Does metformin help prevent weight gain in youth with bipolar disorder? Findings from recent study
A large-scale study led by researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Northwell Health has found that the drug metformin can help prevent or reduce weight gain in youth who are taking medication to treat bipolar disorder. This study is significant because medications used to treat bipolar disorder often lead to side effects, including weight gain, which can have negative consequences on the overall health of patients.
The study, conducted over two years and including 1,565 patients aged 8-19 with bipolar disorder taking second-generation antipsychotics, examined the effectiveness of metformin. This drug, typically used to treat Type 2 diabetes, is known to prevent weight gain. The findings of this study showed that metformin had a modest but significant effect on preventing and sometimes reversing weight gain in young patients with bipolar disorder.
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