The clinical picture of olanzapine poisoning with special reference to fluctuating mental status.

Background: Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is increasingly used in intentional drug overdoses. Although acute olanzapine overdose is predominantly associated with anticholinergic symptoms and central nervous system depression, miosis and unpredictable fluctuations between somnolence/coma and agitation/ aggression have been suggested as typical signs of olanzapine intoxication in single case reports.

Aims: To confirm the suggestion that fluctuating central nervous system changes and miosis are characteristic signs of olanzapine intoxication.