What is Zyprexa?

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is in a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. Antipsychotic medicines are approved to treat symptoms of schizophrenia that may include hearing voices, seeing things, sensing things that are not there, mistaken beliefs, and unusual suspiciousness.

Zyprexa is approved to treat mixed or manic episodes in adults who have a condition called Bipolar I disorder, and may also be used with lithium or valproate for short-term treatment of acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Zyprexa is made by Eli Lilly and Company and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996.

Zyprexa FDA Alert

In April 2005, the FDA issued an alert stating that older patients treated with atypical antipsychotic medicines, such as Zyprexa, for dementia had a higher chance for death than patients who did not take the medicine. The FDA stated further that this is not an approved use and has asked the companies that make these medicines to change their labels to include this important information.

Zyprexa Health Risks

Zyprexa and other antipsychotic medications can cause serious problems such as:

• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening nervous system problem, which can cause high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, fast or irregular heart beat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can also affect your kidneys and is a medical emergency. Call your healthcare professional right away if you experience these symptoms.

• Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), a movement problem. Call your healthcare professional right away if you get muscle movements that cannot be stopped.

• High blood sugar and diabetes. Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance for diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.

• Strokes have occurred in older patients treated for mental illness from dementia. Zyprexa is not approved for this use.