Pregnancy Risk Category C
How supplied
Tablets: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg
Action
Unknown. Binds to dopamine and serotonin receptors; may antagonize adrenergic, cholinergic, and histaminergic receptors.
Indications & dosage
Psychotic disorders--
Adults: initially, 5 to 10 mg P.O. once daily. Dosage adjustments in 5-mg daily increments should occur at intervals of not less than 1 week. Most patients respond to dosages of 10 mg/day. Don't exceed 20 mg/day.
Adjust-a-dose: For patients who are debilitated, predisposed to hypotension, or have an alteration in metabolism due to smoking status, sex, or age, or who are pharmacologically sensitive to drug, 5 mg initially.
Adverse reactions
CNS: somnolence, agitation, insomnia, headache, nervousness, hostility, parkinsonism, dizziness, anxiety, personality disorder, akathisia, hypertonia, tremor, amnesia, articulation impairment, euphoria, stuttering, tardive dyskinesia.
CV: orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, chest pain, hypotension, edema.
EENT: amblyopia, blepharitis, corneal lesion, rhinitis, pharyngitis.
GI: constipation, dry mouth, abdominal pain, increased appetite, increased salivation, nausea, vomiting, thirst.
GU: premenstrual syndrome, hematuria, metrorrhagia, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection.
Hematologic: asymptomatic increases in eosinophil count.
Hepatic: asymptomatic increases in AST, ALT, and GGT levels.
Metabolic: weight gain or loss, fever, asymptomatic increases in CK and serum prolactin levels.
Musculoskeletal: joint pain, extremity pain, back pain, neck rigidity, twitching.
Respiratory: increased cough, dyspnea.
Skin: vesiculobullous rash.
Interactions
Drug-drug. Antihypertensives: may potentiate hypotensive effects. Monitor blood pressure closely.
Carbamazepine, omeprazole, rifampin: increased clearance of olanzapine. Monitor patient.
Diazepam: increased CNS effects. Monitor closely.
Dopamine agonists, levodopa: antagonized activity of these drugs. Monitor patient.
Drug-herb. Nutmeg: may reduce effectiveness or interfere with drug therapy. Avoid concomitant use.
Drug-lifestyle. Alcohol use: increased CNS effects. Avoid concomitant use.
Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug.
Nursing considerations
Patient teaching
*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine. †Canada ‡Australia §U.K. OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING