Olanzapine Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine can increase blood sugar.

• If you have a family history of diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are overweight, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have Parkinson's disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have PKU, talk with healthcare provider. Some products do contain phenylalanine.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.

• Be careful in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Nervous and excitable.

• High cholesterol level.

• Hostility.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Weight gain.

• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.

• Inability to sleep.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Significant change in balance.

• Shakiness, difficulty moving around, or stiffness.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Not sweating during activities or in warm temperatures.

• Seizures.

• Difficulty swallowing.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Increased trips to the bathroom, increased thirst, or weight loss.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.