Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40538053›Full record

ArticlePalliative & supportive care2025

A case report: Treating insomnia with olanzapine in cancer patients.

Zhu Wang, Kimberson Tanco, Eric Liu, Sahithi Madireddy, Kathleen Renee Warner, Thomas J Smith

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative & supportive care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Pharmacological interventions for sleep disturbance ("insomnia") in patients with advanced cancer receiving specialist palliative care: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhu WangSection of Palliative Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5122-7799
Kimberson TancoDepartment of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Eric LiuThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Sahithi MadireddyThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kathleen Renee WarnerThe Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Thomas J SmithSection of Palliative Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPatients with cancer frequently experience insomnia that significantly impacts their quality of life, worsens existing symptoms, and potentially hinders treatment outcomes and recovery. Here, we report on 3 cancer patients whose insomnia was improved with low-dose olanzapine.

methodsA retrospective review of medical records was conducted for 3 cancer patients experiencing insomnia treated with olanzapine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The data collection included the type of cancer diagnosis, the level of insomnia severity experienced by individuals, and treatment results and outcome.

resultsOlanzapine improved sleep in all 3 patients and decreased nausea/vomiting and anxiety in patients 2 and 3. SIGNIFICANCE OF

resultsA low dose of olanzapine has potential to treat insomnia in cancer patients. The ideal dosing regimens and potential risks are unclear, especially for long-term use. More research and clinical trials are needed to evaluate off-label use of olanzapine for insomnia, including its efficacy and risks, and to optimize the dosage to reduce its side effects in cancer patients. Oncology providers should consider olanzapine as a potential treatment for insomnia, especially given its off-label uses and potential benefits.

Indexed as

BenzodiazepinesNeoplasmsOlanzapineSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersAdultAgedAntipsychotic AgentsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAntipsychotic AgentsBenzodiazepinesOlanzapinecancercase reportInsomniaolanzapinepalliative medicine

Identifiers

PMID40538053
PMCPMC13166405

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.