In a double-blind crossover placebo controlled trial the effectivity of piracetam
in neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effects was confirmed. 40 psychotic
patients treated with neuroleptics in an average daily dose equal to 600 mg of chlorpromazine
were included in this study. Akathisia, tremor, muscle rigidity and dyskinesia were
evaluated on a 4-point scale. The patients were randomly divided into two subgroups -
4.0 g of piracetam or placebo from identic ampoules were given i.v. with a crossover
readministration after 60 min. The intensity of the extrapyramidal side effects was evaluated
at 30-min intervals during 2 h. Piracetam was proved to be significantly effective in
both subgroups, the onset of its action being between 30 and 60 min after i.v. administration.
Possible interpretations of the observed piracetam effectivity are considered. Further
trials with piracetam in neurologic complications during neuroleptic treatment, tardive
dyskinesia included, are suggested.
Viloxazine at doses of 150-300 mg daily for 1 month produced significant
and rapid responses (after 3 days) in this multicentre study involving 115 inpatients with
moderate to severe depressive illness. Many had proved resistant to previous antidepressive
treatment. Side effects were not a major problem of therapy with viloxazine.
The purpose of this controlled clinical trial was to demonstrate possible correlations between changes in bioenergetic metabolism and psychotropic drug administration in the treatment of functional psychosis. The study included twenty-six patients, eleven with schizophrenia, three with chronic atypical depression and twelve with drug-resistant endogenous depressions. All patients were kept on continuous psychotropic medication for at least 3 weeks before starting the trial, and piracetam was given additionally in a fixed dosage of 2400 mg daily; the same number of identical capsules was given during the pre- and post-treatment placebo periods. Psycho-pathological evaluation of the patients was by the BPRS; clinical and biochemical data were evaluated statistically by the analysis of regression. The results show that in schizophrenic patients an improvement was observed in those cases who had improved biochemically, i.e. where the ATP values had increased. In drug-resistant depressions there was a rapid and significant clinical improvement after piracetam co-administration, and this went in step with a significant rise in ATP levels.
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