olanzapine and Ovarian-Neoplasms

Olanzapine is commonly utilized in palliative care for the treatment of nausea, and a known side effect of olanzapine is increased appetite. Olanzapine is also known to cause re-emergence of eating disorders (EDs) in patients utilizing olanzapine for its antipsychotic effects. It is unclear to what extent this may also occur in patients with serious/life-limiting illness.. We present a case of a 70-year-old female with recurrent ovarian cancer and a history of bulimia nervosa (BN) that developed resurgence of her BN after initiation of olanzapine for cancer-associated nausea. Her BN resolved with reducing the dose of olanzapine.. It is important to recognize that recurrence of EDs can occur when using olanzapine in the palliative care setting.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; Appetite; Bulimia Nervosa; Female; Humans; Nausea; Olanzapine; Ovarian Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Treatment Outcome

A 25-year-old Thai woman with ovarian germ cell tumour presented with behavioural changes after receiving an intensive dose of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin, for a relapse. Her initial symptoms of mood fluctuation and insomnia were noticed while hospitalised for the third cycle, and became more severe. She was very irritable, highly distracted and forgetful. She exhibited flights of ideas and hyperactivity, including compulsive shopping. She also had paranoid ideations, auditory hallucinations, and thoughts of being wealthy and close to the prime minister. She was not depressed. She was diagnosed with axis I psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. The incremental dosage of olanzapine from 5 to 20 mg/day was given but failed to control her psychotic symptoms during the first week, and was therefore switched to risperidone. At 4 mg/day, her symptoms were dramatically controlled. This novel evidence suggests the rare possibility of an association between chemotherapy and the development of psychotic attacks.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Olanzapine; Ovarian Neoplasms; Psychotic Disorders; Risperidone; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adult; Aggression; Antipsychotic Agents; Autopsy; Benzodiazepines; Bipolar Disorder; Catatonia; Death, Sudden; Female; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Incidence; Lorazepam; Obesity; Olanzapine; Ovarian Neoplasms; Patient Admission; Patient Transfer; Pulmonary Embolism; Restraint, Physical; Risk; Valproic Acid; Venous Thrombosis