This belongs to the group of medicines known as antipsychotics.
Zyprexa is used to treat schizophrenia.

Zyprexa is effective in helping symptoms such as hearing voices, loss of energy, thought disturbances, difficulties communicating with others, worry, depression and overcoming feelings of wanting to be alone as well as other symptoms of schizophrenia.

Zyprexa is available in tablet and dissolvable tablet form.

It is also sometimes known as: Zyprexa; Zyprexa Velotab. You may notice the use of any of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Zyprexa tablets, velotabs and injection all contain the active ingredient olanzapine, which is a type of drug known as an atypical antipsychotic. Olanzapine works in the brain, where it affects various neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin and dopamine. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitters known to be involved in regulating mood and behaviour, amongst other things. Psychotic illness is considered to be caused by disturbances in the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. Schizophrenia is known to be associated with an overactivity of dopamine in the brain, and this may be associated with the delusions and hallucinations that are a feature of this disease. Olanzapine works by blocking the receptors in the brain that dopamine acts on. This prevents the excessive activity of dopamine and helps to control schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients may experience 'positive symptoms' and 'negative symptoms'. 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 moderate to severe episodes of mania in people with bipolar affective disorder. In people whose manic episode is controlled with olanzapine, the drug may also be used long-term as a mood stabiliser to prevent further manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder. Zyprexa injection is used when rapid control of agitation and disturbed behaviours is needed for people with schizophrenia or a manic episode. Once behaviour has been controlled, the treatment is usually switched to oral treatment with Zyprexa tablets or Zyprexa velotabs. Zyprexa velotabs are tablets that are designed to dissolve on the tongue and be swallowed with the saliva, without the need for water.

Treatments

* Schizophrenia * Moderate to severe manic episodes of manic depression * Stabilising mood to prevent episodes of mania or depression in people with bipolar affective disorder whose manic episode has responded to olanzapine treatment

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Sleepiness * Increased appetite and weight gain * Raised blood sugar and triglyceride levels * High blood prolactin level. Rarely this may lead to symptoms such as breast enlargement or production of milk. * Dizziness * Anxiety, restlessness and agitation * Abnormal movements of the hands, legs, face, neck and tongue, eg tremor, twitching, rigidity * Disturbances in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood * Constipation * Dry mouth * A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness * Alteration in results of liver function tests * Weakness or loss of strength * Excessive fluid retention in the body tissues, resulting in swelling * Slow heart rate * Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash * Abnormal heart beats * Seizures * Blood clot in the blood vessels that may detach and travel in the circulation to another area of the body