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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffering From Depression. Used Olanzapina, Caused Diabetes, Went Into Coma. Wants To Use Galvus Medication. Will This Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

hello my brother took for 3 years olanzapina for depress. i read in the prospect that may cause diabetes . one day went into coma and at the hospital they told us that he has diabetic type 1. he is 40 and we are thinking to use galvus met but he is worried that it may cause erectile disfunction. is it true? can you recommend a good diabetic clinic in XXXX?
Sat, 14 Jul 2012
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
I'm glad you asked this question. Olanzapine (Zyprexa in the USA) is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is also approved as a mood stabilizer and augmenting agent to antidepressants. This medication has caused more lawsuits in the USA than you could imagine because of its propensity to cause diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure in those who take it. Unfortunately, when the diabetes occurs from this drug, it may not be reversible when the drug is stopped. In cases such as that, medications or insulin (or both) must be given to the patient to treat the diabetes. Medications for diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction and so can olanzapine itself. This can sometimes be offset with Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil). If someone develops diabetes while on olanzapine, lowering and stopping that medication is often the way to proceed, to see if the diabetes resolves. If it does not resolve, the decision then has to be made as to whether to continue the olanzapine while treating the diabetes, or switching to another medication at that point. I am in the USA and not Europe so I cannot unfortunately recommend a good European diabetes clinic. Perhaps another physician on our panel can do that for you. Thanks for your question and best of health to you!
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Suffering From Depression. Used Olanzapina, Caused Diabetes, Went Into Coma. Wants To Use Galvus Medication. Will This Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

I m glad you asked this question. Olanzapine (Zyprexa in the USA) is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is also approved as a mood stabilizer and augmenting agent to antidepressants. This medication has caused more lawsuits in the USA than you could imagine because of its propensity to cause diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure in those who take it. Unfortunately, when the diabetes occurs from this drug, it may not be reversible when the drug is stopped. In cases such as that, medications or insulin (or both) must be given to the patient to treat the diabetes. Medications for diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction and so can olanzapine itself. This can sometimes be offset with Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil). If someone develops diabetes while on olanzapine, lowering and stopping that medication is often the way to proceed, to see if the diabetes resolves. If it does not resolve, the decision then has to be made as to whether to continue the olanzapine while treating the diabetes, or switching to another medication at that point. I am in the USA and not Europe so I cannot unfortunately recommend a good European diabetes clinic. Perhaps another physician on our panel can do that for you. Thanks for your question and best of health to you!