Zonisamide prevents olanzapine-associated hyperphagia, weight gain, and elevated blood glucose in rats.

Abstract

Olanzapine (OLZ), one of the second-generation atypical antipsychotics (SGAs), has shown relative advantages in patient adherence and outcomes. However, OLZ has also been associated with a higher incidence of weight gain than most other SGAs. Excessive weight gain may in turn contribute to long-term health concerns for some individuals. Zonisamide (ZNS), a medication approved in the United States as an adjunct in the management of epilepsy, has a diverse pharmacological profile, including sodium channel blockade, monoamine enhancement, and inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. ZNS has also been reported to cause weight loss in both humans and rodents. We hypothesized that this profile might be beneficial when co-administered with OLZ. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the effects of OLZ on body weight, as well as the pathways known to regulate feeding behavior and arousal in the Sprague-Dawley rat. As indicated via c-Fos expression, we found an OLZ-induced activation in the nucleus accumbens and orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. An OLZ-associated development of hyperphagia, weight gain and elevated blood glucose in the rat was also found. These outcomes were attenuated and reversed in the presence of concomitant ZNS. These results suggest the hypothesis that ZNS may effectively treat or prevent weight gain or metabolic changes associated with the SGAs. Future studies of this combination in patients through appropriately designed human clinical studies are encouraged.

• Authors: Nicholas M Wallingford, Puspha Sinnayah, Frank P Bymaster, Kishore M Gadde, Ranga K Krishnan, Anthony A McKinney, Ronald P Landbloom, Gary D Tollefson, Michael A Cowley
• Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (Neuropsychopharmacology) Vol. 33 Issue 12 Pg. 2922-33 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1740-634X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18322467 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Biomarkers
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Isoxazoles
• Neuropeptides
• Orexins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Benzodiazepines
• Zonisamide
• Olanzapine

Topics

• Animals
• Anticonvulsants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Appetite Regulation (drug effects, physiology)
• Benzodiazepines (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Body Weight (drug effects, physiology)
• Diabetes Mellitus (chemically induced, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Female
• Hyperglycemia (chemically induced, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Hyperphagia (chemically induced, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Hypothalamic Area, Lateral (drug effects, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (metabolism)
• Isoxazoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Neuropeptides (metabolism)
• Nucleus Accumbens (drug effects, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Obesity (chemically induced, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Olanzapine
• Orexins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors)
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Gain (drug effects, physiology)
• Zonisamide