Olanzapine: Operation And Effects Of This Psychotropic Drug
Schizophrenia and other similar psychotic disorders are old acquaintances for psychology and medicine. Different researchers have proposed different ways of understanding this type of disorders, which generate deep suffering in the person who suffers from it and those around them, as well as looking for different ways to treat them.
From psychopharmacology, different types of substances have been used in order to deal with this problem and the symptoms shown by those who suffer from them: antipsychotics or neuroleptics. One of these psychotropic drugs is olanzapine
The so-called psychotic disorders are a group of mental disorders in which strange and implausible perceptions and ideas appear and generally a certain loss of contact with reality.
Within this type of disorders, among which schizophrenia stands out both symptoms appear that add elements to the individual’s behavior or positive symptoms (the typical example being hallucinations) and those that cause a decrease in the individual’s capabilities (such as alogia or cognitive impairment) or negative symptoms.
At a neuropsychological level, it is observed that the presence of symptoms of this type are usually linked to problems in the synthesis and uptake of the neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Positive symptoms are associated with an excess of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic pathway, while negative symptoms tend to be linked to the presence of deficiency or absence of dopamine in the mesocortical pathway
In this sense, efforts have been made to search for substances and active ingredients that allow producing a change in the synthesis and reuptake of dopamine in these areas.
Throughout history, numerous substances and compounds have been found and investigated whose active ingredients allow a reduction in the psychotic symptoms present in schizophrenia and other similar disorders.
The first substances of this type were found by chance, but they were a great advantage for patients with this disorder by allowing their treatment. These are classic or typical neuroleptics. Its main mechanism of action is on the dopamine D2 receptor, which it blocks indiscriminately throughout the brain.
This causes that, by decreasing the level of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway, positive symptoms such as hallucinations decrease to a large degree. However, by acting throughout the brain and not only in this pathway, they easily generate different side effects, and do not have a therapeutic effect on negative symptoms. In fact, by further decreasing the level of dopamine in the mesocortical pathway they can make them worse.
The low effectiveness in negative symptoms and the presence of side effects that can be severe led to continued research to obtain safer and more effective substances. This research resulted in the creation of atypical antipsychotics or neuroleptics. And within this group, we can find olanzapine.
Olanzapine as an atypical neuroleptic
Olanzapine is one of the main atypical neuroleptics, substances used to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic-type disorders. It is a substance derived from dibenzothiazpines, which is marketed in the form of tablets and tablets.
As an atypical neuroleptic, the main mechanism of action of olanzapine It is based on the blockade of dopamine D2 receptors, but on this occasion an antiserotonergic effect is also produced.
Since serotonin has an inhibitory effect on the synthesis and emission of dopamine, the fact of introducing a component that limits the emission of the former causes the general levels of dopamine to remain stable in most nervous pathways. In this way, although it continues to have a great effect on the mesolimbic pathway that allows us to combat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, it does not generate a destabilization of other pathways.
Furthermore, the fact that in the cortex there are large number of serotonergic receptors It causes, by limiting its action, the level of dopamine in the mesocortical pathway to increase, which also makes it possible to combat some of the negative symptoms.
In this way, olanzapine and other similar substances make it possible to combat both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia in an efficient and safer way than classic antipsychotics, generating fewer secondary symptoms and these being of less severity.
In what disorders is it used?
The main use of Olanzapine is in the treatment of psychotic type disorders and especially in schizophrenia. However, the properties of this substance have made it valid for the treatment of other psychological problems.
Specifically, it is used to combat manic episodes in bipolar disorder. It has also been used occasionally in some cases of borderline personality disorder.
Side effects and contraindications of olanzapine
Like all drugs, olanzapine can cause various side effects of varying intensity and may be contraindicated in some cases. This occurs because olanzapine affects some parts of the body in a way that goes beyond the therapeutic mechanisms by which it is intended to mitigate the symptoms of the disorder to be treated; something inevitable considering that the active ingredient is not “remote-controlled”, but is still a molecule that interacts with everything it encounters. These unforeseen ways of influencing the human body cause side effects to emerge.
One of the most frequent secondary symptoms caused by this substance are increased appetite and weight It can also cause hyperglycemia, increased triglyceride levels and even diabetes, or greatly harm those who suffer from them if doses are not controlled and monitored.
It is also very common for olanzapine to generate a certain level of drowsiness or sedation, as well as excessive salivation, tachycardia (which is why it is not recommended in patients with heart problems), hypotension, muscle weakness and dizziness Nausea and vomiting are also a possible side effect, as is constipation. Finally, it can also cause a decrease in libido and erectile capacity.
Other not so common symptoms are presence of tardive dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements of the mouth and tongue. Fever, allergies, epileptic seizures, changes in visual perception or inflammation of parts of the body may also appear.
It is also contraindicated in patients who have suffered cerebral infarctions or in the process of dementia. Diabetic patients with liver, pancreas or heart problems should not consume this antipsychotic. In the case of pregnant women, olanzapine can cause problems in the fetus so the doctor should be consulted about possible alternatives or ways to proceed.
Price
The price of olanzapine, for a box of 28 5-milligram tablets, is about 26 euros, and about 575 Mexican pesos in Mexico.
