Olanzapine pamoate monohydrate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet is designed to provide you with answers to some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information and does not take the place of talking with your doctor.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date shown on the final page. More recent information on this medicine may be available. Make sure you speak to your pharmacist, nurse or doctor to obtain the most up to date information on this medicine. You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.lilly.com.au. The updated leaflet may contain important information about ZYPREXA RELPREVV and its use that you should be aware of.
All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has more information about this medicine than is contained in this leaflet. Also, your doctor has had the benefit of taking a full and detailed history from you and is in the best position to make an expert judgement to meet your individual needs.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with this medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What ZYPREXA RELPREVV is used for
ZYPREXA RELPREVV belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics. It helps to correct chemical imbalances in the brain, which may cause mental illness.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV is given as an injection into a large muscle in the buttocks where it is slowly released over 2 to 4 weeks. This injection should only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor may have prescribed ZYPREXA RELPREVV for another reason.
Ask your doctor or nurse if you have any questions about why ZYPREXA RELPREVV has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV is not recommended for use in children under the age of 18 years as there is not enough information on its effects in this age group.
Before you are given ZYPREXA RELPREVV
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any of the following conditions or if you have ever experienced any of these conditions.
When you must not be given it
Do not have ZYPREXA RELPREVV:
if you have had an allergic reaction to ZYPREXA®, ZYPREXA RELPREVV or to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see 'Product Description').
Signs of an allergic reaction may include a skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.
if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or the injection vials do not look quite right.
if the expiry date on the pack has passed.
If you have this medicine after the expiry date has passed it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should start having ZYPREXA RELPREVV, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to any medicine which you have taken previously to treat your current condition.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
tumour of the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain)
disease of the blood with a reduced number of white or red blood cells
disease of the blood vessels of the brain, including stroke
prostate problems
kidney or liver disease
high blood sugar, diabetes or a family history of diabetes
breast cancer or a family history of breast cancer
paralytic ileus, a condition where the small bowel does not work properly
epilepsy (seizures or fits)
glaucoma, a condition in which there is usually a build up of fluid in the eye
heart disease, including irregular heart rhythm
neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a reaction to some medicines with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions
tardive dyskinesia, a reaction to some medicines with uncontrollable twitching or jerking movements of the arms and legs.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Like most antipsychotic medicines, ZYPREXA RELPREVV is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider ZYPREXA RELPREVV during your pregnancy, your doctor or nurse will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
It is recommended that you do not breast-feed while having ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Tell your doctor if you will be in a hot environment or do a lot of vigorous exercise.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV may make you sweat less, causing your body to overheat.
Tell your doctor if you smoke.
Smoking may affect ZYPREXA RELPREVV or may affect how it works.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by ZYPREXA RELPREVV or may affect how it works. These include:
medicines used to treat a fast or irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)
medicines taken for anxiety or to help you sleep
medicines taken for depression
carbamazepine, a medicine used for mood stabilisation and to treat epilepsy
other centrally acting medicines (eg. tranquillisers)
ciprofloxacin, a medicine used to treat bacterial infections
medicines that lower blood pressure
medicines used for Parkinson's disease
medicines that change the heart's electrical activity or make it more likely to change.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Tell your doctor or nurse about these things before you are given ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
How ZYPREXA RELPREVV is given
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
These may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much is given
Your doctor or nurse will decide what dose you will receive and how often you will need to be given an injection.
A lower starting dose may be prescribed for elderly patients over the age of 65 years.
How it is given
ZYPREXA RELPREVV comes as a powder. Your doctor or nurse will make it up into a liquid suspension. The information your doctor or nurse needs to prepare the ZYPREXA RELPREVV suspension is included in the package.
After it has been made up, ZYPREXA RELPREVV is given as a deep injection into a large muscle in your buttock. ZYPREXA RELPREVV should never be injected directly into the blood (intravenously).
Do not massage or rub the area where the injection was given.
