A patient with mania relapsed after discontinuing lithium.New orders are written to resume lithium twice daily and begin olanzapine (Zyprexa).The addition of olanzapine to the medication regimen will:

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Manic symptoms are controlled by lithium only after a therapeutic serum level is attained.Because this takes several days to accomplish,a drug with rapid onset is necessary to reduce the hyperactivity initially.Antipsychotic drugs neither enhance lithium's antimanic activity nor minimize the side effects.Lithium is used for long-term control.

A Patient with Mania Relapsed After Discontinuing Lithium