Efficacy and Safety of Add-on Topiramate vs Metformin on Cardio-Metabolic Profile in Patients With Schizophrenia on Atypical Antipsychotics With Metabolic Syndrome: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Detailed Summary

Metabolic syndrome is common in patients of schizophrenia. It can add to morbidity, loss of functionality and discontinuation of antipsychotic medication. Apart from metformin, there are limited treatment options as add on-s to antipsychotics for treatment of metabolic syndrome. There have been placebo-controlled studies of Topiramate as an adjuvant but the present study would be the first head-on trial between these drugs for treatment of metabolic syndrome in patients of schizophrenia. If the outcome measures show a significant improvement with add on topiramate when compared with Metformin, then add on Topiramate can be a preferred treatment for metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia on atypical antipsychotics. The adverse effects of Metformin can be side-stepped and Topiramate can also be given in conditions which are contraindications for Metformin. Thus, Topiramate can be a good alternative to metformin especially in conditions like liver, cardiac and renal impairment where metformin use should be avoided. Topiramate can not only improve metabolic parameters but can also have a beneficial effect on the symptom severity of schizophrenia. Thus, it can be a good augmentation drug to be used along with antipsychotics in these patients.

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