Prolactin response and extrapyramidal side effects during propranolol and neuroleptic drugs treatment in chronic schizophrenic patients

A comparison between the antipsychotic activity and antidopaminergic activity reflected by extrapyramidal side effects and hyperprolactinemia was carried out on 23 chronic schizophrenic patients with acute exacerbation of symptoms, treated with propranolol, neuroleptic drugs or in combination. Clinical evaluatiins by two psychiatrists independently, and serum prolactin were measured once during the first week of placebo and at the end of the six weeks treatment period. Clinical improvement was found in half of the patients in each group, with no difference between the groups. However, significant difference was found between the propranolol and the neuroleptic group in two of the criteria for antidopaminergic activity. All the patients treated with neuroleptic drugs or a combination of haloperidal and propranolol showed extrapyramidal side effects as well as a significant increase in serum prolactin levels. In this group, there was a significant positive linear correlation between the dosage and prolactin levels. There were no such side effects, nor was there an increase in serum prolactin levels, in the propranolol group. No relationship was found between the serum prolactin levels and the dosage of propranolol.