Chiu, L., Chiu, N., Chow, R., Zhang, L., Pasetka, M., Stinson, J., . . . DeAngelis, C. (2016). Olanzapine for the prophylaxis and rescue of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): A retrospective study. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 5, 172–178.
Evaluate the safety and efficacy of olanzapine for prevention and rescue of CINV
Medical records of adult patients who received one or more doses of olanzapine for prophylaxis of CINV or treatment of breakthrough CINV were reviewed. Routinely patients are phoned by a pharmacist or research assistant 72 hours after each chemotherapy cycle and an assessment of CINV is documented in the electronic record. Patients were on various chemotherapy and antiemetic regimens.
Retrospective descriptive
Olanzapine was used for breakthrough in 154 patients over 193 treatment cycles. 88.1% of patients reported that it improved nausea, and 21.8% reported it improved vomiting. Twenty patients had been given olanzapine for prophylaxis. Among these 100% reported it improved nausea, and 35% said it improved vomiting. Analysis showed that olanzapine effects were not related to cycle, emetogenicity of the chemotherapy, or antiemetic regimen used. Side effects observed were sedation with continuation of olanzapine (29.5%).
Olanzapine was shown to have been effective as a rescue medication for CINV and may be effective for CINV prophylaxis.
Olanzapine can be effective as a rescue medication for CINV and as part of a CINV prophylaxis regimen.