Olazapine, sold under the brand name Zyprexa, falls into the category of an atypical antipsychotic medication. These medications have become very popular for treatment of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders due to their lower risk of serious long-term side effects. That doesn't mean they don't have side effects of their own; high triglyceride levels can occur as one of the side effects of zyprexa.
Effects
Zyprexa appears to increase appetite and may cause binge eating and food cravings, which leads to weight gain. While weight gain can raise cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the increase in triglyceride levels appears unrelated to weight gain, according to Drugs.com. Elevations in triglycerides up to 1,000 mg/dL, well over the accepted level of 150 mg/dL, have occurred. Both weight gain and high triglyceride levels occur more frequently in teens aged 13 to 17, according to the Zyprexa website.
Studies
Several studies have shown a connection between Zyprexa and increased triglyceride levels. A Harvard Medical School study reported in the November 1999 "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" looked at the effects of olanzapine on 21 men and 4 women. Triglyceride levels rose a mean of 60 mg/dL over a 12-week period. Average weight rose 12 lbs. during this period; the increase in weight correlated with the rise in triglyceride levels.
Comparisons
Zyprexa may cause more weight gain and higher triglyceride levels than other atypical antipsychotic medications. A Turkish study published in the May 2003 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" studied the effects of four different antipsychotics in 56 people, 14 receiving olanzapine and others receiving different atypical antipsychotics. Olanzapine and clozapine caused the most marked weight gain and triglyceride increases in this study, while risperidone caused the least. A Spanish study published in the November 2007 issue of the same journal found that of patients treated for 12 weeks with haloperidol, olanzapine, or risperidone, only those taking olanzapine experienced elevated triglyceride levels.
Considerations
Atypical antipsychotics have benefits over conventional antipsychotics, but they also have significant drawbacks that require frequent monitoring.Zyprexa is not a good first-choice drug for people who already have weight problems or for those with blood glucose levels or heart disease, according to Consumer Reports. Older people, who may already have high lipid levels, may develop unacceptably high levels on this drug as well.
References
- Drugs.com: Zyprexa
- Zyprexa.com: Important Safety Information About ZYPREXA® (olanzapine) and ZYPREXA + Fluoxetine HCl Combination
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Olanzapine Increases Weight and Serum Triglyceride Levels; D. Osser, et al.; November 1999
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Serum Leptin and Triglyceride Levels in Patients on Treatment with Atypical Antipsychotics; M. Atmaca, et al.; May 2003
- Consumer Reports: Antipsychotic Drugs: Summary of Recommendations
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; A 12-week Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate Metabolic Changes in Drug-Naive, First-Episode Psychosis Patients Treated with Haloperidol, Olanzapine, or Risperidone; R. Perez-Iglesias, et al.; November 2007
