Intramuscular Olanzapine – a UK case series of early cases

Chris J Bushe¹ , Mark Taylor² and Mathew Mathew³

¹Eli Lilly and Company Ltd, Basingstoke, UK

²Springpark Centre, Glasgow G22 5EU, UK

³Stonehouse Hospital, Dartford, DA2 6AU, UK

author email corresponding author email

Annals of General Psychiatry 2007, 6:11doi:10.1186/1744-859X-6-11


Published:	1 April 2007

Abstract

Background

Clinical trials assessing efficacy and safety of Intramuscular (IM) Olanzapine in acute schizophrenia and acute mania have previously been undertaken in studies required for drug registration in patients who were required to give informed consent. These patients may have less severe forms of psychosis than patients treated in routine practice. Data derived from naturalistic practice following the launch of IM olanzapine may be helpful for clinicians in assessing efficacy and safety of IM olanzapine. The PANSS-EC scale used in the clinical studies may represent a tool that could be used in routine clinical practice.

Case presentation

We report on an early unselected case series of 7 patients who received IM olanzapine in routine clinical practice settings in the UK. In this case series, olanzapine IM was generally effective, and no adverse events were reported. Adjunctive benzodiazepines were given concomitantly in 1 of the 7 subjects. This is relevant as concomitant benzodiazepines are not recommended for a minimum of 1 hour post IM olanzapine administration. PANSS-EC data was collected in 2 of the 7 subjects.

Conclusion

Although patients had greater severity of psychosis than clinical trial patients there were no unexpected findings. In addition the PANSS-EC scale is a scale that may be useful in assessing the efficacy of IM antipsychotics in routine clinical practice.