Antipsychotic Drug Use Linked to Immediate Weight

By Rachel Stockton

A new study being published in the next Journal of the American Medical Association is reporting on research done on the newest generation of anti-psychotics:  Seroquel, Abilify, Zyprexa and Risperadal.  The researchers made a startling discovery with regards to the medications and the effect they have on adolescents.

In studying 255 students taking the drugs, they found that they all gained 8-15% of their body weight after taking the pills for less than 12 weeks.  The biggest weight gain occurred in those taking Zyprexa.  The rapid weight loss translates into some kids gaining 1.5 pounds a week; those taking Abilify, which caused the least amount of weight gain over the other three, still gained 1 pound a week.

The drugs are used to treat those who have schizophrenia and bipolar disorder 1.  However, physicians have been prescribing them for other off label reasons, such as treating ADHD and anxiety disorders.  A 2008 study conducted by the Affiliated Research Institute in San Diego, showed that Seroquel XR was effective at treating anxiety disorders.  Compared to other drugs, Seroquel XR began to significantly alleviate symptoms by Day 4.

What is concerning to the researchers is the fact that weight gained at an early age has tremendous impact on future health.  Obesity can lead to diabetes and all of its horrific complications. 

An earlier study conducted by Vanderbilt University showed that people who took these antipsychotics were twice as likely to experience sudden cardiac death as those who did not take them.  Up until this study, which was published January 2009 in the New England Journal of Medicine, physicians believed that the newer antipsychotics would lower cardiac risk, compared to the older drugs.

A 2008 study conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, first demonstrated the correlation of weight gain and antipsychotics.   Research showed that every child they studied (of those on one of these medications) had a significant increase in body weight (WebMd).    Additionally, their triglycerides shot up by 20 points, on average.  Heart disease, the researchers said, is the number 1 killer of those with mental disorders.