Comparing the Effect of Atypical and Conventional Antipsychotics on Lipid Profile

Patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic drugs are highly at risk of metabolic disorders such as weight gain، dyslipidemia، and insulin resistance. This study was designed to compare the effect of atypical and conventional antipsychotics on lipid profile.

128 patients with schizophrenia were divided in two groups. One of the groups received one type of atypical antipsychotic drugs while the other got one type of conventional ones. None of the groups had used any other antipsychotic drugs during the past year. Demographic data and food frequency questionnaire were completed by each participant. Serum triglyceride، total cholesterol (TC)، high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols، and apolipoprotein A and B (Apo A and B) were recorded. Student’s t test was used for statistical analysis.

The two groups were similar in age، gender، duration of illness، period of drug consumption، and age at onset of illness. Patients in the atypical group used clozapine and risperidone (46. 9%) more than olanzapine; while in the conventional group، 81. 3% of patients used phenothiazines. Our data showed a significantly higher mean in TC (P = 0. 01)، LDL (P = 0. 03)، and Apo B (P = 0. 01) in conventional group.

In patients with schizophrenia، lipid profile was higher in both atypical and conventional antipsychotic users، especially in conventional drug users.