Risperidone-induced increase of plasma norepinephrine is not correlated with symptom improvement in chronic schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown an increase in plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) after clozapine treatment of schizophrenia. This effect has been suggested to relate to improvement in symptoms.


METHODS
To test whether other novel antipsychotic drugs have such an effect, the present experiment examined schizophrenic symptoms and plasma levels of NE before and after 5 weeks of treatment with risperidone or haloperidol.


RESULTS
Risperidone, but not haloperidol, significantly increased plasma NE; however, there was no correlation of this effect with clinical improvement on any symptom scale.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that risperidone shares similar properties with clozapine in enhancing peripheral NE, but that these changes in plasma NE may not be a consistent indicator of atypical antipsychotic drug efficacy.
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Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
Fido
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AA
Maurice
M
M
Ibrahim
M M
MM
Salama
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D009638:Norepinephrine