Olanzapine
Brand names
Usage
To treat psychotic conditions
(severe mental disorders
characterized by distorted
thoughts and perceptions,
such as schizophrenia).
How it works
While the exact mechanism
of action of olanzapine is
unknown, it appears to alter
the activity of certain chemicals in the central nervous
system to produce a tranquilizing and antipsychotic effect.
Side effects
- Serious
- Stiffness; shuffling gait; difficulty swallowing or speaking;
persistent, uncontrolled chewing, lip-smacking, or tongue
movements; fever.
- Common
- Drowsiness, headache,
dizziness,
constipation,
dry mouth,
blurred vision, runny nose, weight gain.
- Less common
- Stomach pain, unclear speech or stuttering, muscle
tightness, faintness, increased appetite, increased
cough,
watering of mouth, insomnia,
joint pain,
nausea,
sore
throat, rapid heartbeat, increased thirst, urinary
incontinence, vomiting,
weight loss.
Possible interactions
- Other medicaments:
Olanzapine taken concurrently with:
- activated charcoal will decrease absorption of olanzapine.
- any medicine that has central nervous system activity may result in additive
effects.
- any medicine that can cause liver damage may result in additive liver problems.
- any sedative medicaments (prescription and nonprescription) can cause excessive
sedation.
- benzodiazepines may magnify the orthostatic
hypotension problem caused by olanzapine.
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) causes up to a 50% increase in removal of
olanzapine from the body; dosing increases in olanzapine appear prudent.
- fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin, may lead
to olanzapine toxicity.
- fluvoxamine (Luvox) may lead to olanzapine toxicity.
- lithium (Lithobid, others) may increase risk of serious nerve effects
- extreme care should be taken and patients closely monitored for signs of
toxicity and movement problems - especially if high doses of antipsychotic
medicaments and lithium are used. Call your doctor immediately if these signs or
symptoms begin.
The following medicaments may decrease the effects of olanzapine:
- Herbal medicines or minerals:
- Using kola or ma huang may result in
unacceptable central nervous system stimulation. Since part of the way
ginseng
works may be as a MAO inhibitor, do not combine ginseng with olanzapine.
Valerian and
kava kava may interact to increase drowsiness.
- Beverages:
- Grapefruit juice may decrease metabolism of olanzapine and lead to
toxicity.
- Alcohol:
- Avoid completely.
- Tobacco smoking:
- Olanzapine is removed from the body up to 40% faster in people who smoke
compared to those who do not.
- Marijuana smoking:
- Expected to cause an increase in drowsiness; accentuation
of orthostatic hypotension; increased risk of precipitating latent psychoses,
confusing the interpretation of mental status and medicament responses.
- Exposure to heat:
- This medicine can cause problems in regulating body
temperature (core temperature homeostasis). If you work or are frequently in
a hot environment, be careful to replace enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Heavy exercise or exertion:
- Since this medicine may cause problems in
temperature regulation, caution is advised.
- Discontinuation:
- Do not stop this medicine without first talking to your doctor.
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