EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMBINATION VERAPAMIL AND CHLORPROMAZINE IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE MANIC OR MIXED PATIENTS

1. The authors investigated the possible antimanic properties of a Cal cium channel blocker, Verapamil, in 15 in-patients admitted consecutiv ely to the female psychiatric ward at Pisa University for a manic epis ode, 2. The results showed that most of the patients presented a globa l improvement of the manic symptoms and, in some cases, even a complet e clinical remission.3. Although it was necessary to add chlorpromazin e for the severe conditions of several patients, verapamil appeared to speed the positive outcome and to lead to a faster resolution of the symptoms. In addition, the association of verapamil and chlorpromazine did not produce any relevant side-effect. These preliminary findings thus indicate that verapamil by itself does nor seem to be sufficient in the treatment of a severe affective episode, but it may constitute an alternative to lithium salts in association with neuroleptics.