demeclocycline and Schizophrenia

The authors seek to extend understanding and treatment of hospitalized schizophrenics presenting with complications of polydipsia and dilutional hyponatremia. Attending physicians may ask the consultation/liaison psychiatrist to see schizophrenics with hyponatremically-induced delirium or other psychiatric syndromes. The referring physician may or may not have identified polydipsia and dilutional hyponatremia and their complications. This article will help the consultation/liaison psychiatrist recognize early evidence of water imbalance, describe evaluation, and provide somatic and behavioral treatment approaches to this life-threatening syndrome.. Over the past ten years, the authors have treated more than 100 patients with the polydipsia-hyponatremia syndrome. The authors discuss their and others' experience with drugs that help and hinder patients suffering from dilutional hyponatremia. They review current key articles from the polydipsia-hyponatremia syndrome literature including articles identified via Medline search 1985-94.. Schizophrenics with the polydipsia-hyponatremia syndrome most commonly present with polydipsia, polyuria, urinary incontinence, cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes, seizures, or coma. Quantitating polydipsia, hyponatremia, and diurnal changes in body weight facilitate therapeutic interventions. Treatment include patient and caregiver education, drug therapies to better treat psychosis and better treat osmotic dysregulation, behavioral interventions to interdict polydipsia, and diurnal weight monitoring.. Once recognized, acute, subacute, and chronic complications of the polydipsia-hyponatremia syndrome are readily treatable. Besides treating the patient, consultation/liaison psychiatrists can teach their medical colleagues about this syndrome. In so doing, they will enhance the quality of their patients' lives and help the internist and surgeon feel more comfortable when working with schizophrenics.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antipsychotic Agents; Carbamazepine; Cognition Disorders; Demeclocycline; Drinking Behavior; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Humans; Hyponatremia; Lithium; Mood Disorders; Naloxone; Phenytoin; Polyuria; Propranolol; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Schizophrenia; Sodium Chloride; Syndrome; Water Intoxication; Workforce

Topics: Adult; Demeclocycline; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hyponatremia; Male; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia; Thirst

Serum sodium concentration increased significantly in eight hyponatremic schizophrenic subjects treated with demeclocycline. The incidence of severe hyponatremic episodes was significantly reduced. The authors argue that mild impairments in urinary dilution contribute to water intoxication in most chronic psychotics who develop this syndrome. Demeclocycline may help these patients.

Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Compulsive Behavior; Demeclocycline; Drinking Behavior; Female; Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Male; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia

Demeclocycline, a competitive inhibitor of antidiuretic hormone at renal tubules, was studied in a patient with the syndrome of psychosis, psychogenic polydipsia, and episodic water intoxication. Under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions, demeclocycline substantially reduced the severity and frequency of hyponatremic episodes.

Topics: Adult; Demeclocycline; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Water Intoxication