
Daily Medication Pearl: Symbyax (Olanzapine and Fluoxetine Hydrochloride)
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.
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.
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