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The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers. Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Information for healthcare providers on olanzapine The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.

Antipsychotic Belongs to a group of medicines known as atypical antipsychotics. This usually only happens when you start your medication It should wear off in a few weeks Try not to stand up too quickly. You are at risk of falls If you feel dizzy, don't drive. A diet full of vegetables and fibre may help prevent weight gain Limit sugary or fatty foods Exercise regularly Speak with your doctor if you are putting on weight. Side effects of increased prolactin levels include females losing their period, production of breast milk and males losing their sex drive or possibly experiencing erectile problems.

Long term months or years of elevated prolactin can lead to osteoporosis, or increased risk of bone fractures. Some people may develop muscle related side effects while taking olanzapine.

Symptoms of EPS include restlessness, tremor, and stiffness. TD symptoms include slow or jerky movements that one cannot control, often starting in the mouth with tongue rolling or chewing movements. Temperature regulation: Impaired core body temperature regulation may occur; caution with strenuous exercise, heat exposure, and dehydration.

Second generation antipsychotics SGAs increase the risk of weight gain, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. This is also known as metabolic syndrome. Your healthcare provider may ask you for a blood sample to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c a measure of blood sugar over time while you take this medication. All antipsychotics have been associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death due to an arrhythmia irregular heartbeat. To minimize this risk, antipsychotic medications should be used in the smallest effective dose when the benefits outweigh the risks.

Your doctor may order an EKG to monitor for irregular heartbeat. Symptoms include confusion, fever, extreme muscle stiffness, and sweating. If any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider immediately. All antipsychotics can cause sedation, dizziness, or orthostatic hypotension a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down. These side effects may lead to falls which could cause bone fractures or other injuries. This risk is higher for people with conditions or other medications that could worsen these effects.

If falls or any of these symptoms occur, contact your healthcare provider. Multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms [DRESS] : Potentially serious, sometimes fatal, multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.

Tardive dyskinesia TD is a side effect that develops with prolonged use of antipsychotics. If you develop symptoms of TD, such as grimacing, sucking, and smacking of lips, or other movements that you cannot control, contact your healthcare provider immediately. All patients taking either first or second generation antipsychotics should have an Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale AIMS completed regularly by their healthcare provider to monitor for TD.

Second generation antipsychotics SGAs increase the risk of diabetes, weight gain, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Olanzapine may lower your blood pressure. Medications used to lower blood pressure may increase this effect. This risk is increased when these medications are given as an injection. Cigarette and other types of smoke can decrease levels of olanzapine.

Let your healthcare provider know if you start or stop smoking cigarettes. Nicotine patches do not impact olanzapine levels.

It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking olanzapine. It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if olanzapine is the right medication for you. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy or seems irritable, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

Cannabidiol also known as CBD might affect how olanzapine works. Do not take cannabidiol while you are taking olanzapine. There might be a problem taking some other herbal remedies and supplements with olanzapine, especially ones that make you feel sleepy or dizzy. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Olanzapine belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. It does not cure your condition, but it can help to improve the symptoms of mental health conditions. Olanzapine works by affecting naturally occurring chemical messengers in your brain neurotransmitters , like dopamine. If you have too much dopamine it can make you see or hear things that are not there hallucinations , or think things that others do not delusions. Dopamine is also involved in muscle movements, so too much of it can affect your muscles.

Olanzapine also works on other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline. Olanzapine rebalances these to improve your mood and behaviour.

Taking olanzapine will not change your personality and it is not addictive. Olanzapine, like many medicines, does not work straight away. It can take a few weeks to get the dose right for you. It may take several days or even weeks for some of your symptoms to get better. Carry on taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first. When you first start taking olanzapine, it may make you feel more relaxed and calm.

Within 2 to 3 weeks, your other symptoms may start to improve. Yes, many people take olanzapine for a long time, including for many months or years, without any problems. Olanzapine can increase the amount of sugar in your blood and this can sometimes lead to diabetes. Keeping to a healthy weight can help to prevent this. You will usually have a blood test before you start olanzapine treatment to see how much sugar you have in your blood.

You will have another test around 12 weeks after starting olanzapine to see if the amount of sugar in your blood has changed. If you already have diabetes you will be monitored more closely and will have more regular blood sugar tests.

