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Potentiation of phenothiazines byα-methyltyrosine in treatment of chronic schizophrenia

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Summary

Five patients, suffering from chronic schizophrenia with stationary symptomatology were treated with a combination of a phenothiazine and the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitorα-methyltyrosine. The antipsychotic action of the neuroleptic agent was markedly potentiated, permitting a considerable reduction of the neuroleptic dosage required for controlling the condition. The observations support experimental data indicating that neuroleptics act by interfering with central synaptic catecholamine transmission. The possible usefulness of an inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis in combination with a neuroleptic for controlling mental disorders is discussed.

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Author notes

  1. A. Carlsson

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden

    T. Persson, B. -E. Roos & J. Wålinder

  2. Psychiatric Research Centre, St. Jörgen's Hospital, Hisings, Backa, Sweden

    A. Carlsson, T. Persson, B. -E. Roos & J. Wålinder

Authors
  1. A. Carlsson
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  2. T. Persson
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  3. B. -E. Roos
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  4. J. Wålinder
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Carlsson, A., Persson, T., Roos, B.E. et al. Potentiation of phenothiazines byα-methyltyrosine in treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J. Neural Transmission 33, 83–90 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260898

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260898

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