title: A Pilot Study of Randomized, Head-to-Head of Metformin Versus Topiramate in Obese People With Schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A number of research studies support the weight loss effects of metformin and topiramate for obese people with schizophrenia. However, only a few studies have addressed the sustainability of the body weight reduction after discontinuation of these drugs. Moreover, head-to-head studies are still lacking. The study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of metformin and topiramate in weight reduction and weight maintenance after discontinuation of these drugs in obese people with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two obese inpatients with schizophrenia were recruited and randomized into the metformin group (n = 11; daily dose, 1000 mg) and the topiramate group (n = 11; daily dose, 100 mg). A head-to-head, fixed-dose, and single-blinded design was used. Ten obese patients with schizophrenia of similar sex as that of the treated group were included as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 4-month treatment, the metformin group showed a body weight reduction of 3.8 kg, and the topiramate group showed a reduction of 2.7 kg. However, the reduction could be sustained only in the metformin group at 3 and 9 months after metformin discontinuation. Interestingly, 3 months after treatment discontinuation, leptin levels showed a reduction in both metformin (baseline, 25.3 ± 14.7, week 7: 5.7 ± 3.7 ng/mL) and topiramate (baseline: 28.4 ± 16.1, week 7: 9.2 ± 15.5 ng/mL) groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trend of weight changes supports the superiority of metformin at 1000 mg/d over topiramate at 100 mg/d in weight reduction and weight maintenance.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychiatry, Beitou Branch, Tri-Service General Hospital †Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, ‡Departments of Neurology, and §Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Po-Jui
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Pei-Shen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chia-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: San-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D008687:Metformin