Daily Medication Pearl: Symbyax (Olanzapine and Fluoxetine Hydrochloride)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Symbyax (Olanzapine and Fluoxetine Hydrochloride)

Indication: Symbyax combines olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, indicated for acute treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults.

Insights:

• Dosing: Once daily in the evening, generally beginning with 6 mg/25 mg
• Dosage forms: Capsules: 3 mg/25 mg, 6 mg/25 mg, 6 mg/50 mg, 12 mg/25 mg, and 12 mg/50 mg
• Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions (≥5% and at least twice that for placebo) are blurred vision,, disturbance in attention, dry mouth, fatigue, hypersomnia, increased appetite, peripheral edema, sedation, somnolence, tremors, and weight gain.
• Mechanism of action: Although the exact mechanism of SYMBYAX is unknown, it has been proposed that the activation of 3 monoaminergic neural systems (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, ) are responsible for its enhanced antidepressant effect.

Source:

Symbyax Label (fda.gov)