Gabapentin in antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia: results of 1-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
In a previous study, improvement of antipsychotic-induced blefarospasm and involuntary oral-mandibulo movements were observed with the use of the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin among affectively ill patients who had been exposed to maintenance neuroleptics. The results reported in the present paper represent the sequel to the previous study.


METHODS
The purported efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia has been assessed in an open design 1-year follow-up study, in which 30 schizoaffective, bipolar I and schizophrenic patients from seven Italian centres were evaluated by means of AIMS. The results showed a statistically significant time-related decrease in AIMS scores. The mean percentage of improvement at AIMS was 47.5+/-18.2%. An improvement of more than 35% after 1 year in 76% of the subjects who completed the trial (n=25) and in 63.3% of the entire sample admitted to the study was revealed.


CONCLUSIONS
Open trial.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of new antipsychotic drugs has probably already limited the problems related to tardive dyskinesia. However, this type of side-effect is also observed during the course of treatment with atypical neuroleptics albeit with a lesser frequency. The fact that gabapentin treatment may have further improved clinical conditions of patients in whom therapeutic protocols had already been modified, appears to suggest exertion of a possible synergic action by the new neuroleptics on tardive dyskinesia.
Hardoy
Maria Carolina
MC
Division of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Via Liguria 13, 09127, Cagliari, Italy.
Carta
Mauro Giovanni
MG
Carpiniello
Bernardo
B
Cianchetti
Carlo
C
Congia
Socrate
S
D'Errico
Immacolata
I
Emanuelli
Guido
G
Garonna
Franco
F
Hardoy
Maria Julieta
MJ
Nardini
Marcello
M
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin