Related Experiment Videos
H(2) antagonist nizatidine may control olanzapine-associated weight gain in schizophrenic patients
E Sacchetti1, L Guarneri, D Bravi
1University Psychiatric Service, University School of Medicine & Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Background:
Olanzapine is temporally associated, in a number of patients with schizophrenia, with weight gain. H(2) antagonists, like nizatidine, have been shown to control appetite in overweight patients.
Methods:
A patient with olanzapine temporally associated weight gain was treated with nizatidine as "add-on" therapy.
Results:
Nizatidine treatment was associated with good control and subsequent reduction of weight after 4 to 5 weeks of therapy in a patient with repetitive episodes of weight gain during olanzapine treatment. Olanzapine was otherwise well tolerated and effective in controlling psychopathology.
Conclusions:
H(2) antagonist treatment with olanzapine may be a valid medical strategy in preventing and/or reducing weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. Controlled studies are recommended to confirm this observation.