Olanzapine - relapse prevention following mania.

This review describes the pharmacological characteristics of olanzapine (ZYPREXA), outlines the European licensed indications and examines four peer reviewed, randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trials investigating the efficacy of olanzapine as maintenance therapy in patients with bipolar I disorder. These studies range in duration from 47 to 78 weeks and support the view that olanzapine is an effective and well-tolerated pharmacological therapy for relapse prevention in bipolar disorder. Evidence is presented that olanzapine is effective in preventing relapse following an index manic or a mixed episode with or without psychotic features and in patients with a history of rapid cycling. The safety and tolerability of the medicine is also examined, focusing on weight gain and metabolic issues.