N. Poloni, E. Bolla, S. Caperna, A. Grecchi - Vol. 11, March 2005, Issue 1
Intossicazione acuta da olanzapina: un’esperienza
clinica presso l’spdc di Varese
Acute olanzapine intoxication: clinical experience in the acute psychiatric
care unit of Varese, Italy
From a clinical descriptive perspective, we focused on the phenomenon of acute intoxication by new generation antipsychotics, in particular, olanzapine (about 400 mg ingested for suicide purposes). Since blood assays for establishing olanzapine concentrations were unavailable, we used indirect indicators, such as instrumental and laboratory examinations obtainable at our hospital facilities while the patient was hospitalized in the acute psychiatric unit f the Varese Hospital. Despite not allowing to generalize, the assessed measures fell within a near-normal range, in agreement with what is reported in literature; as suggested, underlying cardiovascular changes need to be present for olanzapine to be associated with lethal intoxication.