title: Zonisamide produces weight loss in psychotropic drug-treated psychiatric outpatients.
abstract: This study examined the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of zonisamide for weight control in psychiatric outpatients using various psychotropic medications. We conducted a systematic chart review of 82 psychiatric outpatients with unwanted weight gain after the introduction of psychotropic drugs between January 2008 and September 2009 at Korea University Ansan Hospital. The primary outcome measure was the effect of zonisamide on body mass index (BMI). Additional outcome measures included safety and tolerability as assessed by the clinical global impression-severity of illness scale (CGI-S) and discontinuation rate. The mean final dose of zonisamide was 124.6±53.4 mg/day and ranged from 50mg/day to 300 mg/day. The mean BMI reduction was 0.8±1.7 kg/m(2) and ranged from -2.9 kg/m(2) to 4.7 kg/m(2) (p<0.001). We also observed a significant reduction in CGI-S scores from the baseline (3.8±0.9) to the endpoint (3.3±0.8; p<0.001). Twelve patients (14.6%) discontinued their zonisamide treatment due to its side effects. Patients treated with zonisamide showed significant weight loss. Furthermore, its treatment was generally safe and well tolerated with few negative effects on patients' overall psychiatric symptoms. Additional research is required to confirm these results and to investigate whether patients have rebound weight gains after discontinuing zonisamide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: JaeHyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Sook-Haeng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Changsu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Moon-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D050177:Overweight / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*; D000078305:Zonisamide
chemical_list: D007555:Isoxazoles; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000078305:Zonisamide