title: A systematic review of metformin to limit weight-gain with atypical antipsychotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weight-gain is commonly reported in patients taking atypical antipsychotic agents. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of metformin for attenuation of weight-gain induced by atypical antipsychotic agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed database (1966-May 2010) search was conducted, using metformin, atypical antipsychotic and weight-gain as search terms. Review articles, letters and commentaries were excluded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thirteen trials were identified (eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, one crossover adult trial, one open-label uncontrolled adult trial, two open-label uncontrolled paediatric trials and one case report). Of the eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, three studied adult subjects and one studied children. Metformin was well tolerated. The heterogeneity of the trials did not justify meta-analytic pooling of outcomes, and we provide a best evidence synthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is limited evidence for the efficacy of metformin in limiting weight-gain induced by atypical antipsychotic agents. However, the evidence is weak and further well-powered randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of longer duration should be conducted to confirm the preliminary evidence and provide better estimates of effect.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea. yujeunglee@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008687:Metformin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin