Olanzapine 5 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Olanzapine 2.5 mg film-coated tablets Olanzapine 5 mg film-coated tablets Olanzapine 7.5 mg film-coated tablets Olanzapine 10 mg film-coated tablets Olanzapine 15 mg film-coated tablets Olanzapine 20 mg film-coated tablets
Olanzapine
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse..
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only.. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects talk to your doctor pharmacist or nurse.This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
- The full name of the product is Olanzapine 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg Film-coated Tablets but within the leaflet it will be referred to as Olanzapine Tablets.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Olanzapine Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Olanzapine Tablets
3. How to take Olanzapine Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Olanzapine Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Olanzapine Tablets are and what they are used for
Olanzapine Tablets belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics and is used to treat the following conditions:
• Schizophrenia, a disease with symptoms such as hearing, seeing or sensing things which are not there, mistaken beliefs, unusual suspiciousness, and becoming withdrawn. People with this disease may also feel depressed, anxious or tense.
• Moderate to severe manic episodes, a condition with symptoms of excitement or euphoria.
Olanzapine Tablets have been shown to prevent recurrence of these symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder whose manic episode has responded to olanzapine treatment.
2.
What you need to know before you take Olanzapine Tablets
Do not take Olanzapine Tablets
- If you are allergic to olanzapine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may be recognised as a rash, itching, a swollen face, swollen lips or shortness of breath. If this has happened to you, tell your doctor.
- If you have been previously diagnosed with eye problems such as certain kinds of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Olanzapine Tablets.
- The use of Olanzapine Tablets in elderly patients with dementia is not recommended as it may have serious side effects.
- Medicines of this type may cause unusual movements mainly of the face or tongue. If this happens after you have been given Olanzapine Tablets tell your doctor.
- Very rarely, medicines of this type cause a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness. If this happens, contact your doctor at once.
- Weight gain has been seen in patients taking Olanzapine Tablets. You and your doctor should check your weight regularly.
- High blood sugar and high levels of fat (triglycerides and cholesterol) have been seen in patients taking Olanzapine Tablets. Your doctor should do blood tests to check blood sugar and certain fat levels before you start taking Olanzapine Tablets and regularly during treatment.
- Tell the doctor if you or someone else in your family has a history of blood clots, as medicines like these have been associated with the formation of blood clots.
If you suffer from any of the following illnesses tell your doctor as soon as possible:
• Stroke or “mini” stroke (temporary symptoms of stroke)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Prostate problems
• A blocked intestine (Paralytic ileus)
• Liver or kidney disease
• Blood disorders
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Seizures
If you suffer from dementia, you or your carer/relative should tell your doctor if you have ever
had a stroke or “mini” stroke.
As a routine precaution, if you are over 65 years your blood pressure may be monitored by your
doctor.
Children and adolescents
Olanzapine Tablets are not for patients who are under 18 years.
Other medicines and Olanzapine Tablets
Only take other medicines while you are on Olanzapine Tablets if your doctor tells you that you can. You might feel drowsy if Olanzapine Tablets are taken in combination with antidepressants or medicines taken for anxiety or to help you sleep (tranquillisers).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:
• medicines for Parkinson’s disease.
• carbamazepine (an anti-epileptic and mood stabiliser), fluvoxamine (an antidepressant) or ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) - it may be necessary to change your Olanzapine Tablets dose.
Olanzapine Tablets with alcohol
Do not drink any alcohol if you have been given Olanzapine Tablets as together with alcohol it may make you feel drowsy.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You should not be given this medicine when breast-feeding, as small amounts of Olanzapine Tablets can pass into breast milk.
The following symptoms may occur in newborn babies, of mothers that have used Olanzapine Tablets in the last trimester (last three months of their pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems, and difficulty in feeding. If your baby develops any of these symptoms you may need to contact your doctor.
Driving and using machines
There is a risk of feeling drowsy when you are given Olanzapine Tablets. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines. Tell your doctor.
Olanzapine Tablets contain lactose and soya
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Olanzapine Tablets contain lecithin soya. If you are allergic to peanut or soya, do not take this medicine.
3. How to take Olanzapine Tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will tell you how many Olanzapine Tablets to take and how long you should continue to take them. The daily dose of Olanzapine is between 5 and 20 mg. Consult your doctor if your symptoms return but do not stop taking Olanzapine Tablets unless your doctor tells you to.
You should take your Olanzapine Tablets once a day following the advice of your doctor. Try to take your tablets at the same time each day. It does not matter whether you take them with or without food. Olanzapine Tablets are for oral use. You should swallow the Olanzapine Tablets whole with water.
If you take more Olanzapine Tablets than you should
Patients who have taken more Olanzapine than they should have experienced the following symptoms: rapid beating of the heart, agitation/aggressiveness, problems with speech, unusual movements (especially of the face or tongue) and reduced level of consciousness. Other symptoms may be: acute confusion, seizures (epilepsy), coma, a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness, slowing of the breathing rate, aspiration, high blood pressure or low blood pressure, abnormal rhythms of the heart. Contact your doctor or hospital straight away if you experience any of the above symptoms. Show the doctor your pack of tablets.
