Psycho-Babble Neurotransmitters Thread 851780

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Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia

Posted by brot on September 13, 2008, at 11:16:13

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11775047?ordinalpos=9&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of extract of Ginkgo biloba added to haloperidol in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia.
Zhang XY, Zhou DF, Zhang PY, Wu GY, Su JM, Cao LY.

Yale University School of Medicine, Neuropsychopharmacology Lab, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA. zhangxy99@hotmail.com

BACKGROUND: Many studies have indicated that excess free radical formation may be involved in the pathogenesis of patients with schizophrenia. Some investigators suggested that the use of free radical scavengers might provide improvement in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and to evaluate the side effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) plus haloperidol in chronic, treatment-resistant inpatients with schizophrenia. METHOD: One hundred nine patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of EGb plus haloperidol. Fifty-six of the patients were randomly assigned to receive a fixed dose of 360 mg/day of EGb plus a stable dose of haloperidol, 0.25 mg/kg/day, and 53 were assigned to receive placebo plus the same dose of haloperidol for 12 weeks. Patients were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline, week 6, and week 12 and the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) for side effects at week 12. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in both groups in BPRS total score after 12 weeks of treatment (p < .05). However, a significant reduction in total SAPS and SANS scores was noted in the EGb group (p < .05), but not in the placebo group. There was a lower SAPS total score in the EGb group than in the placebo group at the end of 12 weeks of treatment (p < .05). Of those treated with EGb plus haloperidol, 57.1% were rated as responders as compared with only 37.7% of those receiving placebo plus haloperidol when assessed by the SAPS (chi2 = 4. 111, p = .043). After 12 weeks of treatment, TESS subscore 1 (behavioral toxicity) and subscore 3 (symptoms of nerve system) were significantly decreased in the EGb group compared with the placebo group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: EGb treatment may enhance the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs and reduce their extrapyramidal side effects.

PMID: 11775047 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18545061?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

A placebo-controlled study of extract of ginkgo biloba added to clozapine in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Doruk A, Uzun O, Oz&#351;ahin A.

Department of Psychiatry, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

The focus of this study was the systematic evaluation of the clinical effects of the extract of ginkgo biloba (EGb) as an adjunct to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia. In a placebo-controlled study, 42 patients with chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, who were maintained on optimal doses of clozapine, were administered either 120 mg/day of EGb (N=20) or placebo (N=22) for 12 weeks. Clinical evaluations with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms were completed biweekly. The use of EGb as an adjunct to clozapine was effective in decreasing negative symptoms, but not positive and overall psychopathology symptoms. EGb produced a mean 7.9+/-7.0 point reduction in the total Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms score compared with a mean 1.8+/-3.5 point reduction in the placebo group (P=0.034). These preliminary data suggested that EGb was found useful for enhancing the effect of clozapine on negative symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

PMID: 18545061 [PubMed - in process]

brot aka rod

 

Re: Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia » brot

Posted by Kath on September 18, 2008, at 21:54:41

In reply to Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia, posted by brot on September 13, 2008, at 11:16:13

Thanks very much for putting this information here.

Some of the meds for schizophrenia have the possibility of severe after-affects - even if the meds are stopped. I'm just hearing of this now & find it scarey...my son's starting to get off them.

The more info about safe alternatives, the better.

This might also be of interest to you?

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=a8b3fd6b14&attid=0.1&disp=vah&view=att&th=11aac51c09c155a2

Kath

 

Re: Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia » brot

Posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 21, 2009, at 12:07:37

In reply to Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia, posted by brot on September 13, 2008, at 11:16:13

good information. in what form do you think they were taking Ginko? do you think one could just go to whole foods and pick up some Ginko pills or something?

this is something I'd like to pass on to a family member.

thanks,
amelia

 

Re: Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia » Amelia_in_StPaul

Posted by Kath on April 21, 2009, at 15:25:25

In reply to Re: Ginkgo effective addon for schizophrenia » brot, posted by Amelia_in_StPaul on April 21, 2009, at 12:07:37

Hi - I've just started to use Gingko to help my BAD memory & I was starting to do things in "automatic" mode.....even driving a route I frequently drove, because I was thinking of something else & didn't want to go that direction!

(I am of the opinion that for some people, it could be easier to assimilate the herb in capsule form - or any supplement, for that matter).

Over about 2 weeks I am noticing DISTINCT improvements!!

I am using Flora brand, two 60 mg capsules/day.

:-)) Kath

PS - staff in natural food stores are often pretty knowledgeable, however I'm always a bit alert if it seems they're suggesting REALLY expensive stuff - I ask why they're better than their other less expensive brands.

:-)

Good luck. As a Mom of someone with schizophrenia, I find it hard to be a family member. And my son is very 'high functioning'. Feel free to babblemail me if you want some support around that issue.

:-) Kath


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