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 | | | | | | | Olanzapine vs lithium for prevention of relapse
Author: Tohen, et al.
Title: Olanzapine versus lithium in relapse prevention in bipolar disorder: A randomized double-blind controlled 12-month clinical trial.
Reference: World J Psychiatry 2004;5(Suppl 1):51. [Congress abstract].
Purpose: Efficacy trial of olanzapine versus lithium as maintenance therapy in patients with bipolar disorder.
Study design: Randomized, double-blinded trial.
Follow up: 12 months.
Patients: 217 olanzapine, 214 lithium.
Treatment: Olanzapine 5–20 mg/day or lithium titrated to a serum level of 0.6–1.2 mEq/L.
Results: Overall, the efficacy of the two drugs was similar. Olanzapine was significantly more effective than lithium in preventing a relapse into mania. A greater weight gain was observed with olanzapine compared with lithium. Depression was reported as an adverse event in 21% of patients receiving olanzapine compared with 12% receiving lithium. When used as an add-on treatment, olanzapine was associated with a weight gain of 2.74 kg, and in the double-blinded phase, it was associated with a weight gain of 1.8 kg (compared with –1.38 kg with lithium).
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