What happens after an injection
An uncommon but serious reaction might occur after you receive an injection of ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV can sometimes enter the bloodstream too quickly. If this happens, you may have the symptoms listed below after your injection. In some cases, these symptoms can lead to unconsciousness.
excessive sleepiness
confusion
irritability
dizziness, disorientation
anxiety
aggression
difficulty talking or walking
weakness
muscle stiffness or shaking
increases in blood pressure
convulsions
The symptoms typically resolve within 24 to 72 hours after your injection. Because of this risk, do not drive or operate machinery for the remainder of the day after each injection.
If these symptoms are going to occur they will usually first appear within 2 hours after your injection. After each injection you will be observed in your healthcare facility for at least 2 hours for the symptoms listed above. If you have any of the symptoms listed above your doctor or nurse may need to observe you for longer than 2 hours. Your doctor or nurse will check you to confirm that you do not have any of these symptoms before you leave the healthcare facility.
Contact your doctor or nurse immediately if you get these symptoms more than 2 hours after your injection.
You will be given details of how to contact your doctor or nurse if you have any of these symptoms, as you will need their assistance until they have resolved.
Do NOT drive a motor vehicle after the injection.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel dizzy or faint after the injection.
You will probably need to lie down until you feel better. The doctor or nurse may also want to measure your blood pressure and pulse.
How often is it given
It is recommended that ZYPREXA RELPREVV is given every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how your body responds to the medicine.
How many injections will you need
ZYPREXA RELPREVV helps control your condition, but will not cure it. Therefore, you need regular injections. Do not miss any injections, even if you feel better.
Overdose
As ZYPREXA RELPREVV is given to you under medical supervision , it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.
Immediately telephone your doctor or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else has received too much ZYPREXA RELPREVV. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you have received too much ZYPREXA RELPREVV, the most common signs are fast heart beat, agitation/aggression, difficulty speaking, uncontrollable movements and sedation.
After having ZYPREXA RELPREVV
Things you must do
It is important that you remember to attend appointments to receive your ZYPREXA RELPREVV injections.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists and nurses who are treating you that you are having ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
While you are having ZYPREXA RELPREVV, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you start any new medicine.
If you become pregnant while having ZYPREXA RELPREVV, tell your doctor.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor should monitor your weight while you are having ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance of developing diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.
If you are over 65, your doctor may measure your blood pressure from time to time.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are female and your monthly periods are absent for six months or more.
Talk to your doctor or mental health professional if you have thoughts or talk about death or suicide; or thoughts or talk about self-harm or doing harm to others.
These may be signs of changes or worsening in your mental illness.
Things you must not do
Do not stop having ZYPREXA RELPREVV, even if you are feeling better, without checking with your doctor.
It is important that you carry on receiving ZYPREXA RELPREVV for as long as your doctor has told you to.
Things to be careful of
Do NOT drive or operate heavy machinery for the remainder of the day after your injection.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV may cause drowsiness in some people. If this happens, do not drive or operate any tools or machines. Tell your doctor or nurse.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while using ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
The effects of alcohol could be made worse while using ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while you are being treated with ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
If ZYPREXA RELPREVV makes you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Getting up slowly may help.
If outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 30+ sunscreen.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally.
Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness, or severe sunburn.
If your skin does appear to be burning, tell your doctor or nurse.
Make sure you keep cool in hot weather and keep warm in cool weather.
ZYPREXA RELPREVV may affect the way your body reacts to temperature changes.
Side effects
All medicines may have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Like other medicines, ZYPREXA RELPREVV may cause some unwanted side effects. These are likely to vary from patient to patient. Some side effects may be related to the dose of ZYPREXA RELPREVV. Accordingly, it is important that you tell your doctor as soon as possible about any unwanted effects. Your doctor may then decide to adjust the dose of ZYPREXA RELPREVV you are taking.
A serious side effect can occur if ZYPREXA RELPREVV enters the blood stream too quickly. There is more information about this in the section named "What happens after an injection".
A common side effect seen with ZYPREXA RELPREVV was sleepiness/drowsiness.
