News Story on Managing Weight Gain in Patients With Schizophrenia

News
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User: In patients on long-acting injectables (LAIs), what do you suggest besides the addition of metformin to help with weight, when lifestyle changes are a challenge? What else could I do to help control the metabolic effects?**

Dr. Correll: In case that metformin is ineffective or the patient does not tolerate it, adjunctive topiramate can be tried. Alternatively, a switch to a lower cardiometabolic risk antipsychotic can be tried.

Other Questions:

Q: Have there been any findings regarding weight change in patients switching from olanzapine to ALKS 3831?

Q: How does lumateperone differ from other weight neutral antipsychotics such as cariprazine or lurasidone?

Q: Can you recommend any particular educational materials about schizophrenia that are helpful to patients?

Read the full story and responses to the questions at this link:

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My weight has fluctuated +/- 35 kilos 3 or 4 times since being diagnosed.

I hope this time I have now just lost 26 kilos and have a normal BMI due to lifestyle changes it will stick.

Dieting for me has always been taken to the extremes, and the lost weight has always come back.

Nothing like some back breaking labour to trim down I guess!

I don’t think it’s good to be losing and then gaining so rapidly.

AP’s have definitely caused this, which is why I minimise weight gain risk by my choice of meds

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Samidorphan is reported to contravene weight gain with Olanzapine. It is scheduled to be approved next month. FDA already approved it, but there are some technical problems with the first batch. Samidorphan removes weight gain, all other side effects remain as-is with Olanzapine.

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What meds do you take and what dosage please?
The ones I’m on have been great for symptoms and including everything I’m now heavy as ever before

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Amisulpride 800mg
Pregabalin 300mg
Diazepam 20mg
Aripiprazole 5mg
Procyclidine 20mg
Levomepromazine 50mg (For sleep PRN)

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I lost 15 lbs on 50mg of Topamax daily recently but had to quit it due to worsening of psychosis.

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Thanks!
I had to look them up
Sounds good combo,

I’m thinking if i take 10mg already of abilify I probably have enough tolerance to it I’m going to ask about it…
I was always afraid of it making me too energetic and not sleeping
I tried it on its own a couple of times I found it really scary

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I was recently prescribed Metformin but never started taking it. I think I will start taking it and send my psychiatrist a text.