Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response
Background. It is known that ultra-low doses of haloperidol can cause dopamine supersensitivity of dopamine D2 receptors and related behaviour in animals. Objective. The objective was to determine whether a daily ultra-low dose of 40 micrograms of haloperidol could enhance the clinical action of lev...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/684973 |
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doaj-ea1de0e6d3f4403a9131664916f782f22020-11-24T21:21:08ZengHindawi LimitedParkinson's Disease2090-80832042-00802014-01-01201410.1155/2014/684973684973Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical ResponseCraig J. Hudson0Philip Seeman1Mary V. Seeman2Department of Psychiatry, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, 120 Napier Street, Goderich, ON, N7A 1W5, CanadaClera Inc., 260 Heath Street West, Unit 605, Toronto, ON, M5P 3L6, CanadaClera Inc., 260 Heath Street West, Unit 605, Toronto, ON, M5P 3L6, CanadaBackground. It is known that ultra-low doses of haloperidol can cause dopamine supersensitivity of dopamine D2 receptors and related behaviour in animals. Objective. The objective was to determine whether a daily ultra-low dose of 40 micrograms of haloperidol could enhance the clinical action of levodopa in Parkinson’s disease patients. Method. While continuing their daily treatment with levodopa, 16 patients with Parkinson’s disease were followed weekly for six weeks. They received an add-on daily dose of 40 micrograms of haloperidol for the first two weeks only. The SPES/SCOPA scale (short scale for assessment of motor impairments and disabilities in Parkinson’s disease) was administered before treatment and weekly throughout the trial. Results. The results showed a mean decrease in SPES/SCOPA scores after one week of the add-on treatment. Conclusion. SCOPA scores decreased after the addition of low-dose haloperidol to the standard daily levodopa dose. This finding is consistent with an increase in sensitivity of dopamine D2 receptors induced by haloperidol. Such treatment for Parkinson’s disease may possibly permit the levodopa dose to be reduced and, thus, delay the onset of levodopa side effects.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/684973 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Craig J. Hudson Philip Seeman Mary V. Seeman |
spellingShingle |
Craig J. Hudson Philip Seeman Mary V. Seeman Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response Parkinson's Disease |
author_facet |
Craig J. Hudson Philip Seeman Mary V. Seeman |
author_sort |
Craig J. Hudson |
title |
Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response |
title_short |
Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response |
title_full |
Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response |
title_fullStr |
Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response |
title_full_unstemmed |
Parkinson’s Disease: Low-Dose Haloperidol Increases Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity and Clinical Response |
title_sort |
parkinson’s disease: low-dose haloperidol increases dopamine receptor sensitivity and clinical response |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Parkinson's Disease |
issn |
2090-8083 2042-0080 |
publishDate |
2014-01-01 |
description |
Background. It is known that ultra-low doses of haloperidol can cause dopamine supersensitivity of dopamine D2 receptors and related behaviour in animals. Objective. The objective was to determine whether a daily ultra-low dose of 40 micrograms of haloperidol could enhance the clinical action of levodopa in Parkinson’s disease patients. Method. While continuing their daily treatment with levodopa, 16 patients with Parkinson’s disease were followed weekly for six weeks. They received an add-on daily dose of 40 micrograms of haloperidol for the first two weeks only. The SPES/SCOPA scale (short scale for assessment of motor impairments and disabilities in Parkinson’s disease) was administered before treatment and weekly throughout the trial. Results. The results showed a mean decrease in SPES/SCOPA scores after one week of the add-on treatment. Conclusion. SCOPA scores decreased after the addition of low-dose haloperidol to the standard daily levodopa dose. This finding is consistent with an increase in sensitivity of dopamine D2 receptors induced by haloperidol. Such treatment for Parkinson’s disease may possibly permit the levodopa dose to be reduced and, thus, delay the onset of levodopa side effects. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/684973 |
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