Metformin for atypical antipsychotic-induced weight gain and glucose metabolism dysregulation: review of the literature and clinical suggestions.
Individuals receiving certain atypical antipsychotic medications are at risk of gaining weight and developing metabolic problems. There are no established drug treatments to prevent or counter these problems. However, the antihyperglycaemic agent metformin appears promising in some recent studies and we review the literature that evaluates metformin for limiting or reversing atypical antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain and glucose metabolism dysregulation. These studies suggest that metformin is beneficial if started early in antipsychotic drug treatment. Metformin has also been shown to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus in high-risk individuals from the general population. Based on these findings, we identify antipsychotic drug-treated patients who might benefit from metformin therapy and offer clinical guidelines for its use. Further long-term studies are needed to extend our observations and improve this strategy.
Department of Psychiatry, Western Regional Integrated Health Authority, Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada. mehrul_hasnain@yahoo.com
Mehrul
M
Hasnain
W Victor R
WV
Vieweg
Sonja K
SK
Fredrickson
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D044882:Glucose Metabolism Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008687:Metformin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D039781:PubMed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008687:Metformin