Antipsychotic drug linked to metabolic disorder

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with clozapine, considered one of the most effective antipsychotic drugs, appears to increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to a report in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that includes obesity, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. People with the syndrome are at increased risk for heart attacks and stroke.

"Clozapine is the last hope for many people," lead author Dr. J. Steven Lamberti, from the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, said in a statement. "But there are long-term health implications. This study suggests that patients who need the most effective medication are between a rock and a hard place."

The findings stem from a study of 93 outpatients who were receiving clozapine as a treatment for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The rate of metabolic syndrome in this group was compared with that seen in 2701 control subjects matched by age, body weight for height, and race or ethnicity.

Nearly 54 percent of clozapine-treated patients had metabolic syndrome compared with 20.7 percent of subjects in the comparison group. In addition to clozapine use, other risk factors for metabolic syndrome included older age and being overweight.

"We need to raise awareness of physicians about this issue so they monitor their patients and intervene promptly when required to prevent long-term adverse health consequences," Lamberti emphasized.

SOURCE: American Journal of Psychiatry, July 2006.