Effects of Antipsychotic Medications on Energy Intake and Expenditure

The overall purpose of this research is to determine how two commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications, olanzapine (Zyprexa) and ziprasidone (Geodon), affect weight gain through increasing appetite and/or through increasing sedation that results in decreased activity.

Undesirable changes in body weight, blood sugar control, type 2 diabetes, and blood lipids occur more commonly in people who have schizophrenia than in people without psychiatric conditions. Although differences in glucose regulation were first reported in schizophrenia before the use of antipsychotic medications, antipsychotic treatment may contribute to these problems, though just how this happens is not understood. This study proposes to use a doubly-labeled water (DLW) method to measure the degree to which weight gain (fat mass) is due to increased appetite, decreased physical activity from being tired and sleepy, or some combination of both. Doubly-labeled water contains stable isotopes (non-radioactive forms) of the hydrogen and oxygen that make up all water, isotopes that will be slowly passed out through the urine after participants drink DLW. The number of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes found in the urine samples will tell us how many calories the participant's body has been using.

The DLW method has been used in people with obesity and other types of medical problems. It's recognized as the most accurate measure of the number of calories burned throughout a typical day, and how many calories are taken in from food and drink. By measuring these factors in people who take antipsychotic medications, doctors will gain a better understanding of the effects of antipsychotic medications on body weight and fat mass. This could lead to the development of better ways to prevent or treat weight gain or diabetes in patients who take antipsychotic medications.