Beneficial effects of ondansetron as an adjunct to haloperidol for chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Added ondansetron for stable schizophrenia: A double blind, placebo controlled trial

“…Consistent with previous studies, ondansetron was an effective add-on therapy in controlling psychotic symptoms especially negative symptoms and adverse motor effects associated with neuroleptics (Sirota et al, 2000;Zhang et al, 2006). In addition, in line with other studies ondansetron in the present trial enhanced visual memory in patients with schizophrenia (Levkovitz et al, 2005).…”

“…It has been reported that central 5-HT3 receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders and cognition impairments (Costall and Naylor, 2004). Antagonism of the 5-HT3 receptor is thought to have therapeutic effect in treatment of patients with schizophrenia (Levkovitz et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2006). This therefore has led to the hypothesis that 5-HT3 receptor antagonist may be a class of effective agents in improving symptoms of schizophrenia in particular for cognition deficit (Costall and Naylor, 2004).…”

“…A recent study showed that short-term administration of ondansetron, was associated with significantly improved visuospatial memory as measured by the Rey-Osterich Complex Figure Test in patients with schizophrenia (Levkovitz et al, 2005). In addition, another study presented that ondansetron enhances the effectiveness of haloperidol for chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, particularly for negative and cognitive symptoms (Zhang et al, 2006). To the best of our knowledge, the study of Levkovitz et al (2005) is the only published study that has used a cognitive battery consisting major domains of cognition (including attention, working memory, executive function, verbal memory, visual memory and construction), to assess the efficacy of ondansetron for cognition improvement in schizophrenia.…”

Pathophysiological Roles of Serotonergic System in Regulating Extrapyramidal Motor Functions

“…[28][29][30] Recent clinical studies also showed that ondansetron significantly reduced the incidence and severity of antipsychotic-induced EPS (e.g., akathisia and parkinsonism) in patients with chronic schizophrenia. 31,32) In our studies, activation of the serotonergic system by 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) significantly potentiated haloperidol-induced catalepsy and this 5-HTPpotentiated EPS was also suppressed by systemic treatments or intrastriatal microinjections of ondansetron. 29) These findings indicate that postsynaptic 5-HT 3 receptors in the striatum are involved in the induction or potentiation of extrapyramidal disorders and blockade of the striatal 5-HT 3 receptors can alleviate antipsychotic-induced EPS (Fig.…”

An Evaluation of the Shanghai Mental Health Service Schizophrenia Rehabilitation Program

“…Thus, for both parts of the CGI test, a lower score indicated a more positive result. The CGI has also been widely used with Chinese people in Taiwan (e.g., Chui et al, 2003;Chan et al, 2007) and in China (Liu, Guo, & Yang, 2005;Zhang et al, 2006).…”