Abstract

Persons with schizophrenia are reported to be more likely to die from cardiovascular illness than those in the general population, and are at a greater risk of developing obesity, diabetes type 2, hypertension and dyslipidemias. Trials have been done with innumerable options including a number of pharmacological agents starting from those of ancient days through typical antipsychotics to atypical ones in later times. But problems came hand-in-glove with each of these options. As extrapyramidal side effects of typical antipsychotics compelled clinicians to move towards the atypical ones, these newer, so-called novel agents have brought with them a gamut of adversities, the various metabolic side effects. The study includes 120 patients, both indoor and outdoor, suffering from schizophrenia, diagnosed using the ICD-10 criteria. The patients were grouped into three categories, i.e. control group and two study groups, control group having 30 patients and study groups with 45 patients each. Thirty patients were given conventional antipsychotics and 90 were given second-generation antipsychotics, including risperidone and olanzapine. At the end of 18 months it was observed that a significant number of subjects developed metabolic syndrome in both the atypical drugs, Olanzapine and Risperidone (p-value <0.0001). Comparatively the incidence was more in Olanzapine (26%) than Risperidone (22%), with higher increases especially in weight, fasting blood sugars and lipid profile changes in the subjects treated with Olanzapine. The same random sample showed little changes in the parameters when treated with conventional antipsychotic Haloperidol. Thus, even though there was a lesser incidence of extra- pyramidal symptoms with atypical antipsychotics, it should be borne in mind that the incidence of metabolic syndrome adds to the cardiovascular risk of patients with Schizophrenia and the need to tailor a drug based on patient profile is always the better option.

Description