Metabolic side effects of antipsychotic agents: a p rospective study in a teaching hospital

Background: Antipsychotic drugs have propensity to produce side effects like extrapyramidal syndrome, hyperglycemia, lipid abnormalities and weight gain. As data from India related to this aspect are scarc e, this study was carried out. Aims and Objectives: To study metabolic effects of antipsychotic drugs using biochemical parameters and to compare metabolic effects of different antipsychotic agents. Materials and methods: This was a prospective study of patients attending the psychiatry outpatie nt department from September 2007 to May 2008. Each patient enrolled was followed up for 12weeks or les s till the antipsychotics were prescribed. Body weigh t, fasting blood glucose, fasting lipid profile were recorded at baseline and at subsequent visits. Results: Out of 45 patients, 33 completed the study. Bipolar disorder (31%) was the most frequent diagnosis followed by brief psychotic disorder (22% ), schizophrenia (20%) and others. Olanzapine was the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic drug (56%) followed by risperidone (24%) and haloperidol (20%). 84% received single antipsychotic drug. After 12weeks of therapy all antipsychotics caused significant weight gain (p