Very-high-dose olanzapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Jean-Marie Batail, Sophie Bleher, Clément Lozachmeur, Gabriel Robert, Bruno Millet, Dominique Drapier

Adult Psychiatry Department, Guillaume Régnier Hospital, Rennes, France.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpsych.2012.24037                

Abstract

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia has an extremely negative impact on mental health and social life. If clozapine, the gold standard treatment, fails, there are very few options left. The literature suggests that high-dose olanzapine (20 - 60 mg/day) is a possible alternative. We report two cases in which very high doses of olanzapine were administered, with significant clinical improvements above 60 mg/day. Clinical, metabolic and cardiac tolerance was good. This report highlights the usefulness of very-high-dose olanzapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The main hypotheses concerning the psychopharmacological mechanisms of very-high-dose olanzapine are discussed.

Keywords

Schizophrenia; Treatment Resistance; High-Dose Olanzapine; Treatment Tolerance

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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