Effect of clonazepam treatment on antipsychotic drug-induced Meige syndrome and changes in plasma levels of GABA, HVA, and MHPG during treatment

Abstract:

We demonstrated the effect of clonazepam (2 mg/day) on Meige syndrome in two schizophrenic patients under continuous treatment with antipsychotic drugs, and changes in the plasma levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in these cases. The plasma levels of HVA and MHPG during treatment with clonazepam were decreased in the responder, while not changed in the non-responder to clonazepam. A difference between the responder and the non-responder was not found in the plasma GABA levels. These results suggest that hyperactivities of the central dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurones are involved in the pathophysiology of Meige syndrome.

Keywords: antipsychotic drugs; γ-aminobutyric acid; homovanillic acid; Meige syndrome; 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol

Document Type: Short communication

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan