PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING BERBERINE FOR TREATMENT OR PREVENTION OF WEIGHT GAIN AND OBESITY ASSOCIATED WITH ANTI-PSYCHOTIC DRUGS

摘要

The compositions and methods disclosed herein are of use for the treatment and prevention of weight gain and obesity. In particular, the compositions and methods include treatment of weight gain and obesity with berberine and/or berberine analogs alone or in combination thereof to cause a reduction in an individual's weight or prevent weight gain or obesity. In certain embodiments, the weight gain and obesity are associated with administration of anti-psychotic drugs. In an alternative embodiment, the compositions and methods provide berberine or berberine analogs alone or for coadministration with an anti-psychotic agent. In an additional embodiment, the compositions and methods further include a natural product. The usefulness of the present invention is that berberine and berberine analogs do not have synergistic effects with other drugs and administration results in few side effects. Such characteristics of berberine or berberine analogs are a great improvement able to support the widespread use of the compositions and methods of the present invention as therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of weight gain and obesity.