What is Olanzapine? Uses, warnings & side effects

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Please read the Medication Guide that comes packaged with this medicine before using it.

Olanzapine tablets and orally disintegrating tablets can be taken with food or on an empty stomach.

How to take olanzapine tablets:

• Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.

• Store olanzapine tablets at room temperature in a dry place protected from light and moisture.

How to take olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets:

• Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the disintegrating tablet.

• Peel back the foil from the blister pack and then remove the tablet. Do not push the tablet through the foil.

• Immediately place the tablet in your mouth. 

• After it has melted, swallow or take a drink of water.

• Store olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets at room temperature in a dry place protected from light and moisture.

Take a missed dose as soon as you remember. 

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its regular time. 

Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

This medicine is not right for everyone. 

Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to olanzapine.

Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are taking olanzapine. 

The prescriber will need to schedule regular visits and blood tests to monitor the effects of olanzapine treatment. Keep all appointments.

Tell the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Heart problems

• A history of strokes or “mini-strokes”

• Liver problems

• Diabetes

• High or low blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Bowel obstruction

• Enlarged prostate

• Breast cancer

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Narrow-angle glaucoma

• Suicidal thoughts

Olanzapine can cause serious side effects, including:

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially life-threatening complication of antipsychotic medications

• Weight gain

• Changes in behavior or mood

• Suicidal thoughts

• High blood sugar

• High cholesterol and fat levels

• Low blood pressure when standing up or changing position

• Increased risk of falls and injuries

• Increased risk of infections

• Seizures

• Involuntary muscle movements of the face and body

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy, or it may cause trouble with thinking or controlling body movement. Accidental injury is a common side effect of olanzapine treatment. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. 

Olanzapine can cause lightheadedness or fainting when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. To avoid this problem, stand up slowly. If you feel dizzy or faint, sit or lie down until it passes.

This medicine may make it more difficult for your body to cool down. Be careful to avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise or hot weather.

The orally dissolving tablets may contain aspartame. People with phenylketonuria could experience a potentially severe reaction to these tablets.

Extended-release olanzapine injections can cause a serious problem called Post-injection Delirium Sedation (PDSS) within three hours of the injection. Patients or their caregivers should discuss this risk and its symptoms before starting the injection. People receiving extended-release injections will have to stay at the clinic or hospital for at least three hours after the injection for careful monitoring.

Talk to a doctor if symptoms do not improve or worsen.

Do not suddenly stop taking doses. The prescriber will need to slowly decrease the dose before the drug can be stopped completely.

To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements being taken.

Tell other healthcare providers you are using olanzapine before they prescribe new medications.

Do not take olanzapine tablets with other drugs that contain olanzapine, including Symbyax (olanzapine-fluoxetine) or Lybalvi (olanzapine-samidorphan).

Some medicines can affect how olanzapine works. Tell the prescriber if you are using:

• Antacids

• Carbamazepine, cimetidine, diazepam, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, omeprazole, or rifampin

Olanzapine can affect how other drugs work, so tell the prescriber about using any of the following drugs:

• Any drugs that affect the central nervous system, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, opioids, amphetamines, antidepressants, and similar drugs

• Blood pressure medications

• Drugs that affect heart rhythms

• Macrolide antibiotics

• Levodopa

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Avoid smoking. Tobacco may make olanzapine less effective.