Adverse Events Related to Olanzapine

Olanzapine, a serotonin-dopamine receptor antagonist, is one of the novel atypical antipsychoticsthat is effective against the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia with significantly fewertreatment-emergent extrapyramidal symptoms and less akathisia associated with traditional antipsychotics.Compared with traditional agents, olanzapine shows only a few adverse events such as drymouth, sedation, and increase in appetite. Compared with risperidone, olanzapine causes greaterincreases in weight gain and body mass index but less hyperprolactinemia. Transient, non-dosedependent,asymptomatic elevations in liver enzymes have also been noted in olanzapine-treatedpatients. Because of the comparative efficacy and improved side effect profiles of the atypical antipsychotics,consideration should be given to using the newer agents as preferred treatment for schizophreniaand related psychoses.