METABOLIC EFFECT OF RISPERIDONE IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Aim & Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the metabolic effects of risperidone in patients with psychiatric illness treated with risperidone.

Method: Thirty non-diabetic patients with Psychiatric illness (e.g. schizophrenia, manic phase of bipolor disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria) inducted in this study. These Patients did not receive any drug that would alter the blood sugar levels and also risperidone for at least four weeks prior to the initiation of the study. All the patients who were inducted in this study receive the mean dose of 4mg/day (range 2-8 mg) of risperidone for eight weeks, depending upon the clinical condition. The patients fasting, post prandial blood sugar and weight gain were evaluated at the baseline and then at four weeks and at eight weeks.

Results: Thirty patients completed the study. The mean fasting blood sugar level was increased from 87.5mg/dL (baseline) to 101.7 mg/dL at week 8 (P<0.001).The mean post prandial blood sugar was increased from111.68 mg/dl to147.88 mg/dl at week 8 (p<0.001).There was also statistically significant weight gain with a increase in mean weight of59.16 kg to59.96 kg (p=0.001). The 8-week study showed that fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar levels may increase in psychiatric patients receiving risperidone .There was also definite weight gain. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: Measuring and monitoring fasting & postprandial blood sugar before the initiation and during the treatment with risperidone is suggested.

Key Words: Metabolic effect, Risperidone , Blood glucose,  psychiatric illness.