Efficacy and safety of adjunctive topiramate for schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To systematically examine the randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence regarding efficacy and tolerability of topiramate cotreatment with antipsychotics in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

METHODS:

Random-effects meta-analysis of RCTs of topiramate cotreatment with antipsychotics vs. placebo/ongoing antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Standardized or weighted mean difference (SMD/WMD), risk ratio (RR) ±95% confidence intervals (CIs), and number needed to harm (NNH) were calculated.

RESULTS:

Across 16 RCTs (n = 934, duration = 11.8 ± 5.6 weeks), topiramate outperformed the comparator regarding change/endpoint of total (SMD: -0.58, 95% CI: -0.82, -0.35, P < 0.00001), positive (SMD: -0.37, 95% CI: -0.61, -0.14, P = 0.002), negative (SMD: -0.58, 95% CI: -0.87, -0.29, P < 0.0001), and general symptoms (SMD: -0.68, 95% CI: -0.95, -0.40, P < 0.00001). Furthermore, topiramate was superior regarding body weight (WMD: -2.75 kg, 95% CI: -4.03, -1.47, P < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -1.77, 95% CI: -2.38, -1.15, P < 0.00001), triglycerides (P = 0.006), and insulin levels (P < 0.00001). Superiority regarding psychopathology and body weight/BMI was consistent across Chinese/Asian and Western RCTs, double-blind and open designs, clozapine and non-clozapine cotreatment, augmentation and co-initiation RCTs, and higher and lower quality RCTs. In meta-regression analyses, topiramate's efficacy for total symptoms was moderated by shorter illness duration (P = 0.047), while weight loss was greater in prevention/co-initiation vs. intervention/augmentation RCTs (-4.11 kg, 95% CI: -6.70, -1.52 vs. -1.41 kg, 95% CI: -2.23, -0.59, P < 0.001). All-cause discontinuation was similar between topiramate and comparators (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.81, P = 0.16). While topiramate led to more concentration/attention difficulties (P = 0.03, NNH = 8, 95% CI=4-25), psychomotor slowing (P = 0.02, NNH = 7, 95% CI = 4-25), and paresthesia (P = 0.05, NNH = 2, 95% CI = 4-33), it led to less ≥7% weight gain (P = 0.0001, NNH = 2, 95% CI = 2-3) and constipation (P = 0.04, NNH = 9, 95% CI = 5-100) than the comparator.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results indicate that adjunctive topiramate to antipsychotics is an effective and safe treatment choice for symptomatic improvement and weight reduction in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

• Authors: W Zheng, Y-T Xiang, Y-Q Xiang, X-B Li, G S Ungvari, H F K Chiu, C U Correll
• Journal: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica (Acta Psychiatr Scand) Vol. 134 Issue 5 Pg. 385-398 (11 2016) ISSN: 1600-0447 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27585549 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)
• Copyright: © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Topiramate
• Fructose

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fructose (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)
• Topiramate
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult