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Zyprexa Drug Information
Before you start taking the prescription drug Zyprexa® (olanzapine), information concerning the medication's effects, safety, and potential side effects should be reviewed with your healthcare provider in order to help ensure safe treatment.
Clinical studies have shown Zyprexa to be effective at treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. People taking the drug experienced improvements in their symptoms and had fewer relapses. Although Zyprexa is not a cure for these mental illnesses, it can help control symptoms.
Although most people respond well to Zyprexa, as with any medication, side effects are possible. Some of the most common side effects that have been reported with Zyprexa include weight gain, dry mouth, drowsiness, and constipation.
You should consult your healthcare provider before taking Zyprexa if you have:
- Glaucoma
- An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)
- A history of bowel blockage or obstruction
- Liver, kidney, or heart problems
- Diabetes
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
- Phenylketonuria
- Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension)
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
(Click Zyprexa for more information, including dosing guidelines, details on how the medication works, and other warnings and precautions.)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD