A Detailed Overview of Olanzapine

Olanzapine: What You Should Know About This Key Schizophrenia Treatment

Olanzapine is among the most frequently prescribed medications for schizophrenia. Having been introduced to the German market in 1996, Olanzapine is one of the most prescribed medications to treat schizophrenia in Germany. Olanzapine is incorporated in the treatment of schizophrenia due to its effectiveness and comparatively better tolerability than older treatment neuroleptics. Every powerful medication has its downside, and Olanzapine's most notable downside is the potential for considerable weight gain. For children, adolescents, and pregnant women, the usage of Olanzapine is best made under the close supervision of registered medical practitioners.

How Olanzapine Works

The brain uses chemicals to control a person’s mood, feelings, and reaction to stress. These chemicals include dopamine and serotonin. People with schizophrenia lose control of this balance, resulting in hallucinations, delusions, and unstable feelings. 

Olanzapine is a type of “atypical neuroleptic”. It helps restore this balance by blocking certain serotonin and dopamine receptors. This reduces psychotic symptoms while calming the person down. It is also effective in preventing manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. 

How Your Body Breaks Down Olanzapine?

When olanzapine is taken in tablet form, it is absorbed through the intestines into the bloodstream. Then it is metabolized in the liver and its byproducts are eliminated primarily by the kidneys. 

How Olanzapine is Taken?

Olanzapine is most often prescribed in tablet form and the standard starting dose is 10 mg each day. However, the dose can be carefully increased to a maximum of 20 mg daily. Improved symptoms can take a while to appear, so it is important to be patient and manage symptoms in the meantime. 

Potential Side Effects 

As is the case with most strong medications, olanzapine can cause unwanted side effects. Most people (more than 10%) become drowsy and experience unwanted weight gain.

Common Side Effects:

Dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, changes in blood count, and low blood pressure, all of which occur in 1-10% of cases.

Special Considerations

Doctors weigh the risks and benefits before treatment for patients with 

• Dementia 

• Diabetes 

• Contraindications: Narrow-angle glaucoma patients cannot take olanzapine.

Drug Interactions

The epilepsy medication carbamazepine and smoking may reduce the effectiveness olanzapine by accelerating its metabolism.

Use in Children, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding

• Children and Adolescents: Olanzapine may be used in exceptional cases only under the supervision of a specialist.
• Pregnancy: It is safer to use alternative medications, but, if a woman is stable on olanzapine, continuing treatment is likely to be the best option, as newborns may suffer mild adjustment issues at birth and require close medical monitoring.
• Breastfeeding: There were no significant issues in breastfeeding infants whose mothers took olanzapine. Experts consider it safe while breastfeeding.

Key Takeaway

Modern treatments for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder would be hard to imagine without olanzapine. It controls symptoms well and calms patients down. The most common side effects are drowsiness and weight gain, but most patients feel the benefits are larger than the side effects. All psychiatric medications require a doctor's supervision, and olanzapine is no exception.