Dyskinesias in the geriatric population.

In a population of 500 British geriatric nursing home patients, dyskinesias were assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. The prevalence of spontaneous dyskinesias was 13.2%, whereas 22.1% of patients receiving neuroleptics medication demonstrated dyskinesias. The frequency was greater in male patients (21.2%) than in female patients (13.2%). Conjoint treatment with antipsychotic and antiparkinsonian medication resulted in the greatest prevalence of abnormal movements (40.6%). The average age of the study population was 82.6 years, and there was no trend for greater frequencies of dyskinesias according to age.

Co-dergocrine (hydergine) in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with co-dergocrine in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in a group of elderly chronic psychiatric patients the reduction of dyskinetic scores in the group receiving active medication was slightly greater than that in the placebo group; however, this difference did not reach a level of statistical significance. It is suggested that further work could be undertaken with a longer period of treatment, and at a higher dosage level of co-dergocrine, in a younger patient sample.

The effect of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist pindolol on exercise performance.

1 Fifty-two patients who had been treated for essential hypertension for at least 5 years with once-a-day pindolol alone or in combination with a diuretic participated in a strenuous exercise programme. The 24 h antihypertensive efficacy of once-a-day pindolol was shown in blood pressure readings made before the intake of the day's dose. 2 During the first stage of the study before interruption of therapy, pindolol maintained effective blood pressure control and prevented an excessive rise in blood pressure and heart rate following strenuous exercise. 3 Following a 6 week period of interruption of pindolol therapy, higher blood pressure and heart rate levels were reached following exercise. 4 After reintroduction of a single dose of pindolol, improvement in blood pressure control and lower heart rate levels were again seen following exercise. 5 Compared with the period without drug systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lowered to about the same extent at rest and during exercise after maintenance pindolol and after a single dose of pindolol following a 6 week interruption period, but pre-exercise levels rose considerably during the period when therapy was discontinued.

Once daily administration of pindolol in the treatment of hypertension.

An open study was carried out in general practice on patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension to assess the effectiveness of treatment with pindolol on a single daily dose regimen. In twenty-two previously untreated cases given a single daily dosage of pindolol (mean 13-0 mg, range 5 mg- 30 mg), adequate blood pressure control was achieved within five weeks and maintained in the nineteen patients examined at Week 25. Of eleven previously treated patients whose blood pressure was adequately controlled by divided daily doses of pindolol, a change-over to a single daily dosage of pindolol (mean 13-2 mg, range 10 mg-20 mg) did not result in any loss of control over a twenty-five week study period. Few side-effects were reported, and only one patient was withdrawn from the study.

The use of pindolol in the treatment of essential hypertension: a multi-centre assessment.

A multi-centre general practitioner assessment of pindolol, a beta adrenergic blocking drug, was carried out in 464 patients with essential hypertension. The average daily dose was 21 mg and the average period of observation was 15 weeks. Pindolol was shown to be a safe, effective and well tolerated hypotensive agent. In 227 new cases of hypertension, 148 (65.2%) were controlled on pindolol alone, and in 237 previously treated cases of hypertension 91 (38.4%) were subsequently controlled on pindolol alone. In the remaining cases the addition of a diuretic or other antihypertensive agent was necessary to achieve satisfactory control. The mean blood pressure was lowered from 190/111 mmHg to 154/90 mmHg, a mean fall of 36/21 mmHg. Side-effects were not of a serious nature.