SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Zyprexa (olanzapine tablets) and Zyprexa Zydus (olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets) to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder. About 1 percent of Americans have this illness. Symptoms people with schizophrenia have include: hearing voices, believing other people are reading their minds or controlling thoughts, and being suspicious or withdrawn.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include alternating periods of depression and high or irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior, and a decreased need for sleep.
“The approval of generic olanzapine offers greater access to a widely used treatment for mental illnesses,” said Keith Webber, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of Pharmaceutical Science in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Having affordable treatment options is good for patients with long-term illnesses that must be carefully managed.”
Olanzapine must be dispensed with a Medication Guide that describes the risks and adverse reactions people should be mindful of when using the product. Olanzapine has a boxed warning alerting that this type of drug can raise the risk of death in elderly people who have lost touch with reality (psychosis) due to confusion and memory loss (dementia). Olanzapine is not approved for treating psychosis in the elderly with dementia.
Other serious risks of olanzapine include, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), high-lipid levels in the blood (increased cholesterol and triglycerides), and weight gain. Clinicians should take these effects into account when deciding to use this type of medication.
Generic drugs approved by FDA have the same high quality, strength, purity, and stability as brand-name drugs. The generic manufacturing, packaging, and testing sites must pass the same quality standards as those of brand name drugs.
Generic olanzapine tablets will be manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. Generic olanzapine orally disintegrating tablets will be manufactured by Apotex Inc., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., and Par Pharmaceuticals Inc.
For more information
FDA: Understanding Generic Drugs
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingGenericDrugs/default.htm
National Institute of Mental Health: Schizophrenia
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
Information on specific drug products, Drugs@FDA
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
Media Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-796-4669, sandy.walsh@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration
