Olanzapine belongs to the class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics.
Atypical antipsychotics, like olanzapine, are a type of medication primarily used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They work by affecting the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. Unlike older, typical antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics are often associated with a lower risk of certain side effects, such as movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia).
Olanzapine specifically is used to treat:
- Schizophrenia: A chronic brain disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.
- Bipolar Disorder: A mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Olanzapine can be used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, and also as a maintenance treatment.
Olanzapine, being an atypical antipsychotic, helps manage symptoms of these conditions by influencing neurotransmitter activity in the brain.
