1. What Laprix is and what it is used for

Laprix belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics and is used to treat the following conditions:

- Schizophrenia, a disease with symptoms such as hearing, seeing or sensing things which are not there, mistaken beliefs, unusual suspiciousness, and becoming withdrawn. People with this disease may also feel depressed, anxious or tense.

- Moderate to severe manic episodes, a condition with symptoms of excitement or euphoria.

Laprix tablets have been shown to prevent recurrence of these symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder whose manic episode has responded to olanzapine treatment.

2. Before you take Laprix

Do not take Laprix

If you are allergic to olanzapine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. An allergic reaction may be recognized as a rash, itching, a swollen face, swollen lips or shortness of breath. If this has happened to you, tell your doctor.

If you have been previously diagnosed with eye problems such as certain kinds of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).

Take special care with Laprix

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Laprix. 

- The use of Laprix in elderly patients with dementia is not recommended as it may have serious side effects.

- Medicines of this type may cause unusual movements mainly of the face or tongue. If this happens after you have been given Laprix tell your doctor.

- Very rarely, medicines of this type cause a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness. If this happens, contact your doctor at once.

- Weight gain has been seen in patients taking Laprix. You and your doctor should check your weight regularly. Consider referral to a dietician or help with a diet plan if necessary.

- High blood pressure and high levels of fat (triglycerides and cholesterol) have been seen in patients taking Laprix. Your doctor should do blood tests to check blood sugar and certain fat levels before you start taking Laprix and regularly during treatment.

- Tell the doctor if you or someone else in your family has a history of blood clots, as medicines like these have been associated with the formation of blood clots.

If you suffer from any of the following illnesses tell your doctor as soon as possible:

Stroke or “mini” stroke (temporary symptoms of stroke).

- Parkinson’s disease.

- Prostate problems.

- A blocked intestine (Paralytic ileus).

- Liver or kidney disease.

- Blood disorders.

- Heart disease.

- Diabetes.

- Seizures.

If you suffer from dementia, you or your carer/relative should tell your doctor if you have ever had a stroke or "mini" stroke.

As a routine precaution, if you are over 65 years your blood pressure may be monitored by your doctor.

Children and adolescents

Laprix is not for patients who are under 18 years.

Taking other medicines

Only take other medicines while you are on Laprix if your doctor tells you that you can. You might feel drowsy if Laprix is taken in combination with antidepressants or medicines taken for anxiety or to help you sleep (tranquillisers). Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:

- Medicines for Parkinson’s disease.

- Carbamazepine (an anti-epileptic and mood stabiliser), fluvoxamine (an antidepressant) or ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) - it may be necessary to change your Laprix dose.

Taking Laprix with alcohol

Do not drink any alcohol if you have been given Laprix tablets as together with alcohol it may make you feel drowsy.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You should not be given this medicine when breast-feeding, as small amounts of Laprix can pass into breast milk. The following symptoms may occur in newborn babies, of mothers that have used Laprix in the last trimester (last three months of their pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems, and difficulty in feeding. If your baby develops any of these symptoms you may need to contact your doctor.

Driving and using machines

There is a risk of feeling drowsy when you are given Laprix tablets. If this happens do not drive or operate any tools or machines. Tell your doctor.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Laprix

Laprix tablets contains lactose

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. How to take Laprix

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Your doctor will tell you how many Laprix tablets to take and how long you should continue to take them. The daily dose of Laprix is between 5 and 20 mg. Consult your doctor if your symptoms return but do not stop taking Laprix unless your doctor tells you to.

You should take your Laprix tablets once a day following the advice of your doctor. Try to take your tablets at the same time each day. It does not matter whether you take them with or without food. Laprix coated tablets are for oral use. You should swallow the Laprix tablets whole with water.

If you take more Laprix tablets than you should

Patients who have taken more Laprix tablets than they should, have experienced the following symptoms: rapid beating of the heart, agitation/aggressiveness, problems with speech, unusual movements (especially of the face or tongue) and reduced level of consciousness. Other symptoms may be: acute confusion, seizures (epilepsy), coma, a combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness, slowing of the breathing rate, aspiration, high blood pressure or low blood pressure, abnormal rhythms of the heart.

Contact your doctor or hospital straight away if you experience any of the above symptoms. Show the doctor your pack of tablets.

If you forget to take Laprix tablets

Take your tablets as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses in one day.

If you stop taking Laprix tablets

Do not stop taking your tablets just because you feel better. It is important that you carry on taking Laprix tablets for as long as your doctor tells you. If you suddenly stop taking Laprix tablets, symptoms such as sweating, unable to sleep, tremor, anxiety or nausea and vomiting might occur. Your doctor may suggest you to reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor immediately if you have:

- Unusual movement (a common side effect that may affect up to 1 in 10 people) mainly of the face or tongue.

- Blood clots in the veins (an uncommon side effect that may affect up to 1 in 100 people) especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms seek medical advice immediately.

- A combination of fever, faster breathing, sweating, muscle stiffness and drowsiness or sleepiness (the frequency of this side effect cannot be estimated from the available data).

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include weight gain; sleepiness; and increases in levels of prolactin in the blood. In the early stages of treatment, some people may feel dizzy or faint (with a slow heart rate), especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position. This will usually pass on its own but if it does not, tell your doctor.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include changes in the levels of some blood cells, circulating fats and early in treatment, temporary increases in liver enzymes; increases in the level of sugars in the blood and urine; increases in levels of uric acid and creatine phosphokinase in the blood; feeling more hungry; dizziness; restlessness; tremor; unusual movements (dyskinesias); constipation; dry mouth; rash; loss of strength; extreme tiredness; water retention leading to swelling of the hands, ankles or feet; fever; joint pain; and sexual dysfunctions such as decreased libido in males and females or erectile dysfunction in males.

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) include hypersensitivity (e.g. swelling in the mouth and throat, itching, rash); diabetes or the worsening of diabetes, occasionally associated with ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood and urine) or coma; seizures, usually associated with a history of seizures (epilepsy); muscle stiffness or spasms (including eye movements); problems with speech; slow heart rate; sensitivity to sunlight; bleeding from the nose; abdominal distension; memory loss or forgetfulness; urinary incontinence; lack of ability to urinate; hair loss; absence or decrease in menstrual periods; changes in breasts in males and females such as an abnormal production of breast milk or abnormal growth; and restless legs syndrome.

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people) include lowering of normal body temperature; abnormal rhythms of the heart; sudden unexplained death; inflammation of the pancreas causing severe stomach pain, fever and sickness; liver disease appearing as yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes; muscle disease presenting as unexplained aches and pains; and prolonged and/or painful erection.

Very rare side effects include serious allergic reactions such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). DRESS appears initially as flu-like symptoms with a rash on the face and then with an extended rash, high temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, increased levels of liver enzymes seen in blood tests and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia).

Not known side effects (cannot be estimated from the available data) Nervous system disorders: Somnambulism.

If any of the side effects get serious or if any side effect is noticed which is not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

5. How to store Laprix

Keep out of reach of children.

Store below 30°C.

Do not use beyond the expiry date or if the product shows any sign of deterioration.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.