Assessing the infrequent oral supplementation of olanzapine long-acting injection in the treatment of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Adding another antipsychotic to a treatment regimen was previously used in evaluating the medication's efficacy. Supplementation of depot antipsychotics with oral antipsychotics is particularly meaningful because depot formulations are typically chosen for patients struggling with adherence to oral antipsychotics. This post-hoc analysis assessed supplementation of olanzapine long-acting injection (olanzapine-LAI) with oral olanzapine.


METHODS
We used 12 months of data from an open-label, single-arm extension study of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N=931) treated with olanzapine-LAI. The prevalence, duration, time to first supplementation, and best predictors of oral supplementation were assessed.


RESULTS
Oral supplementation occurred in 21% of patients for a median of 31 days with mean modal dose of 10.8 mg/day. Mean time to first supplementation was shorter for patients who were at least moderately ill at baseline compared to less ill patients (47 vs. 97 days, p<0.001). Best predictors of oral supplementation included a more severe illness profile at baseline, lower olanzapine-LAI dose prior to oral supplementation, supervised living arrangements, and being African-American.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of olanzapine-LAI appears to be infrequent, of relatively short duration, and reserved for more severely ill patients who may require a targeted rescue medication due to signs of impending relapse.
Ascher-Svanum
H
H
Lilly Corporate Center, DC 4133, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA. haya@lilly.com
Peng
X
X
Montgomery
W
W
Faries
D E
DE
Lawson
A H
AH
Witte
M M
MM
Novick
D
D
Jemiai
N
N
Perrin
E
E
McDonnell
D P
DP
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine