Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial of a Vasopressin V2-Receptor Antagonist in Patients with Schizophrenia and Hyponatremia

Richard C. Josiassen*, Morris Goldman, Meera Jessani, Rita A. Shaughnessy, Ala Albazzaz, Jennifer Lee, John Ouyang, Cesare Orlandi, Frank Czerwiec

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Hyponatremia (serum sodium [Na+] concentration <136 mmol/L) is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening medical comorbidity for schizophrenic patients. No definitive pharmacological treatments have been established. Tolvaptan (OPC-41061), an oral non-peptide V2-receptor antagonist, was recently shown to correct hyponatremia in a diverse population of 448 hyponatremic patients. Efficacy in a sub-set of 19 schizophrenic patients with idiopathic hyponatremia included in that sample is specifically examined. Methods: Nineteen subjects were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 12) or tolvaptan (n = 7) once daily for 30 days. Dosage adjustment was based on serum Na+ changes, initially 15 mg, titratable to 30 or 60 mg. The average daily area under the curve (AUC) changes in serum Na+ from baseline to Day 4 and Day 30 were co-primary end points. Results: Increases in serum Na+ concentrations were significantly greater with tolvaptan than placebo at Day 4 (p = .0055) and at Day 30 (p < .0001). Two subjects receiving tolvaptan (28.6%) became dehydrated and experienced hypotension, and five subjects receiving placebo (41.7%) experienced symptoms associated with dilutional hyponatremia. Conclusions: These results suggest that tolvaptan effectively normalizes idiopathic hyponatremia in schizophrenic patients. Clinicians are advised to carefully monitor fluid status especially at the beginning of treatment to prevent dehydration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1097-1100
Number of pages4
JournalBiological psychiatry
Volume64
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 2008

Keywords

  • Hyponatremia
  • schizophrenia
  • tolvaptan
  • vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biological Psychiatry

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