Sir: Olanzapine is a thienobenzodiazepine antipsychotic that has a broad in vitro affinity for several receptors, including serotonergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, and adrenergic receptors.1 Olanzapine is approved for treatment of psychoses at doses up to 20 mg/day.2 New research suggests benefits of higher doses of olanzapine.3 Anecdotal case reports highlight the benefits of olanzapine at 50 mg/day in patients with refractory schizoaffective disorders. 4 In the United Kingdom, a trial of high-dose olanzapine (range, 20-60 mg/day) showed moderate to marked clinical improvement in patients with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia.

Background: Benzodiazepines are the first-line choice for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. However, several hospitals continue to provide alcoholic beverages through their formulary for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. While there are data on the prevalence of this practice in academic medical centers, there are no data on the availability of alcoholic beverages at the formularies of the hospitals operated by the department of Veteran's Affairs.

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