A rare side effect seen with ZYPREXA RELPREVV is an abscess (infection) at the place the injection was given.
The information below concerns side effects seen with other forms of ZYPREXA. They may also occur in people who use ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you:
drowsiness
unusual tiredness or weakness
fever
restlessness or difficulty sitting still
increased appetite, weight gain
dizziness, confusion, forgetfulness
constipation, bloating
dry mouth
swelling of your hands, feet and ankles
aching joints
nose bleeds
low blood pressure
slow heart beat
fast heart beat.
Some people may feel dizzy in the early stages of treatment, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position. This side effect usually passes after taking ZYPREXA for a few days.
These are the more common side effects of ZYPREXA.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following side effects:
symptoms of sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling or blistering of the skin) which occur more quickly than normal
rash or allergic reaction
slow heart beat
changes in sexual functioning or sex drive in men or women
prolonged and/or painful erection
unusual secretion of breast milk
breast enlargement in men or women
symptoms of high sugar levels in the blood (including passing large amounts of urine, excessive thirst, having a dry mouth and skin and weakness). These may indicate the onset or worsening of diabetes
reaction following abrupt discontinuation (profuse sweating, nausea or vomiting)
absence of menstrual periods and changes in the regularity of menstrual periods
involuntary passing of urine or difficulty in initiating urination
unusual hair loss or thinning.
These side effects are uncommon but may require medical attention.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
sudden signs of an allergic reaction such as a skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue
drowsiness, confusion or excessive sleepiness
frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
seizures, fits or convulsions
yellowing of the skin and/or eyes
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, generally feeling unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes
severe upper stomach pain often with nausea and vomiting (inflammation of the pancreas)
worm-like movements of the tongue, or other uncontrolled movements of the tongue, mouth, cheeks, or jaw which may progress to the arms and legs
sudden increase in body temperature, sweating, fast heart beat, muscle stiffness, high blood pressure and convulsions
sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, or sudden shortness of breath
pain/tenderness in the calf muscle area
muscle pain, muscle weakness and brown urine
heart palpitations and dizziness, which may lead to collapse.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
All of these side effects are very rare.
The following additional side effects may occur in some groups of people taking ZYPREXA.
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis may notice the following side effects:
unusual manner of walking
falls
pneumonia
involuntary passing of urine.
Parkinson's disease psychosis
Some patients with Parkinson's disease may hallucinate (see, feel or hear things that are not there) or develop worsening symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Zyprexa in combination with lithium or valproate
Patients with bipolar mania taking ZYPREXA in combination with lithium or valproate may notice the following additional side effects:
tremors
speech disorder.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual or if you are concerned about any aspect of your health, even if you think the problems are not connected with this medicine and are not referred to in this leaflet.
Also, some side effects, such as changes to liver function, cholesterol or triglycerides can occur. These can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Do not be alarmed by this list of side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
After using ZYPREXA RELPREVV
Storage
ZYPREXA RELPREVV will be stored by your doctor or pharmacist. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 30°C.
All medicines should be kept where young children cannot reach them.
There will be an expiry date (month, year) on your ZYPREXA RELPREVV package and on each glass vial.
The medicine should not be taken after this date because it may have lost some of its strength.
Disposal
ZYPREXA RELPREVV is normally administered by your doctor or nurse.
If however you have some ZYPREXA RELPREVV injection that has passed its expiry date, please return any left over portion to your pharmacist.
Product Description
What it looks like
ZYPREXA RELPREVV comes as a yellow powder in a clear glass vial. A vial of diluent is provided to prepare the injection, which will be olanzapine 150mg/mL. A syringe with attached safety needle and three additional safety needles to prepare the injection are supplied in the kit containing ZYPREXA RELPREVV.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient - 210 mg, 300 mg or 405 mg olanzapine pamoate monohydrate.
Diluent Inactive Ingredients - carmellose sodium, mannitol, polysorbate 80 and water for injections.
