Medication guide

Olanzapine (oh LAN za peen) Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Read the Medication Guide that comes with olanzapine before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if there is something you do not understand or you want to learn more about olanzapine.

What is the most important information I should know about olanzapine?

Olanzapine may cause serious side effects, including:

1. Increased risk of death in elderly people who are confused, have memory loss and have lost touch with reality (dementia-related psychosis).

2. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

3. High fat levels in your blood (increased cholesterol and triglycerides), especially in teenagers age 13 to 17.

4. Weight gain, especially in teenagers age 13 to 17.

These serious side effects are described below.

1.

Increased risk of death in elderly people who are confused, have memory loss and have lost touch with reality (dementia-related psychosis). Olanzapine is not approved for treating psychosis in elderly people with dementia.

2. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can happen if you have diabetes already or if you have never had diabetes. High blood sugar could lead to:

•

a build up of acid in your blood due to ketones (ketoacidosis)

•

coma

•

death

Your doctor should do tests to check your blood sugar before you start taking olanzapine and during treatment. In people who do not have diabetes, sometimes high blood sugar goes away when olanzapine is stopped. People with diabetes and some people who did not have diabetes before taking olanzapine need to take medicine for high blood sugar even after they stop taking olanzapine.

If you have diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions about how often to check your blood sugar while taking olanzapine.

Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) while taking olanzapine:

•

feel very thirsty

•

need to urinate more than usual

•

feel very hungry

•

feel weak or tired

•

feel sick to your stomach

•

feel confused, or your breath smells fruity

3. High fat levels in your blood (cholesterol and triglycerides). High fat levels may happen in people treated with olanzapine, especially in teenagers (13 to 17 years old). You may not have any symptoms, so your doctor should do blood tests to check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels before you start taking olanzapine and during treatment.

4. Weight gain. Weight gain is very common in people who take olanzapine. Teenagers (13 to 17 years old) are more likely to gain weight and to gain more weight than adults. Some people may gain a lot of weight while taking olanzapine, so you and your doctor should check your weight regularly. Talk to your doctor about ways to control weight gain, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, and exercising.

What is olanzapine?

Olanzapine is a prescription medicine used to treat:

•

schizophrenia

•

bipolar disorder, including:

•

manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder.

•

manic or mixed episodes that happen with bipolar I disorder, when used with the medicine lithium or valproate, in adults.

•

long term treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults.

•

episodes of depression that happen with bipolar I disorder, when used with the medicine fluoxetine, in adults.

Olanzapine has not been approved for use in children under 13 years of age.

The symptoms of schizophrenia include hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, having beliefs that are not true, and being suspicious or withdrawn.

The symptoms of bipolar I disorder include alternating periods of depression and high or irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior, and a decreased need for sleep.

Some of your symptoms may improve with treatment. If you do not think you are getting better, call your doctor.

Pediatric use information is approved for Eli Lilly and Company’s olanzapine drug product labeling. However, due to Eli Lilly and Company’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.

What should I tell my doctor before taking olanzapine?

Olanzapine may not be right for you. Before starting olanzapine, tell your doctor if you have or had:

•

heart problems

•

seizures

•

diabetes or high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)

•

high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood

•

liver problems

•

low or high blood pressure

•

strokes or “mini-strokes” also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)

•

Alzheimer’s disease

•

narrow-angle glaucoma

•

enlarged prostate in men

•

bowel obstruction

•

phenylketonuria, because olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine

•

breast cancer

•

thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself

•

any other medical condition

•

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if olanzapine will harm your unborn baby.

•

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Olanzapine can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. You should not breastfeed while taking olanzapine. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take olanzapine.

Tell your doctor if you exercise a lot or are in hot places often.

The symptoms of bipolar I disorder or schizophrenia may include thoughts of suicide or of hurting yourself or others. If you have these thoughts at any time, tell your doctor or go to an emergency room right away.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Olanzapine and some medicines may interact with each other and may not work as well, or cause possible serious side effects. Your doctor can tell you if it is safe to take olanzapine with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking olanzapine without talking to your doctor first.

