Severe tardive dyskinesia in affective disorders: treatment with vitamin E and C.
Tardive dyskinesia caused by antipsychotic treatment is a severe problem not only in the management of schizophrenia, but also of affective disorders. Vitamin E monotherapy has been used in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia. Pharmacologists warn against high dosage of vitamin E because of its pro-oxidative effects on low-density lipoprotein with consecutive cardiac risks. Addition of vitamin C probably reduces this risk because of its interactions with vitamin E, i.e. vitamin C reduces vitamin E radicals formed when vitamin E scavenges the oxygen radicals. We have therefore tested the safety and efficacy of combining vitamin C and E in a sample of patients with affective disorders and tardive dyskinesia who had previously been treated with antipsychotics due to psychotic symptoms. In all 6 patients, a reduction of tardive symptomatology was seen. In our sample, no side effects were observed. Further studies on this combination therapy are suggested.
Michael
Nikolaus
N
Department of Psychiatry, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.
Sourgens
Hildegard
H
Arolt
Volker
V
Erfurth
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid