The Tolerability of Mirtazapine Augmentation in Schizophrenic Patients Treated with Risperidone: A Preliminary Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.
- Author:
Jieun LEE
1
;
Sung Joon CHO
;
Kang Soo LEE
;
Keunyoung YOOK
;
Ah Young CHOE
;
Sungjae LEE
;
Borah KIM
;
Keung Hyang KIM
;
Tae Kyou CHOI
;
Sang Hyuk LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea. leesanghyuk@yahoo.com
- Publication Type:Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
Mirtazapine;
Risperidone;
Augmentation;
Tolerability
- MeSH:
Antipsychotic Agents;
Body Mass Index;
Humans;
Mianserin;
Neurobehavioral Manifestations;
Psychomotor Agitation;
Risperidone;
Schizophrenia;
Weight Gain
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
2011;9(2):73-77
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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). CONCLUSION: 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.
