Olanzapine Dosing

For olanzapine to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. The recommended starting olanzapine dose for schizophrenia is olanzapine 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. For the treatment of bipolar disorder, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg to 15 mg once daily. With either condition, the maximum olanzapine dosage is 20 mg a day. Besides the medical condition being treated, your age and the severity of your condition are among the factors that can affect olanzapine dosing.

 

An Introduction to Olanzapine Dosing

The dose of olanzapine (Zyprexa®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Your age
  • The severity of your condition
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your olanzapine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Olanzapine Dosing for Schizophrenia

The recommended starting olanzapine dose for treating schizophrenia is olanzapine 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. If you start at less than olanzapine 10 mg daily, your healthcare provider may increase the dose of olanzapine to 10 mg within the first few days.
 
After that, your healthcare provider may choose to increase the olanzapine dosage further if symptoms continue or decrease the dose if side effects occur. The maximum dose for olanzapine is 20 mg per day.
 

Olanzapine Dosing for Bipolar Disorder

The recommended starting olanzapine dose for bipolar disorder is olanzapine 10 mg to 15 mg once daily. If bipolar disorder symptoms continue after several weeks, your healthcare provider may increase the olanzapine dosage.
 
If olanzapine is used in combination with lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®) or valproate products (Depakene®, Depakote®, Depakote ER®), the recommended starting dose is generally olanzapine 10 mg once daily.
 
Once your bipolar symptoms are improved, your healthcare provider may choose to stop the olanzapine or keep you on olanzapine at doses of olanzapine 5 mg to 20 mg per day. The maximum dose for olanzapine is 20 mg per day.
 
(Olanzapine Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;