CYPROHEPTADINE AUGMENTATION OF HALOPERIDOL IN CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS - A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

A 6 week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of cyproheptadine augme ntation of ongoing haloperidol treatment was conducted in 40 chronic s chizophrenic in-patients. Cyproheptadine augmentation, compared to adm inistration of haloperidol with placebo, did not produce a statistical ly significant improvement in psychotic symptoms. Cyproheptadine augme ntation caused significant reduction in the extrapyramidal symptoms, w hich supports the atypical profile of antipsychotics. As to the neuroe ndocrinological effect, cyproheptadine augmentation did not reduce the plasma prolactin level but did induce a decrease in the plasma cortis ol level, Although long-term follow-up studies are needed to confirm t he results, this study suggests that cyproheptadine augmentation may b e effective in treating chronic schizophrenic patients who are intoler ant of extrapyramidal side effects of conventional antipsychotics.