[The use of aripiprazole in the treatment of obesity associated with the administration of neuroleptics of the second generation in patients with schizophrenia]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the advisability of using aripiprazole in schizophrenic patients with weight gain associated with treatment with atypical neuroleptics.

Material and methods: We studied 62 patients with schizophrenia in therapeutic remission. In all patients, weight gain was associated with the administration of atypical neuroleptics of the second generation. The treatment was stopped in 32 patients and 30 patients continued to receive atypical neuroleptics.

Results: Aripiprazole prevented exacerbations of disease and led to the significant reduction of the severity of negative symptoms. Switching patients to aripiprazole resulted in the considerable decrease in body mass up to its normalization. Side-effects included only mild akathisia.

Conclusion: Comparison of results to literature values revealed that body mass decreased to the same degree as in patients treated with low doses of atypical neuroleptics. However, the use of first generation neuroleptics can not reduce the severity of negative symptoms and tolerability of these drugs is worse.