New Antipsychotics Drugs Aren't Created Equal
Patients Who Do Poorly on One May Show Improvement on Another
March 1, 2004 -- Schizophrenia patients who fare poorly on the treatment they are on may show improvements in mental function by switching to the drug Geodon, according to the results of three studies sponsored by the drug's manufacturer.
The studies included 270 schizophrenic people who either did not respond well to other medications or experienced unacceptable side effects while on them. When switched to Geodon, many patients showed improvement.
Lead researcher Philip D. Harvey, PhD, acknowledges that the studies had limitations, such as the fact that researchers did not record why individual patients did poorly on other medications.
The findings are reported in the February issue of the journal Schizophrenia Research.
"The point is not to say that this drug is superior to the others," he tells WebMD. "We would never recommend that a patient who is doing well on a particular drug be switched. But if a patient is doing poorly, switching to a new antipsychotic medication can be beneficial."
Geodon is among a relatively new class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, which are now the most commonly prescribed medications use to treat schizophrenia. Although older antipsychotic drugs treat symptoms of psychosis, the newer atypical antipsychotics are more effective at improving learning, verbal fluency, attention, and memory, which leads to better rehabilitation in patients.
Unlike many of the new drugs, Geodon does not appear to cause weight gain or increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In a report released in late January, the American Diabetes Association and two other top health groups warned about these common side effects of the new drugs. The report concluded that the atypical antipsychotics Clozaril and Zyprexa were associated with the most weight gain and increase in diabetes risk and abnormal lipids, while Geodon and the drug Abilify had little or no impact on weight gain, diabetes, or lipid levels.
The joint report recommended that doctors consider whether patients are overweight or at risk for type 2 diabetes when prescribing an antipsychotic medication.
"I think many clinicians out there are beginning to switch their patients to (Geodon or Abilify) for this reason," Harvey says.
New Antipsychotics Drugs Aren't Created Equal
Patients Who Do Poorly on One May Show Improvement on Another
March 1, 2004 -- Schizophrenia patients who fare poorly on the treatment they are on may show improvements in mental function by switching to the drug Geodon, according to the results of three studies sponsored by the drug's manufacturer.
The studies included 270 schizophrenic people who either did not respond well to other medications or experienced unacceptable side effects while on them. When switched to Geodon, many patients showed improvement.
Lead researcher Philip D. Harvey, PhD, acknowledges that the studies had limitations, such as the fact that researchers did not record why individual patients did poorly on other medications.
The findings are reported in the February issue of the journal Schizophrenia Research.
"The point is not to say that this drug is superior to the others," he tells WebMD. "We would never recommend that a patient who is doing well on a particular drug be switched. But if a patient is doing poorly, switching to a new antipsychotic medication can be beneficial."
No Weight Gain
Geodon is among a relatively new class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, which are now the most commonly prescribed medications use to treat schizophrenia. Although older antipsychotic drugs treat symptoms of psychosis, the newer atypical antipsychotics are more effective at improving learning, verbal fluency, attention, and memory, which leads to better rehabilitation in patients.
Unlike many of the new drugs, Geodon does not appear to cause weight gain or increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In a report released in late January, the American Diabetes Association and two other top health groups warned about these common side effects of the new drugs. The report concluded that the atypical antipsychotics Clozaril and Zyprexa were associated with the most weight gain and increase in diabetes risk and abnormal lipids, while Geodon and the drug Abilify had little or no impact on weight gain, diabetes, or lipid levels.
The joint report recommended that doctors consider whether patients are overweight or at risk for type 2 diabetes when prescribing an antipsychotic medication.
"I think many clinicians out there are beginning to switch their patients to (Geodon or Abilify) for this reason," Harvey says.