Prescription medication · Atypical Antipsychotic
olanzapine
Also sold as Zyprexa. Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 103,356
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 26
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $22.81
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
olanzapine (Zyprexa) is a prescription Atypical Antipsychotic, more reported than most tracked drugs (103,356 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
olanzapine (Zyprexa) is a prescription Atypical Antipsychotic. Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17).
Olanzapine is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders. It helps to balance chemicals in the brain to improve mood and behavior.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$22.81/unit
Generic Price
$0.10/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (30 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 25, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: OLANZAPINE 10 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (5 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: 0% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.1151/EA | - | 1 |
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0946/EA | -17.8% | 3 |
| May 22, 2024 | $0.0958/EA | +1.2% | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.1027/EA | +7.3% | 15 |
| December 25, 2024 | $0.1027/EA | 0% | 1 |
What it does
Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17).
Common side effects
Dizziness, Weight gain, Increased appetite
Key warnings
Olanzapine can increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from olanzapine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic. It works by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals include dopamine and serotonin, which can help improve mood, thinking, and behavior.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 103,356 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for olanzapine, by number of reports
- Weight Increased
Weight Increased
6,722 reports
- Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus
5,388 reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
4,048 reports
- Toxicity To Various Agents
Toxicity To Various Agents
3,966 reports
- Somnolence
Somnolence
3,839 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
3,829 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
3,426 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
3,379 reports
- Overdose
Overdose
3,353 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
3,130 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for olanzapine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where olanzapine sits
olanzapine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 86% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is olanzapine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 103,356 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
103,356
Reports Mentioning Death
12,783
12.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
45,342
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 6,722 |
| 4 | DIABETES MELLITUS | 5,388 |
| 5 | DRUG INTERACTION | 4,048 |
| 6 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 3,966 |
| 7 | SOMNOLENCE | 3,839 |
| 8 | NAUSEA | 3,829 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 3,426 |
| 10 | ANXIETY | 3,379 |
| 11 | OVERDOSE | 3,353 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 3,130 |
| 13 | SUICIDE ATTEMPT | 3,086 |
| 14 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 2,850 |
| 15 | CONFUSIONAL STATE | 2,824 |
| 16 | INSOMNIA | 2,759 |
| 17 | AGITATION | 2,694 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Olanzapine can increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related psychosis. Olanzapine is not approved to treat this condition. When using olanzapine with fluoxetine, read the Symbyax label for more warnings.
Known Drug Interactions
NSAIDs, Aspirin, Warfarin): May potentiate the risk of bleeding ( 7.4 ) Drugs Tightly Bound to Plasma Proteins: May cause a shift in plasma concentrations ( 7.6 , 7.7 ) Olanzapine: When used in combination with fluoxetine, also refer to the Drug Interactions section of the package insert for Symbyax ( 7.7 ) Drugs that Prolong the QT Interval: Do not use fluoxetine with thioridazine or pimozide. Olanzapine — Fluoxetine (60 mg single dose or 60 mg daily dose for 8 days) causes a small (mean 16%) increase in the maximum concentration of olanzapine and a small (mean 16%) decrease in olanzapine...
Mechanism: Fluoxetine can cause a small change in the amount of olanzapine that stays in your blood. This happens because fluoxetine interferes with how your body breaks down the other medication.
7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of tetrabenazine and dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 , 5.5 , 5.6 )] .
Mechanism: Both drugs lower dopamine activity in the brain, which can cause stiff muscles, tremors, or a dangerous fever.
Inducers of CYP1A2 or Glucuronyl Transferase — Omeprazole and rifampin may cause an increase in olanzapine clearance.
Mechanism: Omeprazole makes the body get rid of olanzapine faster than normal. This could make the olanzapine less effective because there is not enough of it in your system.
Warfarin — Warfarin (20 mg single dose) did not affect olanzapine pharmacokinetics [see Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )] . Warfarin — Single doses of olanzapine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of warfarin [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )] .
Mechanism: These two drugs do not interfere with how the body processes or removes each other. They are generally safe to take together without changing the dose.
Diazepam: May potentiate orthostatic hypotension. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Olanzapine Diazepam — The co-administration of diazepam with olanzapine potentiated the orthostatic hypotension observed with olanzapine [see Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )] . Diazepam — Olanzapine did not influence the pharmacokinetics of diazepam or its active metabolite N-desmethyldiazepam.
Mechanism: Taking these medicines together can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up. This can lead to dizziness or fainting.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking olanzapine suddenly?
Will olanzapine make me gain weight?
Can I drink alcohol while taking olanzapine?
How long does it take for olanzapine to work?
Can I take olanzapine if I have diabetes?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I drive while taking olanzapine?
Is olanzapine addictive?
Can I take olanzapine with other medications?
What if I am having thoughts of harming myself?
What are the common side effects of olanzapine?
Does olanzapine interact with other medications?
What drug class is olanzapine?
Is there a generic version of olanzapine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for olanzapine?
Related Medications in Atypical Antipsychotic
Other drugs grouped near olanzapine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with olanzapine →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with olanzapine →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with olanzapine →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with olanzapine →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with olanzapine →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for olanzapine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 103,356.
- ondansetron Δ 2 reports · 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 103,354reports
- loratadine Δ 1,022 reports · Second-Generation Antihistamine 104,378reports
- valsartan Δ 1,050 reports · Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) 102,306reports
- leflunomide Δ 1,261 reports · Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) 102,095reports
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 12.37%.
- phenobarbital Δ 0.01 pts · 13,998 reports · Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) 12.38%death share
- hydralazine Δ 0.05 pts · 28,498 reports · Vasodilator 12.32%death share
- dipyridamole Δ 0.10 pts · 3,682 reports · Antiplatelet / Vasodilator 12.47%death share
- nortriptyline Δ 0.12 pts · 5,503 reports · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) 12.25%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on olanzapine
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What the FDA Data Shows for olanzapine
The FDA label for olanzapine (sold under brand names such as Zyprexa) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Atypical Antipsychotic class. Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and teens (13-17). Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Weight gain, Increased appetite.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 103,356 voluntary reports. The database also lists 26 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.10 versus $22.81 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 10, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages