Chart comparing weight gain from antipsychotic drugs

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Saturday, July 09, 2005 12:45 pm Email this article
Below is a chart comparing weight gain during the first two-and-a-half months from various antipsychotic drugs.

The chart below was redrawn from the paper referenced below (Newcomer, 2005).

Abilify less weight gain than Zyprexa (1.5 lbs vs 9.2 lbs)

Note that Abilify (aripiprazole) causes much less weight gain (1.5 pounds) after two-and-a-half months than Zyprexa (olanzapine) (9.2 pounds).

Abilify, first-line antipsychotic, comparable to Zyprexa in efficacy for a fair amount of patients, with less weight gain

I asked a psychiatrist who also specializes in weight loss if Abilify (aripiprazole) works as well as Zyprexa (olanzapine), and causes less weight gain.

Here is what he said.

“I believe Abilify is comparable to Zyprexa in its antipsychotic efficacy for at least a fair amount of patients. There’s definitely less weight gain, if any weight gain at all. I use it as a first-line antipsychotic.”

REFERENCE

Newcomer J. Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics and metabolic effects: a comprehensive literature review. CNS Drugs. 2005, 19 Suppl 1:1-93.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

John W. Newcomer
Department of Psychiatry
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Abilify (aripiprazole)

• Antipsychotic drugs

• Zyprexa (olanzapine)