Zyprexa
Meaning of Zyprexa: Its usefulness and its drawbacks come from the same source, a drug that acts on many receptor systems rather than one.
Definition of Zyprexa
Zyprexa is a brand name for olanzapine, a second generation antipsychotic prescribed mainly for schizophrenia and for bipolar disorder. It acts on several chemical messenger systems in the brain, including dopamine and serotonin, and it is also used in cancer care to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
What is it used for?
| Use | What it addresses |
|---|---|
| Schizophrenia | Hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking, and continued use to prevent relapse |
| Bipolar disorder | Manic and mixed episodes, and ongoing prevention of further episodes |
| Chemotherapy related nausea | Sickness and vomiting that standard antinausea drugs do not control, where it has become an established addition |
The last of these is not an antipsychotic effect at all. It works because the same drug blocks several receptors involved in the vomiting reflex, which is a good illustration of why acting broadly can be an advantage.
How does acting on many systems help and hinder?
Blocking dopamine receptors is what reduces hallucinations and delusions, and it is shared with every antipsychotic. Blocking a serotonin receptor at the same time is what defines the second generation and lowers the rate of the movement problems, such as stiffness, tremor and restlessness, that limited the older drugs. But olanzapine also blocks histamine and acetylcholine receptors, which brings sedation, dry mouth and constipation, and it has a particularly strong effect on appetite and metabolism. Weight gain, rising blood sugar and rising blood fats are the effects it is best known for, and they are more pronounced with this drug than with most others in the class, which is why weight and metabolic measurements are tracked during treatment.
What forms does it come in?
A standard swallowed tablet is the usual form. An orally disintegrating version, sold as Zyprexa Zydis, dissolves on the tongue without water, which suits someone who cannot or will not swallow a tablet; it contains the same active drug and differs only in how it is taken. A short acting injection is available for acute agitation, and a long acting injected form given at intervals of weeks exists as well. The medicine is intended as continuing treatment rather than as something taken occasionally, and stopping it abruptly is associated with return of the underlying symptoms.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient was started on Zyprexa for management of symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
Good to know
Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydis contain the same active medication, olanzapine, and differ mainly in how the tablet is formulated for dissolving rather than in their overall effect.