Olanzapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Olanzapine may cause heart failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions. You should not take olanzapine if you are allergic to it.

To make sure you can safely take olanzapine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;

heart disease, high or low blood pressure;

a history of low white blood cell (WBC) counts;

high cholesterol or triglycerides;

a history of heart failure, heart attack, or stroke;

a history of breast cancer;

seizures or epilepsy;

diabetes;

an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating;

bowel problems; or

narrow-angle glaucoma.

FDA pregnancy category C. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Taking antipsychotic medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn, such as withdrawal symptoms, breathing problems, feeding problems, fussiness, tremors, and limp or stiff muscles. However, you may have withdrawal symptoms or other problems if you stop taking your medicine during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking olanzapine, do not stop taking it without your doctor's advice. Olanzapine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using olanzapine.

The olanzapine orally disintegrating tablet (Zyprexa Zydis) may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of olanzapine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using olanzapine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, tremors, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, slow heart rate, feeling like you might pass out;

twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs;

trouble speaking or swallowing;

dry mouth, thirst, feeling very hot (with or without sweating), urinating less than usual or not at all;

high blood sugar (increased thirst, loss of appetite, fruity breath odor, increased urination, drowsiness, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting);

sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance;

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

swelling in your hands or feet;

changes in personality, unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, or thoughts about hurting yourself; or

upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

weight gain (more likely in teenagers), increased appetite;

headache, dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired or restless;

memory problems;

stomach pain, constipation, loss of bladder control;

back pain, pain in your arms or legs;

numbness or tingly feeling;

breast swelling or discharge (in women or men); or

missed menstrual periods.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.