Weight gain, dyslipidaemia and rising glucose on antipsychotics often begin within weeks. A baseline set of measurements before the first dose is what lets you see that change, and without one a later abnormal result cannot be attributed.
A short, repeatable set — weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose or HbA1c, lipids, smoking status — at baseline, around 12 weeks and yearly is enough for most patients.
- Take baseline measurements before the first antipsychotic dose where possible
- Repeat at about 12 weeks, when early metabolic change shows
- Record smoking and offer cessation help each time
- Share the results with the patient's primary care doctor
Why it matters
Without a baseline, early metabolic harm from treatment goes unseen until it is established disease.
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