Effectiveness of two formulations of oral olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in a natural setting: results from a 1-year European observational study
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 04/18/2012

Kraemer S et al. – No significant difference was seen between discontinuation rates of the two formulations. Higher baseline severity was associated with a lower discontinuation rate.

• This 1–year, prospective, observational study included patients who had recently initiated treatment with olanzapine–coated tablets (OC) or the orodispersible (OD) formulation.
• Primary endpoint was olanzapine discontinuation for any reason.
• Clinical and functional status were also evaluated.

• Out of 927 enrolled patients, 903 were included in the analyses (612 patients with schizophrenia, 291 with bipolar disorder).
• Within 12 months, 46 of 903 patients discontinued olanzapine.
• Most (95%) patients remained on olanzapine for 12 months with similar rates for patients with either diagnosis (94.5% for schizophrenia, 94.9% for bipolar disorder) and for both formulations (93.7% with OC, 95.3% with OD).
• The only factor significantly associated with time to discontinuation was baseline disease severity.
• Patients with more severe disease at baseline had a lower discontinuation risk.
• There were significant improvements in functioning and well–being and non–significant improvements in therapeutic alliance and compliance.