olanzapine and Hypercholesterolemia

After the introduction of the so-called "atypical antipsychotics" in the clinical experience hyperglycemia as well as increased triglyceride and cholesterol serum levels were reported in patients treated with some of these agents. In this article, the recently published population-based studies are reviewed.. According to the available data, the risk to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia in patients treated with clozapine and olanzapine is increased. The underlying pathomechanism still remains widely unclear. Since overweight is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, the weight-inducing effect of atypical antipsychotics may play an important role.. Since metabolic disorders often lead to severe diseases, these side effects of antipsychotics should be paid more attention.

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Body Weight; Clozapine; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Olanzapine; Pirenzepine; Risk

The authors conducted a multisite randomized controlled trial examining the strategy of switching from olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone to aripiprazole to ameliorate metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease.. Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with a body mass index ≥ 27 and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol ≥ 130 mg/dl who were on a stable treatment dosage of olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone were randomly assigned to switch to ari-piprazole (N=109) for 24 weeks or stay on their current medication (N=106). All participants were enrolled in a behaviorally oriented diet and exercise program. Clinical raters were blinded to treatment assignment. The primary and key secondary outcomes were change in non-HDL cholesterol and efficacy failure, respectively.. The prespecified primary analysis included 89 switchers and 98 stayers who had at least one postbaseline non-HDL cholesterol measurement. The least squares mean estimates of non-HDL cholesterol decreased more for the switch group than for the stay group (-20.2 mg/dl and -10.8 mg/dl, respectively). Switching was associated with larger weight reductions (least squares mean=2.9 kg) and a net reduction of serum triglycerides of 32.7 mg/dl. Twenty-two switchers (20.6%) and 18 stayers (17.0%) experienced protocol-defined efficacy failure. Forty-seven switchers (43.9%) and 26 stayers (24.5%) discontinued the assigned antipsychotic medication before 24 weeks.. Switching to aripiprazole led to improvement of non-HDL cholesterol levels and other metabolic parameters. Rates of efficacy failure were similar between groups, but switching to aripiprazole was associated with a higher rate of treatment discontinuation. In the context of close clinical monitoring, switching from an antipsychotic with high metabolic risk to one with lower risk to improve metabolic parameters is an effective strategy.

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Aripiprazole; Benzodiazepines; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL; Combined Modality Therapy; Dibenzothiazepines; Diet, Reducing; Drug Substitution; Exercise; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Olanzapine; Piperazines; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotic Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate; Quinolones; Risk; Risperidone; Schizophrenia; Treatment Outcome; Triglycerides

Major mental disorders are associated with an increased risk for obesity-related cardiovascular mortality, leading to interest in risk-reduction approaches that target weight and risk-related plasma lipids, including use of antipsychotic agents with low metabolic risk. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind study compared the metabolic effects of aripiprazole versus olanzapine in overweight persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were previously on olanzapine treatment.. In total, 173 subjects with DSM-IV-TR-defined schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to receive aripiprazole (N = 88) or olanzapine (N = 85) for 16 weeks in a study conducted from March 30, 2004, to August 8, 2006. Primary and secondary endpoints were mean weight change from baseline and percentage change from baseline in fasting triglyceride levels, respectively.. At week 16, weight decreased significantly with aripiprazole versus olanzapine (-1.8 vs. +1.41 kg; p < .001). Significant differences in percentage change in triglyceride levels were observed with aripiprazole (decreases) versus olanzapine (increases) at all time-points. In addition, significantly more subjects receiving aripiprazole had clinically relevant (> or = 7%) weight loss versus olanzapine (11.1% vs. 2.6%; p = .038), and a lower percentage of subjects receiving aripiprazole had clinically relevant weight gain (2.5% vs. 9.1%; p = .082). Mean percentage changes in fasting total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 16 were significantly different with aripiprazole versus olanzapine, with no significant effects on glycemic laboratory measures. Mean Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) scores for both groups were in the range of "no change" to "minimal improvement." CGI-I endpoint scores were statistically significantly better with olanzapine (mean +/- SE = 3.09 +/- 0.16) versus aripiprazole (mean +/- SE = 3.74 +/- 0.15; p < .001), and more subjects discontinued aripiprazole (N = 32/88; 36%) than olanzapine (N = 22/85; 26%).. Significant improvements in weight and lipids observed during discontinuation of olanzapine and switch to aripiprazole treatment occurred with limited evidence of negative psychiatric effects, relative to uninterrupted continuation of olanzapine treatment. The results suggest that the potential value of therapeutic substitutions involving specific antipsychotic medications should be considered in overall efforts to reduce cardiovascular risk in this population.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Aripiprazole; Benzodiazepines; Body Mass Index; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Olanzapine; Overweight; Piperazines; Psychotic Disorders; Quinolones; Schizophrenia; Triglycerides

