Generic Zyprexa

Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication which is generically prescribed as olanzapine, and is commonly used in the treatment of psychotic conditions, most regularly bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Zyprexa is not appropriate for older adults with dementia, as it does not effectively treat dementia and has been proven to cause heart attacks and stroke when used for this purpose.

Zyprexa is not appropriate for all patients and should never be prescribed without a thorough medical history. Patients with a medical history which includes glaucoma, difficult urination, enlarged prostate, breast cancer, seizure, epilepsy, liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of diabetes, or trouble swallowing may not be able to take Zyprexa or may require careful monitoring while undergoing drug therapy with Zyprexa, depending on the condition and the severity of the condition.

The American Food and Drug Administration rated Zyprexa as a category C pregnancy risk. This medication may cause harm or birth defects in an unborn baby and may pass through the mother’s breast milk and cause harm to a nursing baby. This medication should not be prescribed to women who are nursing, pregnant, or have a high likelihood of becoming pregnant.

Serious side effects and allergic reaction require immediate emergency medical assistance. Allergic reactions are likely to present with symptoms such as facial swelling, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, and hives. Other serious side effects may occur and include symptoms like jerky and incontrollable muscle movements, sudden numbness or weakness which is dominate on one side of the body, lightheadedness, fainting, fever, stiff muscles, fast and uneven heart rate, sweating, sudden headache accompanied by confusion or balance and speech problems, increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, weakness, nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, dark urine, clay colored stools, unusual thoughts, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. These symptoms may be an indication of a serious condition or damage to an internal organ.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur than serious side effects and do not usually require immediate medical attention. Patients should report all side effects to the prescribing physician in order to help determine accurate dosing requirements. Less serious side effects include symptoms such as dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, increase in weight, back pain, increase in appetite, swelling in the hands and feet, constipation, and upset stomach.

Taking Zyprexa exactly as prescribed is vital to maintaining its benefits as well as avoiding an accidental overdose. Should a dose be accidentally missed, the patient should take the dose as soon as it is remembered. Although, if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, the missed dose should be skipped to avoid an accidental overdose. Overdosing requires immediate emergency medical attention. An overdose may present with symptoms which include slurred speech, agitation, aggression, drowsiness, an increase in heart rate, fainting, jerky and incontrollable muscle movements, and fainting.

There is a chance of a drug interaction associated with Zyprexa. Patients should seek advice from a medical professional before taking any additional medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, or over the counter medicines. Medications with a proven history of interactions include blood pressure medications, medications for heart conditions, carbamazepine, fluvoxamine, and medications which are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, including those with levodopa. Alcohol and medication which are known to cause drowsiness should be used with extreme care and avoided is at all possible.