Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Olanzapine

“Conclusions: These results suggest that olanzapine did not influence the rewarding effects of alcohol but did attenuate the effects of alcohol cues and an alcohol challenge on urge to drink.”

“It was hypothesized that olanzapine would attenuate cue-elicited urge to drink, attenuate the effects of alcohol consumption on urge to drink, and reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol.”

“Previous … olanzapine decreases craving … dose of alcohol , that craving after a priming dose of alcohol is greater among individuals with the seven-repeat allele of the DRD4 variable … repeats (VNTR) polymorphism, and that the effect of olanzapine (a D2/D4 antagonist) is more pronounced among individuals with this allele.”

“Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the 7 (or longer) repeat allele of … L, while the other participants were classified as DRD4 S. The findings indicated that olanzapine reduces craving for alcohol at baseline for …, but only reduces craving after exposure to alcohol cues and after … L individuals.”

“Separate investigations have suggested that olanzapine , a D4 antagonist, decreases craving after a priming dose of alcohol and that the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism influences the expression of craving after a priming dose of alcohol.”

“Oxygen saturations decreased more in patients who had ingested alcohol and then received olanzapine + benzodiazepines.”

“Regardless of whether or not they received benzodiazepines, patients who had ingested significant amounts of alcohol before arrival in the ED had decreased oxygen saturations after olanzapine administration.”

“Two patients (20%) who received olanzapine + benzodiazepines and who had ingested significant amounts of alcohol exhibited hypoxia, defined as lowest O(2) saturation ≤ 92%.”

“Orthostatic changes were observed when olanzapine and diazepam or alcohol were coadministered.”

“Pharmacodynamic interactions occurred between olanzapine and alcohol , and olanzapine and imipramine, implying that patients should avoid operating hazardous equipment or driving an automobile while experiencing the short term effects of the combinations.”

“Furthermore, several experimental evidences have shown that olanzapine reduces fear and anxiety in activated anxiety-like behavior test such as Geller-Seifter test, ultrasonic vocalization test and stress-induced EtOH consumption.”

“ Olanzapine (2 mg/kg) produced significant inhibitory effects on stereotyped behaviors and wet dog shakes at the 6th h of ethanol withdrawal.”

“Overall, olanzapine does not seem to be an adequate and suitable drug in controlling of ethanol withdrawal syndrome.”