Table 1

Plasma concentrations of fluoxetine, norfluoxetine and olanzapine after 18 consecutive days of drug augmentation therapy.

Drug Measured

Fluoxetine Dose (10 mg/kg)

Olanzapine Dose (5 mg/kg)

Fluoxetine

344.1 ± 54.2 (ng/mL)

Norfluoxetine

695.4 ± 118.4 (ng/mL)

Olanzapine

178.5 ± 34 (ng/mL)*

Drug Measured

Fluoxetine Dose (10 mg/kg)

Olanzapine Dose (0.5 mg/kg)

Fluoxetine

410.0 ± 36.6 (ng/mL)

Norfluoxetine

501.5 ± 114.7 (ng/mL)

Olanzapine

46.7 ± 4.4 (ng/mL)

The fact that regardless of olanzapine dosing both rat groups lost equal amounts of body weight is indicative that these two phenomena (i.e., relative drug levels and body weight dynamics) may not be causally related. No discernible changes in brain structure or integrity were found, as assessed by Nissl staining and stereological cell counts conducted within the rat hypothalamus (data not shown). Values are means ± SEM. N = 7 per dosing group. * P ≤ 0.01 when compared with appropriate olanzapine dose.

Perrone et al. BMC Pharmacology 2004 4:27   doi:10.1186/1471-2210-4-27