Alpha-methyldopa in schizophrenia.
The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that there is a functional excess of dopaminergic activity within the brain of schizophrenics. Alpha-methyldopa interferes with dopaminergic transmission in the central nervous system. We report a case of a schizophrenic in whom, after an overdose of alpha-methyldopa, there was a dramatic and apparently complete resolution of psychotic symptomatology, followed after a few weeks by a sudden return of psychosis.
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000506:poisoning / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
D008750:Methyldopa