How should I take olanzapine?

•

Take olanzapine exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may need to change (adjust) the dose of olanzapine until it is right for you.

•

If you miss a dose of olanzapine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of olanzapine at the same time.

•

To prevent serious side effects, do not stop taking olanzapine suddenly. If you need to stop taking olanzapine, your doctor can tell you how to safely stop taking it.

•

If you take too much olanzapine, call your doctor or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or get emergency treatment.

•

Olanzapine can be taken with or without food.

•

Olanzapine is usually taken one time each day.

•

Take olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets as follows:

•

Be sure that your hands are dry.

•

Remove the blister from the carton and peel back the foil on the blister. Do not push the tablet through the foil.

•

As soon as you open the blister, remove the tablet and put it into your mouth.

•

The tablet will disintegrate quickly in your saliva so that you can easily swallow it with or without drinking liquid.

•

Call your doctor if you do not think you are getting better or have any concerns about your condition while taking olanzapine.

What should I avoid while taking olanzapine?

•

Olanzapine can cause sleepiness and may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how olanzapine affects you.

•

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking olanzapine. Drinking alcohol while you take olanzapine may make you sleepier than if you take olanzapine alone.

What are the possible side effects of olanzapine?

Serious side effects may happen when you take olanzapine, including:

•

See “What is the most important information I should know about olanzapine?”, which describes the increased risk of death in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis and the risks of high blood sugar, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and weight gain.

•

Increased incidence of stroke or “mini-strokes” called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in elderly people with dementia-related psychosis (elderly people who have lost touch with reality due to confusion and memory loss). Olanzapine is not approved for these patients.

•

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS is a rare but very serious condition that can happen in people who take antipsychotic medicines, including olanzapine. NMS can cause death and must be treated in a hospital. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have any of these symptoms:

•

high fever

•

excessive sweating

•

rigid muscles

•

confusion

•

changes in your breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

•

Tardive Dyskinesia: This condition causes body movements that keep happening and that you cannot control. These movements usually affect the face and tongue. Tardive dyskinesia may not go away, even if you stop taking olanzapine. It may also start after you stop taking olanzapine. Tell your doctor if you get any body movements that you cannot control.

•

Decreased blood pressure when you change positions, with symptoms of dizziness, fast or slow heartbeat, or fainting.

•

Difficulty swallowing, that can cause food or liquid to get into your lungs.

•

Seizures: Tell your doctor if you have a seizure during treatment with olanzapine.

•

Problems with control of body temperature: You could become very hot, for instance when you exercise a lot or stay in an area that is very hot. It is important for you to drink water to avoid dehydration. Call your doctor right away if you become severely ill and have any of these symptoms of dehydration:

•

sweating too much or not at all

•

dry mouth

•

feeling very hot

•

feeling thirsty

•

not able to produce urine.

Common side effects of olanzapine include: lack of energy, dry mouth, increased appetite, sleepiness, tremor (shakes), having hard or infrequent stools, dizziness, changes in behavior, or restlessness.

Other common side effects in teenagers (13 to 17 years old) include: headache, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, pain in your arms or legs, or tiredness. Teenagers experienced greater increases in prolactin, liver enzymes , and sleepiness, as compared with adults.

Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects with olanzapine. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store olanzapine?

 

•

Store olanzapine at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

•

Keep olanzapine away from light.

•

Keep olanzapine dry and away from moisture.

Keep olanzapine and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about olanzapine

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use olanzapine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give olanzapine to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about olanzapine. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about olanzapine that was written for healthcare professionals. For more information about olanzapine call Teva Pharmaceuticals Medical Affairs at 1-888-838-2872.

What are the ingredients in olanzapine?

Active ingredient: olanzapine USP

Inactive ingredients: aspartame powder, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, strawberry flavor and xylitol.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA
Sellersville, PA 18960

Iss. 9/2011