Changes in body weight among psychiatric patients treated with risperidone combined with topiramate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64838/jmht.2025.273951Keywords:
body weight, psychiatric patient, risperidone, topiramateAbstract
Objective: To evaluate the changes in body weight among patients treated with a combination of risperidone and topiramate, and to identify factors associated with weight change during the course of treatment.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Rajanukul Institute, Thailand, between 2021 and 2023. Participants included psychiatric patients who had been on continuous risperidone treatment prior to the addition of topiramate, prescribed to address excessive weight gain. Body weight measurements taken before and six months after initiating topiramate were compared using paired t-tests. Potential factors influencing weight change were analyzed using chi-square tests and Pearson’s correlation.
Results: Forty-one participants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, of whom 85.4% were male with a mean age of 18.3 ± 8.6 years. The majority (61%) were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The mean body weights before and six months after starting topiramate were 70.99 ± 27.29 kg and 70.55 ± 26.66 kg, respectively. On average, participants experienced a non-significant reduction in body weight of 0.44 ± 3.69 kg. Older age and increasing topiramate dosage, both at initiation and at six months follow-up, were significantly associated with weight reduction. One participant experienced a non-serious side effect (induced aggression) during the study period.
Conclusion: Topiramate may help reduce or mitigate weight gain in patients receiving risperidone over a six-month period, with no incidence of serious adverse effects.
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