Worst Pills, Best Pills

An expert, independent second opinion on more than 1,800 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements

olanzapine (SYMBYAX, ZYPREXA, ZYPREXA RELPREVV, ZYPREXA ZYDIS)


E-ALERTS

Search results below include E-Alerts where your selected drug is a primary subject of discussion.

Warning to Pregnant Women (July 12, 2011)

DISEASE AND DRUG FAMILY INFORMATION

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Antipsychotic Drugs: Dangerously Overused
Antipsychotic drugs, also called neuroleptic drugs or major tranquilizers, are properly and successfully used to treat serious psychotic mental disorders, the most common of which is schizophrenia. In younger adults, an alarming number of those with schizophrenia who could and often have previously benefited from antipsychotic drugs are not receiving them. They are seen, among other places, on the streets and in homeless shelters. In older adults, the problem is not underuse but, rather, gross overuse by people who are not psychotic.

DRUG AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROFILES

A comprehensive review of the safety and effectiveness of this drug. If the drug is not a Do Not Use product, information on adverse effects, drug interactions and how to use the medication are included.
Search results below include Drug and Dietary Supplement Profiles where your selected drug is a primary subject of discussion.


WORST PILLS, BEST PILLS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Search results below include Worst Pills, Best Pills Newsletter Articles where your selected drug is a primary subject of discussion.

