No unexpected adverse events and biochemical side effects of olanzapine as adjunct treatment in adolescent girls with eating disorders.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Olanzapine has been recently tried to relieve anxiety and hyperactivity in adolescents with eating disorders (EDs). Presently, the side effects of the drug have been evaluated.

METHOD:

Forty-seven adolescents with EDs were followed up by repeated blood sampling before, during, and at 3 months after medication with olanzapine.

RESULTS:

Olanzapine medication was discontinued in three patients because of galactorrhea, seizures, and raised liver enzyme activities, respectively. There was a normalization of glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles during treatment, which was related to weight gain and resumption of menstruations but not to medication. Increases in thyroid-stimulating hormone and prolactin were related to olanzapine medication and comedication with selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors. Three months after discontinuing medication, there were no persisting biochemical effects.

CONCLUSION:

The side effects observed were those previously described for olanzapine. Most biochemical changes were related to weight (change) and amenorrhea and not to medication. Placebo-controlled studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of olanzapine in adolescents with EDs.

• Authors: Ingemar Swenne, Agneta Rosling
• Journal: Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol) Vol. 21 Issue 3 Pg. 221-7 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1557-8992 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21663424 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Benzodiazepines
• Olanzapine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Amenorrhea (etiology)
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Benzodiazepines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Child
• Feeding and Eating Disorders (drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Olanzapine