Physicians have a new fast-acting option for controlling the potentially crippling effects of acute agitation in patients suffering with schizophrenia and bipolar mania. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zyprexa® IntraMuscular (olanzapine for injection), an injectable form of Lilly's top-selling medication.
Clinical data demonstrate that Zyprexa IntraMuscular enables physicians to rapidly and dependably relieve patients of the effects of acute agitation without many of the debilitating side effects of conventional injectable therapies. This new formulation of Zyprexa is the first medication in its class to be indicated for the treatment of acute agitation associated with both bipolar mania and schizophrenia.
Sixty-five percent of hospital-based psychiatrists or emergency room physicians are not satisfied with current intramuscular antipsychotic therapies, primarily due to side effects that are difficult for patients to tolerate and because patients must be switched to a different oral therapy once they are stabilized, according to the Psychiatrist International Project conducted by PKS Research Partners in February 2004. In addition, 60 percent of these physicians said that currently available intramuscular treatments are not adequate in rapidly calming the agitated patient, which can help the physician to gain a patient's trust and cooperation.
"Acute agitation is terribly frightening and potentially dangerous for patients and their caregivers," said Barry Jones, M.D., professor of psychiatry, McMaster University, Toronto, Canada. "Zyprexa IntraMuscular enables doctors to help patients regain control quickly, often with just a single injection. Further, because Zyprexa IntraMuscular is not overly sedating, it can help the physician and patient to begin communicating and working together to achieve treatment goals and help move the patient's life forward."
Acute Agitation
Acute agitation is a well-recognized behavioral syndrome with a range of symptoms, including hostility, extreme excitement, poor impulse control, tension and uncooperativeness. The syndrome can occur with a number of conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Patients suffering from agitation in its severe forms are usually in an emergency situation and require immediate treatment to alleviate personal distress and to prevent harm to themselves and others.
Seamless Transition to Long-Term Therapy
FDA labeling for Zyprexa IntraMuscular specifically states that if ongoing Zyprexa therapy is needed, physicians may transition patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mania from Zyprexa IntraMuscular to oral Zyprexa as soon as clinically appropriate.
More than 56 percent of physicians say it is very important or important that an antipsychotic can be used in an injectable formulation for agitation and an oral formulation for long-term disease management.
"With Zyprexa IntraMuscular, physicians have a new option for treating agitation in schizophrenia and acute bipolar mania patients," said Mauricio Tohen, M.D., Dr.P.H., Lilly Distinguished Scholar. "We can offer highly agitated patients Zyprexa's dependable control from day one and then smoothly and assuredly transition them to oral Zyprexa for maintenance treatment."
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