Usefulness of antiparkinsonian drugs during neuroleptic treatment and the effect of clonazepam on akathisia and parkinsonism occurred after antiparkinsonian drug withdrawal: a double-blind study.
Antiparkinsonian drugs used for 117 chronic schizophrenic patients receiving long-term neuroleptic treatment were withdrawn. Seventy-eight (66.7%) of the 117 patients were without akathisia and/or parkinsonism at least for 6 weeks after the antiparkinsonian drug withdrawal. A double-blind study of clonazepam was carried out for 22 patients and clonazepam was effective on 8 patients (100%) with akathisia and on 3 patients (75%) with parkinsonism. The authors conclude that these data support the need for discontinuous use of antiparkinsonian medication during the long-term neuroleptic therapy of chronic schizophrenic patients and the effectiveness of clonazepam in managing antiparkinsonian drug withdrawal-induced akathisia and parkinsonism.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
J
J
Horiguchi
O
O
Nishimatsu
D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002998:Clonazepam