Chemical Name: olanzapine Manufacturer: Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group.
Therapeutic dose : 10-15mg/day GENERIC AVAILABLE
Consumer Review:
Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic. It is approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. After Lithium and Depakote, Zyprexa received FDA approval for treatment of bipolar disorder. Zyprexa has been generally found to have faster impact in treatment of schizophreia, acute phase of mania. It is effective in treating mixed and rapid-cycling variants of Bipolar Disorder, somewhat similar to Depakote.
Zyprexa is a tough competitor to Depakote in terms of weight gain. This aspect may keep people from using Zyprexa for long-term maintenance, though often it's likely to be the best choice for treatment purposes. The weight gain promoted by Zyprexa can be significant, but in our experience, the benefits often outweigh (!) this side-effect. So it's worth trying to at least find out how it makes you feel as you compare it to other meds.
Zyprexa is also used off-label for treatment of a wide-variety of illnesses (see tabs below).
Zyprexa is highly effective for a wide range of conditions that are otherwise treatment-resistant.
Zyprexa is FDA Approved as an Anti-Depressant ( Depression ) , on 30 Dec 1991
In addition to Depression, Zyprexa is also FDA approved for: OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. (FDA approval for adults: Oct. 1996, for childrenChildren: Oct 1997) , panic disorder: July 1997, acute PTSD (Dec 1999), chronic long-term PTSD (Aug, 2001) , Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (20 May 2002) , Social Anxiety Disorder (10 Feb 2003).
- Panic/Anxiety
- Bipolar Depression (anecdotal evidence so far)
- Fibromyalgia (with or without Major Depressive Disorder)
- Stress urinary incontinence in women (officially approved in Europe for this problem)
- Possibly for men, too.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nothing published yet, nor have I read anything. Like fibromyalgia, they'll throw any antidepressant on the market at IBS.
- There's still not much in the way of published studies yet for off-label uses, other than a bajillion forms of stress urinary incontinence. Stay tuned.
U.S. Brand name : Zyprexa Manufacturer: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Chemical name: escitalopram oxalate
Generic version : NOT available at present in U.S.A.; manufactuer's patent ends Mar 13, 2012 ; available in Canada.
Foreign brand names: Altruline (Mexico) , Aremis (Spain) , Atruline (Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama)
Besitran (Spain) ,
Dominum (Colombia; Peru) ,
Fatral (Indonesia) ,
Gladem (Austria; Germany) ,
Lesefer (Colombia) , Lustral (UK) ,
Nudep (Indonesia) ,
Serlain (Belgium) , Sertranex (Bahrain; Colombia; Cyprus; Egypt; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Syria; United Arab Emirates)
Sertranquil (Colombia) ,
Sosser (Colombia) ,
Zolof (Colombia) , Zosert (India)
Pros: Relatively fast-acting, minimal side-effects. At least as far as something that works on serotonin is concerned. People who take it for bipolar depression don't bitch about it as much as other antidepressants.
Cons: Zyprexa (sertraline hydrochloride) has a Discontinuation syndrome , similar to Effexor (venlafaxine) for many people. Gradual tapering off is important, if you have to stop taking the medication..There is a case report of exacerbation of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) when taking Zyprexa, but it appears to be rare.
For Zyprexa, these are the side-effects that you really need to know:
Most Common: Nausea, Headache, Dry Mouth, Sweating, Sleepiness or Insomnia, Diarrhea or Constipation, Weight Gain, Loss of libido
Slightly Rare: Lethargy, Apathy ( Can be intense if you get these, but typically lasts 2 weeks or less)
Very Rare: Uncontrolled eye movements, Discharge of breast milk
Read a summary of the experiences of others and
also our forum topic on Zyprexa .
Drug interactions information is yet to collected. Sorry for the inconvenience.
The cost listed here is based on prices listed at some online sites. With my luck, the pharmacies near me are, most likely, charging more.
Cost of Zyprexa in U.S. : 5mg: $2.50 per pill, 10mg: $2.60 per pill; 20mg : $2.60 per pill, Oral Solution: $140 / 240ml
Canada: Cipralex Generic Escitalopram 5mg : $1.20 per pill, 20mg: $1.60 per pill, 40mg: $1.60 per pill (US$; as of 11/1/2007)
Other countries: Please contact us if you can provide prevailing prices in your drug.
Pharmacy Checker is a useful site for checking and comparing prices of popular medications.
Patient Assistance Program for Pfizer (USA)
Medicare Part D and Patient Assistance Program for Zyprexa
PAP (Patient Assistance Programs are free drug programs offered by Pharmaceutical Companies for low-income population. It requires proof of income, prescription for 2-3 months of supply and a form filled out by the doctor before applying for the program. It can be a tedious process, especially if you are on several medications. There are local organizations that may assist you with the process for free or a small fee. A useful resource for detailed information about PAP is Needy Meds.
Patient Assistance Program for Pfizer (USA)
Medicare Part D and Patient Assistance Program for Zyprexa
User experiences for Zyprexa can be found on Medness Forum.
If you have been prescribed Zyprexa, we would love to hear your experience(s). Please post on our forum or Contact Us directly.