Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine) and Risperdal (risperidone) could lead to obesity in kids: Study

Kids who used Zyprexa (olanzapine) recorded larger increases in cholesterol and blood sugars

Antipsychotic drugs like Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Risperdal (risperidone) could lead to unwanted weight gain in children and tennagers, according to a new study published in Journal of the American Medical Association.

Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine) and Risperdal (risperidone) were studied 272 people aged 4 to 19 at Manhasset, New York for the first 12 weeks by reserachers at  Zucker Hillside, and at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Study came out with the finding that those taking Zyprexa (olanzapine) gained 18.7 pounds on average, compared with 13.4 for Seroquel (quetiapine), 11.7 for Risperdal (risperidone) and 9.7 for Abilify, at about 11 weeks.

Kids, who were using either of Zyprexa, Seroquel and Risperdal for the first time, gained  from 9.7 to 18.7 pounds (4.4 to 8.5 kilograms) after about 11 weeks of treatment.

10 to 36 percent of the children in the study became overweight or obese within 11 weeks of starting the medicine, the researchers said.

Fifteen kids who didn’t use the drugs or who declined to participate in the research gained less than half a pound on average.

Some of those kids taking Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Risperdal (risperidone) medications gained over 20 pounds in 11 to 12 weeks period, the authors of the study wrote in the journal.

Kids who used Zyprexa (olanzapine) recorded larger increases in cholesterol and blood sugars.

Risperdal (quetiapine) users had rises in triglyceride levels but it did not affect their blood sugar.

While those kid used Seroquel showed an increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides.

However, Abilify did not any significant effect on cholesterol or triglyceride levels or blood sugar.

Given the risk for weight gain and long-term risk for cardiovascular and metabolic problems, the widespread and increasing use of atypical antipsychotic medications in children and adolescents should be reconsidered, the reserachers opined.

Elevated levels in cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar and obesity could lead to metabolic syndrome – a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to the researchers.

Risperdal and Abilify are the only two antipsychotics approved for pediatric use.

Risperdal is marketed by Johnson & Johnson and Abilify by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co

While Zyprexa and Seroquel are from Eli Lilly & Co and AstraZeneca Plc respectively.

Soon three other antipsychotic drugs – Seroquel, Zyprexa and Pfizer Inc.’s Geodon will get clearance for use in children.

US FDA has been delaying antipsychotics –which have approved for adult use since the mid-1990s– on concerns of side-effects like weight gain, sleepiness and movement disorders in children.

Antipsychotic drugs are the top selling drugs which reached reached $14.6 billion in sales last year in U.S,  according to IMS Health Inc.

Use of antipsychotic medicines has also more than doubled in younger people less than 20 years old since 2001, according to Medco Health Solutions Inc. of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey data.

Zyprexa is (olanzapine) is an atypical antipsychotic indicated in acute and maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia in adults, acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (monotherapy and in combination with lithium or valproate) and maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder (monotherapy) in adults.

Seroquel XR is a once-daily tablet approved to treat acute depressive episodes in bipolar disorder; acute manic or mixed episodes in bipolar disorder alone or when added to lithium or divalproex; long-term maintenance of bipolar disorder when added to lithium or divalproex and schizophrenia.

Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia (including adolescent schizophrenia), the mixed and manic states associated with bipolar disorder, and irritability in children with autism.