High-dose olanzapine in Huntington's disease.
The few reports available on olanzapine in Huntington's disease (HD) are insufficiently documented and/or insufficiently dosed. We describe a 30-year-old woman with genetically confirmed HD who presented with severe chorea. She was not able to eat or dress without help and did not respond to haloperidol; the motor scale of the Unified HD Rating Scale (UHDRS-I) revealed 65 of a possible 124 points. After admission, we treated the patient with a high dose of olanzapine (30 mg daily). The chorea almost ceased in the next 2 days, she was able to eat and walk without assistance (UHDRS-I of 21 points), and fine motor tasks improved, as well as gait and eye movements. This effect lasted for 5 months. We conclude that high-dose olanzapine appears to be useful in grave choreatic attacks.
Bonelli
R M
RM
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Hospital BHB Eggenberg, Graz, Austria. rm.bonelli@nextra.at
Niederwieser
G
G
Tribl
G G
GG
Költringer
P
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D000077152:Olanzapine