[Hyperlipidemia--side-effect of the treatment with an atypical antipsychotic (zotepine)?]

In the last few years some studies and case reports has been published that suggest a frequent occurrence of metabolic disorders like hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia during the treatment with atypical antipsychotics. However, regarding the high prevalence rates of these disorders in the general population, a possible causative relationship should be substantiated, i.e. occurrence of elevated blood levels within a short time interval after the starting of the medication. In the presented case a hyperlipidemia (triglycerides up to 1247 mg/dl) was observed soon after the beginning of zotepine medication. After the reduction of zotepine lipid levels in serum decreased and normalised after switching to classical antipsychotics. Therefore a causative relationship between the occurrence of the hyperlipidemia and the zotepine medication is very likely.