Are Atypical Antipsychotic Agents Differentially Associated with Weight Gain?
Allison and colleagues13 published a large meta-analysis on weight gain and its association with antipsychotics. They conducted a comprehensive literature search and then performed a meta-analysis of mean weight gain at 10 weeks of treatment for the five atypical drugs available at the time (a discussion of sertindole will not be included, as it has since been removed from the market for safety reasons) plus thioridazine, molindone, and haloperidol. The mean increases in weight were as follows: clozapine 9.8 lbs (4.45 kg); olanzapine 9.13 lbs (4.15 kg); risperidone 4.62 lbs (2.10 kg); ziprasidone 0.09 lbs (0.04 kg); and thioridazine, ~7 lbs (3.19 kg).13 Olanzapine and clozapine were associated with the greatest increases after 10 weeks of treatment. It is important to note that substantial weight gain is associated with both atypical (eg, clozapine, olanzapine) and conventional (eg, thioridazine, chlorpromazine) antipsychotics, and the potential for weight gain is most likely related t
