PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Amarendra N. Singh
AU  - Cia Barlas
AU  - Huma Saeedi
AU  - Ram K. Mishra
TI  - Effect of loxapine on peripheral dopamine-like and serotonin receptors in patients with schizophrenia
DP  - 2003 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
PG  - 39--47
VI  - 28
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jpn.ca/content/28/1/39.short
4100  - http://jpn.ca/content/28/1/39.full
SO  - JPN2003 Jan 01; 28
AB  - Objective: To investigate the effect of loxapine on peripheral dopamine D2-like and serotonin receptor binding and on psychotic symptoms.Patients: Patients (n = 24) meeting the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, for schizophrenia were selected from an outpatient clinic (age range 18–70 yr).Methods: Patients were given loxapine (dose determined by a physician) for a period of 12 weeks. There were clinic visits at before treatment began and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment. Scores on a variety of efficacy and safety scales were recorded at each visit, and blood was drawn for receptor assays.Results: Patients showed significant improvement on most psychiatric assessment scales after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment with loxapine, and both lymphocyte D2-like and 5-HT2A platelet receptor binding were down-regulated after 6 and 12 weeks. The degree of receptor down-regulation was not significantly correlated with improvements in psychotic symptoms, however.Conclusion: Loxapine down-regulated both lymphocyte D2-like and platelet 5-HT2A receptors to the same extent, suggesting that both receptors are involved in the mechanism of action of loxapine in patients with schizophrenia.