These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Treatment of neuroleptic induced akathisia with the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin.
    Author: Miller CH, Fleischhacker WW, Ehrmann H, Kane JM.
    Journal: Psychopharmacol Bull; 1990; 26(3):373-6. PubMed ID: 1980375.
    Abstract:
    Akathisia is a frequent and distressing side effect of antipsychotic medication. Little is known about its pathophysiology. Treatment trials of serotonin antagonists in Parkinson's disease and neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism have been disappointing, with the possible exception of akathisia which has been reported to respond favorably to ritanserin. We report first results of a single-blind trial of ritanserin in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia. Ten patients received a mean dose of 13.5 mg/day (SD +/- 5.8) ritanserin for 2 to 4 days. Treatment response was assessed by the Hillside Akathisia Scale (HAS). HAS baseline ratings were 16.4 (+/- 6). After 3 days of treatment, these values dropped to 7.4 (+/- 5.2). This amelioration was statistically significant (p = .0069 matched-pairs signed rank test). Two patients did not respond. These results, although preliminary in nature, are encouraging and warrant further studies.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]