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Brand names :: - Zyprexa I was on this drug for about 5 years. It was supposed to help my moods. It made me fat. Everyone I know who takes this drug puts on significant weight. It is a bad side effect because the doctors are continually telling you to lose the weight. And you can't!. Never mind your own self-image. I stopped this drug and i don't know why. I don't miss it because of the weight thing. It is one of those drugs I have no idea if it helped me. So I am assuming it didn't. I have been off it for about a year or so now and I am still "fat". Olanzapine - is called an "atypical antipsychotic" medication. According to the manufacturer, Eli Lilly, it was the first in this group to be approved for the short-term treatment of bipolar mania, where it acts as a mood stabilizer, and for long-term therapy for schizophrenia, where it helps to control hallucinations, delusions, apathy and withdrawal. The manufacturer recommends that a patient take Zyprexa at the same time daily; if you miss a dose by more than half a day or so, do not take the missed dose, just start again at your regular time. It is not necessary to take this medication with food. Alcohol should not be used when taking Olanzapine. Most people feel the effects of Zyprexa within a week of beginning treatment, but various factors can reduce or extend this time period. This drug has been found effective for treating dementia in Alzheimer's patients and for juvenile bipolar disorder (patients 5-14 were included in the study). Unfortunately, weight gain was a significant side effect in the juvenile study. Drug Interactions of Importance to Bipolars Carbamazepine / Tegretol, Others - may cause Zyprexa to pass through the system more quickly, thus making it less effective. Fluvoxamine / Luvoxx - slows the rate at which Zyprexa clears out of the system. A lower dose than would otherwise be prescribed may be best for someone taking both Zyprexa and Luvoxx. Food Interaction Olanzapine tablets contain lactose. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are lactose-intolerant before accepting a prescription for Zyprexa. Pregnancy/Breast-feeding No studies have established the effect of Olanzapine during pregnancy or nursing, but based on animal testing, the manufacturer recommends not taking this drug at either time. Side Effects The most commonly reported side effects are:
In one long-term, more than half of patients experienced significant weight gain - more than 7% of their original body weight. In another study, just under one-quarter of patience gained that much weight. One study indicated that the ulcer drug Nizatine (Axid) cut the weight gain associated with Zyprexa in half, but Axid has not been approved for this kind of use. Patients are urged to increase exercise and moderate diet when taking Zyprexa. Alerts A rare but very dangerous side effect of this class of drugs is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal combination of symptoms. Signs of NMS include muscle rigidity, altered mental status, high fever, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and cardiac dysrhythmia. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially irreversible, involuntary movement that may develop. The highest prevalence of TD is in the elderly, particularly women. On the other hand, Zyprexa was found in one study to be helpful in reducing Tardive Dyskinesia in a study of schizophrenic patients who already suffered from TD symptoms. It has been reported that increased sensitivity to heat may occur due to reduced sweating. Be sure to drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather or before and after exercising. According to the manufacturer, some studies have shown that there is a possibility of a small increase in blood sugar levels when taking Zyprexa and similar drugs. I was unable to find substantiation for claims that these drugs are likely to cause diabetes and related conditions. The manufacturer states "It is known that diabetes and hyperglycemia occur at rates of two to four times greater in persons with schizophrenia, regardless of whether they are taking medication, than in the general population." (Zyprexa FAQ, Zyprexa.com) Common Side Effects: Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: Constipation; dizziness; dizziness or fainting when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position; drowsiness; dryness of mouth; headache; runny nose; vision problems; weakness; weight gain Less Common Side Effects: Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: Abdominal pain; awareness of heartbeat; decrease in sexual desire; double vision; fast heartbeat; increased appetite; increased cough; increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight; joint pain; low blood pressure; nausea; sore throat; stuttering; thirst; tightness of muscles; trouble in controlling urine; trouble in sleeping; vomiting; watering of mouth; weight loss Always Notify Doctor: More Common: Agitation; behavior problems; difficulty in speaking or swallowing; restlessness or need to keep moving; stiffness of arms or legs; trembling or shaking of hands and fingers Less Common: Chest pain; fever; flu-like symptoms; inability to move eyes; lip smacking or puckering; mood or mental changes, such as anger, anxiety, giddiness, loss of memory, or nervousness; muscle spasms of face, neck, and back; puffing of cheeks; rapid or worm-like movements of tongue; swelling of feet or ankles; twitching movements; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of arms and legs Rare: Changes in menstrual period; confusion; mental or physical sluggishness; skin rash; swelling of face; trouble in breathing Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. |