Q: Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain & Amenorrhea in First Episode Schizophrenia

Q. Which Medication has shown to be Effective in Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain & Amenorrhea in Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia?

(a) Fluoxetine
(b) Metformin
(c) Rosiglitazone
(d) Orlistat

Answer with Explanation will be posted soon. Everyone is encouraged to try.

Admin wrote: Q. Which Medication has shown to be Effective in Antipsychotic Induced Weight Gain & Amenorrhea in Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia?

(a) Fluoxetine
(b) Metformin
(c) Rosiglitazone
(d) Orlistat

Answer with Explanation will be posted soon. Everyone is encouraged to try.

Ans: B (Metformin)

Two articles are published on this topic this month.
(1) American Journal of Psychiatry
Am J Psychiatry 2012;169:813-821.
Metformin for Treatment of Antipsychotic-Induced Amenorrhea and Weight Gain in Women With First-Episode Schizophrenia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Results: Metformin was effective in reversing antipsychotic-induced adverse events, including restoration of menstruation, promotion of weight loss, and improvement in insulin resistance in female patients with schizophrenia.

(2) Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2012 Aug;24(3):225-39.
Second-generation antipsychotic use in schizophrenia and associated weight gain: A critical review and meta-analysis of behavioral and pharmacologic treatments.

Results: Although several adjunctive pharmacologic treatments showed no weight loss, sibutramine, metformin, and topiramate showed some benefit. Amantadine and orlistat were somewhat less effective and had lower rates of tolerability. Among the behavioral therapies, nutritional counseling combined with exercise showed the most benefit. Behavioral therapies, although modest, showed the most consistent benefits compared with controls.