title: Weight gain associated with use of psychotropic medications.
abstract: Weight gain is associated with the use of many psychotropic medications, including lithium, valproic acid, and several conventional and newer antipsychotics. Patients asked to select from among several comparable drugs often choose the one least likely to cause weight gain, even if the drug is less effective or has other troublesome adverse effects. For many patients, weight gain is so intolerable that they discontinue treatment. Patients who continue treatment are at risk for clinically significant weight gain that can progress to obesity. Even after patients stop taking the drug, weight gained during therapy may be difficult to lose. Thus, the best approach is to attempt to prevent weight gain when feasible, possibly through pretreatment dietary counseling and judicious drug selection, and to intervene as soon as weight gain becomes evident.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guille
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium