Zyprexa

Zyprexa sometimes causes drowsiness and can impair your judgment, thinking, and motor skills. Use caution while driving and don't operate dangerous machinery until you know how the drug affects you.

Medicines such as Zyprexa can interfere with regulation of the body's temperature. Do not get overheated or become dehydrated while taking Zyprexa. Avoid extreme heat and drink plenty of fluids.

Zyprexa can cause low blood pressure upon standing, resulting in dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fainting, especially at the start of therapy. Let the doctor know if you develop this problem; your dosage can be adjusted to reduce the symptoms.

If you have phenylketonuria and must avoid the amino acid phenylalanine, you should not take Zyprexa Zydis, which contains this substance.

The safety and effectiveness of Zyprexa have not been studied in children.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Zyprexa

Avoid alcohol while taking Zyprexa. The combination can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure.

If Zyprexa is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either can be increased, decreased, or altered. Ask your doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs. It is especially important to check before combining Zyprexa with the following:

Blood pressure medications
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Diazepam (Valium)
Drugs that boost the effect of dopamine, such as the Parkinson's medications Mirapex, Parlodel, Permax, and Requip
Fluvoxamine
Levodopa (Larodopa)
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Zyprexa should be used during pregnancy only if absolutely necessary. The drug may appear in breast milk; do not breastfeed while on Zyprexa therapy.

Recommended dosage

ADULTS

Schizophrenia

The usual starting dose is 5 to 10 milligrams once a day. If you start at the lower dose, after a few days the doctor will increase it to 10. After that, the dosage will be increased no more than once a week, 5 milligrams at a time, up to a maximum of 20 milligrams a day.