Olanzapine: Uses, uses and precautions

Olanzapine is a sedative or antipsychotic drug. It is used to treat various forms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or mania. So how is the drug used and what precautions should be taken when using it? Let's learn the necessary information about the drug olanzapine through the following SignsSymptomsList article.

Drugs with similar composition:

Film-coated tablets:

• 5 mg: Oliza-5, Opelan-5, Olanstad 5,...
• 7.5 mg: Manzura-7.5,…
• 10 mg: Oliza-10, Olmed 10mg, Opelan-10, Psycholanz-10,...

Dispersible tablets:

• 5 mg: Nykob 5mg, Olanzap 5, Olanzax 5 ODT,...
• 10 mg: Olanzap 10, Zolaxa Rapid, Zanobapine,...
• 15 mg: Zolaxa Rapid, AT Olanzapine ODT 15mg, Manzura-15,...
• 20 mg: Zolaxa Rapid, Olanzap 20…

content

• 1. What is Olanzapine?
• 2. Indications of the drug Olanzapine
• 3. Instructions for taking Olanzapine
• 4. Cases in which the drug should not be used
• 5. Precautions when using Olanzapine
• 6. Olanzapine side effects
• 7. Drug interactions when taking Olanzapine
• 8. Treatment of Olanzapine overdose
• 9. Special subjects using drugs
• 10. How to store medicine 

1. What is Olanzapine?

Olanzapine is an atypical sedative (antipsychotic). The drug has many different pharmacological properties from typical antipsychotic drugs such as less extrapyramidal syndrome, less prolactin secretion, less tardive dyskinesia with long-term treatment, effective on both positive and negative symptoms. negative and inhibitory effects of schizophrenia. The mechanism of action of olanzapine is complex and not entirely clear.

Olanzapine drug

2. Indications of the drug Olanzapine

Olanzapine is indicated for the treatment of:

• Schizophrenia, bipolar disease.
• Manic psychosis in adults and children 12-18 years of age (must be closely supervised by a specialist).
• Agitation or behavioral disturbances in schizophrenia, bipolar disease and mania in adults (administered intramuscularly).

3. Instructions for taking Olanzapine

Olanzapine is a medicine used only as prescribed by a doctor. The dose must be carefully individualized and the lowest effective dose used. Dosage should be gradually increased and divided into several doses during the day at the beginning of treatment to minimize unwanted effects.

How to use:

• With tablets: can be taken with meals or away from meals. Dispersible tablets should only be removed from the blister pack immediately before use, placed in the mouth immediately to be dissolved by saliva, and then swallowed with or without water. When using half of the dispersible tablet, the remaining tablet must be discarded immediately, do not leave in the tin blister for further use. If drowsiness persists, the daily dose may be used at bedtime.
• With intramuscular injection, medical staff will dissolve Olanzapine with distilled water for injection and use within 1 hour after dissolving. To be used only for deep intramuscular injection into large muscle areas.

4. Cases in which the drug should not be used

Do not use olanzapine for nursing women and people with hypersensitivity to olanzapine.

Particularly for intramuscular injection, not for people with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, hypotension, severe bradycardia, sinus node insufficiency syndrome, recent heart surgery, at risk of angle-closure glaucoma...

5. Precautions when using Olanzapine

Treatment of olanzapine in children 12-18 years of age requires close supervision by a specialist, as efficacy and safety have not been established in children under 18 years of age. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 tend to gain weight and increase blood lipids more than adults. A long-term risk assessment and treatment plan should be assessed prior to olanzapine use.

Precautions while using Olanzapine for humans:

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy, narrow-angle glaucoma or a history of paralytic ileus.
• Heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or conditions that can cause hypotension (dehydration, volume depletion, antihypertensive therapy)
• Diabetes or high blood sugar (fasting blood sugar 100-126 mg/dl). Blood glucose should be monitored during treatment.
• Elderly people, especially women.
• Impaired liver function, have a disease affecting liver function or are being treated with hepatotoxic drugs. Periodically measure transaminase levels during treatment.
• History of epilepsy, head trauma, or being treated with medications that may lower the seizure threshold.
• Heavy physical work, dehydration, treatment with other anticholinergic drugs. Temperature should be assessed.

The drug may impair concentration and motor activity associated with its sedative effects.

Co-administration of intramuscular olanzapine with injectable benzodiazepines is not recommended. In cases where treatment is imperative, close monitoring is required for the risk of excessive sedation, respiratory and cardiac depression.

6. Olanzapine side effects

The most common side effects of olanzapine use are:

• Central nervous system: somnolence, extrapyramidal syndrome, insomnia, dizziness, dysphonia, fever, nightmares, amnesia, mania.
• Digestive: Indigestion, constipation, weight gain, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, appetite.
• Liver: Increase ALT
• Musculoskeletal: Muscle weakness, tremors, falls, especially in the elderly.
• Cardiovascular: Hypotension , tachycardia, peripheral edema, chest pain.
• Skin: Burns
• Local: Pain at the injection site
• Endocrine, metabolic: Hypercholesterolemia, hyperprolactinemia, hyperglycemia , urinary bleeding.
• Eyes: Decreased vision, conjunctivitis.

If there are any unwanted effects when taking the drug, notify your doctor or pharmacist immediately. In severe cases, you can go to the nearest medical center for support.

7. Drug interactions when taking Olanzapine

• Olanzapine should not be combined with levomethadyl, metoclopramide.
• CNS depressants (alcohol, benzodiazepine derivatives); CYP450 inhibitors (cafein, cimetidine, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, quinidine, fluvoxamine); Dopamine, adrenaline, and other beta-adrenoceptors increase the effects and toxicity of olanzapine.
• CYP450 inducers (phenobabital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin, omeprazole, nicotine) decrease the effect of olanzapine.
• Olanzapine drugs increase the effects and toxicity of anticholinergic drugs, antihypertensive drugs and reduce the effects and toxicity of drugs used to treat Parkinson 's disease .

Inform your doctor about the drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal medicines, etc.), foods that you are using. If you notice any unusual signs while taking the drug, immediately notify your pharmacist or doctor.

8. Treatment of Olanzapine overdose

Symptom:

• Overdose above 200 mg can be fatal.
• Symptoms usually appear within 1-2 hours, maximum effect in 4-6 hours after dosing, include: agitation, tachycardia, dilated pupils, extrapyramidal symptoms, muscle spasticity , increased salivation, impaired consciousness, coma. Occasionally there is cardiac and respiratory arrest, tachyarrhythmias, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, seizures, hypertension or hypotension.

If you have any unusual symptoms after taking an overdose of olanzapine, you should immediately go to the nearest medical facility for timely treatment.

9. Special subjects using drugs

Use with caution in pregnant women. Weigh the risks and benefits before starting treatment.

Olanzapine is excreted in milk and may cause CNS depression in nursing infants. Olanzapine should be avoided in lactating or non-lactating women when treatment of the mother is imperative.

10. How to store medicine 

• Tablets should be stored in sealed containers at a temperature not exceeding 30oC.
• Dispersible tablets are stored in sealed tin blisters, at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.
• Solution for intramuscular injection should be used within 1 hour of reconstitution and stored at 20-25oC during this time.

Olanzapine is a sedative or antipsychotic drug. It is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or mania. Above is the reference information from SignsSymptomsList about the drug olanzapine. The drug must be used under the strict supervision of a doctor. If you have any concerns, contact your neurologist or pharmacist for specific advice.