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Real-world Data on Atypical Antipsychotic Medication Side Effects
Elisa Cascade1, Amir H Kalali, Sagar Mehra
1Ms. Cascade is Vice President, Quintiles Inc./iGuard, Falls Church, Virginia.
Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township))
|September 1, 2010
Summary
Most patients taking atypical antipsychotics report side effects like weight gain and tiredness. However, less than a quarter of these patients inform their doctor about these adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Atypical antipsychotics are widely prescribed for various psychiatric conditions.
- Understanding patient-reported side effects is crucial for treatment adherence and management.
- Real-world data offers valuable insights beyond clinical trial settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document and analyze patient-reported side effects associated with common atypical antipsychotic medications.
- To identify the most frequently experienced adverse events in a real-world patient population.
- To assess the rate at which patients report these side effects to their healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients using atypical antipsychotics.
- Data was collected on the occurrence and type of side effects experienced.
- Patient-reported outcomes were tabulated for medications including aripiprazole, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone.
Main Results:
- 54% of 353 respondents reported experiencing at least one side effect from atypical antipsychotics.
- The most common side effects included weight gain/hunger, tiredness/lethargy, and coordination/muscle problems (tenderness, twitches, tremors).
- Less than 25% of patients who experienced side effects reported them to their physician.
Conclusions:
- Patient-reported side effects are common among individuals taking atypical antipsychotics.
- Weight gain, fatigue, and motor symptoms are prevalent adverse events.
- There is a significant underreporting of side effects by patients to their physicians, highlighting a potential gap in communication and management.
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