[Prescription of traditional neuroleptics in the remission period for schizophrenic patients with excess of body mass caused by atypical antipsychotics].

A sample included 61 patients, 53 men and 8 women, with ICD-10 episodic schizophrenia in the remission after treatment with atypical neuroleptics (risperidon, olanzapine, clozapine). All patients were featured by therapeutically caused excess of body mass (obesity of different degrees) that hampered the further treatment. In 31 cases (the main group) atypical neuroleptics were substituted for traditional drugs that exerted lesser influence on body mass. Haloperidol (mean dosage 4,1 mg daily) was administered to 17 patients and trifluoperazine (mean dosage 7,1 mg daily) to 14 patients. Other 30 patients (a control group) continued to receive atypical neuroleptics. Between group differences of patient's mental and somatic state were assessed using quantitative scales. It was shown that the substitution of atypical neuroleptics for traditional neuroleptic drugs allowed to stop further body mass gain and even decreased it without significant influence on psychopathological symptoms and other side-effects in patients with excess of body mass.