Posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2008, at 23:39:11
In reply to appetite suppressant for Zyprexa hunger?, posted by 4WD on January 3, 2008, at 21:14:58
Hi Marsha,
Jim Phelps' site has some information on how to deal with olanzapine/Zyprexa weight gain. However, his site is a bit outdated.
There seems to be recent double-blind placebo-controlled evidence that amantadine, metformin/Glucophage, and Topamax are palliative against Zyprexa-induced weight gain, without causing a worsening of mood. The most compelling evidence (based on study size) seems to be in favor of amantadine.
A larger study from 2004 (n=125) found that immediate addition of amantadine prevented weight gain over a period of 2 years. [Abstract at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15572269]. Meanwhile, a smaller study from 2005 (n=21) found that over a 12 week period amantadine halted weight among Zyprexa users who had already gained at least 5 lbs. [Free full text at: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/162/9/1744]
Another small (n=43) study on topiramate/Topamax found that it led to weight loss among Zyprexa users [Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15876898]
A very recent intermediate-size study (n=80) found that metformin/Glucophage led to weight loss among people who had been taking Zyprexa for some time. [Abstract at: http://http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17490862]
You might want to do a pubmed search using "olanzapine" and the generic names of the other three meds individually -- there are other references out there. There also seems to be some evidence that Topamax and Glucophage actually benefit certain psychiatric parameters, at least when given in conjunction with an atypical antipsychotic.
Hope this helps,
cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:804094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080105/msgs/804972.html