Taking olanzapine for a long time can sometimes affect your cholesterol. If this happens, you may need to take a statin to help lower your cholesterol. Olanzapine helps to control your symptoms. Do not stop taking olanzapine suddenly otherwise your symptoms may come back. If you need to stop taking olanzapine, your doctor will help you come off it by reducing your dose gradually.
This will help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor first if you want to go onto a lower dose or to stop taking olanzapine. The antipsychotic medicine you are prescribed will depend on the type of symptoms you have, how bad your symptoms are, any other medical conditions you have and how well your medicine works for you.
You may have to try a few before you find the antipsychotic medicine that is right for you. It can take time to find the right type and dose to manage your symptoms. Different antipsychotic medicines have different side effects. Lithium is usually the first medicine used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium is a mood stabiliser, which means it helps to balance your mood and control symptoms of mania as well as depression.
Olanzapine also helps with symptoms of mania. However, you will need to take it with another medicine to also manage your depression symptoms. You can discuss with your doctor which treatment will be best for you. It will depend on the type of symptoms you have, any other medical conditions you have and whether you might be more likely to have side effects with some medicines. Your doctor will use other medicines as a first choice if you have anxiety. If you drink alcohol while taking olanzapine it may make you feel sleepy and unsteady on your feet.
Drinking alcohol every day or in large amounts can make your symptoms worse. It also makes it harder for olanzapine to work properly. You will not usually lose weight on olanzapine. It can make you feel more hungry than usual, so you may put on weight.
Try to eat a healthy balanced diet, without increasing your portion sizes. Do not snack on foods that contain a lot of calories, such as crisps, cakes, biscuits and sweets. If you feel hungry between meals, eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods. If you are worried about gaining or losing weight while taking olanzapine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Apart from limiting alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking olanzapine.
If you have an increased appetite, try to eat a healthy balanced diet without increasing your portion sizes. Olanzapine will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. Olanzapine can affect your hormones and sometimes causes sexual problems, such as less interest in sex reduced libido in men or women, and problems getting an erection. It can also affect periods.
If you would like to start a family, then talk to your doctor if you have any of these problems or if you have any concerns. Olanzapine is a type of medicine called an antipsychotic. Most antipsychotic medicines can cause sexual problems, but some are more likely to cause problems than others. If you feel you have a sexual problem of any kind while taking olanzapine, including less interest in sex reduced libido or problems getting an erection, talk to your doctor.
Your doctor will be able to help you and may change your olanzapine treatment so that the sexual problems improve or go away. Olanzapine can make you feel sleepy. If this happens to you, do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you feel better.
Some people find it hard to concentrate while they are taking olanzapine. When you first start taking it, it's a good idea to stop driving and cycling for the first few days until you know how the medicine makes you feel. Page last reviewed: 27 July Next review due: 27 July Olanzapine - Brand names: Zyprexa, Zentiva On this page About olanzapine Key facts Who can and cannot use olanzapine How and when to take olanzapine Side effects How to cope with side effects of olanzapine Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about olanzapine.
About olanzapine Olanzapine helps to manage symptoms of mental health conditions such as: seeing, hearing, feeling or believing things that others do not, feeling unusually suspicious or having muddled thoughts schizophrenia feeling agitated or hyperactive, very excited, elated, or impulsive mania symptoms of bipolar disorder If you have bipolar disorder, olanzapine can also stop your mania symptoms coming back. Olanzapine is only available with a prescription.
Olanzapine does not work straight away. It may take several days, or even weeks, for some of your symptoms to start improving. Soon after you first start taking olanzapine, before your other symptoms improve, it may make you feel more relaxed and calm.
Common side effects include: feeling sleepy, feeling dizzy, and constipation. It works by affecting the naturally occurring chemical messengers in your brain neurotransmitters , like dopamine and serotonin.
Olanzapine can be taken by adults aged 18 years and over. Dosage and strength Olanzapine tablets come in different strengths: 2.
How to take olanzapine Take olanzapine once a day, at the same time each day. You can take it with or without food. How to take tablets Swallow your tablet whole with a drink of water.
How to take tablets that dissolve in your mouth orodispersible Place the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve.
How to have injections Injections are given into the muscle of your buttock every 2 to 4 weeks by a doctor or nurse. Will my dose go up or down? What if I forget to take it? Update cookie preferences. Open guide menu Skip to guide menu. I am a young person I am a parent I work with young people.
Open site search Open main navigation. View shareable links View Basket : 0 items. Guide Menu for Olanzapine. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About olanzapine Olanzapine and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice. Olanzapine: what I wish I had known. Taking olanzapine and sertraline: Elizabeth's story. About olanzapine. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you.
Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide. How olanzapine works. Olanzapine and everyday life. Frequently asked questions. How long does it take to start working? If you have had no good effects after two to three weeks, your doctor may increase the dose or change the medicine Your doctor might start you on a low dose and then increase it slowly over two to four weeks to your full dose.
What effects will it have on my body? Talk to your doctor about this if it worries you. Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it? Can I drink alcohol, take street drugs and smoke cigarettes while taking it? Alcohol You can continue to drink some alcohol while taking olanzapine, but having the two together might make you very sleepy or make you fall over. If you drink a lot of alcohol, these effects will be much more serious.
Alcohol can also make the symptoms of your condition worse. Street drugs Antipsychotics block the effect of dopamine, so the 'high' you get from drugs that work by increasing levels of dopamine may not be as 'high' as before.
Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with olanzapine. It can also make your symptoms worse. All antipsychotics can reduce the stimulant effects of cocaine. Smoking If you start or stop smoking while you are taking olanzapine, you may have to change your dose.
Cigarette smoke affects the amount of olanzapine in your body. If you smoke, you may need a higher dose of olanzapine than someone who does not smoke. Tell your doctor if you smoke, so that you get the right dose for you. If you re start smoking, you may need to increase it again Go to your doctor for advice if you stop or start smoking. Can I take it with other medications?
Olanzapine does not mix well with some other medicines and drugs. Tell your doctor before you take olanzapine if you are taking any other medicines. I have allergies and food intolerances. Is there anything I need to know? Can I drive while taking it? Do not drive a car or ride a bike just after you start taking olanzapine. Olanzapine may make you feel tired or dizzy when you start taking it. Do not worry - most people drive as normal while taking olanzapine. Can I take it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pregnancy Olanzapine is not seen as high-risk during pregnancy and, if regular medicine is keeping you well, then changing your medication may be the greater risk. Post-natal Taking olanzapine close to delivery may lead to some discontinuation withdrawal effects in your baby. Breastfeeding may help with any discontinuation withdrawal effects.
Talk to your doctor or midwife about your feeding options. Will it affect my sex life or fertility? Sex Olanzapine can have side effects that might affect your sex life, but they should not last for long. These include: drop in libido how much you want to have sex difficulty getting an erection very occasionally breast growth and, in very rare instances, some milk flow, regardless of gender Some of these effects should pass after the first couple of weeks.
Fertility Olanzapine may increase the level of a hormone called prolactin in the body for a short time when you start taking it, but not to a very high level. Will it affect my ability to play sports? Olanzapine is not a banned substance in sport.
Do not worry - most people play sports as normal while taking olanzapine. Will it affect my ability to take exams? Try not to take olanzapine for the first time just before your exams. Olanzapine can make you feel tired and dizzy, and can affect your memory. You should talk to your doctor about any future exams if you are starting olanzapine.
You might decide together to delay starting it until you have done them. Do not worry - most people take exams as normal while taking olanzapine. Uses, warnings, safety and side effects. Taking olanzapine Warnings and safety Side effects Taking olanzapine How long will I need to take olanzapine for? Many people take olanzapine for a few years.
How long you need to take it will depend on what condition you are taking it for. You should only take olanzapine as agreed with your doctor. You may start with a low dose that increases slowly to your regular dose over the next few days.
You will usually take your dose once a day. You can take it before or after food. What if I miss a dose? If you remember later during the day, take it as soon as possible. It is very important to have the injection every two or four weeks. What will happen if I forget to take my olanzapine? Stopping the use of olanzapine. People usually take olanzapine for a long time, to keep their symptoms away. You can also get withdrawal effects, including: difficulty sleeping feeling or being sick It is better to agree stopping with a doctor who will reduce your dose gradually.
Warnings and safety Safety headlines. When to go to the hospital. It may not stop even when you stop taking the medication. If you notice it early and act with your doctor, the problem should not get worse.
When to see your doctor. The long-acting injection form of olanzapine is administered every 2 to 4 weeks. It should be administered by your health care professional through an injection into your buttocks area. A health care professional will keep you in a setting where you can be observed for at least 3 hours after each injection.
If you miss a dose of olanzapine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed. If you miss a dose of olanzapine long-acting injection, see your healthcare provider to receive your dose as soon as possible. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking olanzapine. They may decrease the benefits e. If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Low blood pressure, drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms, restlessness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, insomnia, increased prolactin, weight gain, increased appetite, dry mouth, indigestion, constipation, liver function test abnormalities, weakness, accidental injury.
Olanzapine may increase the blood levels of a hormone called prolactin. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems. Long term months or years of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis, or increased risk of bone fractures.
Some people may develop muscle related side effects while taking olanzapine. Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements. Temperature regulation: Impaired core body temperature regulation may occur; caution with strenuous exercise, heat exposure, and dehydration.
Second generation antipsychotics SGAs increase the risk of weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. This is also known as metabolic syndrome. Your healthcare provider may ask you for a blood sample to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c a measure of blood sugar over time while you take this medication.
All antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia irregular heartbeat. To minimize this risk, antipsychotic medications should be used in the smallest effective dose when the benefits outweigh the risks. Your doctor may order an EKG to monitor for irregular heartbeat. Symptoms include confusion, fever, extreme muscle stiffness, and sweating.
If any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider immediately. All antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, or orthostatic hypotension a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down.
These side effects may lead to falls which could cause bone fractures or other injuries. This risk is higher for people with conditions or other medications that could worsen these effects. If falls or any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider. Multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms [DRESS] : Potentially serious, sometimes fatal, multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.
Tardive dyskinesia TD is a side effect that develops with prolonged use of antipsychotics. If you develop symptoms of TD, such as grimacing, sucking, and smacking of lips, or other movements that you cannot control, contact your healthcare provider immediately. All patients taking either first or second generation antipsychotics should have an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale AIMS completed regularly by their healthcare provider to monitor for TD.
Second generation antipsychotics SGAs increase the risk of diabetes, weight gain, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Olanzapine may lower your blood pressure. Medications used to lower blood pressure may increase this effect. This risk is increased when these medications are given as an injection. Cigarette and other types of smoke can decrease levels of olanzapine. Let your healthcare provider know if you start or stop smoking cigarettes.
0コメント