To assess whether metformin prevents body weight gain (BWG) and metabolic dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia who are treated with olanzapine.. Forty patients taking olanzapine (10 mg daily) were randomly allocated to a metformin (n = 20; 850 to 1700 mg daily) or placebo (n = 20) group in a 14-week double-blind study. Waist circumference (WC), BWG, body mass index (BMI) fasting glucose, insulin, and lipids were evaluated at baseline and at Weeks 7 and 14 of treatment.. At Week 14, BWG (kg) was similar in the metformin group (5.5 kg) and the placebo group (6.3 kg), P = 0.4. There were no differences between the changes in BMI, WC, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and plasma lipid levels observed in the treatment group and the placebo group; however, glucose levels decreased significantly after metformin administration (P = 0.02). The HOMA-IR decreased significantly in both groups, but 3 subjects from the placebo group developed fasting glucose levels greater than 5 mmol/L. After taking metformin, triglyceride levels increased, but the cholesterol profile improved significantly.. Metformin did not prevent olanzapine-induced BWG. While some lipid parameters worsened during placebo, the HOMA-IR improved in both the placebo and the metformin groups. Carbohydrate metabolism impairment was not systematically observed during short-term olanzapine administration.

Topics: Adult; Anthropometry; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Body Mass Index; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin Resistance; Male; Metformin; Middle Aged; Obesity; Olanzapine; Schizophrenia; Weight Gain

The association of hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia with use of atypical antipsychotics has been documented in case reports and uncontrolled studies. The authors' goal was to assess the effects of clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and haloperidol on glucose and cholesterol levels in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder during a randomized double-blind 14-week trial.. One hundred fifty-seven patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were inpatients at four hospitals were originally included in the study. The 14-week trial consisted of an 8-week fixed-dose period and a 6-week variable-dose period. Planned assessments included fasting glucose and cholesterol, which were collected at baseline and at the end of the 8-week period and the following 6-week period.. One hundred eight of the 157 patients provided blood samples at baseline and at least at one point after random assignment to clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, or haloperidol during the treatment trial. Seven of these patients had diabetes; their glucose levels were >125 mg/dl at baseline. Data from 101 patients were used for statistical analyses. During the initial 8-week period there was an overall significant increase in mean glucose levels. There were significant increases in glucose levels at the end of the 8-week fixed-dose period for patients given clozapine (N=27) and those given haloperidol (N=25). The olanzapine group showed a significant increase of glucose levels at the end of the 6-week variable-dose period (N=22). Fourteen of the 101 patients developed abnormal glucose levels (>125 mg/dl) during the trial (six with clozapine, four with olanzapine, three with risperidone, and one with haloperidol). Cholesterol levels were increased at the end of the 8-week fixed-dose period for the patients given clozapine (N=27) and those given olanzapine (N=26); cholesterol levels were also increased at the end of the 6-week variable-dose period for patients given olanzapine (N=22).. In this prospective randomized trial, clozapine, olanzapine, and haloperidol were associated with an increase of plasma glucose level, and clozapine and olanzapine were associated with an increase in cholesterol levels. The mean changes in glucose and cholesterol levels remained within clinically normal ranges, but approximately 14% of the patients developed abnormally high glucose levels during the course of their participation in the study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Blood Glucose; Cholesterol; Clozapine; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Haloperidol; Hospitalization; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperglycemia; Male; Middle Aged; Olanzapine; Pirenzepine; Prospective Studies; Psychotic Disorders; Risperidone; Schizophrenia; Weight Gain

Olanzapine (OLZ) is efficacious whereas leads to adverse metabolic effects thus lead to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) on schizophrenia. Cytokines have been found associated with metabolic disorders. Therefore, pretreatment prediction of OLZ-induced adverse metabolic effects is urgently needed. To investigate if baseline cytokine levels could become biomarkers for pathogenesis of schizophrenia or prediction for OLZ-induced adverse metabolic effects, we recruited 75 participants, including 23 schizophrenia inpatients, who were antipsychotic-free over the past 6 months or first episode and drug-naive and 52 matched health controls, in our prospective cohort study and cross-sectional study. We simultaneously examined 7 serum cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-1ra, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1, VEGF) before OLZ treatment by using liquid suspension array technique and obtained clinical correlates at 4-week intervals in total 8 weeks. The psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). The metabolic parameters were BMI, TG, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, ApoA1, ApoB, lipoprotein a, fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and leptin. At baseline, IL-1ra and MCP-1 levels in schizophrenia were significantly higher than health controls (t = 4.55, P = 0.0001, t = 3.08 P = 0.003). BMI, fasting insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, ApoB and leptin were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia after 8 weeks of olanzapine treatment. Correlation analysis showed that the baseline IL-1ra level were significantly correlated with the increased levels of cholesterol (P = 0.004), LDL (P = 0.005), ApoB (P = 0.018) and leptin (P = 0.010), but not with the increased BMI, insulin or triglycerides. Further stepwise multiple linear regression analysis indicated that IL-1ra levels prior to treatment remained significantly associated with increased levels of cholesterol, LDL, ApoB and leptin. Above all, higher IL-1ra and MCP-1 levels may be biomarkers indicating pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Higher serum levels of IL-1ra may predict subsequent higher possibility of hypercholesterolemia and hyperleptinemia following OLZ treatment in schizophrenia patients.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Biomarkers; Chemokine CCL2; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; Leptin; Male; Olanzapine; Prospective Studies; Schizophrenia

