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Brand name: Olanzapine (AN) TM
Active ingredients: olanzapine
What it is used for
For the treatment of schizophrenia and related psychoses. ,Alone or in combination with lithium or valproate, it is indicated for the short-term treatment of acute manic episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder. ,For preventing recurrence of manic, mixed or depressive episodes in Bipolar I Disorder.
How to take it
The way to take this medicine is: Oral. This medicine is taken by mouth.
- Store below 30 degrees Celsius
- Store in Original Container
- Shelf lifetime is 3 Years.
You should seek medical advice in relation to medicines and use only as directed by a healthcare professional.
Always read the label. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.
Visual appearance
White, round, biconvex film coated tablets
Images are the copyright of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Food interactions
For the active ingredient olanzapine
- Avoid alcohol.
- Take without regard to meals.
Do I need a prescription?
This medicine is available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is
Is this medicine subsidised?
This medicine was verified as being available on the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) on April 1, 2019. To learn more about this subsidy, visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website.
Over 65?
This medicine contains the active ingredients:
If you are over 65 years of age, there may be specific risks and recommendations for use of this medicine. Please discuss your individual circumstances with your pharmacist, doctor or health professional. For more information read our page on medication safety for older people.
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
For the active ingredient olanzapine
You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
Download leaflet
For side effects, taking other medicines and more
Download consumer medicine information leaflet (pdf) from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website
Reporting side effects
You can help ensure medicines are safe by reporting the side effects you experience.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
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Olanzapine for schizophrenia | Cochrane
Since the early 1950s the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia has been the typical antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine and haloperidol. Although they are effective in controlling voices and delusions for many people with schizophrenia, they have a smaller effect on symptoms such as apathy and social withdrawal. They also have disabling adverse effects such as tremor, stiffness and slowing of movement. The newer drugs, such as olanzapine, are reputed to have fewer adverse motor effects and are as effective, if not more so, than the older drugs. This review examines the randomised controlled trials of olanzapine compared with placebo, typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Olanzapine versus other atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia | Cochrane
This review examined the effects of olanzapine compared to other second generation antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia. We identified 50 relevant studies with 9476 participants, comparing olanzapine with amisulpride, aripiprazole, clozapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone. Comparisons of olanzapine with the second generation antipsychotic drugs sertindole or zotepine are currently not available. Olanzapine was somewhat more efficacious than aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone, whereas there was no efficacy difference compared to amisulpride and clozapine. The main disadvantage of olanzapine was its higher weight gain and associated metabolic problems compared to all other second generation antipsychotic drugs, except for clozapine.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Olanzapine in long-term treatment for bipolar disorder | Cochrane
Bipolar affective disorder is a severe and common mental illness, characterised by periods of mania, depression and "mixed episodes" (or "dysphoric mania": a mixture of manic and depressed symptoms). Antipsychotic drugs are often used to treat acute manic episodes and one commonly used antipsychotic drug that has recently been approved for use in mania in USA and Europe is olanzapine. This review considered the efficacy, acceptability and adverse effects of olanzapine in long-term treatment of bipolar disorder in comparison with placebo or other active drug comparisons. Five trials (1165 participants) met the inclusion criteria and are included in the review. Based on a limited amount of information, olanzapine may prevent further mood episodes (especially manic relapse) in patients who responded to olanzapine during an index manic or mixed episode and who have not previously had a satisfactory response to lithium or valproate. The olanzapine group had significantly fewer patients suffering from insomnia than the placebo group, but a significantly larger number of people suffering from weight gain. When compared with lithium, olanzapine caused more weight gain and depressive symptoms but fewer insomnia and nausea symptoms and a lower rate of manic worsening. However, considering the lack of clear findings of this review, conclusions on efficacy and acceptability of olanzapine compared to placebo, lithium or valproate cannot be made with any degree of confidence
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Olanzapine compared to placebo or other medicine as treatment for mania | Cochrane
High withdrawal rates from the trials limit the confidence that can be placed on the results. Olanzapine was superior to placebo in reduction of manic symptoms both as monotherapy and combined with mood stabilizers, though caused weight gain. Olanzapine was more efficacious than divalproex and caused less nausea but more weight gain, somnolence and movement disorders. Olanzapine was comparable to haloperidol in efficacy, caused less movement disorders but greater weight gain.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Olanzapine IM or velotab for acutely disturbed/agitated people with suspected serious mental illnesses | Cochrane
Olanzapine IM or velotab for acutely disturbed/agitated people with suspected serious mental illnesses
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Clozapine versus other atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia | Cochrane
This review compared the clinical effects of clozapine with the other atypical antipsychotics. Twenty-seven studies fulfilled the review's criteria and provided data to compare clozapine with antipsychotics such as olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone and zotepine. Clozapine was somewhat more efficacious than zotepine. Also, inefficacy of treatment led more frequently to leaving the studies early in the risperidone group suggesting a certain higher efficacy of clozapine. The principal drawback of clozapine were its adverse effects which lead to significantly higher numbers of participants leaving the studies early compared to olanzapine and risperidone. Clozapine was associated with more sedation and hypersalivation than olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone and with more seizures than olanzapine and risperidone. There was a higher incidence of white blood cell decrease in clozapine groups than olanzapine and more weight gain than in risperidone groups. On the other hand clozapine produced fewer movement disorder than risperidone and less prolactin increase than olanzapine, quetiapine and zotepine.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Second-generation antipsychotic drugs for obsessive compulsive disorder | Cochrane
This review found some trials comparing the effects of adding second-generation antipsychotic drugs or placebo to antidepressants in obsessive compulsive disorder. There were only 11 trials on three second-generation antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone). While not much can be said about olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone showed some efficacy benefit, but also adverse effects.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Amisulpride versus other atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia | Cochrane
This review compared the effects of amisulpride with those of other so called second generation (atypical) antipsychotic drugs. For half of the possible comparisons not a single relevant study could be identified. Based on very limited data there was no difference in efficacy comparing amisulpride with olanzapine and risperidone, but a certain advantage compared with ziprasidone. Amisulpride was associated with less weight gain than risperidone and olanzapine.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Risperidone versus other atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia | Cochrane
This review examines the effects of risperidone compared to other second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drugs for schizophrenia. We identified 45 relevant studies with 7760 participants comparing risperidone with amisulpride, aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, sertindole and ziprasidone. Comparisons of risperidone with zotepine are currently not available. Risperidone was somewhat more successful than quetiapine and ziprasidone, but somewhat less successful than clozapine and olanzapine. The main disadvantage of risperidone were more frequent movement disorders and more prolactin increase compared to most other SGA drugs.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
New generation antipsychotics for first episode schizophrenia | Cochrane
A new generation of antipsychotics, drugs such as olanzapine and risperidone are recommended for people with a first episode of schizophrenia. Currently, the quality of information is too limited to come to any firm conclusions. A number of ongoing studies should provide more and better information in the near future.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
