Olanzapine is a drug that is licensed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The medication works by blocking or lessening the effects of several chemicals in the brain. However, olanzapine is not a cure for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia; it only controls the symptoms of these conditions. Olanzapine comes in tablet form and is usually taken once a day. As with any drug, there are possible side effects with olanzapine. Some of the more common side effects seen with this drug include dizziness, drowsiness, and constipation.
Olanzapine belongs to a group of medications called atypical (or second-generation) antipsychotic medications. It is not entirely known how olanzapine works for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It is known that the medication blocks or lessens the effects of several chemicals in the brain. These brain chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) may be elevated in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression).