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.
