Olanzapine-induced weight gain in patients with first-episode schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fluoxetine addition.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Since olanzapine-induced weight gain may be attributable to the antagonistic activity of olanzapine at the serotonin-2C receptor, the authors hypothesized that it might be attenuated by addition of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine.

METHOD:

First-episode hospitalized schizophrenia patients (N=30) were randomly assigned in an 8-week double-blind study of olanzapine, 10 mg/day, coadministered with either fluoxetine, 20 mg/day (N=15), or placebo (N=15).

RESULTS:

The group receiving olanzapine plus fluoxetine showed significantly less improvement in positive and disorganized symptom dimensions than the group receiving olanzapine plus placebo. The two groups demonstrated similar and substantial gradual weight gains.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that fluoxetine coadministration is clinically ineffective and cannot attenuate olanzapine-induced weight gain.

• Authors: Michael Poyurovsky, Artashes Pashinian, Irit Gil-Ad, Rachel Maayan, Michael Schneidman, Camil Fuchs, Abraham Weizman
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 159 Issue 6 Pg. 1058-60 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12042201 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Placebos
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Fluoxetine
• Benzodiazepines
• Pirenzepine
• Olanzapine

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects)
• Benzodiazepines
• Body Mass Index
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fluoxetine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Male
• Obesity (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Olanzapine
• Pirenzepine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Placebos
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Schizophrenia (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Schizophrenic Psychology
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Gain (drug effects)