Liraglutide Decreased Body Weight, Improved Glucose Tolerance and Cardio Health in Schizophrenia
A 2017 article by Julie R. Larsen and colleagues in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry reported that the drug liraglutide, a treatment for type 2 diabetes, improved certain health measures in people with schizophrenia who were overweight and prediabetic and being treated with the atypical antipsychotics olanzepine or clozapine.
In the 16-week trial, patients received a daily 2 mg injection of liraglutide under the skin or placebo. Liraglutide decreased body weight, improved glucose tolerance, and improved cardio-metabolic measures. Weight decreased by more than 10 pounds on average compared to placebo.
Liraglutide is derived from a human metabolic hormone. It binds to the same receptors as does the metabolic hormone GLP-1, which stimulates insulin secretion.
Liraglutide FDA-Approved for Obesity
The drug liraglutide (trade name Saxenda) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for obesity. It had previously been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide is taken as a daily injection and is meant to be used alongside a calorie-reduced diet and increased physical activity. Liraglutide works by mimicking a peptide (GLP-1) that regulates appetite and calorie intake.
Recommended dosage is 3 mg/day, but should begin at 0.6 mg/day for the first week and gradually increase by 0.6mg each week to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects.
In three clinical trials, participants who were overweight or obese, some of whom had weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, either received training about following a reduced-calorie diet and increasing physical activity or had already lost up to 5% of their body weight by engaging in these practices.
Among those participants who did not have diabetes or a weight-related condition, 62% lost up to 5% of their body weight after a year of taking liraglutide, compared to 34% of those who were given a placebo injection.
Of the participants who had type 2 diabetes, 49% lost up to 5% of their body weight after a year of liraglutide, compared to 16% of those who received placebo.
Of those who had a weight-related condition other than diabetes, 42% lost up to 5% of their body weight compared to 21.7% who took placebo.
New Injectable Treatment for Obesity
Liraglutide, an injectable drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity. The drug is newly formulated in recommended doses of 3mg/day under the brand name Saxenda. Liraglutide is suggested for adults with a body mass of 30 or above, or 27 and above with other weight-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
In clinical trials, out of 3,731 participants without weight-related comorbid conditions, 62% of those who received liraglutide lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 34% of those who received placebo. Of the 635 participants with Type 2 diabetes, 49% of those who received liraglutide lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 16% of those who received placebo. In the 422 participants with other weight-related comorbidities, 42% of those taking liraglutide lost 5% or more of their body weight compared to 21.7% of those on placebo.
There were also some improvements in risk factors for cardiovascular disease in people taking liraglutide.
Liraglutide affects appetite regulation, leading to reduced calorie intake that produces weight loss. The treatment is delivered in a pre-filled multidose pen that can be injected in the abdomen, thigh, or arm. Dosing begins at 0.6 mg/day to minimize unwanted gastrointestinal effects.
