Posted by iforgotmypassword on January 7, 2010, at 21:46:02
High-dose famotidine at one point seemed notably successful at relieving negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Patients showed better functioning, more interest, activity, motivation, etc. If you search google scholar for "famotidine schizophrenia" a bunch of older studies from the 90s comes up. Some recent discussion, response in cogintive symptoms in parkinsion's patients reported, suggestion of possible usefulness in autism as well. A page for a current trial exists that will use the highest dose used in a study (from what I can tell) at 100mg b.i.d., if it doesn't fall into oblivion as many seem to. Indeed after remarkable studies into the use of famotidine in schizophrenia, not much seemed to happen. Perhaps as usual, it doesn't seem that negative symptoms are ever taken seriously, similarly people with executive functioning deficits are taken even less seriously, and usually never even get to find out the root of what is wrong; the system is built to deflect them, their problems are moral.
Apparently blockade of H2 receptors in the basal ganglia is the (suspected) root of the mechanism that is supposed to be beneficial. Apparently H2 receptors have an inhibitory effect on the basal ganglia, and blockade is supposed to be dopaminergic. Theoretically, this may be of interest to a lot of people, not simply those suffering from schizophrenia, but I can't find much anecdotal information on the internet. It is an OTC drug, albeit expensive it seems at the doses required. Has anyone here experimented with it to improve their functioning and/or movement sx? Are there any threads elsewhere on the internet discussing it?
It seems safe. Not much information on the dosage needed, and of prolonged use, however. (Possible issues?)
poster:iforgotmypassword
thread:932889
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100103/msgs/932889.html