Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication widely used to manage schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Developed in the early 1990s by Eli Lilly, it emerged as part of a new generation of antipsychotics designed to provide strong efficacy with fewer extrapyramidal side effects compared to older drugs. Approved in 1996, olanzapine quickly gained prominence due to its effectiveness in treating both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as acute mania and maintenance therapy in bipolar disorder. Over time, it became one of the most commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics worldwide, valued for its broad therapeutic benefits, though its use is balanced with monitoring for metabolic side effects such as weight gain and glucose disturbances.
