title: Olanzapine as the ideal "trip terminator"? Analysis of online reports relating to antipsychotics' use and misuse following occurrence of novel psychoactive substance-related psychotic symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pharmacological self-management of novel psychoactive substance (NPS)-induced psychopathological consequences represents a fast growing phenomenon. This is facilitated by the frequent sharing of NPS intake experiences online and by the ease of access to a range of psychotropic medications from both the online and street market. Olanzapine is anecdotally reported by Web users to be the most frequent self-prescribed medication to cope with NPS-induced psychoses. Hence, we aimed here at better assessing olanzapine use/misuse for this purpose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory qualitative searches of 163 discussion fora/specialized websites have been carried out in four languages (English, German, Spanish, and Italian) in the time frame November 2012-2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most NPS-users allegedly self administer with olanzapine to manage related psychotic crises/"bad trips". This may be typically taken only for a few days, at a dosage range of 5-50 mg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a few research studies have formally assessed the effectiveness of olanzapine and indeed of other second-generation antipsychotics to treat NPS-induced psychosis. Olanzapine was suggested here from a range of pro drug websites as being the "ideal" molecule to terminate "bad trips". Health professionals should be informed about the risks related to olanzapine misuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valeriani
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.|School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melcore
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metastasio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schifano
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D009862:Online Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine
keywords: drug misuse; drug-induced psychoses; novel psychoactive substances; olanzapine; online reports