Psychotropic medications and metabolic side effects

Psychiatric medication is vital in the treatment of a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions, but has moderate metabolic consequences. The common side effects are weight gain, dyslipidemia, increased adiposity, elevated body mass index, increased insulin resistance, and metabolic alterations. Metabolic risk is lower with antidepressants than with antipsychotics. The side effects are linked to the metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases, dysglycemia and diabetes, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome are common complications associated with the use of antipsychotics. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend the metabolic alterations and develop strategies for early detection and intervention to mitigate these effects. This review discusses the metabolic alterations associated with common antipsychotic medications, followed by strategies to attenuate the effects.