Occasional to rare side effects
If previous illnesses are already present, certain side effects can be more severe and more frequent. For example, older patients suffering from dementia often suffer from urinary incontinence, strokes, pneumonia, frequent extreme fatigue, hallucinations, as well as muscle stiffness with difficulty walking when treated with Zyprexa®. If there is a history of epilepsy, a new seizure may occur, as mentioned above. Patients with Parkinson’s disease may also experience a worsening of their symptoms (e.g. tremor). Finally, diabetics should be aware of rising blood sugar levels and, if necessary, adjust their medication accordingly.
Dangerous side effects
There are some, mostly very rare side effects that you should consult your doctor immediately as they may be life threatening. These include:The occurrence of unusual or involuntary movements (called dyskinesias), which may be visible especially on the face and tongue. Blood clots (so-called thromboses) can also form, especially in the legs, which can travel through the bloodstream into the small vessels of the lungs and lead to pulmonary embolism.
If you notice severe swelling, redness, overheating and pain in your legs or even a sudden feeling of pressure and tightness in your chest and difficulty breathing, you should seek medical advice immediately. A combination of symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, fever, rapid breathing, heavy sweating, muscle stiffness and dizziness should also be urgently clarified. This could be caused by an allergy to the active substance olanzepine. In general, if you are in poor general health, you should always consult your doctor to rule out serious causes.
Zyprexa® and alcohol
Zyprexa® is an atypical neuroleptic. In this class of drugs, the consumption of alcohol is generally not recommended, since the drugs can significantly increase the alcohol effect. Since this intensification cannot be controlled, it can be very dangerous and can lead to severe drowsiness, nausea and even alcohol intoxication, which must be treated in emergency medicine. The same also applies to the combination with sedatives.
