How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient olanzapine, which is a type of medicine known as an atypical antipsychotic. Olanzapine works by blocking various receptors in the brain, particularly dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a natural compound called a neurotransmitter, which is involved in transmitting signals between brain cells. Psychotic illness is considered to be caused by overactivity of dopamine in the brain. Olanzapine blocks the receptors that dopamine acts on, and this prevents the overactivity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to control psychotic illness. Olanzapine is used to treat the psychotic condition schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients may experience 'positive symptoms' (such as hallucinations, disturbances of thought, hostility) and/or 'negative symptoms' (such as lack of emotion and social isolation). Olanzapine is effective in relieving both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, whereas the conventional antipsychotics are usually less effective against the negative symptoms. Olanzapine is also used to treat episodes of mania in people with bipolar affective disorder (manic depression).

What is it used for?

Moderate to severe manic episodes

Schizophrenia

Warning!

This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal movements, particularly of the face, lips, jaw and tongue, while taking this medicine. These symptoms may be indicative of a rare side effect known as tardive dyskinesia, and your doctor may ask you to stop taking this medicine, or decrease your dose.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms while taking this medicine: high fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, faster breathing and drowsiness or sleepiness. These symptoms may be due to a rare side effect known as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and your treatment may need to be stopped.

There is no information regarding the use of this medicine in children and adolescents under the age of 18.

This medicine can cause some people to put on weight. Talk to your doctor about this before you start treatment so that you can discuss strategies, such as diet and exercise, for minimising any weight gain.

The Zyprexa Velotab should be placed in the mouth where it will rapidly dissolve in your saliva for easy swallowing. The Velotab is fragile, so should be taken as soon as you have opened the blister; alternatively it can be dissolved in a glass of water, orange juice, apple juice, milk or coffee before taking.

People who cannot take phenylalanine or mannitol should note that Zyprexa Velotabs contain aspartame, which is a source of phenylalanine, and mannitol. Seek advice from your doctor if this applies to you.

Zyprexa Velotabs contain the preservatives sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate and sodium propyl parahydroxybenzoate, which may cause an allergic reaction in some people. An allergic reaction may cause an itchy rash or shortness of breath, and may occur as soon as you start treatment, or after you have taken the medicine for some time. Consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms.

People over the age of 65 years should have their blood pressure regularly monitored while taking this medicine.

The components of tobacco smoke can cause certain medicines to be removed from the body faster than normal. If you are a smoker and are giving up smoking while taking this medicine, let your doctor know, as your dose of this medicine may possibly need to be altered.

Use with caution in

Abnormal heart rhythm seen on the heart monitoring trace (ECG) as a 'prolonged QT interval'

Decreased kidney function

Decreased liver function

Diabetes

Diseases or conditions involving increased production of blood cells or bone marrow tissue

Elderly people

Enlarged prostate gland

Failure of function of part of the gut causing an obstruction (paralytic ileus)

Heart failure

History of fits (seizures), eg epilepsy

Low blood magnesium levels (hypomagnesaemia)

Low blood potassium levels (hypokalaemia)

Low levels of a type of white blood cell (neutrophils) in the blood (neutropenia)

Low white blood cell count (leucopenia)

Parkinson's disease

People with a history of bone marrow disorders caused by a medicine

People with decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or illness.

People with raised liver enzymes

People with risk factors for developing diabetes

Thickening of the walls of the heart (cardiac hypertrophy)

Not to be used in

Breastfeeding

People with a known risk for closed-angle glaucoma

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Mothers who need to take this medicine should not breastfeed. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink.

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