Posted by Cam W. on November 4, 2001, at 13:06:14
In reply to No weight gain with Geodon...BUT!, posted by Collette on November 4, 2001, at 9:14:22
Collette - I recently attended a schizophrenia conference where one of the presenters, a reknown researcher and clinician (at least in our area) Dr.Pierre Chue, said that he felt that, like EPS and tardive dyskinesia with the older antipsychotics/neuroleptics, that weight gain "may" be an irreversible side effect effect of the atypical antipsychotics.
When I brought up the lack of weight gain with ziprasidone (Geodon™) and quetiapine (Seroquel™), he said that (as I already knew) Seroquel "does" cause weight gain on the average of Risperdal™ (risperidone) and that Geodon may not cause weight gain, but it isn't a very effective antipsychotic either.
A few years ago I heard Dr.Bill Wirshing (from UCLA, I believe) speak on weight gain and atypical antipsychotics. His take on it, at least back then, was that the more potent and powerful an atypical antipsychotic was, the more toxic it was. I still use his line, "Clozaril, a highly toxic drug; the best antipsychotic we have; Seroquel, a very, very safe drug; it doesn't work, but it is a very safe drug."
I have since found that Seroquel does have some efficacy in cases where the psychosis is mild and not florid, and Clozaril™ (clozapine) isn't really as toxic as we once thought (as long as we respect it's power).
Now, getting back to weight gain with atypical antipsychotics being irreversible. From what I have witnessed over the past few years, this may be true. I brought this subject up with my pdoc and he made the statement that EPS and TD may not be so bad, in light of all the collerateral problems (hypertension, hyperglycemia, increased mortality, etc.) associated with weight gain.
I think that it is high time that researchers and companies start pouring serious money into these potential problems. You really can't blame the drug companies, as seeing the these problems as irreversible only manifest themselves after the drugs have been on the market for a considerable length of time.
Something to ponder - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:83160
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83177.html