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Aripiprazole; Benzodiazepines; Dibenzothiazepines; Drug Substitution; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Olanzapine; Piperazines; Psychotic Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate; Quinolones; Risperidone; Schizophrenia

Progression of metabolic illness in a patient with schizophrenia who was stabilized on an atypical antipsychotic is described using a case study framework. Risks and benefits of staying on current treatment versus switching to another agent and switching strategies are described.. Switching an antipsychotic with more favorable side effects may improve metabolic parameters if other weight loss strategies have failed. Switching or stopping medications too quickly may exacerbate psychiatric symptoms. There is little evidence to support which is the best switching strategy.. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner carries a significant responsibility of discussing risks and benefits of switching and closely monitoring the patient during a switch of medications. Ensuring that the patient decides and agrees upon the treatment plan will improve the overall outcome.

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Drug Therapy, Combination; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Olanzapine; Paroxetine; Psychotic Disorders; Risk Assessment; Schizophrenia; Thioridazine

Race is strongly associated with risk for metabolic dysfunction, but there is limited prospective data concerning the impact of race on antipsychotic metabolic outcomes among patients with schizophrenia.. This study is a post hoc analysis of data from a 26-week, double-blind, randomized trial of aripiprazole (N = 155) and olanzapine (N = 159) conducted from April 2000 through June 2001 in patients aged >or= 18 years with acute schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria. The data were analyzed on the basis of racial breakdown: white and black/Hispanic. Between-drug and within-drug outcomes were analyzed separately for each racial cohort across weight, lipid, and glucose parameters.. For white subjects (N = 167), olanzapine significantly worsened all metabolic parameters except high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and fasting glucose, and this was significantly different than aripiprazole for every outcome except fasting glucose. In the black/Hispanic cohort (N = 137), olanzapine treatment resulted in adverse metabolic outcomes, and these changes were significantly different from aripiprazole for adiposity, total cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol. Aripiprazole decreased the odds of endpoint metabolic syndrome compared with olanzapine for all subjects (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.55), the white cohort (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.41), and black/Hispanic subjects (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.25 to 1.12), but the black/Hispanic result was not statistically significant (p = .096). Within the aripiprazole group, white subjects had significantly lower risk for metabolic syndrome, but there was no significant difference in metabolic syndrome between white and black/Hispanic subjects exposed to olanzapine.. Race may be an important moderator of metabolic risk during atypical antipsychotic therapy. Olanzapine treatment is associated with greater effects on adiposity and lipids than aripiprazole in both white and black/Hispanic subjects, suggesting that antipsychotic choice and intensive monitoring are important in minimizing metabolic risk, especially in nonwhite patients.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Aripiprazole; Benzodiazepines; Black or African American; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Obesity; Olanzapine; Piperazines; Quinolones; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; White People; Young Adult

The goal of this study was to select some genes that may serve as good candidates for future studies of the direct effects (not explained by obesity) of some antipsychotics on hyperlipidemia. A search for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may be associated with these direct effects was conducted. From a published cross-sectional sample, 357 patients on antipsychotics were genotyped using a DNA microarray with 384 SNPs. A total of 165 patients were taking olanzapine, quetiapine or chlorpromazine which may directly cause hypertriglyceridemia or hypercholesterolemia. Another 192 patients taking other antipsychotics were controls. A two-stage statistical analysis that included loglinear and logistic models was developed to select SNPs blindly. In a third stage, physiological knowledge was used to select promising SNPs. Known physiological mechanisms were supported for 3 associations found in patients taking olanzapine, quetiapine or chlorpromazine [acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha SNP (rs4072032) in the hypertriglyceridemia model, and for the neuropeptide Y (rs1468271) and ACCbeta, (rs2241220) in the hypercholesterolemia model]. These genes may be promising candidates for studies of the direct effects of some antipsychotics on hyperlipidemia.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Chlorpromazine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dibenzothiazepines; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemias; Hypertriglyceridemia; Lipids; Male; Olanzapine; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Pharmacogenetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Psychotic Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic