Drug Information Update- New Drug Safety Communication on Olanzapine

The Division of Drug Information (DDI)- serving the public by providing information on human drug products and drug product regulation by FDA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the antipsychotic medicine olanzapine can cause a rare but serious skin reaction that can progress to affect other parts of the body. We are adding a new warning to the drug labels for all olanzapine-containing products that describes this severe condition known as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).

Patients taking olanzapine-containing products who develop a fever with a rash and swollen lymph glands, or swelling in the face, should seek medical care right away. The combined symptoms together are commonly seen in DRESS. Talk with your health care professional about any questions or concerns. Do not stop taking olanzapine or change your dose without first talking with your health care professional. Sudden stopping of the medicine can be harmful without your health care professional’s direct supervision.

Health care professionals should immediately stop treatment with olanzapine if DRESS is suspected. When prescribing the medicine, explain the signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions to your patients and tell them when to seek immediate medical care.

Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat mental health disorders schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can decrease hallucinations, in which people hear or see things that do not exist, and other psychotic symptoms such as disorganized thinking. Olanzapine is available under the brand names Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv, and Symbyax, and also as generics.

DRESS may start as a rash that can spread to all parts of the body. It can include fever and swollen lymph nodes and a swollen face. It causes a higher-than-normal number of infection-fighting white blood cells called eosinophils that can cause inflammation, or swelling. DRESS can result in injury to organs including the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, or pancreas, and can lead to death.

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