Open adjunctive ziprasidone associated with weight loss in obese and overweight bipolar disorder patients

Objective: To assess effectiveness and tolerability of open adjunctive ziprasidone for weight loss in obese/overweight patients with bipolar disorders (BD) in diverse mood states, taking weight gain-implicated psychotropic medications. Method: 22 obese and three overweight BD patients (20 female: 10 BD-I, 14 BD-II, 1 BD-NOS) with mean +/- SD baseline body mass index (BMI) of 31.8 +/- 2.5 kg/m(2) received ZIP (mean final dose 190 +/- 92 mg/day) for mean of 79.2 +/- 23.2 days. Weight was assessed at six weekly and three biweekly visits. Subjects entered the study in diverse mood states. At baseline, 21 were taking second-generation antipsychotics, 7 lithium, and 1 valproate, which could be reduced/discontinued at investigators' discretion. Results: Weight and BMI decreased from baseline to endpoint by 4.5 +/- 3.4 kg and 1.6 +/- 1.2 kg/m(2), respectively, at weekly rates of 0.37 kg and 0.13 kg/m(2), respectively (all p < 0.00001). 48% of patients had at least 5% weight loss. Obesity rate decreased from 88% to 35% (p < 0.0001). Waist circumference decreased 1.6 inches (p = 0.0001). Overall, mood did not change. Patients with at least moderate baseline mood symptoms experienced significant mood improvement, despite 72% patients decreasing/discontinuing weight gain-implicated psychotropic medications. Seven patients discontinued ZIP early: 3 for weight loss inefficacy, and 1 each for viral gastroenteritis, loss of consciousness, pneumonia with hypomania, and lost to follow up. Conclusion: Open adjunctive ziprasidone may be effective for weight loss in obese/overweight BD patients taking weight gain-implicated psychotropic medications. These preliminary data should be considered with caution due to the open uncontrolled design, small sample size, and brief duration. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.