An Evaluation of Papaverine in Tardive Dyskinesia

Abstract

An evaluation of papaverine was carried out in 9 hospitalized chronic patients with moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia. Changes in movements were assessed on the Simpson and AIMS [Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale] scales by 2 trained raters blind to the study design. Results showed a modest 20-25% improvement in oral dyskinesia, but only 2 of the 9 patients showed clinically obvious improvements in their movement disorders. No drug-induced side effects were found. The mechanism of pharmacologic action of papaverine in movement disorders should be clarified, but dopamine receptor blockade may be primarily involved.