Treatment of mania: relationship between response to verapamil and changes in plasma calcium and magnesium levels.
Twelve patients meeting DSM-IIIR criteria for mania received verapamil over a 2-week period, with dosing up to 360 mg/day. Severity of mania was measured at baseline and weekly by use of the Young Mania Scale. Plasma calcium and magnesium determinations and an ECG were obtained at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment. Mean improvement was from a baseline of 32.4 to 12.8, -60.5%. Decreased severity of mania correlated significantly with increased plasma calcium. This result may lend a method for monitoring successful treatment of mania with calcium channel inhibitors.
Goodnick
P J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla 33136, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium