Olanzapine as the ideal "trip terminator"? Analysis of online reports relating to antipsychotics' use and misuse following occurrence of novel psychoactive substance-related psychotic symptoms.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The pharmacological self-management of novel psychoactive substance (NPS)-induced psychopathological consequences represents a fast growing phenomenon. This is facilitated by the frequent sharing of NPS intake experiences online and by the ease of access to a range of psychotropic medications from both the online and street market. Olanzapine is anecdotally reported by Web users to be the most frequent self-prescribed medication to cope with NPS-induced psychoses. Hence, we aimed here at better assessing olanzapine use/misuse for this purpose.

METHODS:

Exploratory qualitative searches of 163 discussion fora/specialized websites have been carried out in four languages (English, German, Spanish, and Italian) in the time frame November 2012-2013.

RESULTS:

Most NPS-users allegedly self administer with olanzapine to manage related psychotic crises/"bad trips". This may be typically taken only for a few days, at a dosage range of 5-50 mg/day.

CONCLUSIONS:

Only a few research studies have formally assessed the effectiveness of olanzapine and indeed of other second-generation antipsychotics to treat NPS-induced psychosis. Olanzapine was suggested here from a range of pro drug websites as being the "ideal" molecule to terminate "bad trips". Health professionals should be informed about the risks related to olanzapine misuse.

• Authors: Giuseppe Valeriani, Ornella Corazza, Francesco Saverio Bersani, Claudia Melcore, Antonio Metastasio, Giuseppe Bersani, Fabrizio Schifano
• Journal: Human psychopharmacology (Hum Psychopharmacol) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 249-54 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1099-1077 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26216558 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Psychotropic Drugs
• Benzodiazepines
• Olanzapine

Topics

• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Benzodiazepines (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Olanzapine
• Online Systems (statistics & numerical data)
• Psychotic Disorders (drug therapy, etiology, psychology)
• Psychotropic Drugs (adverse effects)
• Substance-Related Disorders (drug therapy)