Onset of action of orally disintegrating olanzapine versus conventional olanzapine.To the Editor: Our article in the July 2003 issue of Southern Medical Journal (1) discussed the advantages of orally disintegrating olanzapine for the treatment of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia. On the basis of information available at that time, we noted that orally disintegrating olanzapine does not have a faster onset of action onset of action Pharmacology The length of time needed for a medicine to become effective. See Therapeutic drug monitoring. than conventional olanzapine. Data collected since then suggest that this may not be correct. Studies of the bioequivalence bioequivalence /bio·equiv·a·lence/ (-e-kwiv´ah-lens) the relationship between two preparations of the same drug in the same dosage form that have a similar bioavailability. of these dosages in Phase I clinical trials Noun 1. phase I clinical trial - a clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device; for drugs, dosage or toxicity limits should be obtained phase I demonstrate that conventional olanzapine tablets and orally disintegrating tablets The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) definition of an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) is: "A solid dosage form containing medicinal substances which disintegrates rapidly, usually within a matter of seconds, when placed upon the tongue. are bioequivalent bi·o·e·quiv·a·lent n. A value indicating the rate at which a substance enters the bloodstream and becomes available to the body. . (2) Recently, however, more individuals administered orally disintegrating tablets have been found to have measurable concentrations of olanzapine at earlier points (15 and 30 minutes) than those administered the standard tablet. Thirty minutes after administration, mean olanzapine plasma concentrations were approximately five times higher in individuals administered orally disintegrating olanzapine. (3) Plasma concentration profiles became indistinguishable before reaching maximal concentrations, however, and there was no notable difference in the overall absorption rate between the two formulations, suggesting that the site of absorption for the two formulations is similar and that orally disintegrating olanzapine has minimal absorption through the buccal buc·cal adj. 1. Of, relating to, adjacent to, or in the direction of the cheek. 2. Of or relating to the mouth cavity. buccal route. Orally disintegrating olanzapine thus seems to have a slightly more rapid onset of absorption than do coated olanzapine tablets, because of their more rapid disintegration and more rapid onset of gastrointestinal absorption. In addition to the relative ease of administration, the more rapid onset of action of orally disintegrating olanzapine provides increased clinical advantage. References (1.) Reeves RR, Torres RA. Orally disintegrating olanzapine for the treatment of psychotic and behavioral disturbances associated with dementia. South Med J 2003;96:699-701. (2.) Chue P, Jones B, Taylor CC, et al. Dissolution profile, tolerability, and acceptability of the orally disintegrating olanzapine tablet in patients with schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry 2002;47:771-774. (3.) Eli Lilly Eli Lilly can refer to:
Roy R. Reeves, DO, PHD G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1848, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford and three branch campuses located in Booneville, Tupelo, and Southaven. School of Medicine Jackson, MS Rafael A. Torres, MD G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center Department of Psychiatry University of Mississippi School of Medicine Jackson, MS |
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