title: The Tolerability of Mirtazapine Augmentation in Schizophrenic Patients Treated with Risperidone: A Preliminary Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some patients with schizophrenia may need mirtazapine augmentation to improve negative and cognitive symptoms. However there have been a few studies about the tolerability of mirtazapine augmentation to antipsychotics such as akathisia, extrapyramydal symptoms, weight gain, and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was an eight-week double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of mirtazapine augmentation to risperidone. Twenty-one stabilized participants diagnosed with schizophrenia and undergoing treatment with risperidone were randomized to adjunctive treatment with mirtazapine (15 mg/day for the first two weeks, 30 mg/day for the next six weeks) or placebo. Eleven patients were assigned to the mirtazapine group, and nine patients were given placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the mirtazapine and placebo groups with respect to Barnes Akathisia rating Scale (BAS) and Sympsom-Angus Scale (SAS). However, the mirtazapine group exhibited a statistically significant increase in weight and BMI (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that mirtazapine augmentation can be tolerable in schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone; however, we should pay attention to the weight gain with mirtazapine. Our results should be replicated in a large-scale lengthy trial.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Jieun
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Sung Joon
authors: SJ
authors: Cho
authors: Kang Soo
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Keunyoung
authors: K
authors: Yook
authors: Ah Young
authors: AY
authors: Choe
authors: Sungjae
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Borah
authors: B
authors: Kim
authors: Keung-Hyang
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Tae Kyou
authors: TK
authors: Choi
authors: Sang-Hyuk
authors: SH
authors: Lee
keywords: Augmentation; Mirtazapine; Risperidone; Schizophrenia; Tolerability