Peripheral oedema in patients taking olanzapine.
Premarketing trials of olanzapine reported an incidence of peripheral oedema of 3%. Outpatients, who were actively receiving treatment with olanzapine, were evaluated for peripheral oedema. Twenty-eight (57%) out of 49 subjects exhibited oedema, including five (10.2%) to a severe degree. There were no significant differences regarding gender, time/dose on olanzapine, concomitant diagnoses or psychotropic medication. There was a tendency (P < 0.10) for older age and greater frequency of thyroid abnormalities in those individuals with oedema. In the oedema group, there was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between age and severity. Our finding, far from demonstrating that olanzapine causes oedema at this frequency, suggests that there maybe patients who are vulnerable to developing this side-effect.
Ng
Bernardo
B
UCSD Department of Psychiatry, Sun Valley Behavioral Medical Center, Irvine, California, USA. bernardo_ng@hotmail.com
Postlethwaite
Alejandra
A
Rollnik
Jens
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010045:Outpatients; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D000077152:Olanzapine