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. 2007 Dec 20:1:19-27.
doi: 10.2147/ppa.s2300.

Effectiveness and medication acceptance of olanzapine disintegrating tablets compared to standard olanzapine tablets in acutely treated psychiatric patients

Jörg Czekalla  1 , Thomas Wagner, Alexander Schacht, Michael Kluge, Bruce Kinon
Affiliations

Effectiveness and medication acceptance of olanzapine disintegrating tablets compared to standard olanzapine tablets in acutely treated psychiatric patients

Jörg Czekalla et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: This study compared effectiveness and acceptance of orally disintegrating olanzapine tablets (ODT) with standard-coated tablets (SOT) in acutely ill psychiatric patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals for emergency treatment.

Methods: Large, prospective, observational study at hospital emergency units across Germany in patients with a diagnosis or tentative diagnosis of acute schizophrenia treated with ODT or SOT. Clinical (CGI-S and CGI-I) outcomes, attitudes towards medication (Nursing Assessment of Medication Acceptance, NAMA) scale, suicidal ideation, and adverse events were assessed at start of treatment and after 2 weeks.

Results: Both olanzapine formulations, ODT (N = 247) and SOT (N = 207), showed similar effectiveness after 2 weeks. CGI-I improved in 92.1% of patients (ODT: 91.8%, SOT: 92.3%). In patients receiving both formulations suicidal ideations were reduced (ODT from 53.9% to 20.6%, SOT from 51.2% to 22.7%). ODT was preferably given to severely ill (SOT: 49.8%, ODT: 64.4%) and aggressive patients. Adverse events were reported for 6.5% of ODT- and 2.9% of SOT-patients. This difference was possibly caused by the characteristics of patients receiving ODT.

Conclusions: This non-randomized, observational study shows comparable outcomes and tolerability in patients treated with both olanzapine formulations. In an acute treatment setting, orally disintegrating tablets were preferably used for more severely ill and aggressive patients with low medication acceptance.

Keywords: acute treatment; observational study; olanzapine; schizophrenia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient baseline disease characteristics by application form (coated tablets vs orally disintegrating tablets).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Patients with suicidal thoughts according to MADRS Item 10. 0 = Enjoys life or takes it as it comes. 2 = Weary of life. Only fleeting suicidal thoughts. 4 = Probably better off dead. Suicidal thoughts are common, and suicide is considered as a possible solution, but without specific plans or intention. 6 = Explicit plans for suicide when there is an opportunity. Active preparations for suicide.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Patients with positive medication acceptance as rated by nursing personnel at baseline and final documentation (2 weeks). ODT, patients treated with orally disintegrating olanzapine tablets; SOT, patients treated with standard (coated) olanzapine tablets.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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