Symptomatic relief from treatment‐induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease: An open‐label pilot study with remoxipride

Abstract

Current treatment strategies for levodopa-induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease have had limited success. Remoxipride, a selective D2 receptor antagonist, was administered in an open label pilot study to seven parkinsonian patients exhibiting thought disorder. Symptoms improved significantly in six patients after treatment durations of 1-6 months and cleared completely in two individuals. One patient (at age 90 the oldest in the group) could not tolerate the compound due to significant motor deterioration, and the drug had to be discontinued after 1 week. In all remaining patients, no motor complications appeared, and therapeutic effects of remoxipride continued for up to 3 months after treatment cessation and have lasted for 2 years now in one individual. Further study of this compound in the context of treatment-induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease appears to be warranted.