Olanzapine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Zyprexa
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For olanzapine, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to olanzapine. Also tell your health care professional if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Olanzapine has not been studied in pregnant women.
A few women have become pregnant during treatment with this medicine; some
pregnancies were normal and some resulted in miscarriages. Olanzapine crosses
the placenta in animals and has been shown to cause a decrease in the number
of successful births.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether olanzapine passes into
human breast milk. However, it does pass into the milk of animals. In general,
breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with olanzapine.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of olanzapine
in children up to 18 years of age with use in other age groups.
Older adults - This medicine has been tested and has not been shown
to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in
younger adults. However, it is removed from the body more slowly in older
people.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Many different medicines can increase the chance that you will develop unwanted
effects while taking olanzapine. These effects include liver problems, heat
stroke, drowsiness, constipation, and dizziness or fainting when getting up
from a lying or sitting position
. When you are taking olanzapine, it
is especially important that your health care professional know if you are
taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC])
medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of olanzapine. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Alzheimer's disease - Risk of pneumonia and convulsions (seizures)
may be increased
-
Breast cancer (or history of) - Certain types of breast cancer
may be worsened
-
Convulsions (seizures) (existing or history of) - Olanzapine
has been reported to cause seizures rarely
-
Dehydration - Increased risk of heat stroke because olanzapine
affects the body's ability to cool itself
-
Enlarged prostate or
-
Glaucoma, narrow-angle or
-
Paralytic ileus (severe intestinal problem) (history of) - May
be worsened
-
Heart or blood vessel disease, including previous heart attack or
-
Poor circulation to the brain - Low blood pressure may be worsened
or may make these conditions worse
-
Liver disease - Olanzapine can cause liver problems
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