Publisher： John Wiley & Sons Inc
E-ISSN： 1532-5415|25|10|458-462
ISSN： 0002-8614
Source： JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Vol.25, Iss.10, 1977-10, pp. : 458-462
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Abstract
ABSTRACTTwo groups of geriatric patients were treated with either 300 mg/day of papaverine hydrochloride (Pavabid) or placebo in a double‐blind study of two months’ duration. All patients (25 in each group initially) had mild to moderate senile organic brain syndrome but were ambulatory and treated on an outpatient basis. Neuropsychologic evaluations were made by means of the following six tests: Electroencephalographic Analysis (EEG), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Subject Paced Digit Symbol Substitution Test (SPDT), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Peterson and Peterson Test (P & P) for Short‐Term Memory, and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The tests were comparative with a baseline period and between treatment groups. There were positive responses from baseline to active‐drug treatment in four of the six evaluations—EEG, POMS, SPDT and CPT. Some side effects were noted in both drug and placebo groups, but these were not disabling and did not interrupt therapy. Positive responses were also observed between treatment groups. By the EEG criterion, the papaverine patients responded positively. By the P & P test for short‐term memory, the placebo group responded better than did the papaverine group. It is suggested that the pharmacodynamic action of papaverine in ameliorating the symptoms of senile organic brain syndrome may not be due to vasodilation but to dopamine receptor blockade.
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