title: Effects of clonidine in schizophrenic patients with primary polydipsia: three single case studies.
abstract: A pilot study was conducted in schizophrenic patients with primary polydipsia to determine the tolerability of adding clonidine to an existing antipsychotic drug regimen and to seek evidence of an antidipsic effect. Three patients with chronic schizophrenia and primary polydipsia underwent open controlled prospective trials of treatment with clonidine in doses of up to 800 microg/day. The trials lasted from 2 to 5 months each, and analysis of variance was used to test for changes in dependent variables on a case-by-case basis. Blood pressure and pulse declined significantly in a dose-dependent manner, but fluid intake, as assessed by measurements of weight and 24-h urine volume, was not affected. Hypotension and bradycardia limited the extent to which the dose of clonidine could be increased. The lack of evident effect of clonidine on polydipsia in this small sample and the inconsistent results of two other recent studies of clonidine in patients with schizophrenia and primary polydipsia provide little overall support for the effectiveness of clonidine treatment in primary polydipsia associated with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Delva
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hawken
authors.forename: J Stuart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D013894:Thirst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D003000:Clonidine