H2 antagonist nizatidine may control olanzapine-associated weight gain in schizophrenic patients

Background: Olanzapine is temporally associated, in a number of patients with schizophrenia, with weight gain. H2 antagonists, like nizatidine, have been shown to control appetite in overweight patients. Methods: A patient with olanzapine temporally associated weight gain was treated with nizatidine as “add-on” therapy. Results: Nizatidine treatment was associated with good control and subsequent reduction of weight after 4 to 5 weeks of therapy in a patient with repetitive episodes of weight gain during olanzapine treatment. Olanzapine was otherwise well tolerated and effective in controlling psychopathology. Conclusions: H2 antagonist treatment with olanzapine may be a valid medical strategy in preventing and/or reducing weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. Controlled studies are recommended to confirm this observation.