Patient leaflet - Olanzapine Milpharm 5 mg tablets

1. WHAT OLANZAPINE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED

FOR

Olanzapine tablets contain the active substance olanzapine. Olanzapine 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hearing, seeing or sensing things which are not there, mistaken beliefs, unusual suspiciousness, and becoming withdrawn.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 has 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

Do not take Olanzapine

If you are allergic (hypersensitive) 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 before you take Olanzapine.

The use of Olanzapine 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 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. You and your doctor should check your weight regularly. Consider referral to a dietician or help with a diet plan if necessary.
High blood sugar and high levels of fat
(triglycerides and cholesterol) have been seen in patients taking Olanzapine. Your doctor should do blood tests to check blood sugar and certain fat levels before you start taking Olanzapine 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:
Diabetes
Heart disease
Liver or kidney disease
Parkinson’s disease
Seizures
Prostate problems
A blocked intestine (Paralytic ileus)
Blood disorders
- Stroke or “mini” stroke (temporary symptoms of stroke)
- If you know that you may have salt depletion as a result of prolonged severe diarrhoea and vomiting (being sick) or usage of diuretics (water tablets)

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 is not for patients who are under 18 years.

Other medicines and Olanzapine

Only take other medicines while you are on Olanzapine if your doctor tells you that you can. You might feel drowsy if Olanzapine is taken in combination with antidepressants or medicines taken for anxiety or to help you sleep (tranquillisers).

Tell your doctor 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 dose.

Olanzapine with alcohol

Do not drink any alcohol if you have been given Olanzapine as together with alcohol it may make you feel drowsy.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

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 can pass into breast milk.

The following symptoms may occur in newborn babies, of mothers that have used olanzapine 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. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines. Tell your doctor.

Olanzapine contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. How to take OLANZAPINE

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor 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 mg and 20 mg. Consult your doctor if your symptoms return but do not stop taking Olanzapine 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 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

Take your tablets as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses in one day.

If you stop taking Olanzapine

Do not stop taking your tablets just because you feel better. It is important that you carry on taking Olanzapine for as long as your doctor tells you.

If you suddenly stop taking Olanzapine, 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.

Package leaflet: Information for the user Olanzapine 2.5 mg tablets Olanzapine 5 mg tablets Olanzapine 7.5 mg tablets Olanzapine 10 mg tablets Olanzapine 15 mg tablets Olanzapine 20 mg tablets

olanzapine

Black A/s : 170 x 400 mm

P1540340

Date & Time Component

Reason Of Issue Version No.

Sign / Date Product

Olanzapine Leaflet P1540340

Milpharm Unit-7 Revision

06.10.2025 & 9:15 AM

Initiator

Additional Information :

Artist:

No. of Colours : 01

170 x 400 mm Ramesh P

Jaya Durga

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) include weight gain; sleepiness; and increases in 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) include

changes in the levels of some blood cells,
circulating fats and early in treatment, temporary increases in liver enzymes..
increases in the level 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 and 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) include

Hypersensitivity (e.g. swelling in the mouth and
throat, itching, rash)
Diabetes or the 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);
Restless legs syndrome
Problems with speech
stuttering
slow heart rate.
sensitivity to sunlight.
Bleeding from the nose;
Abdominal distension;
drooling;
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
an 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.

Very rare side effects include serious allergic reactions such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). DRESS appears initially as flu-like symptoms with a rash on the face and then with an extended rash, high temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, increased levels of liver enzymes seen on blood tests and an increase in a type of white blood cells (eosinophilia)

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 may worsen the symptoms.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly. via Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store OLANZAPINE

Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.

Store below 25ºC.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the outer carton, blister and bottle label.

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 to protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Olanzapine contains

The active substance is olanzapine. Each
Olanzapine tablet contains either 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg or 20 mg of the active substance. The exact amount is shown on your Olanzapine tablet pack.
The other ingredients are - lactose monohydrate, crospovidone (type B), hydroxypropyl cellulose and magnesium stearate.

What Olanzapine looks like and contents of the pack

Olanzapine 2.5 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘2.5’ on the other side

Olanzapine 5 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘5’ on the other side

Olanzapine 7.5 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘7.5’ on the other side

Olanzapine 10 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘10’ on the other side

Olanzapine 15 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘15’ on the other side

Olanzapine 20 mg Tablets:

Yellow coloured, circular, biconvex uncoated tablets, debossed with ‘OA’ on one side and ‘20’ on the other side

Olanzapine tablets are available in:

PVC/Polyamide/Aluminium/PVC/Aluminium blister pack:

7, 14, 28, 30, 35, 50, 56, 70, 96, 98 & 100 tablets.

HDPE bottle and polypropylene closure with silica gel desiccant:

30 & 1000 tablets

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Milpharm Limited

1 Roundwood Avenue

Stockley Park, Uxbridge

UB11 1AF

United Kingdom

Manufacturer

APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited

HF 26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far Brizebbugia BBG 3000

Malta