A Review of Switching Strategies for Patients with Schizophrenia Comorbid with Metabolic Syndrome or Metabolic Abnormalities

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with schizophrenia occurs 2-3 times more frequently than in the general population. Antipsychotic medication is a primary risk factor for patients with MetS. In particular, the widely used second-generation antipsychotics can affect glucose and lipid metabolism and can induce insulin resistance and other metabolic abnormalities through various receptors. Notably, the metabolic risks of various anti psychotics may differ because of their different pharmacological affinity to MetS-related receptors. Several previous studies have shown that switching from high to low metabolic risk antipsychotics may improve patients' metabolic parameters. The current review aims to discuss the strategies for switching antipsychotic medications and the impact on metabolic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia.

Automated summary

Metabolic syndrome occurs more frequently in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population, with antipsychotic medication being a primary risk factor. Different antipsychotics may have different impacts on glucose and lipid metabolism due to their pharmacological affinity to MetS-related receptors, and switching to lower metabolic risk antipsychotics may improve patients' metabolic parameters. This review aims to discuss strategies for switching antipsychotic medications and their impact on metabolic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia.