Hypoglycemia with atypical antipsychotics, but not with typical antipsychotics: A case report

Abstract

Atypical antipsychotics cause hypoglycemia as a rare metabolic adverse effect in patients without diabetes. However, its mechanism is not sufficiently clarified. In the present case, a patient with schizophrenia presented with hypoglycemia induced by risperidone and olanzapine after becoming generally debilitated, but not by haloperidol. A complex interaction of serotonergic and adrenergic pathways with atypical antipsychotics may play a role in hypoglycemia. When prescribing atypical antipsychotics for patients, clinicians should be careful not only about the amount and character of the antipsychotics, but also the general status of the patients.