Efficacy and Safety of Metformin in Preventing Patients With Risperidone From Weight Gain and Amenorrhea

Efficacy and Safety of Metformin in Preventing Patients With Risperidone From Weight Gain and Amenorrhea:a 24-week, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Fixed-dose Study

Some previous studies has demonstrated that Metformin can improve the weight gain which caused by antipsychotics. An our study, which will be published, also found that Metformin can improve the amenorrhea for patients with antipsychotics, approximately 60% patients recovery period. So the present study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Metformin in preventing patients with Risperidone from weight gain and amenorrhea.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 18-40 years.
2. diagnosis of schizophrenia (naive first-episode) as defined in DSM-IV axis I.
3. At screening, patients were required to have total score ≥60 on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and ≥4 on the Clinical Global Impression-severity scale (CGI-S).
4. treat with Risperidone.
5. Never participate in a diet control nor in other weight loss programs, and have a normal Period.
6. Written informed consents could be obtained from patients(or their Legal guardian).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female patients, those who were in the period of pregnancy and lactation, or plan pregnancy, were excluded.
2. Patients with serious physical disease patients, just like Epilepsy, liver and kidney dysfunction, diabetes, blood diseases, etc were excluded.
3. At screening, patients with abnormal results in physical examination, laboratory test, or electrocardiogram (ECG) were excluded.
4. Patients were also excluded if they met primary DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders other than schizophrenia, or ever used psychoactive substance.