title: Recent evidence and potential mechanisms underlying weight gain and insulin resistance due to atypical antipsychotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) promote obesity and insulin resistance. In this regard, the main objective of this study was to present potential mechanisms and evidence concerning side effects of atypical antipsychotics in humans and rodents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE database. We checked the references of selected articles, review articles, and books on the subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review provides consistent results concerning the side effects of olanzapine (OL) and clozapine (CLZ), whereas we found conflicting results related to other AAPs. Most studies involving humans describe the effects on body weight, adiposity, lipid profile, and blood glucose levels. However, it seems difficult to identify an animal model replicating the wide range of changes observed in humans. Animal lineage, route of administration, dose, and duration of treatment should be carefully chosen for the replication of the findings in humans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients undergoing treatment with AAPs are at higher risk of developing adverse metabolic changes. This increased risk must be taken into account when making decisions about treatment. The influence of AAPs on multiple systems is certainly the cause of such effects. Specifically, muscarinic and histaminergic pathways seem to play important roles.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Laboratory of Neurosciences, CriciúmaSC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Volpato
authors.forename: Alexandra Ioppi
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Zugno
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quevedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D023421:Models, Animal; D000077152:Olanzapine; D051381:Rats; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine; D000077152:Olanzapine