indications:
- To treat split personality (schizophrenia)
- To treat bipolar, I disorder
Directions for Use
- Take olanzapine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, regularly at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking olanzapine without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take the medicine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for the next one, then just skip it.
Olanzapine side effects
More Common
- Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- Blurred vision
- Change in vision
- Change in walking and balance
- Clumsiness or unsteadiness
- Difficulty with speaking
- Difficulty with swallowing
- Drooling
- Impaired vision
- Inability to sit still
- Loss of balance control
- Mask-like face
- Muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
- Need to keep moving
- Rapid weight gain
- Restlessness
- Shuffling walk
- Slowed movements
- Slurred speech
- Stiffness of the arms and legs
- Tic-like (jerky) movements of the head, face, mouth, and neck
- Tingling of the hands or feet
- Trembling or shaking of the fingers, hands, feet, legs, or arms
- Twisting movements of the body
- Uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
- Unusual weight gain or loss
Less Common
- Bladder pain
- Bloody or cloudy urine
- Bruising
- Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
- Chest pain
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Difficult, burning, or painful urination
- Dizziness
- Excessive muscle tone
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Headache
- Inability to move the eyes
- Increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
- Itching of the vagina or genital area
- Lack of coordination
- Large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
- Loss of bladder control
- Loss of memory
- Lower back or side pain
- Muscle tension or tightness
- Nervousness
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pounding in the ears
- Problems with memory
- Rhythmic movement of the muscles
- Slow, fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- Speaking is less clear than usual
- Sticking out the tongue
- Thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
- Tightness in the chest
- Twitching
- Uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
- Unusual or incomplete body or facial movements
- Weakness of the arms and legs
How Olanzapine works
Olanzapine is an atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic medication that works by reducing the action of certain chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. This action helps improve symptoms in patients experiencing poor attention, hallucinations, delusions, and slurred speech.
Safety Measures and Warning
đź“Ś Liver Disease
Olanzapine starts working after being metabolized in the liver. Patients with liver dysfunction should inform their doctor before starting the medication.
đź“Ś Pregnancy
Women exposed to olanzapine during their third trimester of pregnancy may give birth to infants with conditions like feeding disorders and respiratory distress. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy.
đź“Ś Breastfeeding
Trace amounts of olanzapine have been found in breastfeeding women, which are considered safe for the infant.
đź“Ś Diabetic Patient
Olanzapine may increase the amount of sugar in your body. If you have diabetes, then inform your doctor before taking the medicine.
đź“Ś High Cholesterol Level
Olanzapine increases the amount of cholesterol in your body, which can be problematic for patients with pre-existing hypercholesterolemia.
đź“Ś Geriatric Patients
Elderly patients with dementia along with psychosis should not be prescribed the olanzapine.
Olanzapine Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking olanzapine 2.5 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Olanzapine Interaction with Food Product
Olanzapine can interact with certain substances, so it’s important to be mindful of what you consume while taking it. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interfere with how the medication is processed in your body, potentially leading to harmful effects, so it’s best to avoid them. Similarly, using tobacco products can reduce the effectiveness of olanzapine, making the treatment less beneficial. To get the most out of your medication, steer clear of both grapefruit and tobacco before and after taking olanzapine.
Storage
- The medicine should be stored at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep away from the reach of children
Olanzapine Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name-
2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno[2,3-b]benzodiazepine
Intake routine/cycle
đź“Ś Daily Dose
Take Olanzapine 2.5 mg tablet as prescribed by your doctor. Your dose can vary depending on the severity of the depression or bipolar disorder and how your body responds to the medication. Do not exceed the prescribed dose without consulting your doctor.
đź“Ś Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
đź“Ś Overdose
A dose of more than 560 mg of olanzapine is considered an overdose. Symptoms may include agitation, dysarthria, low blood pressure, or sedation. Such cases require immediate medical attention to manage potential complications effectively.
FAQ’s
1. What are some olanzapine withdrawal symptoms?
➡️ Withdrawal symptoms can occur when you’ve been taking olanzapine for a long time and suddenly stop, as your body needs time to adjust to the change. Some common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, sweating or chills, tremors, anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. These reactions are your body’s way of responding to the absence of the medication, so it’s important to taper off gradually under medical supervision.
2. Does olanzapine cause sleep?
➡️ Yes, olanzapine can induce sleep during the daytime, as it is one of its side effects.
3. Which is better: generic olanzapine or branded olanzapine?
➡️ A study conducted with 25 patients who were given generic olanzapine as a substitute for the branded version found no significant impairment in its effectiveness for treating schizophrenia. The study concluded that generic olanzapine can be used as a substitute for branded olanzapine.
Reference
- Mayo Clinic. Schizophrenia [Internet]. Mayo Clinic; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 9]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic. Olanzapine (Oral Route) Side Effects [Internet]. Mayo Clinic; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 9]. Available from.
- Patel KR, Cherian J, Gohil K, Atkinson D. Schizophrenia: Overview and Treatment Options [Internet]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 9]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic. Bipolar Disorder [Internet]. Mayo Clinic; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 9]. Available from.
- Medindia. Olanzapine Drug-Food Interactions [Internet]. Medindia; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 9]. Available from.
- Italiano D, Bruno A, Santoro V, Lanza G, Muscatello MR, Zoccali R, Spina E. Generic olanzapine substitution in patients with schizophrenia: assessment of serum concentrations and therapeutic response after switching. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. 2015 Dec 1;37(6):827-30. Available from.