What is Zyprexa: How to use, dosage, Side effects

What is Zyprexa

ZYPREXA belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. It helps to correct chemical imbalances in the brain, which may cause mental illness. ZYPREXA is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and related psychoses. Schizophrenia is a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behavior. This medication alone, or in combination with lithium or valproate, is used for the short-term treatment of acute manic episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder. ZYPREXA is also a mood stabilizer that prevents further occurrences of the disabling high and low (depressed) extremes of mood associated with Bipolar I Disorder. Bipolar I Disorder is a mental illness with symptoms such as feeling "high", having excessive amounts of energy, needing much less sleep than usual, talking very quickly with racing ideas and sometimes severe irritability. Zyprexa is the brand name of olanzapine, a prescription drug used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It's also used to depression when used with other medications.

This drug is part of a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, which work to help restore the balance of dopamine, natural substances in your brain known as a neurotransmitter. By taking this drug you may be able to decrease hallucinations, reduce feelings of agitation, and think more clearly and positively.

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How to use Zyprexa

ZYPREXA tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. ZYPREXA Zydis wafers: Do not handle the wafers with wet hands as the wafers may break up. ZYPREXA Zydis wafers break easily, so you should handle them carefully. The wafers can be taken two ways: • Directly into your mouth • In a drink to take a wafer directly into your mouth: 1. Hold the blister strip at the edges and separate one blister cell from the rest of the strip by NZ ZYPREXA® & ZYPREXA Zydis v6.1 3 gently tearing along the perforations around it. 2. Carefully peel off the coloured backing. 3. Gently push the wafer out. 4. Put the wafer in your mouth. It will dissolve directly in your mouth, so that it can be easily swallowed. To take a wafer in a drink: You can also place the wafer in a full glass or cup of water, orange juice, apple juice, milk or coffee, and stir. Drink it straight away. With some drinks, the mixture may change colour and possibly become cloudy. Do not place the wafer in cola drinks.

Dosage of Zyprexa

The starting usage dose generally begines with 5 to 10 mg, with a target dose of 10 mg/day within several days. Further dosage adjustments, if indicated, should generally occur at intervals of not less than 1 week, since steady state for olanzapine would not be achieved for approximately 1 week in the typical patient. When dosage adjustments are necessary, dose increments/decrements of 5 mg QD are recommended.

Efficacy in schizophrenia was demonstrated in a dose range of 10 to 15 mg/day in clinical trials. However, doses above 10 mg/day were not demonstrated to be more efficacious than the 10 mg/day dose. An increase to a dose greater than the target dose of 10 mg/day (i.e., to a dose of 15 mg/day or greater) is recommended only after clinical assessment. Olanzapine is not indicated for use in doses above 20 mg/day.

Side effects of Zyprexa

Like other drugs Zyprexa has some common and other vaious unwanted effects that must be cared by the patients and must be informed to the doctor right away that they are seen or not they may lead to other serious problems. Be careful to the list below of these 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

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

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Please if you have any questions about Zyprexa, you can ask us by commenting below this text, we'll answer you as soon as possible.

Drugs may interact with Zyprexa

Using Zyprexa with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. They can add to the side effects of Zyprexa.

Here is Common medications checked in combination with Zyprexa (olanzapine)

Abilify (aripiprazole)

Adderall (amphetamine / dextroamphetamine)

Ambien (zolpidem)

Ativan (lorazepam)

Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

caffeine (Vivarin, Alert, NoDoz, Cafcit, Keep Going, Jet Alert Regular Strength, Jet Alert Double Strength, Jet Alert Maximum Strength, ConRx Alert, Pep-Back ReCharge, Pep-Back Peak Performance, Caffedrine, Keep Alert, Stay Awake, Verv, Stat Awake, Stay Alert, NoDoz Maximum Strength, Wakespan, Lucidex, Diurex Maximum Relief Water Caps, Diurex Ultra, Pep-Back Ultra, 357 HR Magnum, Enerjets, Fastlene, Molie, Overtime, Valentine)

Celexa (citalopram)

clonazepam (Klonopin, Klonopin Wafer)

Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Depakote (divalproex sodium)

gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone, Fanatrex)

Klonopin (clonazepam)

Lamictal (lamotrigine)

Latuda (lurasidone)

levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint, Levothroid, Eltroxin, Levothyrox, Unithroid, Euthyrox, Levo-T, L Thyroxine Roche, Novothyrox, Levotabs, Oroxine, Eutroxsig, Tirosint-Sol, Levotec, Evotrox)

Lexapro (escitalopram)

lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil, Qbrelis)

lithium (Lithium Carbonate ER, Eskalith, Lithobid, Eskalith-CR, Lithonate, Lithotabs)

melatonin (Melatonin Time Release, Bio-Melatonin, Health Aid Melatonin, SGard, VesPro Melatonin)

Norco (acetaminophen / hydrocodone)

omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid (Original Formulation), Omesec)

phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira, Fastin, Ionamin, Suprenza, Teramine, Phentride, T-Diet, Obenix, Atti-Plex P, Pro-Fast HS, Phentercot, Oby-Cap, Obephen, Panshape M, Pro-Fast SR, Zantryl, Oby-Trim, Pro-Fast SA, Teramine ER)

Prozac (fluoxetine)

Remeron (mirtazapine)

Seroquel (quetiapine)

trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro, Desyrel Dividose)

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Xanax (alprazolam)

Zoloft (sertraline)

Warnings of Zyprexa

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems, seizures, difficulty swallowing, low white blood cell count, dementia, difficulty urinating (for example, due to enlarged prostate), glaucoma (narrow angle), stomach/intestinal disease (such as blockage, paralytic ileus), smoking, personal or family history of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, breathing trouble during sleep (sleep apnea).

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana.

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 drowsiness, constipation, trouble urinating, confusion, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, and lightheadedness can increase the risk of falling.

This medication may make you sweat less, making you more likely to get heat stroke. Avoid doing things that may cause you to overheat, such as hard work or exercise in hot weather, or using hot tubs. When the weather is hot, drink a lot of fluids and dress lightly. If you overheat, quickly look for a place to cool down and rest. Get medical help right away if you have a fever that does not go away, mental/mood changes, headache, or dizziness.

Since untreated mental/mood problems (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression) can be a serious condition, do not stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, immediately discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medication during pregnancy.

Zyprexa while Pregnancy

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Babies born to mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may rarely develop symptoms including muscle stiffness or shakiness, drowsiness, feeding/breathing difficulties, or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn especially during their first month, tell the doctor right away.

Please if you have any questions about Zyprexa, you can ask us by commenting below this text, we'll answer you as soon as possible.