HIGH-DOSE PROPRANOLOL IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Eight male schizophrenics were treated in an open study with d.l. propranolol. The dose was increased by 160 mg/day until a maximum of 2,400 mg/day was achieved on day 15, and this remained constant until day 21. Seven patients showed significant clinical evidence of psychiatric improvement, while the incidence of toxic side-effects was low. There was wide inter-patient variation in plasma levels of propranolol. Despite a significant increase of plasma propranolol between day 15 and day 21 of the study, there was no significant change in serum prolactin.