Effects of rivastigmin tartarat in the therapy of patients with schizophrenia

Background

Rivastigmin tartarat is a dual, reversible cholinesterase inhibitor (acetil and butril). Its chemical composition is (S)-N-ethyl-N-methyl-3-1-dimethylamin - ethyl-phenyl carbamat hydrogen-(2R,3R)-tartrat. FDA has approved its use in treatment of Alzheimer dementia and dementia in combination with Parkison disease. In addition to this, results based on small clinical studies and case reports showed positive efects of rivastigmin tartarat in therapy applied in numerous pyschiatric disorders.

Materials and methods

In this study 11 patients have been observed. According to ICD-10 they all satisfied criteria for diagnosis of residual schizophrenia and had a score of below 24 at MMSE and high scores at NPI 12 and BPRS. During the period of 60 days, apart from antipsychotics and anxiolitics or psychostabilisers, patients also received rivastigmin tartarat in their therapy.

Results

The study showed that rivastigmine therapy produced significant improvements when it comes to cognition and reduction of disorders in the sphere of afective-behavioristic functioning of patients with residual schizophrenia. However, this interpretation cannot be confirmed to be completely valid due to the size of treated group, the absence of the control group, and the length of the observing period.

Conclusions

Dual cholinesterase inhibitors (Ach and BuCh) may produce improvement in cognition and behavioural performances, as well as the general quality of life with patients diagnosede with residual schizophrenia. Future studies applied on this kind of patients should precisely explain the basic farmachological mechanisams of rivastigmin tartarat, and approve/disapprove the results of clinical studies and case reports that have been preformed so far.