Mixed Acute Allergic Angioedema and Urticaria Associated with Olanzapine Treatment – A Rare Case Report

Adverse cutaneous reactions are common, being associated with many prescribed drugs including psychotropic medications. Very few cutaneous reactions with olanzapine have been described in the literature but none of these reports came from Nigeria, a country where clinicians have joined the developed world in prescribing increasingly atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine. We report a case of a 30-year old clergy with paranoid schizophrenia who developed acute angioedema with urticaria shortly after she was commenced on olanzapine. The lesion resolved on withdrawal of olanzapine but re-occurred following a re-challenge. Drug-related skin reactions are probably under-reported, may be because most are mild and self-limiting. Clinicians should know and educate their patients on antipsychotic-related skin lesions. Awareness of this rare side effect will lead to timely reporting, prompt management, and eventual better compliance with psychotropic medications.