Serum neuroleptic activities required to inhibit relapse in schizophrenic patients--a study by radioreceptor assay.
1. The serum levels of antidopaminergic (anti-D2), anti-alpha-adrenergic (anti-NA) and antiserotonergic (anti-5HT2) activities of neuroleptics were determined in schizophrenic patients on maintenance treatment. 2. The patients whose conditions remained stable had significantly higher serum levels of anti-D2 and anti-5HT2 activities than those who were considered to be in unstable conditions after a period of remission. 3. However, the serum levels of anti-5HT2 activity in patients whose conditions remained stable varied as much as those of anti-NA activities did, so it appeared that from a pharmacological viewpoint anti-D2 activity of neuroleptics was the most important in preventing a relapse in schizophrenic patient. 4. The serum levels of anti-D2 activity required to prevent relapses differed for each neuroleptic. 5. The frequency of side effects increased concordant with increasing serum levels of anti-D2, anti-NA and anti-5HT2 activities, and unfortunately even minimum effective serum levels of anti-D2 activity elicited slight side effects in the majority patients.
Sarai
K
K
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Nakahara
T
T
Morioka
S
S
Yokota
N
N
Fukuchi
H
H
Tsukiai
S
S
Kitaura
T
T
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin