Abilify vs. Zyprexa

Abilify (aripiprazole) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) are antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia and mania.

Abilify is also used to treat depression, bipolar disorders, autistic disorder, and some irritable behavior disorders.

Common side effects of Abilify include:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach upset
• tiredness
• excess saliva or drooling
• choking or trouble swallowing
• blurred vision
• headache
• anxiety
• weight gain
• drowsiness
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• constipation

Common side effects of Zyprexa include:

• stomach upset,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling),
• constipation,
• headache,
• confusion,
• memory problems,
• loss of balance or coordination,
• blurred vision,
• double vision,
• eye redness,
• lightheadedness,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• drowsiness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• stuffy nose,
• itching, or
• rash, especially during the first few days as your body adjusts to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Zyprexa including:

• fever,
• chills,
• flu symptoms,
• slow heart rate,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• seizures (convulsions), or
• jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Abilify (aripiprazole) is a psychotropic drug (antipsychotic) that alters brain chemical activity used to treat schizophrenia, mania, depression, bipolar disorders, autistic disorder, and some irritable behavior disorders. Generic Abilify is not available in the U.S., but is available in other countries under the name aripiprazole.

Zyprexa (olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Abilify (aripiprazole) is a psychotropic drug (antipsychotic) that alters brain chemical activity used to treat schizophrenia, mania, depression, bipolar disorders, autistic disorder, and some irritable behavior disorders. Generic Abilify is not available in the U.S., but is available in other countries under the name aripiprazole.

Abilify may also interact with rifabutin, rifampin, or quinidine.

Acute withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, nausea, and vomiting may occur if you suddenly stop taking Zyprexa.

Zyprexa may interact with other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing (such as cold or allergy medicines, narcotic pain medicines, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for depression, seizure, anxiety), and heart or blood pressure medications. Zyprexa may also interact with carbamazepine, diazepam, fluoxetine, olanzapine, fluvoxamine, omeprazole, rifampin, or medications to treat Parkinson's disease.

Abilify is available in tablet, orally disintegrating tablets, oral solution and injectable formulations. Dosage is variable and depends on multiple factors such as the ongoing mental problem, patient age, and other factors to be determined by the prescribing doctor. Abilify has been used in the pediatric population but such use should be discussed with a pediatric specialist. Abilify may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), medications to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, quinidine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, or paroxetine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Benefits should outweigh risks in pregnant women. Women who are breastfeeding should not take Abilify.

The recommended starting dose of Zyprexa is six grams a day for the first 48 to 72 hours of treatment. Thereafter, the dosage can usually be reduced to approximately 4 grams a day. Zyprexa may interact with pyridostigmine, donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, or tacrine. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. Zyprexa should be used during pregnancy only when prescribed. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.