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High-dose olanzapine in Huntington's disease
R M Bonelli1, G Niederwieser, G G Tribl
1Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Hospital BHB Eggenberg, Graz, Austria. rm.bonelli@nextra.at
International Clinical Psychopharmacology
|March 14, 2002
Summary
High-dose olanzapine effectively treated severe chorea in a Huntington
Area of Science:
- Neuropharmacology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Limited evidence exists for olanzapine's efficacy in HD chorea.
- Existing reports often lack sufficient documentation or appropriate dosing.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old woman with genetically confirmed HD presented with severe, debilitating chorea.
- The patient was unresponsive to haloperidol treatment.
- Her motor function was significantly impaired, scoring 65/124 on the UHDRS-I.
Findings:
- Treatment with high-dose olanzapine (30 mg daily) led to a rapid and significant reduction in chorea.
- Motor function improved dramatically, with UHDRS-I scores dropping to 21.
- Improvements were observed in eating, walking, fine motor skills, gait, and eye movements.
- The therapeutic effect persisted for 5 months.
Implications:
- High-dose olanzapine may be a valuable therapeutic option for managing severe choreatic attacks in Huntington's disease.
- This case highlights the potential of atypical antipsychotics in treating complex movement disorders.
- Further research is warranted to establish optimal dosing and long-term efficacy.