Published online Jul 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i21.7495
Peer-review started: December 30, 2021
First decision: February 8, 2022
Revised: February 24, 2022
Accepted: June 3, 2022
Article in press: June 3, 2022
Published online: July 26, 2022
Processing time: 192 Days and 16.4 Hours
Antipsychotics are associated with abnormalities in glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, ways to maintain the long-term stability of psychotic symptoms and balance the disadvantages of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders caused by antipsychotic medications remain unclear. In this study, we present a case of weight gain and hyperglycemia in a schizophrenia patient who received antipsychotic polypharmacy for 6 years.
A 27-year-old man with olanzapine and sodium valproate-treated disorganized schizophrenia was admitted to a diabetes outpatient clinic. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose, 20 mmol/L) and obesity (body mass index, 38.58 kg/m2). The patient had been treated with glargine (40 IU/d) and metformin (1.5 g/d) and showed a poor response for 2 mo. Two years of liraglutide treatment resulted in stable blood glucose levels and weight loss in addition to a maintained stable mental status for a long time. The biological activities of GLP-1 significantly improved glucose levels and body weight in the schizophrenia patient treated with antipsychotic medications.
Liraglutide administration can be considered an effective alternative treatment for abnormalities in glucose metabolism in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics.
Core Tip: This report describes the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment in a young schizophrenia patient with long-term use of antipsychotics, which induced type 2 diabetes. It presents the success of blood glucose control with the GLP-1 receptor agonist in a short period of time during his hospitalization and helped him to control his blood glucose and lose weight while maintaining a stable mental status in the long-term.