[The possibility of pharmacologic therapy of extrapyramidal hyperkineses with tiapride]

A novel substance, tiaprid (Tiapridex), from the family of the substituted benzamides, can be used in an attempt to block the dopaminergic receptors of the corpus striatum without inducing the psychiatric side effects on the mesolimbic system associated with, for instance, neuroleptics. Since hyperkinetic illness of the brain-stem ganglions accompanied by myoclonia, athetosis and dystonia are believed to stem from a state of imbalance between dopaminergic and cholinergic processes in which dopaminergic activity predominates, the application of tiaprid was tested on patients with etiologically different illnesses in an open clinical study. The course of treatment was documented by measurements and a record of clinical findings. No tolerance problems were encountered, and the substance had no grave side effects. Its effects proved to be good to very good on myoclonic hyperkinesis and good to moderate on athetosis, but dystonia seemed to be resistant to this form of treatment.