Increase cholinesterase activity in psychiatric patients treated with fluphenazine, lithium and amitryptyline - Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study was planned to determine the effects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drug therapy on serum cholinesterase in an out-patient sample population in Trinidad. Inhibition of cholinesterase by dibucaine (dibucaine number) and esterase activity were measured. Mean dibucaine number (81.9 ñ 2.37) in psychiatric patients was not different from the normal population (81.9 ñ 2.55). Quantitative esterase levels were significantly higher (12.37 ñ 3.57 U/ml; p<0.05) in comparison to the normal Trinidadian population (10.05 ñ 2.67 U/mL). Cholinesterase levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in female schizophrenics than in depressed patients. A relationship between elevated enzyme activity and pathology of the disease or drug therapy could not be determined since most patients were on long term pharmacotherapy. The evaluation of cholinesterase activities in out patients indicates that drugs such as fluphenazine, lithium carbonate and amitriptyline may be associated with increase enzyme activity.(AU)