Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149:647-650
Copyright © 1992 by American Psychiatric Association
Randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled comparison of propranolol and betaxolol in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia
JP Dumon, J Catteau, F Lanvin and BA Dupuis
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Lille, France.
OBJECTIVE: Beta-blocking agents, particularly propranolol, are considered
effective in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia, but
considerable controversy exists about the involved receptor subtype(s). The
authors conducted a randomized, controlled trial comparing the effects of
propranolol and betaxolol to determine whether central beta 1-adrenoceptor
blockade is sufficient to correct neuroleptic-induced akathisia. METHOD:
The subjects were 19 patients whose neuroleptic-induced akathisia responded
to 20 mg/day of propranolol and subsequently reemerged during a placebo
washout period. They were randomly assigned to propranolol (20 or 40
mg/day) or betaxolol (10 or 20 mg/day) and, after another placebo period,
were switched to the second beta blocker. RESULTS: There was no significant
difference in the antiakathisia effects of propranolol and betaxolol.
CONCLUSIONS: The lack of difference between propranolol and betaxolol
suggests that beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade is sufficient to improve
neuroleptic-induced akathisia. The results of this explanatory study need
therapeutic confirmation.
