Budipine Treatment of Neuroleptic-Induced Parkinsonism

Abstract

Extrapyramidal disturbances of movement are among the most frequent undesirable concomitant effects of neuroleptic therapy (Ayd 1961; Benkert and Hippius 1980; Haase 1982). It is indisputable that early dyskinesia can be favorably influenced by anticholinergics (e.g.,biperiden or methixene).The neuroleptic-induced parkinsonian syndrome, on the other hand, presents a difficult problem. The discussion is still not concluded as to whether or not the combined administration of neuroleptics and anticholinergics raises the risk of developing late dyskinesia (Haase 1982 and others). This point is particularly important because there is presently no dependable method for treating late dyskinesia (Neumann 1982). The development of drugs with better efficacy than that of anticholinergics or with an alternative approach is thus of substantial clinical importance, especially for chronic schizophrenics under long-term neuroleptic treatment.