Olanzapine and breast-feeding: changes of plasma concentrations of olanzapine in a breast-fed infant over a period of 5 months

We here report on a psychotic mother and her breast-fed infant who was treated with olanzapine. Consecutively olanzapine concentrations in the milk and plasma of the mother and in the infant were measured with tandem mass spectroscopy over a period of five month. The results show a relatively high plasma level in the infant aged four month, probably referring to an immature hepatic transformation system, especially CYP1A2. In the following four months plasma levels of olanzapine decreased to very low, even undetectable concentrations in the infant. The infant developed normally and showed no side effects during the treatment period.