Clinical Study Title:
Vitamin B(6) in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Plain English Summary:

The treatment for many patients with schizophrenia leave the patient with a side effect syndrome called tardive dyskinesia. This study looked at the use of vitamin b6 supplements to help alleviate this syndrome. Patients who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and were exhibiting signs of tardive dyskinesia were enrolled in this study. Patients were given either vitamin b6 or a placebo daily for a total of 4 weeks. The patients' symptoms of tardive dyskenisia were measured every week during the study. Those participants who were taking the vitamin b6 had a significant reduction in the tardive dyskinesia. This suggests that a daily supplement including vitamin b6 can help control the side effects of medications for schizophrenia.

Authors

Lerner V. Miodownik C. Kaptsan A. Cohen H. Matar M. Loewenthal U. Kotler M.

Institution

Division of Psychiatry, Ministry of Health Be'er Sheva Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

American Journal of Psychiatry. 158(9):1511-4, 2001 Sep.