Study of Amantadine for Weight Stabilization During Olanzapine Treatment
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00287352 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : February 6, 2006
Last Update Posted : May 2, 2011
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Weight gain associated with antipsychotic medication use is a major side effect that limits the tolerability of these drugs. This often significant weight gain adversely affects health, increasing risks for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancers of the colon, kidneys, uterus, endometrium and esophagus and osteoarthritis. Beasley and colleagues (1997) reported that 40.5% of olanzapine-treated patients gained more than 7% of baseline weight. Much of the olanzapine induced weight gain occurs early in treatment, and antipsychotic-naïve and young patients (Woods et al., 2002) are particularly vulnerable to this side effect. One of the most promising medications to aid weight loss in patients taking olanzapine is amantadine.
Attempts at preventing weight gain are expected to be more successful than attempts to reverse it once it occurs. It is now common clinical practice to educate all patients beginning treatment with olanzapine, and other antipsychotics, about healthy eating and the need for exercise. However, despite this effort, weight gain in this population continues. Beginning a weight-stabilizing medication after a low threshold of weight gain has occurred may have significant impact on patients' health and their willingness to continue to take antipsychotics.
We propose to investigate the efficacy of amantadine as a weight-stabilizing agent in a population of first-episode psychotic subjects just beginning treatment with antipsychotic agents. This population is generally young and medically healthy, without contraindications to amantadine. They are often of normal body mass index and without obesity-related medical problems. They have much to gain in preventing the weight gain which so often progresses steadily over the course of treatment, is difficult to reverse and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the first episode psychotic population tends to take fewer concomitant psychiatric medications. This is important since these medications may cause weight gain (long term use of mirtazapine, lithium, depakote) or weight loss (short term use of SSRI's) which could confound the effectiveness of amantadine to combat weight gain.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Psychotic Disorder Schizophreniform Disorder Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder Mood Disorders With Psychotic Features | Drug: Olanzapine, Amantadine Drug: Olanzapine and placebo | Phase 1 |

Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 40 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Double Blind Placebo Controlled Investigation of Amantadine for Retarding Weight Gain in First Episode Adlt Psychotic Subjects Beginning Therapy With Olanzapine. |
Study Start Date : | May 2005 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | September 2009 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 2009 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Placebo Comparator: Double-Blind Treatment
Olanzapine continuing with placebo
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Drug: Olanzapine and placebo
Olanzapine continuing as clinically indicated |
Active Comparator: Olanzapine, Amantadine
Standard combine with Amantadine
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Drug: Olanzapine, Amantadine
Olanzapine continuing as clinically indicated, Amantadine 100 mg tid |
- To compare time to clinical significant weight gain in the amantadine + olanzapine group with the placebo + olanzapine group. [ Time Frame: 29 weeks ]
- We will determine if the amantadine + olanzapine group has a lower % body fat compared to the placebo + olanzapine group at 16 weeks [ Time Frame: 29 weeks ]
- We will determine if the amantadine +olanzapine group has a higher RQ signifying better fat utilization compared to the placebo + olanzapine group at 16 weeks [ Time Frame: 29 weeks ]
- We will determine if the amantadine + olanzapine group has significantly better metabolic profile at 16 weeks as compared to the placebo + olanzapine group. [ Time Frame: 29 weeks ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18-65
- Male and female
- DSM IV diagnosis of psychotic episode (brief psychotic disorder, schizophreniform disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder)or mood disorder with psychotic features
- Subjects may have lifetime exposure to antipsychotic medications other than olanzapine of up to 8 weeks
- Olanzapine monotherapy is appropriate treatment as judged by their treating physician.
Less than 12 weeks of olanzapine monotherapy treatment at entrance into phase 1.
- Able to consent
- Female subjects require medically acceptable means of birth control which includes tubal ligation, hysterectomy, condoms, oral contraceptives, IUD, cervical cap, diaphragm, transdermal contraceptive patch, and abstinence.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current treatment with lithium, depakote, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, mirtazapine, corticosteroids, or stimulants (methamphetamine, etc).
- Known sensitivity or contraindication to amantadine
- Suicidal or homicidal risk
- Pregnant, desiring to become pregnant during the study period, or lactating
- Serious or unstable medical illness that require ongoing treatment with medication

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00287352
United States, North Carolina | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599 |
Principal Investigator: | Karen A Graham, MSc MD | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
Responsible Party: | Karen A. Graham, Msc, MD/Principal Investigator, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00287352 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
F1D-MC-X273 GCRC 2235 |
First Posted: | February 6, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 2, 2011 |
Last Verified: | April 2011 |
First episode psychosis |
Disease Schizophrenia Psychotic Disorders Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Pathologic Processes Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Amantadine Olanzapine Antiemetics Autonomic Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Gastrointestinal Agents Antipsychotic Agents |
Tranquilizing Agents Central Nervous System Depressants Psychotropic Drugs Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Neurotransmitter Agents Serotonin Agents Antiparkinson Agents Anti-Dyskinesia Agents Antiviral Agents Anti-Infective Agents Dopamine Agents Analgesics, Non-Narcotic |