Drugs That Can Be Dangerous for Older Adults
July 2024
Adults aged 65 or older are at high risk of experiencing drug interactions and adverse events. This article highlights five drug classes that are associated with increased risks for older adults: benzodiazepines and Z drugs; anticholinergic medications; sulfonylureas, drugs for type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular and anti-thrombotic medications; and antipsychotics in older adults with dementia.
Do Not Use: Olanzapine/Samidorphan (LYBALVI) for Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder
May 2023
Public Citizen’s Health Research Group has designated olanzapine/samidorphan (LYBALVI) as Do Not Use because of questionable effectiveness and concerning safety data, especially because samidorphan use plausibly increases the risk of opioid overdose.
Some Antipsychotics Elevate Breast Cancer Risk, a Large Study Confirms
July 2022
Many studies have suggested that breast cancer risk, via prolactin elevation, is increased by antipsychotic medications, but the results were mixed and warranted further, more rigorous investigation. A recent, large observational study has added stronger evidence that certain antipsychotic medications increase breast cancer risk.
Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Women
July 2022
Medications are a leading cause of sexual dysfunction in women. Knowing which drugs prescribed or recommended by your doctor can cause sexual dysfunction will allow you to take steps to prevent or minimize this common, often troubling adverse drug effect.
Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Men
April 2022
Medications are a leading cause of sexual dysfunction in men. Knowing which drugs prescribed or recommended by your doctor can cause sexual dysfunction will allow you to take steps to prevent or minimize this common, often troubling adverse drug effect.
Drug-Induced Constipation
January 2022
Numerous prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause or exacerbate constipation. Knowing which medications prescribed or recommended by your doctor cause constipation will allow you to take steps to prevent or minimize this common, troubling adverse drug effect.
Drugs That Cause Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
May 2021
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening neurological disorder most often caused by neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medications, which are used to treat schizophrenia and certain other psychiatric disorders, among other things. The syndrome also can be caused by certain other drugs used to treat nausea and depression, as well as by the sudden discontinuation of a dopamine agonist (drugs that are used most commonly to treat Parkinson’s disease).
Important Drug Interactions for the Seizure Drug Carbamazepine
March 2021
Patients taking the commonly prescribed epilepsy drug carbamazepine (CARBATROL, EPITOL, EQUETRO, TEGRETOL, TERIL) should be aware that it has clinically important interactions with numerous other prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Driving Under the Influence Caused by Medications
September 2020
Although impaired driving usu¬ally is caused by alcohol or marijuana, many commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medications also can impair one’s ability to drive safely. Learn about several classes of medications that can cause this serious problem to protect yourself, your passengers and others who share the road with you.
An Update on Drug-Induced Parkinsonism
October 2019
Next to Parkinson’s disease, drug-induced parkinsonism is the second most common cause of parkinsonism, accounting for about 8-12% of all parkinsonism cases. Find out which commonly used drugs can cause this condition.
Medications that Cause Taste Disorders
April 2019
Drugs are the most frequent cause of taste disturbances. In this article, we identify more than 60 commonly used prescription medications that have been linked to problems with taste.
Drug-Induced Restless Legs Syndrome
March 2019
Restless legs syndrome is a common neurological movement and sensory disorder that affects 5 to 10 percent of the population. In this article, we identify some of the many drugs that can cause or worsen this disorder.
Preventing Heat-Induced Death and Illness
June 2018
This article lists practical steps to take to avoid death, hospitalization or other medical problems caused by heat stress. It also identifies over 100 drugs that can impair your response to heat and thereby increase your risk of heat-induced illness and death.
Drug-Induced Movement Disorders
February 2018
Abnormal involuntary movements (movement disorders) occur as adverse events associated with many widely used medications and can cause substantial hardship for affected individuals. Find out which drugs are associated with these adverse effects.
Drugs That Cause Weight Gain
December 2017
Weight gain is an adverse event associated with many widely used medications and may lead to significant overweight and obesity, especially in susceptible individuals. Find out which drugs have this adverse effect.
Medications for Bipolar Disorder
March 2017
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a serious chronic mental illness that afflicts approximately 5.4 million people in the U.S. In this article, we review the benefits and safety of several drugs that are commonly used to treat this disorder.
Drugs That Cause Loss of Bladder Control
February 2016
Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a common and often embarrassing problem that can have a huge impact on quality of life. Find out which drugs can cause this problem.
Anticholinergics May Increase Dementia Risk in Elderly
August 2015
Learn about recent evidence suggesting that anticholinergic drugs — which include many antidepressants, antihistamines and overactive bladder control medications — may increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia in the elderly.
New Government Guidelines Discourage Use of Antipsychotic Drugs in Dementia Care
October 2013
The federal government recently issued guidelines discouraging the use of antipsychotic medications to treat dementia in nursing home patients, promoting nonpharmacologic approaches to such treatment. Antipsychotic use among elderly patients is associated with increased chances of death, as well as other serious side effects.
Preventing Heat-Induced Death and Illness
June 2012
This article lists practical steps to take to avoid death, hospitalization or other medical problems caused by heat stress. It also contains a list of 123 drugs that can impair your response to heat.
Drug-Induced Acute Akathisia (Restlessness)
April 2011
The article lists 27 drugs that can cause akathisia, a condition characterized by muscular quivering and the inability to sit still. Other signs of the condition include fidgety movements, leg swinging while sitting, rocking from foot to foot or pacing and motor restlessness.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
December 2010
The article describes the symptoms of the life-threatening neurological disorder neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and lists 40 different prescription drugs that have been found to cause it.
Drug-Induced Parkinsonism
October 2010
A study discovered that more than 1 out of every 10 people who went to a Parkinson’s disease center was found to have drug-induced Parkinsonism. These people were misdiagnosed as having the more common illness, Parkinson’s disease, which is irreversible and has unknown causes.
Harmful Interactions Between Smoking and Prescription Drugs
November 2007
Something never mentioned on cigarette warning labels is that smoking can affect the way a number of medications work, in some cases resulting in significant, dangerous adverse outcomes. Smokers should be aware that a number of medications may not work as well because of smoking cigarettes. The article lists 16 drugs whose levels in the blood become lower, making the drugs less effective, if the patient is also smoking.
Increased Personal Care Provides Alternative to Antipsychotic Drugs for Elderly Dementia Patients
July 2006
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo...The percentage of patients using antipsychotic drugs in the six nursing homes receiving training and support was significantly lower (23 percent) than that in the nursing homes whose patients received usual care (42.1 percent).
The Danger of Prescribing without Proof: Examples of Prescriptions for Drugs Not Shown to be Safe and Effective
July 2006
The article discusses numerous recent examples of the harm that has been caused by off-label prescribing, including the heart drugs amiodarone (Cordarone), many antipsychotic drugs, topiramate (Topamax)and several antidepressants.
Antipsychotic Drugs and Dementia in the Elderly
February 2006
Clearly, the concern here is that the use of atypical and typical antipsychotic drugs to control the behavior of elderly nursing home residents who are not psychotic could be considered an unlawful chemical restraint.
FDA Public Health Advisory: Unapproved Use of Atypical Antipsychotics Increases Risk of Death
July 2005
FDA relabels these drugs due to an increased risk of death among patients taking the drugs off-label for dementia.
The Newer Atypical Antipsychotic Drug Olanzapine (ZYPREXA) Shows No Advantage Over Haloperidol (HALDOL)
May 2004
A randomized controlled clinical trial, the “gold standard” for scientific research, published in the November 26, 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) compared the newer top selling atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine (ZYPREXA) to the much older antipsychotic agent haloperidol (HALDOL) and concluded that this trial: "...found no statistically or clinically significant advantages of olanzapine for schizophrenia on measures of compliance, symptoms, or overall quality of life, nor did it find evidence of reduced inpatient use or total cost."
Drug Induced Elevation of Blood Sugar with the Antipsychotic Drugs Clozapine (CLOZARIL) and Olanzapine (ZYPREXA)
July 2002
We are becoming increasingly concerned about reports of elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and diabetes with the newer “atypical antipsychotic” drugs clozapine (CLOZARIL) and olanzapine (ZYPREXA).
New Adverse Drug Reaction: Elevated Blood Sugar from New Antipsychotic Drugs in Adolescents
February 2002
Medical officers from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, along with a physician from the Duke University Medical Center, have reported a possible link between the use of the new antipsychotic drugs clozapine (CLOZARIL) and olanzapine (ZYPREXA) in adolescents and elevations in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) in 20 of these children. The report was published as a letter to the editor in the November 28, 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN

Search results below include Additional Information from Public Citizen where your selected drug is a primary subject of discussion.

Testimony Before the FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee Regarding the Combination Drug Olanzapine/Samidorphan Intended to Treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (HRG Publication #2548)
In testimony before a joint meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee, Public Citizen argued against approval of the combination drug olanzapine/samidorphan, which is intended to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, because the samidorphan component is only marginally effective in decreasing the weight gain seen with olanzapine, fails to improve many other indicators of metabolic health, and