RECURRENT THIOPERAZINE-INDUCED EXTRAPYRAMIDAL REACTION FOLLOWING PLACEBO SUBSTITUTION FOR MAINTENANCE ANTIPARKINSON DRUG
WILLIAM MANDEL M.D.1,
BESSIE CLAFFEY M.D.2, , and
LESTER H. MARGOLIS M.D.3
1 Chief of Research, Napa State Hospital, Imola, Calif.
2 Staff Psychiatrist, Napa State Hospital, Imola, Calif.
3 Consultant, Napa State Hospital, Imola, Calif.
A placebo was abruptly substituted for maintenance antiparkinson drug in 20 patients who had previously shown evidence of a thioperazine-induced extrapyramidal reaction. Within 20 days of this controlled study extrapyramidal reactions reappeared in 16 patients (80%). The recurrence rate of phenothiazine-induced extrapyramidal reactions following withdrawal of maintenance antiparkinson drug will vary with different situations and their incidence can only be determined by clinical trial.
