Zyprexa
® (
olanzapine) is a prescription medication approved to treat several conditions, including
schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder. Zyprexa is a medicine that belongs to a group of drugs called atypical (or second-generation)
antipsychotic medications and is only approved for use in adults.
Although it is not entirely clear how Zyprexa works for the treatment of schizophrenia or
bipolar disorder, it is known that it blocks or lessens the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These brain chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) may be elevated in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (also known as
manic depression).
This medication is not a cure for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder; Zyprexa only helps to control symptoms.
Clinical studies have shown that using Zyprexa for bipolar disorder is an effective treatment. In these studies, the medication was effective when used alone or with other bipolar disorder medications.
(Click Zyprexa for more information on this product. This article also discusses how the medication works, general dosing guidelines, and potential side effects.)
