Hormonal
Oral semaglutide (up to 7 mg/day) produces significant weight loss (mean 4.5 kg) and BMI reduction in psychiatric patients with antipsychotic-induced weight gain over 16 weeks, with a safety profile comparable to metformin.
For psychiatric patients struggling with weight gain from antipsychotics, oral semaglutide is a viable treatment option. Start with 3 mg daily for the first month, then increase to 7 mg daily if tolerated. Expect about 4.5 kg (10 lbs) of weight loss over 4 months. Side effects like nausea are common but usually mild and go away. This treatment does not worsen psychiatric symptoms and may even improve quality of life.
After 16 weeks, the mean body weight loss was 4.5 kg (95% confidence interval (CI), -6.7 to -2.3 kg; p < 0.001) in the semaglutide group (n = 10) versus 2.9 kg (95% CI, -4.5 to -1.4 kg; p < 0.001) in the metformin group (n = 26)... The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant.
Why this rating
Non-randomized, open-label pilot study with a small sample size (n=10 for semaglutide) and high dropout rate (27%).
Source
Management of obesity with semaglutide or metformin in patients with antipsychotic-induced weight gain (MOSA): a non-randomised open-label pilot study
Bea Campforts et al. · BMC Psychiatry · 2024
DOI 10.1186/s12888-024-06317-7
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