Vitamin B(6) in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to conduct a double-blind trial of vitamin B(6) in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Fifteen inpatients with schizophrenia who met research diagnostic criteria for tardive dyskinesia were randomly assigned to treatment with either vitamin B(6) or placebo for 4 weeks in a double-blind crossover paradigm. The Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale was used to assess patients weekly.


RESULTS
Mean scores on the parkinsonism and dyskinetic movement subscales of the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale were significantly better in the third week of treatment with vitamin B(6) than during the placebo period.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin B(6) appears to be effective in reducing symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.
Lerner
V
V
Division of Psychiatry, Ministry of Health Be'er Sheva Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. lernervld@yahoo.com
Miodownik
C
C
Kaptsan
A
A
Cohen
H
H
Matar
M
M
Loewenthal
U
U
Kotler
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010919:Placebos; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011736:Pyridoxine