Abstract
Objective: Behavioural changes secondary to haloperidol/zinc administration were studied, with a view to understanding the patterns of behavioural responses that may be exhibited after such treatment in healthy mice. Methodology: 6 month old Swiss mice (24-30 g each, n=12), were given vehicle (distilled water), haloperidol (2 mg/kg), zinc (as Zinc gluconate, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) or haloperidol/zinc combination, orally for 21 days. Behaviours were assessed after the first and last dose of haloperidol/zinc. Results: Zinc administration led to a significant reduction of haloperidol-induced suppression of horizontal locomotion, rearing and grooming behaviours. Zn also prevented the deterioration in Y-maze and radial-arm maze working-memory that was associated with repeated haloperidol administration. Finally, an enhanced anxiolytic effect was seen with co-administration of haloperidol with the lower dose of zinc. Conclusion: Co-administration of haloperidol with zinc can reduce some unwanted effects that are known to be associated with haloperidol therapy; hence zinc may be a beneficial adjunct to haloperidol administration.
Highlights
Antipsychotic medications are increasingly being used in the management of mental disorders
Unwanted behavioural side-effects constitute one of the limitations to the use of antipsychotic medications; research has continued on the path of discovering newer and better drugs
Zn supplementation may be a beneficial adjunct to standard medications; there is a need to first understand the behavioural phenotype that is expressed by Zn administration alone, and in co-administration with a standard medication in health
Summary
Antipsychotic medications are increasingly being used in the management of mental disorders Their use ranges from treatment of schizophrenia to the management of behavioural symptoms that may occur with certain types of dementia. Administration of haloperidol results in suppression of voluntary behaviours such as motor activity; this is one of the most prominent observable effects of antipsychotics [6,7]. In experimental animals, it has central-inhibiting effects, causing a decrease in both horizontal and vertical locomotion [8]. Other adverse reactions that may follow haloperidol administration include drowsiness, lethargy, drooling or hypersalivation and a fixed stare
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