Olanzapine use in adolescent anorexia nervosa
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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
K Dennis1, D Le Grange, J Bremer
1Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Abstract:
Several case reports and open label trials describe olanzapine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). We report 5 adolescents with AN who received olanzapine in addition to psychotherapy for their eating disorder. Body mass index (BMI) of each case increased while on olanzapine. At doses of 5 mg per day and above, patients reported decreased anxiety around eating, improved sleep, and decreased rumination about food and body concerns. Morning sedation was the most commonly reported adverse effect. Olanzapine appeared to be useful in addition to psychotherapy for these adolescents. This report augments a limited literature on the treatment of this disorder, and an almost nonexistent literature specific to pharmacotherapy for adolescents with AN.
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