ZYPREXA

Zyprexa is a type of medicine called an atypical antipsychotic. FDA has found that older patients treated with atypical antipsychotics for dementia had a higher chance for death than patients who did not take the medicine. This is not an approved use.

Zyprexa is in a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. Antipsychotic medicines are approved to treat symptoms of schizophrenia that may include hearing voices, seeing things, or sensing things that are not there, mistaken beliefs or unusual suspiciousness.

Zyprexa is approved to treat mixed or manic episodes in adults who have a condition called Bipolar I disorder.

Zyprexa may also be used with lithium or valproate for short-term treatment of acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Zyprexa Risks

The following are the major potential risks and side effects of Zyprexa therapy. However, this list is not complete.

Zyprexa and other antipsychotic medications can cause serious problems such as:

A life-threatening nervous system problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS can cause a high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, a fast or irregular heart beat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can affect your kidneys. NMS is a medical emergency. Call your healthcare professional right away if you experience these symptoms.

A movement problem called tardive dyskinesia (TD). Call your healthcare professional right away if you get muscle movements that cannot be stopped.

High blood sugar and diabetes. Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance for diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.

Strokes have happened in older patients treated for mental illness from dementia. Zyprexa is not approved for this use. See FDA Alert.

Other serious side effects include low blood pressure seen as dizziness, and possibly fainting; increased heart beat; seizures; liver problems; increased body temperature; and difficulty swallowing.

The most common side effects include sleepiness, dry mouth, dizziness, restlessness, constipation, upset stomach, weight gain, increased appetite, and tremor.

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Before you start taking Zyprexa, tell your healthcare professional if you:

have or had heart problems

have or had seizures

have or had diabetes or increased blood sugar

have or had liver disease

are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

drink alcohol

have a condition called phenylketonuria

Are There Any Interactions With Drugs or Foods?

Because certain other medications can interact with Zyprexa, review all medications that you are taking with your healthcare professional, including those that you take without a prescription.

Your healthcare professional may have to adjust your dose or watch you more closely if you take the following medications:

blood pressure medicines

levodopa and other medicines called dopamine agonists

omeprazole

rifampin

carbamazepine

fluvoxamine

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Zyprexa.