Oxprenolol in schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia: a double-blind placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Tardive dyskinesia is a syndrome of involuntary movements that develops during or following long-term neuroleptic treatment. Current treatment of tardive dyskinesia is unsatisfactory. Neuroleptics can reduce the syndrome, but the underlying pathogenetic process is probably aggravated during treatment. The use of these drugs is necessary, however, when the patient simultaneously exhibits intense psychotic and dyskinetic symptoms. In this controlled study, 8 patients were treated with a beta-blocker drug, oxprenolol, as a slow-release preparation that was administered in increasing doses up to 640 mg per day for one month. We conclude that this drug can ameliorate both the psychotic features of schizophrenics and their tardive dyskinetic movements without producing significant side-effects.