Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:231-234
Copyright © 1989 by American Psychiatric Association
Neuroleptic augmentation with alprazolam: clinical effects and pharmacokinetic correlates
R Douyon, B Angrist, E Peselow, T Cooper and J Rotrosen
Psychiatry Service, New York VA Medical Center, Manhattan.
Alprazolam added to stable doses of neuroleptics in nine schizophrenic
patients was associated with a 20%-30% mean reduction in positive and
negative symptoms, although clinical response was variable and in some
patients particularly brisk. The authors examined the possibilities of a
pharmacokinetic effect of alprazolam on neuroleptic plasma levels and of a
clinical effect of alprazolam. The modest increase in mean neuroleptic
plasma levels did not correlate with clinical change, but those patients
with the highest alprazolam plasma levels tended to show more robust
clinical responses.
