Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:189-193
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Clonazepam and phenobarbital in tardive dyskinesia
A Bobruff, G Gardos, D Tarsy, RM Rapkin, JO Cole and P Moore
Benzodiazepines have several advantages over other antidyskinetic drugs in
treating tardive dyskinesia. The authors conducted a controlled study of
clonazepam versus the active placebo of phenobarbital in 21 psychiatric
patients with tardive dyskinesia. Both drugs significantly reduced
dyskinetic movements: clonazepam had a stronger effect on orofacial
dyskinesia, and phenobarbital was more effective for limbs and axial
movements. Clonazepam was also more effective for drug-free patients and
those receiving low doses of neuroleptics than for all patients given
phenobarbital and for clonazepam patients taking high doses of
neuroleptics. The authors suggest that future treatment studies focus on
the effects of antidyskinetic drugs on distinct body regions.
