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Published on: November 21, 2013
Exercise-associated extrapyramidal symptoms during treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications: A
David D Kim1, Donna J Lang2, Darren E R Warburton3
11. Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Abstract:
Antipsychotic medications can effectively treat psychotic symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. However, side effects including cardiovascular and extrapyramidal symptoms are often inevitable. Exercise has proven effective in ameliorating cardiometabolic abnormalities in individuals with schizophrenia. In addition, exercise has consistently been an effective intervention for improving the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. We report here two cases in which individuals with schizoaffective disorder treated with a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication displayed worsening of extrapyramidal symptoms over the course of a 12-week exercise program. This can be attributed to an increase in blood flow to the depot site during exercise, accelerating the rate of absorption and bioavailability of the antipsychotic medication and subsequently increasing dopamine D 2 blockade. Clinicians need to be vigilant when patients receiving long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications engage in exercise.
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