Allopurinol augmentation for poorly responsive schizophrenia

Adenosine has been proposed to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizop renia and as a target for therapeutic intervention. In the lack of direct a denosine agonists, allopurinol may indirectly elevate adenosine levels by i nhibiting degradation of purines. We report two cases of poorly responsive schizophrenic patients who improved considerably with add-on allopurinol 30 0 mg / day. Their clear clinical improvement warrant further investigation of allopurinol, as well as other purinergic strategies, for the treatment o f schizophrenia. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.