If you forget to take Olanzapine Tablets
Take your tablets as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses in one day.
If you stop taking Olanzapine Tablets
Do not stop taking your tablets just because you feel better. It is important that you carry on taking Olanzapine Tablets for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you suddenly stop taking Olanzapine Tablets, symptoms such as sweating, unable to sleep, tremor, anxiety or nausea and vomiting might occur. Your doctor may suggest you to reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have:
• unusual movement (a common side effect that may affect up to 1 in 10 people) mainly of the face or tongue;
• blood clots in the veins (an uncommon side effect that may affect up to 1 in 100 people) especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms seek medical advice immediately;
• a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness (the frequency of this side effect cannot be estimated from the available data).
Very common side effects: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
• Weight gain.
• Sleepiness.
• Increases in the levels of prolactin in the blood.
In the early stages of treatment, some people may feel dizzy or faint (with a slow heart rate),
especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position. This will usually pass on its own but if
it does not, tell your doctor.
Common side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
• Changes in the levels of some blood cells, circulating fats and early in treatment, temporary increases in liver enzymes.
• Increases in the levels of sugars in the blood and urine.
• Increases in levels of uric acid and creatine phosphokinase in the blood.
• Feeling more hungry.
• Dizziness.
• Restlessness.
• Tremor.
• Unusual movements (dyskinesias).
• Constipation.
• Dry mouth.
• Rash.
• Loss of strength.
• Extreme tiredness.
• Water retention leading to swelling of the hands, ankles or feet.
• Fever.
• Joint pain.
• Sexual dysfunctions such as decreased libido in males and females or erectile dysfunction in males.
Uncommon side effects: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
• Hypersensitivity (e.g. swelling in the mouth and throat, itching, rash).
• Diabetes or worsening of diabetes, occasionally associated with ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood and urine) or coma.
• Seizures, usually associated with a history of seizures (epilepsy).
• Muscle stiffness or spasms (including eye movements).
• Problems with speech.
• Slow heart rate.
• Sensitivity to sunlight.
• Bleeding from the nose.
• Abdominal distension.
• Memory loss or forgetfulness.
• Urinary incontinence.
• Lack of ability to urinate
• Hair loss.
• Absence or decrease in menstrual periods.
• Changes in breasts in males and females such as abnormal production of breast milk or abnormal growth
Rare side effects: may affect up to 1 in 1000 people
• Lowering of normal body temperature.
• Abnormal rhythms of the heart.
• Sudden unexplained death.
• Inflammation of the pancreas causing severe stomach pain, fever and sickness.
• Liver disease appearing as yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes.
• Muscle disease presenting as unexplained aches and pains.
• Prolonged and/or painful erection.
While taking olanzapine, elderly patients with dementia may suffer from stroke, pneumonia, urinary incontinence, falls, extreme tiredness, visual hallucinations, a rise in body temperature, redness of the skin and have trouble walking. Some fatal cases have been reported in this particular group of patients.
In patients with Parkinson’s disease Olanzapine Tablets may worsen the symptoms.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below).
Yellow Card Scheme
Tel: Freephone 0808 100 3352
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Olanzapine Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton, blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Blister packs:
Store in the original package in order to protect from light and moisture.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information What Olanzapine Tablets contain
- The active substance is olanzapine. Each Olanzapine tablet contains either 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5mg, 10 mg, 15 mg or 20 mg of the active substance.
- The other ingredients are
Tablet core: lactose anhydrous, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, magnesium stearate
Tablet film-coating: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, lecithin soya (E322) and xanthan gum (E415). In addition the 15 mg tablets contain indigo carmine (E132) and the 20 mg tablets contain iron oxide red (E172).
What Olanzapine Tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Olanzapine 2.5 mg Film-coated tablet: Round, biconvex, white film-coated tablet 6 mm in diameter, marked with “O” on one side.
Olanzapine 5 mg Film-coated tablet: Round, biconvex, white film-coated tablet 8 mm in diameter, marked with “01” on one side.
Olanzapine 7.5 mg Film-coated tablet: Round, biconvex, white film-coated tablet 9 mm in diameter, marked with “02” on one side.
Olanzapine 10 mg Film-coated tablet: Round, biconvex, white film-coated tablet 10 mm in diameter, marked with “03” on one side.
Olanzapine 15 mg Film-coated tablet: Oval, biconvex, light blue film-coated tablet 7.35 x 13.35 mm in diameter, marked with “O” on one side.
Olanzapine 20 mg Film-coated tablet: Oval, biconvex, light pink film-coated tablet 7.5 x 14.5 mm in diameter, marked with “O” on one side.
Pack sizes
In blisters: 7, 14, 28, 30, 35, 56 and 70 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Aptil Pharma Limited
9th Floor, CP House
97-107 Uxbridge Road, Ealing
London
W5 5TL
Manufacturer*
Actavis hf
Reykjavikurvegur 76-78 220 Hafnarfjorhur Iceland
Or
Actavis Ltd
BLB 016, Bulebel Industrial Estate
Zejtun ZTN 3000
Malta
*the actual leaflet will only refer to the batch release site that is utilised