Olanzapine is used in the treatment of schizophrenia; insomnia; bipolar disorder; depression; obsessive compulsive disorder and belongs to the drug class atypical antipsychotics. Olanzapine is sometimes used together with other antipsychotic medications or antidepressants.

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Olanzapine can be taken with or without food.

Olanzapine is usually taken once a day. Olanzapine may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes counseling and other psychological support programs. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using Olanzapine. Do not stop taking Olanzapine suddenly without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have serious side effects if you stop taking Olanzapine suddenly.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Olanzapine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, tremors, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, slow heart rate, feeling like you might pass out;
• twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs;
• trouble speaking or swallowing;
• dry mouth, thirst, feeling very hot (with or without sweating), urinating less than usual or not at all;
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, loss of appetite, fruity breath odor, increased urination, drowsiness, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting);
• sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
• swelling in your hands or feet;
• changes in personality, unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, or thoughts about hurting yourself; or
• upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• weight gain (more likely in teenagers), increased appetite;
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired or restless;
• memory problems;
• stomach pain, constipation, loss of bladder control;
• back pain, pain in your arms or legs;
• numbness or tingly feeling;
• breast swelling or discharge (in women or men); or
• missed menstrual periods.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Olanzapine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Drinking alcohol can increase sleepiness caused by Olanzapine.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Olanzapine.

Before using Olanzapine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to the side effects of Olanzapine.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• heart or blood pressure medication;
• carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
• diazepam (Valium);
• fluoxetine and Generic Olanzapine (Symbyax);
• fluvoxamine (Luvox);
• omeprazole (Prilosec);
• rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate); or
• a medication to treat Parkinson's disease including levodopa (Sinemet, Larodopa, Atamet), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), pramipexole (Generic Generic Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), and others.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Olanzapine.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.