Changes of Body Weight, Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia after Long-Term Clozapine Treatment.
- Author:
Myeung Jee LEE
1
;
Soon Tae HONG
;
Jae Nam BAE
;
Joo Hee KANG
;
Chul Eung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea. kce320@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Clozapine;
Schizophrenia;
Glucose;
Lipid;
Weight;
Body mass index
- MeSH:
Blood Glucose*;
Body Mass Index;
Body Weight*;
C-Peptide;
Cholesterol;
Clozapine*;
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Glucose;
Humans;
Hyperlipidemias;
Insulin;
Outpatients;
Schizophrenia*;
Weight Gain
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2005;16(2):130-138
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of long term clozapine treatment on changes of weight, glucose and cholesterol levels and their relation to clozapine and its metabolite blood levels in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: Among outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV criteria, 19 consented subjects receiving long-term treatment of clozapine, its dosage level had been constant for last one month, were selected for the study. The serum level of clozapine, metabolites as well as body weight, BMI, glucose level, cholesterol level, insulin, and c-peptide were gathered and analyzed before and after the use of clozapine. RESULTS: Glucose increase after clozapine treatment was statistically meaningful but it was due to two patients who got diagnosed with diabetes. Glucose levels of other patients are all below 120 mg/dl. Cholesterol level showed significant increase after the treatment. Weight and BMI changes over the treatment are not statistically meaningful overall, but 8 out of 17 showed more than 7% increase. The changes of weight and BMI were positively correlated with weight and BMI of pre-treatment. Mean serum level of clozapine, metabolites were not correlated with glucose, cholesterol level, insulin, and C-peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that long term treatment of clozapine is correlated with increase of glucose and cholesterol level and weight gain of the patients. Clinicians should be aware of the potential risks of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and weight gain in patients taking clozapine.
