Olanzapine-related fatality

A 43-year-old male psychiatric outpatient died within hours of ingesting as much as 600 mg of olanzapine, a newer antipsychotic agent related to cloza pine. Analysis of postmortem blood and urine by gas chromatography with nit rogen-selective detection yielded olanzapine concentrations of 1238 and 698 7 mu g/L, respectively greatly in excess of levels expected following thera peutic administration of the drug. Based on the toxicology findings, the de cedent's known history of suicide attempts, and the circumstances surroundi ng the death, this case was ruled a suicide by olanzapine overdosage.