Which antipsychotic listed has increased appetite leading to weight gain as a more common side effect?

Which antipsychotic listed has increased appetite leading to weight gain as a more common side effect?

• A. Lithium
• B. Quetiapine fumarate
• C. Risperidone
• D. Clozapine

Answer: (C)

Weight gain from antipsychotics often comes from increased appetite caused by how these drugs interact with brain receptors that regulate hunger and energy balance, especially blocking serotonin 5-HT2C and histamine H1 receptors. This leads to more hunger and, over time, greater caloric intake and weight gain. Among the options, risperidone is the one most commonly associated with weight gain due to increased appetite relative to the others in this list. Lithium is not an antipsychotic and doesn’t have this profile in the way atypical antipsychotics do, and while quetiapine and especially clozapine can also cause weight gain, risperidone is the standout for this specific side effect within these choices. In clinical use, weight and metabolic monitoring is important with these drugs because the effects can accumulate over time.

Weight gain from antipsychotics often comes from increased appetite caused by how these drugs interact with brain receptors that regulate hunger and energy balance, especially blocking serotonin 5-HT2C and histamine H1 receptors. This leads to more hunger and, over time, greater caloric intake and weight gain.

Among the options, risperidone is the one most commonly associated with weight gain due to increased appetite relative to the others in this list. Lithium is not an antipsychotic and doesn’t have this profile in the way atypical antipsychotics do, and while quetiapine and especially clozapine can also cause weight gain, risperidone is the standout for this specific side effect within these choices. In clinical use, weight and metabolic monitoring is important with these drugs because the effects can accumulate over time.