Olanzapine treatment after clozapine induced agranulocytosis

✍ Scribed by P. Lokshin; P. Dorfman; D. Shoshani; P. Wimmer; M. Dossenbach; R. H. Belmaker

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 61 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(1998120)13:8<583::aid-hup33>3.0.co;2-e

✦ Synopsis

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic with a signi®cant incidence of agranulocytosis. Olanzapine resembles clozapine structurally; however, it lacks a halogen, which has been implicated in agranulocytosis. Both agents have a similar pharmacological pro®le. We therefore studied olanzapine in patients with a history of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis. Two patients with severe clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and no bene®t from classic neuroleptics were treated with olanzapine with informed consent. Psychosis improved in both patients and no hematological changes were noted. Olanzapine may be a safe treatment alternative in patients with a history of clozapine agranulocytosis.