Clinical response to risperidone in relation to plasma drug concentrations in acutely exacerbated schizophrenic patients.

Abstract

There are no data indicating a clear relationship between the clinical effect of risperidone and plasma drug concentration. In this study, 51 patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia received 6 mg risperidone/day for 4 weeks. A clinical evaluation using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Udvalg for Klinicke Undersøgelser (UKU) side effect rating scale were performed at baseline and each week. Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were found between plasma concentrations of risperidone and improved total BPRS scores, positive and cognitive symptoms. Plasma concentrations of the active moiety were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with improved total BPRS scores. Improved score and percent improvement in anxiety-depression subscale were significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with plasma concentrations of the active moiety. The sum of total UKU side effect scores from 1 to 4 weeks was significantly correlated with plasma concentration of both risperidone (rs = 0.319, P < 0.05) and active moiety (rs = 0.373, P < 0.01). The sum of the psychic subgroup scores was significantly correlated with plasma concentrations of active moiety (rs = 0.318, P < 0.05). Results suggest that plasma drug concentrations are, to some extent, associated with improved scores in some psychopathological schizophrenic symptoms and sedative side effects. These findings should be replicated with a larger patient sample.

• Authors: N Yasui-Furukori, M Saito, T Nakagami, H Furukori, A Suzuki, T Kondo, S Kaneko
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 24 Issue 7 Pg. 987-94 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1461-7285 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19477882 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Isoxazoles
• Pyrimidines
• Risperidone
• Paliperidone Palmitate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects, blood, therapeutic use)
• Anxiety (complications, psychology)
• Cognition
• Data Interpretation, Statistical
• Depression (complications, psychology)
• Female
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Isoxazoles (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Paliperidone Palmitate
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Pyrimidines (blood)
• Risperidone (adverse effects, blood, therapeutic use)
• Schizophrenia (blood, drug therapy)
• Schizophrenic Psychology
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult