Zyprexa

(olanzapine)

●●●●●
3.7/ 5 average rating with 68 reviewsforZyprexa
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Helps control your thoughts and mood.

Skip Upsides & Downsides section. Skip to side effects section.

Our bottom line

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is good for treating psychosis, mania, and agitation, but it's more likely to cause weight gain and sleepiness than other antipsychotics.

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Quick facts about Zyprexa
  • Drug class: Mental health
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (olanzapine)

Upsides

  • Effective at relieving psychotic symptoms, manic episodes, and agitation in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
  • Less likely to cause heart problems than other antipsychotics.
  • Less likely to cause movement problems compared to older antipsychotics.
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What to expect from Zyprexa, on one page

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People’s experience with Zyprexa

68reviews so far. What do you think?

Downsides

  • More likely to cause weight gain and increase cholesterol or blood sugar compared to other antipsychotics.
  • Might make you more sleepy than some antipsychotics.
  • Mild risk of Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS): Movement disorders that include stiffness, tremor, restlessness, and slow, repetitive movements you can't control.
  • You may need routine blood tests to check how the medicine is affecting your body..
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What to expect from Zyprexa, on one page

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How it works

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic. Researchers don't know exactly how it works. It seems to change chemical activity (like dopamine and serotonin) in your brain, which affects thoughts and mood.

Quick facts about Zyprexa
  • Drug class: Mental health
  • Rx status: Prescription only
  • Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (olanzapine)

Used for

Dosage forms

  • Pill
  • Dissolving tablet
  • Injection
People’s experience with Zyprexa

68reviews so far. What do you think?

Prices and coupons

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What to expect when you take Zyprexa (olanzapine) for Schizophrenia

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  • First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
    Long term
  • Effectiveness
  • Starts to kick in
    Full effects
  • First few daysDays
    First few weeksWeeks
    First few monthsMonths
    Long term
  • Possible side effects
  • Stomach problems
  • Weight gain
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Weakness
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Side effect rates for Zyprexa (olanzapine)

From 161 clinical trials of Zyprexa when taken for adolescent bipolar i disorder (13 to 17 years old) (≥ 2.5 mg per day)
  • Drowsiness
    48%48%
    9%9%
  • Weight gain
    28%28%
    4%4%
  • Increased appetite
    28%28%
    4%4%
  • Headache
    17%17%
    17%17%
  • Fatigue
    14%14%
    6%6%
  • Dizziness
    7%7%
    2%2%
  • Dry Mouth
    7%7%
  • Abdominal pain
    6%6%
    7%7%
  • Pain in extremity
    5%5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Where we got our data »

The placebo bar shows how common a side effect was for people taking a sugar pill instead of Zyprexa.

Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Placebo

People taking Zyprexa felt side effect more

People taking Zyprexa felt side effect less

No difference

Risks and Warnings for Zyprexa (olanzapine)

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    • Higher risk if:
    • › Elderly patients with dementia

    Older patients with dementia-related psychosis have a higher risk of death when treated with antipsychotic medications. Zyprexa (olanzapine) is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis.

    This is a black box warning. The FDA requires this warning when there is a significant risk of serious or life-threatening effects that anyone taking the drug should consider.

Means that some groups have a high risk of experiencing this side effect

Pharmacist Q&A

Zyprexa (olanzapine) questions for

Frequently Asked Questions

This medication treats manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Who is this drug for?

This medication treats manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Common concerns from people taking Zyprexa (olanzapine)

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Interactions
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Low hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexaon 9/21/2017Antibiotic interaction. I also got a rash all over but it didn't itch.
    77
    Woman
    A couple weeks
Food
  • Not worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexaon 3/30/2017Portion control your food because your body will no longer tell you when to stop eating. Exercise a lot it might help with the weight gain. Get your doctor to monitor your weight gain. My side effects: Major Weight gain ( gained 30lbs in a month), Dizziness, Depth perception messed up, Visual disturbance (objects look different from the corner of your eye), No sensation telling you that you are full, Lots of energy and motivation, Very happy and positive.
    35
    Woman
    A few months
    Depression
Sleep
  • Can cause dizziness and drowsiness.
  • Might make you more sleepy than some antipsychotics.
  • Not worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexaon 8/13/2016I love sleep and I found out this med makes you sleep but then I got addicted to it the withdrawals are debilitating pysical and mental
    36
    Man
    Bipolar I disorder (manic)
Weight
  • Zyprexa (olanzapine) is more likely to raise your blood sugar and cholesterol compared to other antipsychotic medications. Zyprexa (olanzapine) can also cause you to gain weight. Exercise and eat healthy food to lower your risk.
  • May cause weight gain and increased cholesterol or blood sugar.
  • More likely to cause weight gain and increase cholesterol or blood sugar compared to other antipsychotics.
  • Not worth it
    Worked well
    Big hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexaon 3/1/2017It caused a lot of weight gain and hunger problems. Talk to your doctor if that is a concern.
    34
    Woman
    A few months
    Bipolar I disorder (manic)
  • Worth it
    Worked well
    Some hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexadefinitely weight gain
    59
    Man
    A few months
    Bipolar I disorder (manic)
  • Not worth it
    Worked so-so
    Low hassle
    Reviewed Zyprexaon 7/23/2016it causes too much weight gain!!!!!!!
    26
    Woman
    Depression