Zyprexa
You might see Zyprexa (olanzapine) used to prevent nausea and
vomiting in cancer patients.
It's sometimes helpful. It probably works like other antiemetics...by
blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors.
Zyprexa is a dopamine antagonist...similar to
prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, and droperidol.
Zyprexa also blocks serotonin 5HT3 receptors...similar to
Zofran, Kytril, Anzemet, and Aloxi.
Consider Zyprexa if you need to prescribe something...and nothing
else is working.
Caution patients that Zyprexa can be sedating, especially when
combined with opioids or other sedating drugs.
Prescriber's Letter: June 2004; Vol: 11, No. 6
Monitoring zyprexa: associated with weight gain and diabetes. Patients on
atypicals: risperdal, zyprexa, seroquel, etc, are at risk for obesity, diabetes,
dyslipidemia. Check weight at baseline, then 1,2,3 mos after starting or
changing therapy, and then q3mos. Fasting glucose and BP at baseline, 3
mos, and then annually. Lipids at baseline, 3 mos, then q5 years if normal.