Olanzapine

What is olanzapine?

Olanzapine is a medicine that is used to treat mental health conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delirium and agitation) in children and adults. It may also be used for other reasons. For example, it has been used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

You may hear olanzapine called by its brand name, Zyprexa. You may also hear it called an atypical antipsychotic agent. Olanzapine comes in tablet, oral dissolving tablet and injection forms.

Before giving olanzapine to your child

Tell your child's health care provider if your child has:

• an allergy to olanzapine or any ingredient in the medication

Talk with your child's health care provider if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• diabetes
• liver problems
• heart problems (e.g., abnormal heart rhythm)
• seizure disorder or history of seizures

How should you give your child olanzapine?

Follow these instructions when you give your child olanzapine:

• Give your child this medicine exactly as your health care provider tells you.
• It is usually given once a day and can be given in the evening since it may cause sleepiness.
• If given to prevent nausea from chemotherapy, it will usually be given before chemotherapy.
• It can be given with or without food - give with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• If your child is taking the oral dissolving tablet, place the tablet on your child's tongue and let it melt (it should not be swallowed whole, chewed or crushed).
• The injectable form is given in a muscle (intramuscular injection) and will usually be given in the hospital or in a clinic by a nurse or doctor.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of olanzapine?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does olanzapine take to work?

• This depends on why your child is taking olanzapine.
• For mental health conditions, your child may start to feel better within days but it may take up to six weeks to see the full effect of olanzapine.

What are the possible side effects of olanzapine?

Your child may experience some side effects while they take olanzapine. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• weight gain
• increased appetite
• sleepiness or drowsiness
• restlessness
• constipation
• dry mouth

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• dizziness
• increased thirst or increased urination
• irregular heartbeat

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to emergency department if your child has any of these side effects:

• an allergic reaction (rash, hives, shortness of breath, swelling of the face/lips/tongue/throat)
• seizure
• confusion that is new, or different from before
• muscle twitching, stiffness or abnormal movements of the face, neck, limbs or body
• fever, stiff muscles and rapid or irregular pulse

What safety measures should you take when your child is using olanzapine?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with olanzapine. In some cases the dose of olanzapine or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your child's health care providers if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal) including:

• medicines that effect heart rhythm
• medicines that cause drowsiness
• other antipsychotic agents
• certain medicines to treat infections including ciprofloxacin
• certain medicines to help prevent seizures, including carbamazepine and valproate

If your child will be taking olanzapine over a long period of time, your doctor will need to perform routine blood tests (e.g. blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function) and check your child's height, weight, waist circumference, heart rate, blood pressure and also check for involuntary movements.

What other important information should you know?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough olanzapine to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep olanzapine at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep olanzapine out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much olanzapine, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.