The Tolerability of Mirtazapine Augmentation in Schizophrenic Patients Treated with Risperidone: A Preliminary Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
;
: 73-77, 2011.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-127843
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Some patients with schizophrenia may need mirtazapine augmentation to improve negative and cognitive symptoms. However there have been a few studies about the tolerability of mirtazapine augmentation to antipsychotics such as akathisia, extrapyramydal symptoms, weight gain, and body mass index (BMI).METHODS:
This study was an eight-week double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of mirtazapine augmentation to risperidone. Twenty-one stabilized participants diagnosed with schizophrenia and undergoing treatment with risperidone were randomized to adjunctive treatment with mirtazapine (15 mg/day for the first two weeks, 30 mg/day for the next six weeks) or placebo. Eleven patients were assigned to the mirtazapine group, and nine patients were given placebo.RESULTS:
There was no significant difference between the mirtazapine and placebo groups with respect to Barnes Akathisia rating Scale (BAS) and Sympsom-Angus Scale (SAS). However, the mirtazapine group exhibited a statistically significant increase in weight and BMI (p<0.05).CONCLUSION:
These results suggest that mirtazapine augmentation can be tolerable in schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone; however, we should pay attention to the weight gain with mirtazapine. Our results should be replicated in a large-scale lengthy trial.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Psychomotor Agitation
/
Schizophrenia
/
Antipsychotic Agents
/
Weight Gain
/
Body Mass Index
/
Risperidone
/
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
/
Mianserin
Type of study:
Controlled clinical trial
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
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