For example, you may have a test every 4 weeks to start with and then around 4 times a year. Taking olanzapine for a long time can sometimes affect your cholesterol. If this happens, you may need to take a statin to help lower your cholesterol. Olanzapine helps to control your symptoms. Do not stop taking olanzapine suddenly otherwise your symptoms may come back.

If you need to stop taking olanzapine, your doctor will help you come off it by reducing your dose gradually. This will help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor first if you want to go onto a lower dose or to stop taking olanzapine. The antipsychotic medicine you are prescribed will depend on the type of symptoms you have, how bad your symptoms are, any other medical conditions you have and how well your medicine works for you. You may have to try a few before you find the antipsychotic medicine that is right for you.

It can take time to find the right type and dose to manage your symptoms. Different antipsychotic medicines have different side effects. Lithium is usually the first medicine used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium is a mood stabiliser, which means it helps to balance your mood and control symptoms of mania as well as depression. Olanzapine also helps with symptoms of mania. However, you will need to take it with another medicine to also manage your depression symptoms.

You can discuss with your doctor which treatment will be best for you. It will depend on the type of symptoms you have, any other medical conditions you have and whether you might be more likely to have side effects with some medicines. You will probably go for checks with your doctor after you stop olanzapine to check that you still feel better. If you have taken more olanzapine than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medical help immediately — even if you do not feel any different.

Olanzapine can sometimes cause serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience unusual movements mainly of the face or tongue.

Go to hospital immediately if you think you may have developed a blood clot symptoms are usually swelling, pain and redness in the leg - a clot may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Also go to hospital and tell the doctor you are taking olanzapine if you develop a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness or drowsiness.

Stopping olanzapine suddenly can cause withdrawal effects and stopping it too early could cause your illness to come back. See your doctor if you want to stop taking olanzapine because it is better to come off it gradually.

You might feel sleepy or dizzy in the first few days after taking olanzapine. Do not drive a car, ride a bike or operate machines until you see how this affects you. If you are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, please read the pregnancy section under the 'Side Effects' tab because olanzapine may affect the developing baby. Take your medicine with you to show to the doctors. Tell them how much you have taken. Get a friend to go with you, if you can, just in case you feel ill on the way.

Go to a doctor or hospital straight away if you get any of the following symptoms while taking olanzapine:. You need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment with olanzapine if any of the following apply to you:.

You should have your weight, blood sugar, blood fats, blood pressure and pulse measured regularly during early treatment, then at least every six months to a year after that, depending on your age. You should also have your blood sugar tested when you start, after one month, and then every four to six months after that.

The doctor might also check your heart with an electrocardiogram ECG and check your blood pressure. They might also check your height and development. If you have periods, they may also check whether they are regular. Please do not be worried by the side effects listed on this page. Some people take olanzapine without any side effects or with only a few mild side effects. Some side effects wear off after a few days or weeks. If you think you might be getting a side effect from olanzapine, then you should discuss this with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Do not stop taking the tablets until you talk to your doctor, or you may get withdrawal symptoms as well. Olanzapine use has been linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes among some young people. Symptoms include:. If you already have diabetes, you may need to increase the amount of medication you take for this alongside taking olanzapine. We use cookies We use cookies on this website to store user preferences, aid in accessibility and analyse our traffic. Read our cookie policy.

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View shareable links View Basket : 0 items. Guide Menu for Olanzapine. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About olanzapine Olanzapine and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice. Olanzapine: what I wish I had known. Taking olanzapine and sertraline: Elizabeth's story.

About olanzapine. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you. Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide. How olanzapine works. Olanzapine and everyday life. Frequently asked questions.

How long does it take to start working? If you have had no good effects after two to three weeks, your doctor may increase the dose or change the medicine Your doctor might start you on a low dose and then increase it slowly over two to four weeks to your full dose.

What effects will it have on my body? Talk to your doctor about this if it worries you. Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it? Can I drink alcohol, take street drugs and smoke cigarettes while taking it?

Alcohol You can continue to drink some alcohol while taking olanzapine, but having the two together might make you very sleepy or make you fall over. If you drink a lot of alcohol, these effects will be much more serious. Alcohol can also make the symptoms of your condition worse. Street drugs Antipsychotics block the effect of dopamine, so the 'high' you get from drugs that work by increasing levels of dopamine may not be as 'high' as before. Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with olanzapine.

It can also make your symptoms worse.