Zyprexa Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Zyprexa (olanzapine) is an antipsychotic medication approved to treat certain mental health disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar 1 disorder. It’s also approved in combination with fluoxetine (Prozac) for certain types of depression.
The typical starting Zyprexa dosage for adults is 5 mg to 10 mg by mouth once daily. From there, it can be slowly increased to a maximum of 20 mg per day.
Zyprexa is available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
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Table of contents
Zyprexa (olanzapine) belongs to a group of medications called atypical antipsychotics. It’s approved to treat certain mental health conditions in adults and children ages 10 and over.
Here, we’ll look at FDA-approved Zyprexa dosages. Keep in mind that your Zyprexa dosage may be different than what’s discussed in this guide. You should always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
What dosage forms of Zyprexa are available?
Zyprexa is available as regular tablets as well as orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) that dissolve in your mouth (Zyprexa Zydis). You can take Zyprexa with or without food, but you should take it around the same time every day.
The following doses are available in each form:
Zyprexa tablets | Zyprexa Zydis ODT |
|---|---|
• 2.5 mg • 5 mg • 7.5 mg • 10 mg • 15 mg • 20 mg | • 5 mg • 10 mg • 15 mg • 20 mg |
Zyprexa also comes as both a short-acting and long-acting injection. These forms of Zyprexa are typically given by a healthcare professional in a medical office.
What’s the typical Zyprexa dosage for adults?
The typical Zyprexa dosage depends on why you’re taking it. Your other medical conditions or medications you take may also affect your dosage.
Regardless of your condition, a lower starting Zyprexa dosage (5 mg) is recommended if you’re a non-smoking female aged 65 and over or have a history of low blood pressure. Your healthcare provider will help decide what’s best for your needs.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can affect your thoughts and emotions. People living with schizophrenia can experience hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking and speech.
The recommended starting adult Zyprexa dosage for schizophrenia is 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. After 1 week, the daily dose can be increased by up to 5 mg. Your healthcare provider will help you decide if you need a higher dose. It’s recommended to wait at least 1 week between each change in dose to allow your body to adjust. In most cases, the daily dose shouldn’t go up by more than 5 mg at a time. And doses over 20 mg per day aren’t recommended.
Bipolar 1 Disorder (manic or mixed episodes)
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can cause severe mood swings. These mood swings often include periods of depression. In people living with bipolar 1 disorder, they can also include periods of mania. Sometimes, symptoms of mania and depression can happen at the same time — also known as mixed episodes.
The recommended Zyprexa dosage for adults with bipolar 1 disorder experiencing manic or mixed episodes is 10 mg to 15 mg once daily. If you’re also taking lithium (Lithobid), divalproex (Depakote), or valproic acid, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg per day.
If needed, the Zyprexa dosage can be raised or lowered by 5 mg each day until the most effective dose is found. Doses over 20 mg daily aren’t recommended. Your healthcare provider will help determine the best Zyprexa dosage for you.
Bipolar 1 Disorder (depressive episodes)
When combined with the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), Zyprexa is approved to treat depressive episodes due to bipolar 1 disorder.
The recommended Zyprexa dosage for adults experiencing depressive episodes due to bipolar 1 disorder is 5 mg daily (along with 20 mg of fluoxetine). The dose may be increased if you and your healthcare provider decide it’s necessary. The recommended dosage range is 5 mg to 12 mg of Zyprexa (along with 20 mg to 50mg of fluoxetine).
You can take Zyprexa and fluoxetine separately, but there’s also a medication called Symbyax (olanzapine/fluoxetine) that contains both of these medications in a single capsule. Symbyax’s recommended dosage is slightly different. Your healthcare provider will help determine the best dose for you.
Treatment-resistant depression
If you have depression that hasn’t responded to two or more medications, you may have treatment-resistant depression. Zyprexa is approved for treatment-resistant depression when it’s combined with fluoxetine.
The recommended starting adult Zyprexa dosage for treatment-resistant depression is 5 mg daily (along with 20 mg of fluoxetine). The dose may be increased if necessary. The recommended dosage range is 5 mg to 20 mg of Zyprexa (along with 20 mg to 50mg of fluoxetine).
Symbyax is also approved for treatment-resistant depression. It can be an alternative to taking Zyprexa and fluoxetine separately. Your healthcare provider can help determine the best form and dose of medication for you.
What’s the typical Zyprexa dosage for children?
Zyprexa is also approved for children and adolescents ages 10 to 17, depending on what you’re treating. It’s not approved for use in children under the age of 10.
Schizophrenia
Zyprexa is approved to treat schizophrenia symptoms in adolescents 13 to 17 years old. The recommended starting adolescent Zyprexa dosage for schizophrenia is 2.5 mg to 5 mg per day. The dose can then be increased by 2.5 mg to 5 mg per day. If needed, the dose can be raised to a maximum of 20 mg per day.
Bipolar 1 Disorder (manic or mixed episodes)
Zyprexa is also approved for manic or mixed episodes in teens ages 13 to 17 living with bipolar 1 disorder. The recommended starting adolescent Zyprexa dosage for manic or mixed episodes is 2.5 mg to 5 mg per day. The dose can then be increased by 2.5 mg to 5 mg per day. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg per day.
Bipolar 1 Disorder (depressive episodes)
Zyprexa is approved for depressive episodes of bipolar 1 disorder in children and adolescents 10 to 17 years old when taken along with fluoxetine. In this case, the recommended children’s Zyprexa dosage is 2.5 mg of olanzapine (along with 20 mg of fluoxetine). If needed, the dose can be increased to the recommended maximum dose of 12 mg Zyprexa (along with 50 mg of fluoxetine).
Symbyax is an alternative form of this combination that’s also approved for children and adolescents ages 10 to 17. A healthcare provider will determine if Symbyax would be better for your child.
What happens if you miss a dose of Zyprexa?
If you miss a dose of Zyprexa, you should take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next regular dose, skip the missed dose and take only the regular dose. Don’t take two doses at the same time.
If you’re having trouble taking your medication every day, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can give you tips to help, like using medication reminder apps. They may also decide that the long-acting injection is a better alternative for you, since it’s only given every 2 to 4 weeks.
What should you do if you take too much Zyprexa?
If you accidentally take an extra dose of Zyprexa, it’s unlikely to cause any serious problems. You may notice more side effects, like dry mouth or drowsiness. You should let your healthcare provider know if you’ve taken an extra dose so they can help monitor and manage your symptoms.
If you take a large amount of Zyprexa, you may feel drowsy or have slurred speech. In severe cases, it may cause agitation, uncontrolled body movements, or changes in your heartbeat or blood pressure, which can be fatal. If you or a loved one takes too much Zyprexa, contact your healthcare provider right away or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
How to save on Zyprexa
There are many ways to save on Zyprexa, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic olanzapine’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $13.20 with a free GoodRx discount.
Save with patient assistance programs.If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for brand-name Zyprexa’spatient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
The bottom line
Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It’s approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar 1 disorder, and treatment-resistant depression. The typical Zyprexa dosage for adults starts at 5 mg to 10 mg every day. The dose can be slowly increased if needed, but more than 20 mg of Zyprexa daily isn’t recommended. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right dosage for you.
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References
American Regent, Inc. (2022). Olanzapine [package insert].
Apotex Corp. (2021). Olanzapine [package insert].
Eli Lilly and Company. (2022). Zyprexa relprevv [package insert].
Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. (2021). Olanzapine [package insert].
Kennedy, S. H., et al. (2007). Treatment resistant depression--advances in somatic therapies. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry.
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